Is it too expensive?

[miniandmestudios]

Not sure if it is entirely the right thread but I’ve started making hats by hand to try make some money - I’m a stay at home mum of 2, can’t afford childcare to go to work but can’t afford to not work. So I’m a bit stuck (DP works) and there is no one else I have to watch the kids.

My friend told me she would never pay £15 for a hat but it costs me £5 in materials and 3 hours roughly to make so it’s £3.33 ish an hour. I really don’t want less than that as working for £2 an hour is stupidly low.

I’ve attatched images of the hats so if I could get everyone’s opinions I’ll lower the price or keep as they are!

YANBU - the prices are okay
YABU - the prices are too expensive

Post edited by MNHQ

DO NOT BE A SAHM WITH A DP (as opposed to a DH)

Childcare is half his expense, not just yours. His money is not your money if you are not married so don’t rely on it.

Yes the hats are very pretty.

As long as it was soft and not scratchy I would absolutely pay that. At least.

Just read that they are alpaca/wool blend. I paid a fortune for an alpaca serape, which I absolutely adore, but it makes me itch which would make me rethink about buying an alpaca blend. I can't be the only one, so offer a few different sorts of yarns, perhaps.

I'd pay three times that amount for a hat hand knitted with good yarn. I am admiring your initiative, and your knitting is neat, but these are not going to increase your income. They fall between two demographics - people who want cheap plain/generic hats and those who'll pay a fair price for a high quality hat, with original design, great colour combinations etc.

How many are you hoping to sell to make it worth your while? Does your Etsy shop have any sales yet?

I think it’s too much. Looking at sainsburys you can get them from £4.00 or £5.00, apparently reduced from £11 or £9 which I wouldn’t spend on a hat and even that it lower than £15.

I would pay £15 but not for those type of hats, you can get some really nice handmade hats for that price and those are just basic beginner made hats

It depends on your market, I can buy a hat in primark for £5, or north face (thermal) for £25.

I really like the style, but I think the problem is lots of people who like this minimalist style are younger, maybe don't have much spare cash and are likely to go to the likes of H&M for baby clothes.

I think the price is worth it for a hand knitted merino wool hat, but I'm just thinking about the target market I guess?

I'd probably think about some different designs.

I think 15.00 is too low. Could you knit using a silk and merino blend? There is a trend at the moment for finer knit beanie hats . I have seen them for upwards of 40.00

You surely cannot get a merino/alpaca 100% wool blend hat at that price in Sainsbury’s. I think £15 is quite cheap.

It’s a fair price considering the material it’s made from. People comparing it to primark are not your clientelle.
well done x

People who make their decisions based solely/mostly on price aren’t your target market. I think, with a bit of confidence and a bit of a stronger ‘personality’ or brand identity you could sell them for a bit more. Also agree they’d do well in face to face selling.

I would add some pretty packaging bits as someone has already suggested, and maybe spruce up your listing/presentation a bit, laid flat as they are they do look a bit of a funny shape in parts. Could you add a pic of them being modelled, and talk more (or more eye-catchingly) about the virtues of the wool in your description? Make it clear this is an organic, premium material.

Your price point could work for or against you - could be seen as a bargain and mean you get the sale rather than your competitors, or could devalue your offering and turn people off (people thinking it’s too good to be true, or that your workmanship is poor because you’re selling under market price). Even if you sell low now, I do think you should increase prices in future - you should be paid fairly for the work you put in.

I bought hand-knitted baby things on Etsy, I think I paid more for a couple of newborn hats than you’re charging for adult. A couple of years ago, premature sized hats were very difficult to find, the ‘niceness’ of handmade and the quality of material you use would be advantageous to you if you were to sell that product.

Good luck!

I buy that price bracket and above, I thought they’d be £30. I think you need to think carefully about branding/marketing to make people want them, and be very clear on the quality materials. Your friends might not be your target market if you’re skint / having to work for £4 an hour. However I’d also suggest looking at other work options that use your talents. Good luck.

Sorry OP but I wouldn’t pay £15 for that. It’s a fairly basic hat, I could buy the equivalent for
much less. I was expecting something more intricate when you said it was handmade then mentioned the price…

£5.00 cost for materials?
Bollox…
Hobbycraft have almost permanent two for one on their yarn/wool. So £3 max for enough wool for a cheap bobble hat.
A bobble hat I can buy for two or three quid from anywhere like Primark.

Id not pay more than a fiver for that. Sorry.

Wasn’t there a thread on this a while ago, from the perspective of a friend who’d been charged for a hat?

Anyway, I wouldn’t pay £15 for one of those. I bought a couple from Love Your Melon a couple of years ago as they did a collaboration with a set of characters that I collect so didn’t mind paying those.

My sister makes beautiful blankets and hats etc. I've suggested she sell them. But people would never pay the prices that they would cost. In terms of expensive yarn or her time. Such a shame as they are lovely.

As other PP have said it would be a nice idea to do mummy and me beanies. Maybe you could offer personalization (embroider initials on the hat rim for example). And I'd do them in cotton which is a lot cheaper, and more suitable for sensitive baby skin. And machine washable so practical too. You could also make baby blankets, which people expect to pay more for as gifts.

Your knits look lovely but I'd pick a different colour palette. Yours is a little washed out. Maybe either bright, happy pops of colour, or instagrammy beige/muted pink tones.

These were £16 for the two. The smaller bag will fit my kid until she is about 4/5 and the larger one until she is nine so we’re getting 3/4 years out of them. They are crocheted but it’s similar product.

I don’t want to sound rude, so I apologise but I take it that from posting this, you do want honest opinions! I WOULD pay £15 for a hat made by hand and supporting a small business, but I wouldn’t pay £15 for the hats you have posted. As lovely as they are, they are identical to hats I could pay £5 for. I do buy a lot from small businesses but that’s because what they make is different. Like a personalised hat for the children, or something else that really stands out as different to the mass produced hats in primark.

They are definitely worth £15!! Anyone comparing to primark is not your target market!

Love love love these!!

I can see the quality. Alpaca is so lovely. I think they are fairly priced. Unfortunately fast fashion is big and a lot of people don't appreciate quality these days.

I wouldn't as am trying to save my money so if I wanted a hat I would go on Vinted there cute though

She’s called Little Foot Bootique on Instagram and she ships :) I got my firstborn a gorgeous bee jumper. Love her bits!