How to Price your Items for Craft Fairs or Online Sites like Etsy
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- Опубликовано: 14 июл 2024
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Hey Everyone! This is a simple little video answering a common question that I get about how to price your items for sale at craft fairs or online sites like Etsy. Hope you can take away some useful tips!
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I'm so glad you mentioned community health! That's something that very often gets forgotten especially by people just starting out, thank you! Definitely subbing!
A few years later, this info is still completely relevant. Very good tips for those of us just starting out. You are also a pleasure to watch and listen to :)
Thank you
This is a question/dilemma I come across very often - for myself and from other people. It's not easy to get the balance right, getting a fair price for our work but also a price people are willing to pay. And as you said, there are so many factors involved. Thanks for doing this video.
Thank you so much for approaching a "delicate" subject without going way over to the dark side. You brought up some sobering issues in a truthful manner and everyone heading into craft shows can expect reality to happen!
I really felt you on when you said about some sellers who undercut the price of items because they don't use it as a bussiness. I have no problem if people have it as a hobby, but it really affects me as someone who sells handmade jewelry when I sell jewelry and they use cheap materials and price it for half as mine, but its overall selling for more and my quality is higher as I do pay for those prices itself (or they don't put money into their packaging, bagging, extras, ink other matieral). It's just frustrating and I am glad you metioned it.
I would love tips on photographing and on displaying at craft fairs.
Thanks so much!
This was really helpful.
One thing you made me think of was if I can't sell what I make and make money off it then maybe I should try something else.
I don't want to put all that work into the items and have to sell them at a cost less than it cost me to make it.
Thanks again!
Blessings,
Neesie
You are very smart, and have great ideas. So refreshing to hear person like what they do. I'm handicapped and no longer able to work.. Can't wait to find all your videos. God bless
I crochet and have gotten fairly proficient with working stitches faster etc.. but one outfit can take me 10 hours or so... Baby outfits that are not very big. My problem is, the time put in, then you really can't pay yourself $15. An hour. I love making crocheted items, but feels a bit defeating when so much time is put into it and you make $ 25. To $30. On an item that took 8 to 12 hrs to make...
so true the the time spent no way someone would pay that much. People are cheap
One of the problems with markets being flooded with cheap foreign goods. People have become accustomed to buying items that only cost pennies to make and not having them last.
Susan Hoffman sometimes I have to decide that this item is not one I can market for sale. We do our craft because we love , but we still have to keep the bottom line in mind.
My main craft is crocheting as well, and I do one or two fairs a year. One at my church for an afternoon for $20 for a 6ft table (I think of it as a tithe), and the other my boyfriend funds because it's a military truck trade show he does every other year- I make camo colored scarves, and pretty ones for the ladies, too. I don't move a whole lot of inventory, but I'm proud of the stuff that does (and am complimented--I love seeing people wearing stuff I've made), and the ones that don't sell after two years get donated. (We have a scarf fence outside our library every year.) I mainly make scarves because I can get one done a week, (moss stitch with varigated yarn is quite fun and beautiful, and quick and easy). I price about $8 for a kid's scarf, $15 for an adult, $18-20 if it's extra long or a complicated pattern. I severely undercut my time price, but it's something I do to keep my hands busy while watching TV so I'm not binge eating instead.
P.S. I have a day job that pays decently, so I'm not too worried about making enough profit to pay the bills.
Some good points. The comparison of similar products is a good suggestion, as well cost plus pricing. I would also suggest trying out various prices for your product over different craft sales and see how it sells. I am an Etsy seller and I have done over a dozen craft sales over the last few years.
Find the sweet spot:
At one show I priced my product at $35 and sold appr $900 worth at one Christmas weekend fair, the following year I dropped it to $30 and sold $1500 worth. Sometimes it helps to put myself in the customers place and think, would I buy this for if I was shopping for my kids. (Obviously people will spend different amounts based on their income etc but it does help).
Price Range at a fair:
Probably the most important thing I've learned is that there is a typical price range of products at a craft fair say from $5 - $30. I would guess that the average price being around $20-$25 (which I think is similar to the Etsy average) Shoppers have a rough budget in mind and number of people they are shopping for - so they are likely to buy a number of $25 items than say $65 or $100 items.
One seller I talked to, made beautiful animal stuffies but at $65 they were not selling at all. While her pricing was understandable for the amount of work and quality, etc. people are used to paying a lot less for mass produced stuffies.
The same thing with someone selling prints in the $100-250 range.
