You are absolutely correct in saying that selling your dork at "bargain basement" prices just to outsell the competition devalues everybody else's work. The same holds true for all creative work, whether it's woodturning, photography, or candle making. We are craftsman, and should value our work as accordingly.
When I gained some skill tuning bowls I thought my wife would want them every place in the house, WRONG She didn't. So I made some large shelves in my garage and stacked them on the shelves. Now I have a large quantity of bowls that no one sees. I have never sold a bowl, I have given some away to certain people and I enjoyed that. After watching this video I feel better about myself and my turnings I thought my bowls didn't look good, because if they did my wife would want them everywhere. I found out my wife is not the only one who doesn't want them everywhere thanks to your video. Great Video, Thanks.
Fantastic video on pricing. You covered everything from material costs to equipment. All of that is so important. Not only did you hit on donations but giveaways and discounting. Very thorough. You gave me lots to think about both as a juried craftsman but also as a consumer looking to purchase. Thank you!
You nailed it time, materials, skill, and finished product! And as for looking at “flea market “ sales of hand crafted goods, watch out for the larger “Amish” presence, I had made toys for many years by hand, and would sell them at a local flea market, 3 months in, the Amish started selling toys they manufactured inside their store, and I was requested to stop, making and selling my products at the flea market, lost my bench place, and almost had all my products confiscated except that I had marked everything with my initials, date and time!!!
Very helpful and interesting video. After a few years of giving bowls away to friends I'm at this point. I gave a bowl I turned to my supervisor at work for a secret Santa gift last week. His supervisor saw it and was amazed that I gave such a beautiful thing away. I had four requests for bowls from people I work with who were very willing to pay. Your advice in this video is great and gives me a starting point to begin selling my bowls and not devaluing my work.I love this hobby.
Excellent instruction on pricing. I tested your formula with the pieces I’m selling or sold and my multiplier is from 4.5 to 6.5 based on complexity, wood species, etc. When I’m at a show and someone is asking how many hours it took me to do that piece (and I think they are doing the $/hr) I tell them 20 years of experience.
I had seen much of what was in the video in other places but never any mention of money baggage. That advice makes this video priceless if I may use that word here. Great job.
This is by far the best explanation and advice I have seen in regards to pricing and choosing your niche. I wish I'd seen this years ago when I first began selling my pieces. It took awhile to figure all of this out on my own and the advice given me by fellow was so confusing and contradictory to what I felt was best. I hope that other turners who are just entering the market will see this and benefit from your words of wisdom.
Excellent video. As a production wood worker I can say this is great advice. It took me two years of business to learn how to price appropriately. There are many costs that most hobbyists don’t think of when considering going into business.
Thanks for the great advice Kent. I have not sold any of my turnings but have given many away and the people that have them say that they really like them.
Thank you Kent for another extremely educational, helpful and for me, timely video. Yup, I am at the, honey we have no more flat surfaces in the house, do something spot! Took my bowl children to a local craft show and did very well. What was special was the confidence building aspect. I really did not know how good my craft was and to hear folks tell me how beautiful and outstanding some of the pieces were was wonderful. My pricing was good, possibly a bit low as this was a first time but using your formula maybe $5-$10 off. Kent, I can't thank you enough for your teaching videos, from beginning, sharpening (the most important one), to green wood cut and care, you have been my guide and virtual mentor. You made a difference and lowered a very steep learning curve which made the craft fun and enjoyable from the start. Thanks again
Gary, Thank you for writing and sharing! I'm so honored to be your virtual mentor. And I'm thrilled you are finding value in this content. Keep up the good work and I wish you all the best! Happy Turning! Kent
Thank you so much for this video. I was beating my brain as to what to charge for my bowls. With your formula I’ll now get good starting point as to what to charge. Thank again Kent!
Good video. I started turni h in the late 80's. Trying to get an older person to help me learn to turn was nonexistant. Either they didn't know how to teach or were "protective" of the trade. And printed material was rare as "hens teeth 😬 Then I discovered St. Louis woodturners. Wow! That was a "game changer". I appreciate your videos and always learn from them. You are a great teacher/turner.
one of the most difficult things for me to do is to price my projects. Trying to get out of the idea that no one would buy this or that. Thank you so much for posting this. A lot for me to think about here.
Kent, this was a superb video, full of useful content, no fluff, masterfully presented! Over the years, I have turned a great many pens and bowls and goblets and other round wooden items. Great fun, and my skills have come a long way. 99% of the items I turn are given away as gifts to friends and family. I did do one project on commission, which was a set of 15 pens made from moose antler. I have to admit that I did use a rough "how long did it take me to make each pen" calculation in setting the price. I guess I under-estimated the value of my work, because the client was so happy with how the pens turned out, they gave me a 25% bonus.
