[Claude]

Folks, I need some advice. The attached photo is my first commission. Some women who own a cross-stitch needlework shop asked me to carve their store "symbol", an acorn with a crown, to hang on the wall of the store. This store is the one that sold my "quilting Santa" for me, also. The colors are the same they used on their business cards and stationary, etc. The carving is on red oak, and measures roughly 14 inches tall, 11 inches wide, and 1.5 inches thick. I had to laminate a couple of oak boards to get the thickness I needed. The advice I need is about how much should I charge them? We didn't discuss price before I started (I know I should have...). The materials cost of the wood was $20.00. If you don't want to comment in the public forum, please feel free to send me a private message.

Thanks,
Claude

[artolver]

Claude, It all depends........if the ladies shop is quite successful and in an upscale 'hood, I think a good price, more than $100.00
however if they will be selling your work, being a bit generous would be good for you in the long run.
very nice Carving... good luck
Art

[wade clark]

C O O L !
You could set your price high and take half or more of it in trade. Then they see the value of your work and time, and feel that you gave them a great deal. Makes it easy on them too that way.
Wade

[GILLY]

That's a good question.......does a person factor in time at a certain hourly rate?

[Callynne]

Claude, sorry, I don't have any idea about pricing (hope you've received lots of PM's about that). I just wanted to say what a great job you did on it! It really is beautiful! Deborah

[brian bailey]

Claude,

In reading your post, I get the impression that you are carving with a business venture in mind.

In any business venture you need to know your costs. You need to know exactly what your costs are. I can't emphasize this enough!
Then you need to establish how much you are willing to work for, like in $$/ hr.

When you put the two together,then you can establish a price on your work.

When you have that price, you then have to take a look at what the market will bear for your item. This can be a difficult part of the process. My advice here is don't use Ebay as a price guide! Toooo many people are giving their work / product away there, foolishly thinking that they're in business.

After you have checked the market out for simular items and have compared prices. You'll have to decide for yourself whether this venture was worth it or not to you.

Actually, all of the above should be done before you accept to do any job.

Just remember, that your work is Art and should be priced accordingly. Don't give your work away!

I make custom furniture and have after the fact kicked myself for pricing my work to low just to keep busy. Don't fall into that trap.

Just my 2 cents from a sore butt poster.

[Dylan]

Claude,
Time factors heavily in the prices for my pieces. Also what the market will bear, I always try to give them a fair price BUT you should never sell your self short. It is art and they have to be willing to pay for art. Another way to come up with a price is to take to the square inchs and multiple it by X$ per square inch. So if you charged $1 per square inch the price would be $154. I've always felt that the time it took me to make something was more importent then how big it was. The buyers think that big should be more, small should be less but when you look at the time it takes that is not always the case.
Hope that this helps. It's a nice piece.
Dylan

[Kenny_S]

Also depends on location. Meaning is it a depressed area. Carvings around here SEK go for lower prices as it is a very depressed economy area. Factor that in also. That piece will be with the business tilll they close.

I think your carving is fantastic.

[mwilleson]

Never done pricing myself, but here's a link to an article Joe Dillet wrote for the carvers companion online magazine.

http://carverscompanion.com/Ezine/Vo...odcarving.html

[AlArchie]

This is a bit of hind sight, but I would think it bad practice to do ANYTHING without areeing on the price, upfront. At this stage, though I think the only reasonable option is to approach these folks with a copy of your materials bill and a list of the time you spent, along with an estimate from a sign shop on the cost of a similar piece, then ask them what they think is a fair price. All this negotiation should have taken place before hand, but that's not where you are at now.

Last year I turned down a commision for two carvings....after figuring out my time and material, i quoted them at $150 each, and they thought $25 was fair....guess what?

Just as a quick estimate, I'd say that a sign like the one you did would fair market out at $100 to $150, with no problem at all.

Al