Also good to keep in mind is that in addition to your table costs your time selling at the craft fair should be in your pricing. Usually it is a full day or two or solid work with little breaks.
The one thing I have realized is that the organizers definitely make their money by pre-selling the tables, or charging an entry fee. So I am choosy about craft fairs - usually I avoid expensive table costs (over $200) and if they charge too high an entry fee. Also want to make sure there will be a decent crowd, at least a couple thousand attendees. The location of the craft fair, if you are in higher income part of town, the buyers are likely to spend more.
thank you for your input ....very good
$65 is totally reasonable for a lot of hand-crafted plushies, but, yeah, it sounds high when the customers are used to mass manufactured products. It's why many plush makers do custom character commissions; a plush of the customer's own character design is easily worth the fair artisan price.
Thanks, Melanie! This info is very helpful indeed. I hadn't considered that the cost of materials plus labor would be wholesale and not retail. I'm so glad I watched this video (twice) to get that drilled into my head.
Thank you so much for this helpful video!!! I'm trying to open an online shop with crocheted items and pricing them was my biggest concern. I've had issues with some customers in my town in Italy 'cause they were like "I know the yarn you used costs X why are you charging me Y?" They were making me feel 'greedy' for rightfully charging the time I actually spent making the item for them. So thank you for your help, I needed it :D
So helpful, thanks!! I struggle with my Etsy store pricing because knitting takes so.... much... time!! My items are the most expensive of its kind listed, and I'm only "paying" myself $4/hr.
I so agree with you about our hard wonderfully inspired work....I am a quilter but do different fabric items when I need a break and like to share them...all my friends are like.....you need to sell these.....I was in a Christmas Bazaar last year and it seemed like it was alot of families giving their children X amount of $$ t but Christmas gifts for the family and friends.....I had wonderful zippered bags....different beautiful fabrics not found in stores....but no one wanted to pay $12-$14 ....so sold only a handful....certainly not enough to pay for table....I sold more of the mini bags I sold as key chains/coin bag for $5.00 There is no way we can compete with overseas prices........yet I love creating lovely things....my quilts are beautiful but only loved ones receive them due to I am tired of justifing my price for a full size beautifully designed quilt. So I often just settle for $ to just make it possible to get more fabric to create more..........crazy world
Same thing. I made a bunch of mermaid tail blankets for my niece and her friends and everyone was saying "Sell it on etsy!", but when I looked at their going price there...the cost of yarn, and the amount of TIME it takes to make them, I couldn't compete. I mean some people were charging only $20 for adult sized blankets! That's completely disproportionate to the cost of the yarn it took to make those blankets, not to mention time.
This was very interesting as someone starting out down the route of becoming self employed. Lots of things to think about
I'm not sure how the sewing community works but in terms of general "maker community" also consider your time for other things. how much time to go get your thread and fabric, drive time and standing at the cutting table. Are you charging to pack the items, or to drop the package at the post office? Fuel for your vehicle to get to and from everywhere should be considered. I know that sewing is competitive because of so many hobbyists but if you are pursuing this as a business and not a hobby 15 per hour is an insult to yourself. This took years to get to where you are, charge what you are worth, dont compete with cheap chinese sweat shop prices. just my 2 cents, from a woodworker.
Well stated Time Mills
Well written! I agree too
Where I live...for the craft fairs end of it anyway....if one were to factor all that in we'd have no business. I'm a hobbyist contributing to the household & I do have life outside of crafting. All that you suggest would take time away from all that & frankly makes my head spin but I can see it for big business though...
OXOX I agree with your comment totally. We makers start out as happy hopefuls but then the real world closes in. Ppl do not respect & will not pay for out makes. Ppl want to barter like we are a flea market. That is common & desperate ppl let their makes go for dirt....after all there is Walmart/China :(
Kathy Tincler People often want to barter so much because crafters charge for every little thing such as the cost of a lightbulb that blew or charging for the lunch they ate midwah through the project construction. There are certain things you shouldn't factor into your price but while people continue to, people will continue to barter.
Melanie I always REALLY appreciate your videos! Thank you so much for this! Price points have been something I've really struggled with!
Thank you so very much for sharing! My husband does my pricing and I'm ALWAYS saying it's too much, but he does EXACTLY what you said to do and he is right on target. Guess I need to apologize to him. lol. Again, thank you for your help! I'm subscribing to your channel as soon as I finish this post!
