WarmGlass.com

I am currently booking shows for fall and expect to add my fusing work with my mosaic work. Can you give me an idea what you would sell this for. It's a 12" circle in the stand.

there's no way for us to tell. prices vary across the country. we don't know how much time you put into this. we don't know what materials and overhead cost you.

it could be anywhere from 150 to 1000 dollars.

there's lots of info in the archives about pricing. a generic one that i tend to use is $x/lb + $n/hour. i can then adjust the final price by how much i want to sell it and even to whom i am selling it to.

Nice look. I like more Deco myself, and profiles. Should be at least $ 200 I would think. Good luck.

So much of pricing depends on where you're selling it, how well you're known and what part of the country you're in.

Here in CA, customers do not expect to pay gallery prices at shows, in my experience. Elsewhere in the country, that may not be an issue.

When you're "new" to customers, it's a challenge to sell work for higher prices, too. Once they're gotten to know you, and know that you're going to be around for the long haul in the event there is a problem with a piece and that you stand behind your work, it gets easier.

It also depends on finding the right customer base for Deco work. You might be able to sell your piece for a much higher price at an Art Deco related show or gallery than you could at a typical show that appeals to a wider range of customers.

Whatever you sell it for, make sure it's a price you can live with. I see so many newbies selling their work for the cost of materials plus a smidge. They're really hurting themselves in the long run because they won't want to work for free forever.

Good luck!

Geri

It's an issue we all deal with, sometimes badly, and revisit everytime we hang a tag on something. I just sold three of my large combed platter at, what for me, was a large price. After they were gone, I started wondering if they should have been more.

Anyway, I hired a marketing specialist to help with all that and here's his way of thinking about it.

You have costs; material, electricity, Mai-Tai mix etc. Add all that up and double it. That's one part of the equation that you'll need to revisit every time you buy material.

Now, if you had to hire someone to make that piece, how much would you pay them? In other words, if you are doing other things, design development, drinking Mai-Tais or anything else that would keep you from making that piece, how much would labor cost you?

Finally, since it's your operation, if you DID hire someone to make it for you, how much more would you want for your business. The work they did, your costs are your basic expenses. Add a medium percentage to it, say 30% and that's your wholesale cost. Now, double THAT figure and that's your retail price. You may put a sale percentage on the piece, but don't sell yourself short.

You work for YOU, and you need your sallary as well as money for your business.

Good luck,
Jerry