For those of you curious as to why handmade items can cost so much, here is a breakdown of what a simple scarf costs to make:
Merino wool: $15.99/skein
Beads to put on the scarf: $6.98
(California) Tax on materials: $1.90
We are already up to $24.87 for this scarf. But wait! What about the time and energy of the person making it? If you go strictly by 2013 federal minimum wage standards, that person would only receive $7.25/hour for a specialized job. This particular scarf takes approximately three hours to make, thereby adding a cost of $21.75 to the bottom line.
Total for this particular "quick and easy" scarf is $46.62. Keep in mind, this does not include the time it took to write out and perfect the pattern. It took me about fifteen hours to perfect this scarf pattern, bringing labor costs up to $130.50. So now our grand total for this scarf is (drumroll please):
$177.12!!!!! And, come on, who would pay that for a simple scarf?
I charge $35.00 for the finished scarf and just $4.00 if all you want is the pattern to make one yourself. If you subtract the cost of the scarf materials from the price of the finished scarf ($35.00), I am left with $10.13. There are advertising and listing costs involved as well. At the end of it all I might be able to get a foofy coffee at the local 'Bux, if I'm lucky.
So basically, in this case anyway, I am covering the cost of materials and only charging my customers for 90 minutes of work (remember that it took 18 hours of actual work time!). And this is just yarn; think about the materials and time involved in stained glass, woodworking, metalsmithing, etc.
Bottom line: the cost for one of our items may be higher but we do it because we love it and it shows in our products. You can't say that about the products found at a chain store (Made in China, anyone?).
Please be kind to crafters who do it all themselves. If you don't want to pay their prices than don't do it, but please remember that they are already making sacrifices for their craft and for your pleasure. If you see something you like, please tell them. Just hearing appreciation for your work is sometimes worth all the effort.
I heartedly agree with your thoughts - to the extent that I only make things for family or charity - that way I don't feel my work is being denigrated by buyers haggling to get the item at a (sometimes MUCH) lower price.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you on cost and the profit. Average consumer has no idea what it takes to "make" a custom product. Many years ago I was told that if I create something it must be sold for three times higher then what I paid for materials. When I had my custom upholstery shop the vendors used to tell me to mark up 1/3 above the wholesale price so When the customer asked for discount (it was expected) then you still where able to make a profit. Today I sell nothing for the same reason you mentioned above.
ReplyDeleteVery well said. Let's face it if we did not enjoy making the items they would not be made at all since it is unlikely that one would make a fortune especially in the UK. I think that folks in the US are a bit more supportive of hand made items which is encouraging. Maybe this trend will make it across the pond.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you. I used to do craft fairs because I loved to make the things and I loved to meet all the people but I sure didn't get rich. I hoped to just cover my costs so I could buy more materials and continue to create, which is the most important part of this process.
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