Dear Melanie,this is incredible how timely this video is! I'm just on my way of having a small business started,so this is very-very on time information :) thanks a lot!
those were such amazing tips. I've opened my own shop not long ago and it would have been so very helpful to watch this. The last few items I researched finally to be able to market myself better, and it changed everything. It's much more important than I imagined. Thank you so much for making this video!
SO helpful. This is an overwhelming process for sure. Would love a series with advice on other steps of the process! A question I have: how specific do your products need to be for an etsy shop or booth? Can you have things ranging from zippered pouches to felt children's toys or should you choose one type of item to focus on?
Thank you Melanie!~ This was a great and super informative video. I have an at home monogramming business, work occasionally at a sewing shop, and naturally am getting more and more requests for alterations, etc and I never knew how to charge for that at all! So this really helped guide me!
Love to finally see a quality looking video with great information! I would love to see more videos on tips for small business crafters!
Yes Melanie please continue to share. I started my sewing business over a yr. and interested in the how to 's in selling. Keep it coming...love your informative videos
This was super helpful! I would love to know more about how to go about buying materials at wholesale prices (I do crochet, beading, and several fabric based items) but had assumed you needed to be a bigger business to be able to access that kind of thing. Is this not the case? and what store(s) do you go to to find wholesale pricing? Thanks for any tips in that area. I would also love to see, as others have mentioned, more about photographing craft items for sale!
I hope you are having a great weekend! 😆
Your information is very helpful! Yes, please, continue to make these types of entries.
my brother and I are wanting to do our first craft show so i've been doing research and i've been trying to think of how to price my items. I loved your tip to check Etsy and stuff to see what other people charge for similar products it helped me settle on a price!
Some excellent information here Melanie. Have always wanted to start an Easy shop but have always been confused about how much to charge so this helped me out so much.
Thank you Melanie for the great advice and hints. Also I love your channel and tutorials!!!!
Yes, very helpful! Thanks so much for covering this!
This video is very informative. I only recently found you on you tube. I have watched other videos of items you made, and you explain everything so good that anyone can know what to do. I would also like to compliment you on how well you speak which makes understanding much better. Thank you for sharing your knowledge. Your videos are helping me tremendously!
Are any of you stumped on how to price your items? Hopefully this will help! New tutorial coming this week!
+Melanie Ham (out of topic but the color of your eyes is awesome :) )
Melanie Ham i
connie medeiros y
Melanie Ham
Melanie Ham just a thought.......I am not finished with the video yet, but based on where it looks like your next statements are heading i keep having a thought come to mind. Many times the crafter will get items at a sale or discounted price. However, it always seems that people want my items when i cannot get materials at a sale price. One hard lesson is to factor all of your material prices at regular, non-sale, everyday prices. When you do find that once in a century sale its much easier to do discounted sales and it will not hurt your bottom line, and you will not feel your being taken advantage of. The feeling of being taken advantage of leads to only one place....feeling bitter and in turn makes you not want to make those items anymore. If this ends up being covered...sorry i was impatient
This video was great! Thank you Melanie! I'm always struggling with pricing of my crocheted goods. I would love to see a video on photographing and the best way to list products! Thanks again :)
Super helpful. Thanks for explaining why we need to double for retail! I’ve never actually heard anyone explain the reason for doing this.
Melanie thank you for breaking down this information and I had it down to a science and am sooooo happy that you clarified it for me even more. You are a saint because I was very skeptical on how I was going to price my items fairly. I send blessings and pray for your continued success! Blessings!
+Carolyn Kirk best of luck to you!
Great advice & this video was perfectly timed!
Absolutely great video and info!!!! Thank you!
Thanks for sharing!!!! Very helpful...☺️
You're a doll! Thanks for all the tips on selling your own projects. I have so many ideas swirling now. Start out low and increase as your sell more and grow. Learn as you go but do your research.. Love :)
Thanks, very helpful tips!
Hey, Melanie! Great video! :)
I would really like your ideas and opinions on photographing items for your online shop. Covering topics such as simple how-to's, what makes a great photo, trends of how, etc... Could you also factor in how to shoot great pics on a very low budget and with a basic camera or cell phone? I would really love to see a video covering these problems! Thanks!
I use white backgrounds and natural light. It is best to take photos during the day time.
