Why do crafts people underprice their products?

[Pearlyearrings]

I'm coming new to making things and have been browsing sites like Folksy. I am really shocked at how low some prices are and can't understand why people are working for so little. I'm not naive- I've been running another business (service type) for over 10 years. I know about factoring in time, materials, all the admin time, advertising, and fixed overheads. I'm just shocked at how one seller is selling earrings for £8 but another at a more realistic £30. For £8 they are barely covering time and materials. Anyone else noticed this? It makes it harder for people to charge a fair rate for their work when others almost give away their products.

The people who would pay over £100 for a decorative wrap are as rare as hen's teeth - why would you when you can get one on the high street for less than half that? Or you would buy a designer wrap.

Because people want something they can't get on the High Street ( Not on the High Street - anyone??)

It's all in the marketing. If you could find an outlet - they might add on 25% commission- which sold upmarket items then that would be the answer, or create your own unique brand. I don't believe people won't pay - they are out there- they just have to know about you and value it.

I believe that not enough people would be prepared to pay that sort of money to make it worth the time, effort and expense.

If you sell via somewhere that adds on 25% commission, that makes the item even more expensive. That or you are again in the posisiton of under pricing your time.

If you believe it's not possible then it won't happen.

I was thinking of shops like Liberty in London who are known for selling unique handcrafted items, sites like Not on the High Street and other upmarket babywear shops in London .

My feeling is you need to think 'bigger' and look to London to sell things like that and get a good PR to help you if you intend to make it into a business.

Good for you.

Errrr...those were ideas for you , not me.

Any suggestions for selling art Pearly?

I didn't realise this thread was still going, I though I killed it!

Regarding PR, it's something I'm going to consider. I think it would be worth it and do need to look into it.

I sell the majority of my work through galleries and gift shops who take roughly 50% commission which works for me as I'll send a big order out every now and again and I don't have to do the selling. I live on an island so the cost of travelling to the mainland is expensive so wholesale isn't that bad for me.

I have taken part in quite a few retail fairs and have found that the most successful are open studio events and a Christmas fair at an art gallery, places where people expect to pay more.

Choosing where to sell is key, and I'm definitely being more selective going forward.

I make a fair amount of stuff ..... for me .

I couldn't imagine selling any of it for enough to make a profit even if I wanted to.

When I sew I only use lovely fabrics (mostly natural fibres) generally, so a dress with 3m of fabric might cost £50-60. When I weave or spin I use natural fibres. I am making a large scarf/shawl for myself and another one for DD - the yarn cost me £120 for the two of them.

I make candles for home and for a charity I am involved with to sell for profit (they buy the stuff and I just make them -for nothing), soy wax, nice fragrances, nice jars or tins. I wouldn't want to sell those for a profit either tbh.

Very tricky and I am always prepared to pay for something handmade because I know how much time goes into things.

Lexi what sort of art do you produce? what kind of level are you at?

Can only speak about where I buy..

local art shops and galleries

national art exhibitions- eg RA summer show,

NOT the RA (for art that didn't make it) ,

the Affordable Art Show (London) ,

London Art Fair www.londonartfair.co.uk/Here
New English Art Club exhibitions

Local- our county does Open Studios every autumn- artists open their homes/workshops to exhibit

Artists' own websites

art shops and galleries nationally in high tourist areas

Hi Pearly, thanks for your thoughts, always good to have some input from someone else. Sadly I am not the talented one it is a family member but I help out with the business side.

It is detailed and realistic fine art. Variety of subjects. Sometimes for commission sometimes selling originals or reproductions. Finding it difficult to find the sales, especially at higher price points.

Probably need to try to get into London but it is very costly doing shows down there, gallery commission rates are high and often the work isn't "modern" enough

Lexilooo just a thought but have you tried art exhibitions at colleges etc? Theres also a gallery boat on the canals that tours the country selling art mainly to tourists I believe but their work often has a fairly high price point (several hundreds) but they don't charge very much for you to sell with them.

Also I organised an art competition/exhibition last year at a local school, got the children involved and bought prize ribbons (really cheap on ebay about £5 I think for ribbons 1st - 6th place and a multipack of 100). It cost me practically nothing to put the exhibition on, and we made a few hundred selling donated art work but our very wonderful resident artist donated a piece of beautiful art for us to auction. It sold for less than she would usually sell for but several parents have since ordered pieces from her. She has sold more to the parents since our exhibition than she did in the 12 months previous.

Its an easy way to get your work out there.

We have done one at a local school a few times and it does tend to attract a good mix of people. Never heard of the canal thing though...... ..