I know we've discussed this issue before, but I think it must have gotten lost in the archive overhaul.

This is a question for those who sell their carvings. What methodology do you use, if any, in pricing? I'm specifically interested in how you price both in-the-round carvings and relief carvings.

Thanks :-)

Teri

[AlArchie]

Terry, I just got back from putting three carvings in Popov's Gallery in Minoqua, WI. I priced them at about what I figured wholesale costs were pulling in some of the downstate galleries. Pricing in lower Michigan seems to run around $25 to $40 an inch on fish with the higher figure going for the ones with better habitat or display. The owner seemed to think that was about right. It was FAR under what some of her established name carvers are asking, but to start, I'll be glad if they draw what I asked, and I was quite happy that she thought they were good enough for her gallery; they run a pretty classy place!

Retail prices on the three run from $215 to $530. That pans out to about 10 bucks an hour for the pieces, but I don't think this is ever going to be a 'money making' proposition.

Some of the other works of similar size and BASIC description run up to $4000.00, but these carvers have established their art and name recognition. I would bet that they also put in a proportionately larger amount of time working on their art. The owner said that they can only supply a very limited number each year, and it sounded like three or four.

I would suggest that anyone trying to get into the galleries, check out several different ones that handle material similar to yours, so you can figure out what the market will bear, and bear in mind that established carvers will be able to draw higher prices in specialty galleries. I pulled these same pieces from local galleries because they were not moving; the market for this particular kind of carving was not here. 60 miles down the road (hopefully) that will change. I had asked the other owners if I should lower the prices and they emphatically told me not to do that.

The few pieces that I have sold have drawn between $25 and $35 per inch. (don't ask what that pans out per hour! I don't even want to know)

I could probably give you a better response if I was actually selling something, but you asked about pricing, not selling. We'll see what happens at Popov's over the summer. They do handle a lot of aquatic art, and most seems to move, so this may be a good encouragement, or tell me to find a new outlet for my creativity!

Al

Thanks, Al....a selling price of $25-40 per inch sounds like a pretty good formula, from what I see out there.

Teri

I agree with Rick on that. I am into Santero (Saint-Carving) and I have seem very taleted carvers that won't sell just because they started selling so cheap that people expect them to sell cheap eventhough their skills improved. It is better to lower the prices if needed rather than to struggle to get then up. Anyway, If a collector likes your work he/she will pay for it.

[flash=200,200][/flash] Sometimes if you price too cheap,people won't buy because they think there is something wrong. Check several places in your area that sell art like yours. You also need to consider your time spent on the piece, actual time, not visiting or coffee break time. Be honest and put a price on it that you think is fair for your time and cost of material. Also do you have any overhead? This also has to figure in to your price.

[Colin_Partridge]

Teri,
I carve large carvings as you know and my price is by the piece. Some pieces have more detail than others the more the detail the higher priced the carvings. I agree with Rick, I used to sell my carvings for next to nothing and still they would not sell. A fellow carver advised me that I should raise my price four times the amount and try that. I did and the carvings sold like crazy I could not believe it. So now I start them high and ask way more than I think they are worth. Most times the carvings sell right away so maybe I am still too low. My counter parts on the west coast sell their carvings for $1200.00 a foot and get it I could not sell my carvings for that I would be embarrased. I dont think you can put a dollar value on your work, figure out what you think they are worth for you to carve them where you make a fair price and can make a buck and if your happy and they sell then I would be happy with that. Maybe try raising you price on a couple of select carvings and see if they move. You will never know until you try.
Colin

Thanks for all the advice, you guys. I see what you're all saying and I guess I probably did start out too low. I have raised my prices in small increments since I first started selling last year, but I'm still always told my prices are too low. They're apparently not low enough to be considered as having 'something wrong' with them - they do sell as fast as I can make them, and I sometimes wish they wouldn't sell quite so quickly (that's weird, I know, but the pressure of keeping up can be distracting to my work).

It's a tough issue for me, because I do feel strongly about my work being affordable to 'just plain folk', whose lives and history are really where my work gets its roots. On the other hand, I am trying to make a living and need to realize enough profit to do that. The reproductions are scheduled to begin shipping to stores in June - maybe that will have a bearing on the affordability issue, I don't know.

I keep searching for that 'middle ground' where both considerations can be reasonably met. Maybe it isn't possible to mix 'business' and 'feelings', but I don't know if I can do it any other way, either. I'm weird, I know.

Sorry for the ramble....it's a quiet Sunday afternoon :-)

Teri

[lorax]

As a regular to your site, I would agree with you that your prices are too low, everyone is looking for a bargain, not just a low price. If I pay you 300 for a santa that you used sell for $150, you may feel a little guilt (I still always do) However if you make sound like the I am getting a bargain, and I believe it, then I will be a happy customer, and may give you return business or referrals. That is how so many retailers do well with their 'sales'

Keep in mind your clientel may change with your prices and it may take time, but with the maket-ability of your carvings, you may not even notice.

I have always priced by the time I put in on a project. $10.00 an hour is fine but you have to consider the artistic value of your piece. The quality of the piece is also a factor. I have had the good fortune to sell about everything I have had for sale. Either I am too low or just lucky.

[Nutmeg Designs]

this 25-40 per inch would be an easy way to price items, but would that price be a wholesale or retail price?

also, for in-the-round is the price for a linear measurement? what about relief, would that be sq in?