I subscribed because this was such an informative video -- I would never have thought to calculate the cost of thread into a sales price. I am currently needing a 12-step program over decoupage -- I cannot stop -- I make these really beautiful decoupaged with napkins tiles and I'm going to start selling them, and other type products, at my local farmers market -- I was using the larger guest towel size because I was decoupaging furniture, and it's what I had, but the little cocktail napkins, you get 4 tiles to 1 napkin, they fit perfectly and are much cheaper -- I was adding the cost of napkins, plus tiles, and didn't think to add the cost of the modpodge and finishing coat -- which I'm even thinking maybe using a school glue mixture as opposed to the mod podge for the initial coat to cut cost. So, thank you so much again for sharing your knowledge.
There is lots of room in the craft world for many, many crafters. I don't understand all the bickering that goes on -- as well as the secrecy of how did you make this or what do you charge. This tutorial was like a breath of fresh air of women supporting women in the business world. I'm old, so the only good thing about getting old is you get knowledge along the way. I've witnessed it happen so many times -- the more you share from an open heart, the more the Universe - however you define that term - gives back to you -- the person you share with may stab you right in the middle of your back, but suddenly you'll get a large order from a source who just found your work. So, good on you.
And I agree with the other poster -- you are beautiful and your eyes are filled with light.
sorry this got too long.
Best wishes in every endeavor
Still using the pouches example ....How much product inventory do you plan when you first open a online store ? Do you make 5 or 50 ? What are the Don'ts in creating a store? What can you do to stand out or to just be seen ?
I say profit margin should be minimum of $3 USD Online store is great for giving you a home to centralize your brand. Just start slow don't grow to fast, learn as you grow and go. To stand out you must study your competition and do it better, titles, descriptions, photos, customer service.
I would love to see more videos like this! How to photograph products, ect I want to try selling seeing crafts in the future.
Thanks for the video, it was very informative. Keep up the good work.
This was so helpful! Thank you! :)
That was really helpful, thank you!
Yes, please more videos like this. :) Thank you!
Thank you so much for this!! I need to change the way I price my cakes and Petit Fours and I think this method would really help!!
Awesome video! One topic I'd be very interested in learning more about is when & where can I find clearance fabrics & bag supplies. But this video is very well done and I just discovered your blog & love it too!!
Love the breakdown! Thank you! xo
Thank you so much. Finally a good explanation
Thank you for the video. I agree with your break down. Below are a lot of comments and I see myself in several. I make Backpacks. By the time I finish I make $10 for something that takes 6 hours(I'm a very slow sewer). I sew to relax. In my area people want a $60 bag for $20. I stop making them. Now I make it so unique that they want it for the price I set. Thank you again. Hopefully this year I can use your formula in my first craft festival.
Thank you so very much for sharing your useful info.
Very very helpful! Thank you so much!!
Appreciate this. Still breaks my heart that you’re no longer here x your legacy lives on
Very useful I have just booked my first craft show for December so I'm hungry for as much information as possible. Thank you
Great video! I'd encourage those future videos you commented on. Photographing and creating a listing that contains necessary info without being verbose! Personally, I price my items according to what the market will bear. I create fold formed metal jewelry. Higher prices reflect my time, imagination, and buyer's perceived value. The only time I use The Formula is if I'm using AAA grade gemstones in my final product.
Thank you. This was a great video. Thinking of starting up my own business so this was VERY useful info
Christina James I want to start a business as well.
this is so helpful thank you
Thanks a lot, very helpful
Thank you for the example!
i would love to hear more about online selling.
Thank you, it's was very helpful
Thank you everything you say makes sense.
really great advice thanks
Very helpful, comments below don't seem to realise that your figures are used as a simplified version for demonstration purposes and not your ACTUAL costings.
Then that should be made clear to newbies (every one, actually) from the get go :D
Thank you for your in put very helpful.
thank you, this was very helpful. Pricing is definitely one of my weak points. I tend to price on the low side with my photography. I guess part of that is that I'm really sensitive about overcharging people. Thanks again
Great tips, thanks!
Yes Melanie! Give us some more info. Thanks!!
Very helpful thank you!!
Thank you so much for all these helpful tips. Can you please do a video of how to take pictures of your products for online sales. Tfs hun :)
yes i agree, that would be great 😍
Thanks for these tips. I think it’s very helpful. I would like more informational tips for selling.
This was really helpful I do a variety of different items and when I retire am very interested in creating a website too sell my items. Lots of information nd my friends and others are always encouraging me to sell items. Getting organized and keeping track of time and expense right now is a challenge because I work a full time job. Any inns on organization item costs and time spent. I am terrible about keeping receipts and documenting what I am doing.
She was so beautiful and helpful thank you Melanie rip
Great video!! Would love a video on how to photograph products. Most people use their phones instead of cameras so any tips would be amazing!! Thank you!!!
