[TheForge] how to price product

[Peter Fels And Phoebe Palmer]

To calculate the answer, one needs to know how long it took to 
make the piece in question....i cite  the answer of a master.
Would-be-customer  " How long did it take you to make that belt 
buckle?"
E A Chase   " 67 years."
sincerely...pete f

Chris Worsley wrote:
> Bill,
> 
> There you go! I have been waiting to hear the answer to Dan's question.
> What are you making, and what is the market?
> Are you planning on selling to Main St. or Rodeo Dr.?
> 
> How I priced things:
> After a few years of practice practice practice and learning how to make 
> metal do what I wanted it to do, my experience was making nicely 
> designed and finished items, mostly one of a kind (Oh, let's say napkin 
> rings or decorative fireplace pokers), and charging so much that most of 
> the lookers at a show just admired (or not) and kept on walking.
> BUT, there were customers out there who were aware of what I had in the 
> way of quality in the marketplace and they paid what I was asking. 
> Several became repeat customers.
> I did not bother to figure in the cost of steel or coal or gas or shop 
> time. I just put prices on the items that were what I thought the 
> traffic would bear. Keep in mind that I am not making a living on 
> blacksmithing alone.
> It has only been part of the equation, except for the 3 years I worked 
> at it full time for someone else's shop.
> 
> I have been a professional artist for 44 years and treated all my art 
> sales the same way.  If asked about a commission, whether it is an 
> illustration, magazine cover, photography or a piece of copper or 
> ironwork, I quote a price. I leave a little wiggle room with some 
> people. After a while, you'll be able to tell when to do that.
> 
> So, whatcha makin'?
> 
> Chris
> 
> 
> Dan Tull wrote:
> 
>> OK, now tell us what the item is.
>>
>> Not K-mart , but Neiman-Marcus customers.
>>
>> ----- Original Message ----- From: "bill" <wfuter102957 at comcast.net>
>> To: "Sponsored by ABANA" <theforge at mailman.qth.net>
>> Sent: Tuesday, September 19, 2006 9:45 PM
>> Subject: [TheForge] how to price product
>>
>>
>>> I know this has been thrown around before, but I have a show coming 
>>> up and I cant remember all your formulas that was given.
>>>
>>> my example is  23 items with $22 dollars of metal,  3 hours working 
>>> time.
>>>
>>> any help would be appreciated.
>>>
>>> bill
>>>
> 
> 
> 
> _______________________________________________
> Manage membership or unsubscribe at:
> http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/theforge
> theforge mail list group photo site is
> http://www.photoaccess.com
> Login:  blacksmithblacksmith at hotmail.com
> password:  anvil
> ___________
> 
> 
> 
>