Selling Question...

[snyder]

so i have a good start of where to try and sell...now do you guys just look at the piece and think of a price or do you keep track of your time that you put into the work and figure up the price that way... twoclones just worked on that bench.... did you keep track of your time and i would like to know how long that took you.. ..ive also read someone say a little bear usually goes for $100 all day long... and to get good at making them and fast to make more money..

[Donsexton]

I don't sell much now days I donate most of my work but that sounds like a good price. Butch can better help you with the journey you want to be on.

[Robson Valley]

At the corner where our Main Street crosses HWY 16, is an abandoned and cleaned up gas station property. Pretty good parking. There's a chainsaw carver who works there in the summers. Sells just about as fast as he can carve. I have an 18" mountain sheep and an 18" bear. He does stuff up to 6' or so.
Several points:
Excellent visibility, literally.
He is confident and quick.
Not too big. Tourists are travellers, where are they going to pack it in their load?
$100 seems to be a break-point in price.

[ig Jeff]

I drove by a mini storage place the other day and their logo was something that I think would make a good carving. How do you approach a business with an idea for a carving? has anyone ever done that?

thanks

[twoclones]

Chainsaw Carver in McBride? I'd like to know who that is for inclusion on my map.

Visibility is probably more important that good traffic flow. Size makes a difference to travelers for sure. I think it's Brandy McElroy who came up with the term "suitcase bear" when making carvings for tourists to fly home with.

When I price something under $100, which I do fairly often, it's usually a piece which I personally do not like but doesn't quite deserve to be firewood.

[twoclones]

Originally Posted by snyder

twoclones just worked on that bench.... did you keep track of your time and i would like to know how long that took you.. ..ive also read someone say a little bear usually goes for $100 all day long... and to get good at making them and fast to make more money..

No. I do not keep track of hours because so many things get in the way keeping an accurate account. Customers visit, friends visit, you see something shiny.... I do know that I can sculpt and assemble a bench like that in 3 days {6 hour days}. Then there is the time and expense of acquiring the log, milling the slabs, applying multiple coats of finish, and marketing. Some times a lot of effort is put into researching the subject as well. The number of dollars I have spent on buying books and statues for reference is almost shameful!

Speed is for losers and experts.
Many a new carver, to their own detriment, have worked harder at being fast than at being good. Avoid that trap. Learn to carve a better looking bear and if you always carve your best, you will become a little faster with each one you carve. Work on speed and you will produce crap.

[Robson Valley]

twoclones: I'll get some info on a few of them that I know.

[twoclones]

Originally Posted by ig Jeff

I drove by a mini storage place the other day and their logo was something that I think would make a good carving. How do you approach a business with an idea for a carving? has anyone ever done that?

I used to do it a lot when I was building balloon sculptures. Photos and drawings are good but "miniatures" are great sales tools which can be presented to many potential clients. Often it's as simple as walking in and asking who is in charge.

I used to avoid meetings on Mondays or Fridays figuring managers were either busy starting or ending their week. Sales are basic psychology whether you are selling cars or sculptures. Remember names, leave business cards, be brief... ABC, always be closing... In other words, be prepared to shake hands and deliver your product rather than talk them to death and change their mind.

FYI - Balloon sculpture standing 7 feet tall.

[ig Jeff]

Has anyone ever tried to sell at local swap meets? I think they would be a good way to get your name out there if you had business cards AND flyers with pictures on it. If you had a bunch of small carvings you could sell for $50 or less you might make some sales.
If you have a website or craigslist listing you could saw something like 'see me at the swap on saturday' That would work if you had a corner that you set up on to sell, 'see me at the corner of X & Y , I'm there most weekends'

[Penny]

Originally Posted by twoclones

you see something shiny....

You owe me a new keyboard for that one! Sadly all too true.

Craigslist is free and works great for some carvers, even for others if you were to list once a week it wouldn't hurt.

I'm working with studio's this year, I have neither the traffic or personality to deal with selling myself.