Selling your work

[kaiserb]

I have been working on a number of carvings lately with the intent of selling them at various venues (shows, ebay, online, etc.) I have done a couple of shows in the past with moderate success, however the take a lot of time (number of hours of manning the booth, not carving time) I am wanting to capitalize on the internet and its advantages.

I was wondering what method the rest of you (who sell carvings) use and is it successful?

[Kenny_S]

I don't sell on the net or ebay. Research ebay before you start there. There are some who do sell on ebay but I don't think they are getting rich or time back from their efforts. Now that is JMHO.

I sell at a high end shop 152 miles from where I live. They have a termendious amount of tourist from all over and is even on several tour bus trips. Actually the whole town(small) caters to tourist.They only sell products made in Kansas. Their commison are a little high but we get a fair price for the stage of carving we are at now. With improvement, price goes up. I feel honored that they liked our carvings and wanted to sell them. Have had some success at local craft fairs as there isn't any other carvers showing at these fairs. I take enough to carve while sitting and talking to people.
Only a few get rich at selling their carvings, some uses their hobby/business as a tax write off. Mostly, I just want to regroup some funds to keep my habit going.
However, like I said, research ebay, may be what you are looking for.

[Thor]

Kenny,
I can fully appreciate the frustration of doing shows where you have to pay a fee to enter, and spend a day or weekend with uncertain results.

I have been in art sales all of my professional career, and a gallery owner for over 13 years. My professional suggestion to you is this...

Find a small group of artists in your area who want to have a show for the upcoming holidays. Each of you come up with a list of potential friends, clients, friends of clients, friends of friends who may want to come have a good time at someone's house or studio. It doesn't even have to be one of the artists. Some people just like to host this kind of thing. Only about 3 out of 10 will show up, so make the lists plentiful. You may include your bank teller, your hair person, your next door neighbor, or even the county commissioner.

Now, each of you get a body of work together, have regular visits with each other to help with pricing, improvements, or discuss display posibilities. Then, plan a menu for feeding all of the guests and if you're so inclined, beer or wine helps with sales more than you can imagine....You might even plan to include a door prize to excite folks.
Then, send out fliers or invitations, sit back, have a party and watch the buying frenzie.
The cost is minimum, the results may even turn into an annual show, the results are fun, less stress than many other ways, and much more profitable since they don't involve consignment fees, mystery e-bay buyers, or having to put all of your energy into just one sale....sell everything in one day or weekend show.
I've done this many times, encouraged others to try it, and seen it work out to be very successful.
Thor

[Ashbys]

Kenny

I have to ask, your location says South East Kansas, I lived out there many many moons ago, in Louisburg. Saying that your selling 150 miles , you selling in the Ozarks or towards Witchta ? And do they have a web site.

Now , for the rest of the statement, It truly is a shame that there is not a place that combined a single place where carver could have an outlet , that would be run by carvers. Or a single on line store that could or would offer North American carvings. I know there are a lot of carvers , but it seems that all have two problems, one a real outlet and second the value of the carvings.

Wonder what it would take to establish a store where , the artist/carver gets the majority of the value. and direction for commision work, in a store set up to a natural enviorment style, something like combine with a garden, artifical trees , someplace set up to really show off the carvings.

Ash

[kaiserb]

Originally Posted by Ashbys

Now , for the rest of the statement, It truly is a shame that there is not a place that combined a single place where carver could have an outlet , that would be run by carvers. Or a single on line store that could or would offer North American carvings. I know there are a lot of carvers , but it seems that all have two problems, one a real outlet and second the value of the carvings.

Wonder what it would take to establish a store where , the artist/carver gets the majority of the value. and direction for commision work, in a store set up to a natural enviorment style, something like combine with a garden, artifical trees , someplace set up to really show off the carvings.

Ash

I know there are a lot of specialized stores on the internet. Some are auction based, others are just plain store fronts. It would be nice to set up an internet retail store site, similar to Amazon stores etc. that catered to wood carvings. I think the market is a little on the small side and is probably why you do not see this already. Because of the small market the fees would be exhorbitant to cover operating costs.

I have found, while asking around, that people own art work that hangs on the wall (usually framed posters, or paintings). I think they have this for a couple of reasons:

1. Houses in America have very few places to display statuary or sculpture. No built in nooks etc.
2. People do not like to dust.
3. Hutch and curio cabinet of the past have given way to enteretainment centers. Carvings do not look great next to a $2000 Dennon stereo.

I guess that is why I am trying to figure out the mechanics of selling work with a somewhat economical return. Heck if carving sales could cover my tool budget my wife would be happy...

[Kenny_S]

Ashbys,
Past Wichita about 25 miles on 96 towards Hutchinton. Two small towns Yoder and Haven. Yoder is the Kansas products and only Kansas and is called Kansas Sation, and the other in Haven and a variety of other stuff. So far, I am the only bark Carver in both places. Both have web sites but neither sell through the net. Nice trip for the little bride as she has relatives in Haven and we stay with them a couple of nights. We all grow up together so, have a lot in common. I believe there are some shoops who specialize in carvings but not in a thousand mile of here. There are Reason to Believe and Folk ART where several on this board do sell their carvings. Mostly, I believe a lot of Collectorsknow about them and go there.

