Quality or Quantity

[Nutmeg Designs]

Jester
I have been trying to sell my carvings for over a year with one bits. Well, i have one sold the last day of a four day craft fair. But half an hour after selling it she came back and wanted to return it. said she had been laided off and should not be spending that kind of maoney. I told it back and refunded her money. Even thow she had a bad full of other stuff.

Now my post is really about something else.

I carve in the round and i feel i put alot of detail into my carving. But i don't think people want Quality but Quantity. Search the web for other carving i see where people are selling their "2D-in-the-round" carvings for more money. but still i have yet to sell one. Now what i call "2D-in-the-round" is were you would take a round stock and trace over your figurien with a "v" tool and then painting. Head Bange
Now don't take me wronge. I am not saying my carvings are better or worse but it's just not the style i prefer to carve.

What's your thought on this? do people want more for less?

[Lynn O. Doughty]

I went to your website but no prices were given so I can't really comment on what you're charging. I went to the shop that also displays your work and couldnt find anything there either. Maybe part of the problem is this lack of information. If you're trying to sell something you have to tell them how much.

People are naturally interested in quality and are willing to pay for it if they really want it. Quantity is not really part of the equation as a collector normally only buys one of a kind.

I don't really understand your 2-D in-the-round. I think you mean just in-the-round. To me 1-D would be a flat sheet of paper. 2-D would be a relief carving. 3-D would be in-the-round as it would be dimensional from all sides.

[AlArchie]

For the most part (there are exceptions) people are looking for very simple items at craft shows. Things that are usually sold for under 10 bucks. A lot of these are cut-outs, more than carvings, that may have a few v-cuts on them to say they are carved, or items that are turned out rapidly and painted quickly.

I've sold a few, darn few, items at craft shows, but have also sold darn few items anywhere. But the galleries have been a lot kinder to me than the craft shows. With one exception.......I carve small items and give them to the little kids who seem thrilled to get a quickly carved item. I also demonstrate hooey sticks and a few easily learned magic tricks. I have more fun than selling anything and that somehow makes the craft shows enjoyable even if nothing gets sold.

Al

[Terry Vance]

I agree with Lynn & Al. I have tried to sell at craft fairs and it is always the same. People, I think, as a general rule want something for nothing. Plus a lot of people think that it only takes a few minutes to turn out a carving, so they should be cheap.

I think the best place to sell is through a gallery or in a high traffic tourist area. People on vacation seem to let go of the money more freely.

My two cants worth....not worth much more.

[Tom-H]

My two cents worth! "if you want to go and shoot a moose, you must go where the moose are". Craft shows are for crafts. But there are a wide spectrum of craft shows out there. The common craft show will accept anything as long as one pays for a table. I think $25 is the maximum most people at these sales will spend for an item. At the other end are some craft shows that are juried (work must be judged and accepted). The quality is up at these shows, so might be the prices. But I have found that participating in any type of show or sale that has the word ART in it is where I'll sell the more expensive items..($50 to $400). There again just my experience. Tom H

[Ashbys]

I went to your ebay store site and to be blunt I would never purchase one of your carvings from your site.

The work looks to be good , but I really could not tell. If I am going to pay 200.00 for a carving , I want to see close up details , in a well focused close up. To show me a carving , which is either out of focus or too far away to see the real detail of the carving , I will assume the carving is of low quality , poor workmanship , or not worth the asking price.

Improve your pictures , Show close up details, your selling a one of a kind figure, then you need to treat it like it is a one of a kind and show what makes it special and worth the money.

Look at Lynn's site , ok a distance picture to show carving , but then the detail pictures that really let you see the cuts , the style , the design. Outside of his name , you can easily see why he can get the money he ask.

You have to sell the product in pictures , that means close up photos and all sided views.

My opinion.

Ash

[Lynn O. Doughty]

If you want to sell your carvings then you're going to have to make them YOUR carvings, distinct from everyone elses. Ash is right on the money....It pays to advertise but it pays a lot to advertise correctly.

I sell a lot of carvings. Not as many as I would like but I can't complain. The people who buy my work have usually bought it before. One fella in California has close to 30 of my carvings. Most of my collectors have 4 or 5. I delivered the Auctioneer scene the other day to a lady who works at a Dentist's office who is also a collector. He has a large scene of mine along with about 6 other pieces. That's where I got her business from. Now she has a large scene which will no doubt end up being displayed at her husband's Auction Barn which will probably generate even more sales.

I've displayed and sold at craft shows and you're right....it's a losing proposition. I've displayed at Western Shows and have done quite well there although the expense is big. I've displayed at Kowboy Poetry Events such as the Santa Clarita Festival in CA and have done teriffic but again the expense really hammers you. I've advertised in national publications and have sold a load through that method but it's extremely expensive so I can't do it on a constant basis. Believe it or not, I seem to be doing best at the moment selling to other woodcarvers! That's great! Although I'm sure everyone who buys my pieces appreciate them, I know that when a woodcarver buys one they really, really appreciate them as I do their business.

In sum, woodcarvings are like anything you want to sell: produce the best product you can, price it reasonably, present it in an appealling manner and they will beat a path to your workshop!

[wood_carver28]

I agree with these other guys you have to present your self professional if you want professional results remeber what you carve is one of a kind and me when I tell someone a price thats what Ill get or it will set in my yard or house but thats me. Find you some folks that are retired and building a nice house and they will buy your art no matter the cost just for somthing in their house to show and talk about. Alot of my carvings are now conversation pieces. But regardless keep on carving and when you do start selling your art you will have a bunch to sell.

[Plain_Ol_Ed]

This may or may not apply ... I only Whittle what I feel like and enjoy whittling (never with the intent of sellin anything). Being that I enjoy the subjects that I am whittling, I naturally hang out on sites with like minded folks. When I post a photo, kind of for bragging purposes, there's almost always somebody who want to buy it, usually for more than what I figure it's really worth (who am I to complain).

[Nutmeg Designs]

Thats alot of great infomation. I did not realize my pictures were not good enough. I will try to get nicer ones from different angles and upclose this weekend.

During my time at the craft fair i had a great time and alot of nice people commenting on my gnomes first santa last. but that was it. at the end of the day all my carvings were still there.

and for those of you that was "blunt and honest" thanks alot. that's just what i am looking for. no candy coating here!Ice Cream

And as a side note, my comment about 2D-carving was referring to the lack of detail in the carvings but a few sweeps of the "V" tool to say it was carved.

I have not been around for long but would you say my Gnomes are "distinct"? i have not seen may Gnomes. or i should say i have not seen a fraction of gnome as i have santas.....

Thanks for all of your imputs.