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Our ArticlesHow much do I ask for this?Posted on 2007-08-01 by Phyllis MeiringCategory: Craft Articles 
I cannot tell you the number of times I have been asked how much someone should ask for something they created. I have been creating for over 3 decades and STILL wrestle with pricing my OWN products, let alone pricing someone else's work. If you were to ask someone who also makes similar things, they respond from a different perspective than someone who doesn't or cannot make it themselves. I do that. I think, "I can make that." At some level, it affects my purchase choices. I've learned to take that thought one more step from "I can make that" to "but will I?" Take a little reflection time to discover why you really create things. Do you do it for the money? Stress relief? A distraction? Is it your therapy? Let this question rest in the back of your mind over the next few days or even weeks until you can really make that discovery. When you do, hold onto it because it is the undercurrent in all your creative endeavors. Write it down because in a few moments, I will also make a reference to this question. The best way to price your product is separate yourself from it and be more objective. Grab a piece of paper and write down how much you have invested in creating it. Remember the raw materials (like fabric, clay, buttons, beads, thread, etc.) it took to create your product. How about your overhead? Things like electric, gas, water, rent – even if it's a dime, write it down. This step is NOT a price decision step; it's the step where you see what you used to create your product so don't dismiss any cost. Also, recount your time in terms of hours. How long did it take you to make the items but also how long did it take to collect your raw materials? And how about figuring the gas for your vehicle to make those trips? Write it all down. Turn those hours spent into an hourly wage you'd be happy with but don't try to fast forward to determining your product price yet. Add it all up. This step was the business, left-brained step in pricing. It's not what most creative folks want to do because we are accustomed to using our right brain for creating. Remember I said I would make a reference to the reason why you create? Ok, what did you discover? Set in front of you your cost list, your reasons for creating, and your product and take a little breath. If you create for anything other than money, then realize that you create for all the reasons you do and just hope to add an extra bonus, financial, to the whole picture. If that's the case, then price your product so that it will sell at a price you will be happy allowing it to pass into someone else's hands. Honestly, you might be a little possessive with your creations. You may want peace of mind in know that it will be cared for and your work will be appreciated. Now if you're creating primarily for financial reasons (but get a little more out it than that), then price your products so that you aren't throwing money out the window of your car as you travel down the highway at 70mph. If you're still having trouble with a price, I have found this consideration really helps me -- consider what you would need to get for each item if you got an order to do 100 of them. It was actually the question that helped me realize which things I create for reasons other than money. In all that we create, enjoy most of the process because if we do not, it will affect our mental and physical well-being. We cannot take the negative criticisms of others personally even if they meant to hurt us. You are who you are; you create what only you can create and no one can tell you, you are doing it wrong. And lastly, love and appreciate not only what you create but you. How can you expect others to appreciate what you do not? Author: Phyllis Meiring <sales at blackberrypatchworks dot com> Bio: Phyllis Meiring owns Blackberry Patchworks, Ltd.(a quilt shop in Ohio), a pattern biz, Blackberry Patchwork Designs, is a sales rep. for Haiks Inc., and has more than 30 years creative experience in numerous media forums. "Be the best of who you are and who you are becoming!" Back to articles |
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