Thor,
Thanks for your input and interesting concept using a Gallery comcept in the home. Never thought about that. Will give it some serious thought.

Kasiserb,
What we sell are wall hangings or Bark carving. I do have several that can be displayed eith on the wall or on a table, hutch, etc.

I know there are some areas that carvings sell do well and some areas, you are lucky to get 10% back in your time and money spent on the wood.
Funny how some people are willing to give you 50 cents and hour for your hard work but refuse to take 50 cents an hour for their hard work. No complaining but do have several carvings that when they wanted them, The price was right, but in the end, they weren't willing to pay the price. But then, people look for bargins but They either pay the price which is very reasonable or, I just put then in the hutch or give them to family members.

Don't get me wrong, I am selling and using the profits to buy more supplies and tools, Bought a Grizzly bench top air filter with two fans and it works great. Probably would have bought it anyway, but the selling has made it possible quicker.

Thanks all for your replies gentlemen, greatly appreciate them.

Regards,

[Goody]

My wife and I did the show circuit for quite awhile. The show fees went thru the roof $700 to $1200 for a 10 foot space. Items were supposed to be hand made and I could walk thru and tell what supplier catalog a lot of items came out of. How do you compete with that when you have the hours in doing a carving by hand. The general public will buy the painted imported blank for $15 instead of a completly hand carved one for $50.
We decided to rent a small storefront and sell from there. We try to stay reasonable with our prices and over the years I have developed a following for my Santas. People are starting to know we are there and the sales are growing slowly. I just put up a website recently but don't have it setup for sales yet(don't have enough carvings) I would like to carve for a living as my body is wearing out(wife Cant call me worthless, She can cash in all the Stainless steel joints when Im gone) but I can't afford health insurance or prescriptions without working full time. So for now as long as the storefront breaks even and the taxman doesn't rob us blind we will continue on. Here in Md if you do more than 1 show in a six month period you have to report your sales and yes the show promoters report that you did thier show.
Good Luck,
Goody

[kaiserb]

Originally Posted by Kenny_S

I know there are some areas that carvings sell do well and some areas, you are lucky to get 10% back in your time and money spent on the wood.
Funny how some people are willing to give you 50 cents and hour for your hard work but refuse to take 50 cents an hour for their hard work. No complaining but do have several carvings that when they wanted them, The price was right, but in the end, they weren't willing to pay the price. But then, people look for bargins but They either pay the price which is very reasonable or, I just put then in the hutch or give them to family members.

I did a commission piece once of a grapevine in relief it was trim for a custom kitchen. It was about 6" X 35' and took about 40 MH between 2 carvers. We made a little more than $0.50 per hour...we actually made about $22.50 per hour. However in the 10 years since I have made closer to the $0.50 per hour...

With everything averaged on Ebay I make the most per hour on the $1 handling fee for packaging the carvings.

[kaiserb]

Originally Posted by decoycarve

My wife and I did the show circuit for quite awhile. The show fees went thru the roof $700 to $1200 for a 10 foot space. Items were supposed to be hand made and I could walk thru and tell what supplier catalog a lot of items came out of. How do you compete with that when you have the hours in doing a carving by hand. The general public will buy the painted imported blank for $15 instead of a completly hand carved one for $50.

One show I did a while back...my last show, I had about 35 carved Santas, Ruprechts, etc. The show was restricted to "Craftspeople and Artisans" supposedly with no (please don't take offense to this) "Country style crap" I still remember making about $20 in sales paying a $200 show fee, and watching the lady across the aisle from me bend coat hangers into the shape of a pig and tie a ribbon on them...She netted about $2000.

I did get a chance to speak to the show promoter after the show and while I was not refunded anything for the show being a 90% country. I did buy one of the wire pigs and stuff it somewhere where I am sure he will not lose it.

[Kenny_S]

Brian,

I think we all have been there at one time or another. That is why I like the Kansas Station and the Scott Stuff in Central Kansas as they do promote items or products made in Kansas. However, There is some candles that I don't believe are made in Kansas but is being sold by a Kansasian, The Kansas Station has a higher volume of sells but like the people and the way they do business at the other.
Your post reminded me of a Christmas Craft fair about 20 mikes south of me in Oklahoma where 80 % of the venders had products that were not hand made in the US, if you catch my drift. I was really disappointed and said as much to the organizer. his comments, sumed up what I suspected. Money is Money! All he was doing was filling up space which is a good thing. However, when promoting hand made crafts, one thinks of a little old lady trying to make Christmas money with her crafts. On the up side, The little bride bought from the little old ladies and not from the "made in china" people.
Sorry for venting but understand where you are coming from.
Like I said, Nor planning on getting rich, but to be able to buy more wood and tools.
I appreciate all of your comments and maybe we got off track from the original post. That I apologize for.

Regards,