Thanks Melanie, loved your tutorial. I always wondered why people sell stuff at markets for ridiculous prices!!! After having a child and buying her clothes, I have noticed that people are selling baby items at markets for like $30-$45 for one outfit that they will only wear for like a couple of months. Being a crafter, I get that it takes alot of time to make items, plus materials aren't cheap, but I can't justify spending that much for clothes that my child will just grow out of in a couple of months. I always wanted to get into making baby stuff to sell at markets that are cheap to help out people that can't afford much for their child, but still want their children to have nice things. I shop smart though when buying materials, like getting Fabric from opshops, fabric off cuts, buy in bulk or buy materials on sale. I think that if you are doing it as a hobby and love doing it, then you don't need to sell it for ridiculous prices. People are more likely to buy things from you if your items are reasonably priced in my opinion. From a mother's perspective.
Your exactly right. That’s why I can’t go to craft fairs. It has nothing to do with me not appreciating their goods, but I simply can not afford it. To think you are going to get rich making things at home is rediculous. And idc what others charge. To think you can make $20 making crafts at home is stupid. People just aren’t going to pay or especially for like you said baby clothes, well unless you can get some really wealthy clients.
love your eyes!!! and the ideas and tips too! ehehe
Great video, very informative :)
I think it's very hard to sell no matter how good you are, people do not have the income to justify the spend on something. I have been making some Christmas stockings and personalised them but to be honest I can not make them for the price in the shops. The shop had some beautiful ones in, they really where lovely all different kinds and on examining then they were made very well. The price was £3.00, Yes just £3.00, we can not compete with that, not even adding the child's name on could you compete. I feel in today's world it's lucky if you get the cost of the materials of the item back, never get any back for time. One person on here said you need to find the right market to sell to and I agree because most people want your items and can appreciate how good they are but don't want to pay. I made my grandson a memory quilt n Elephant from his own babygrow and also Incorporated photos and birth date weight ECT, it had borders and was a good size quilt, I also made a sturdy fabric case to keep it in. I had lots of enquiries about doing them, after my daughter put out for social media. So I went and seen on Esty n other sights what was being charged, I came back with a price which was half the price of some being charged but all I got was no can't pay that. So for a personalised quilt with photos, baby info, all in a case with a toy Elephant made from child babygrows and fabric and charging half price to others, all I got no can't afford that, and at the price my time would have been for free. So as I say you have to find te right market of people sell to and that is the hardest part.
I honestly think for some things to sell you have to be in the right place at the right time; fair prices or not. If you are in an area where people get the idea for buying from a "small or personal business" or non corporate you will do well. People mostly see things in retail similar to what you are making and they can not understand why you're charging so much.
My friend basically explained this formula to me on pricing and I can not see myself charging $20 for 1 card. I know it will never sell for that price. I've thought about doing an online store but the only problem I have there is the cost of shipping products. A girl at work told me in her online business the shipping cost is where she always under charges and ends up loosing out on making money.
Your right. Most people compare it to crap at Walmart. Basically people are stupid so of course that’s what they see
I have plans of selling jewellery made out of resin and plants. And i have started making some of them already. Thanks for this helpful video
Such a hot topic, and you did a nice job covering the points, Melanie. Price is the reason I'm no longer selling my items. I make a lot of heirloom clothes and I found myself spending more time with people trying to haggle my prices to compare with China and whatnot.
I can’t see that even worth trying
Well said!
Please make one on how to photograph your projects and how to write a listing!!
Wow your stepmom has beautiful watercolor paintings.
FAAAB THAAAANX!!!
Thank you for all the great tips!!
Very helpful thanks
good advice-thanks
Good tips.
Thank you this is a nice video
I'm thinking about starting an Etsy shop, and I would love to hear your product promotion and photography ideas to get the shop set up successfully. Also, share your ideas on naming a shop. My shop specifically, will be artwork.
I like this 👍♥️
Super helpful, thank you :-)
It would be very helpful if you could share some tips on photographing items to sell online! Thank you for your tips!
Your hair looks great.
I love looking at reusable items on Etsy and I always wondered why some stuff, like I paper towels, are like 20$ for 6 when a lot of them use Jo-Ann flannel. This flannel goes on sale for 1.99$ a yard quite often. so I’d see these items and just be scratching my head.
Thank you!
Excellent
Please do a how to photographing your products, especially with sewed stuff and knitted/crochet as I find it very hard to get pictures of those sorts of items! P.s ur eyes are sooooo pretty and blue!!