Helpful video Kent, as always. Retired shop teacher here and pricing bowls is my least favorite part of the process. Lucky my bride’s input certainly helps, I agree a formula is a good place to start. Another consideration in pricing is how much a gallery might charge to sell your items. Around here, in rural MT, the gallery I use gets 40% and some around here 50%! So the consideration of amount of gallery exposure and volume of sales all enters into it. I just wanna be in the shop…..to hell with the rest of the process! Appreciate your videos, you do nice work. Stay well.
I have turned many bowls, vases, urns etc. and now am adding knurliing, wood burning and painting of things like grapes etc. I am a professional Real Estate Appraiser and you hit it right on the head, "what will market bear". Your pricing method gives a good place to start. I donate a large part of my turnings to particular charitys that hold auctions. The charity will give you a sold price that gives you a pretty good deduction on your taxes. You just go paid and helped a charity out at the same time.
Thanks for this video. I have give away a lot of turnings because I did not know how to price the items. So I have not tried to sell. But now I think I will give it a shot. Thanks.
Thanks for a comprehensive summary of pricing. It gives me a lot of clarity on what to consider. I am a hobby turner who occasionally sells, and I have always pondered whether my pricing was too high/low. Your video has helped me take a rational view. Also, as a member of our (UK) local community shed, where we produce all sorts of items for sale, I can apply a similar process to pricing for diverse products/services. Thanks once again.
Glad it was helpful, Tony! It can be confusing without a gauge to go by. Now you have a tool to use for your pricing. All the best to you and Happy Turning!
We had a show today. The weather was not the best for this outdoor market day, but we still did alright. We had many customers tell us we had great looking products. ( we have many other hand made wooden products than bowls) Most said that we could be charging more than we are. It makes us feel great to know that using your scale DXHX2.0 or 2.5 people still think we can get more. Thanks so much for sharing your information
as I have learned to turn, I have given bowls as gifts to Family and friends. I have also given bowls to be auctioned off for a local charity. I do hope to have a retirement business. thanks for this great video.
Thanks - a very useful video, and not only for me. My daughter is a glass and painting artist, and has had trouble pricing her pieces. She graduated from a respected (and costly) art college, but they never offered any courses or advice as to the issue of how to make a living as an artist.
Hi kent, I’m watching this a year after you posted it and I’m in the situation just as you described and wow what a packed video full of Everything anybody needs to know regarding the art/ skill of wood turning. Loving the calculation of finished pieces and the advice of not bringing the trade down so as to make it worthless, thanks very much from jim in England 🏴
This is brilliant! Especially your comments regarding 'financial baggage', much of which rang true with me. I've been turning regularly for about 18 months now and, with the help of your videos, I think I'm becoming reasonably competent and increasing in confidence. I have a growing pile of bowls in my workshop and several people have asked me if I'm going to start selling them. That suggestion has me hiding in the corner, babbling nonsense and looking for excuses as to why it's not possible . . . Part of it is, 'are they good enough?', part of it is ignorance in setting a price and part of it is a fear of being dismissed by the buying public. Just chock full of neuroses!!! Still, it's probably time to bite the bullet and see what happens. Thanks again!
Robin, Thank you for writing and sharing! Yes, we all have financial baggage. Bite the bullet. Your turnings are probably better than you allow yourself to believe. We all have that to a degree. Give it a try selling your pieces, and give it a little time. It won't be perfect at first, but you can adjust and figure out what sells best and for what price. It's an incredibly rewarding feeling to not only earn money from your work, but realize others appreciate what you have created and they want to cherish it in their lives too. All the best to you and Happy Turning! Kent
@@TurnAWoodBowl Thank you so much for taking the time to reply to my comment. I shall certainly take your advice on board. You're a great teacher, by the way, and I should know, having spent a large part of my career mentoring and supervising trainee teachers here in the UK. I can see that you're definitely a 'natural' in that respect. Thanks again!
One or two other variables I struggle with: first, complexity of contour +/- inlay or composite preparation; and second, rarity of wood or it’s rare characteristics (old olive wood, colorful carob wood). There are no pat answers, I know. I do appreciate you daring to dive into this pool, and feel you have offered cogent advice. That said, size isn’t everything, and it perhaps might not be the first basis of dealing. I must say, I feel like I need a marketing research team ! Finally, developing a name and reputation over time is priceless/invaluable…. Thank you Kent!
Great video. I'm a retired vendor and have been turning and stacking my bowls, goblets and vases. I have been confused about pricing my products. I have been to a few shows and checked out their products and pricing. This formula will help guide me in a direction where I want be giving my products away or ripping people off. Which is the last thing I want to do. Thanks a lot and keep putting out these great videos. Have a good one.
Great insight, well explained. I made an excel calculator with four ranges of "woods" to auto price my work! Takes all the subjectiveness out of it! THANK YOU!
Your video is actually very very helpful. Along with all your videos actually. Thank you for parting your knowledge with us in such a comprehensive way.
Woodturning clubs often hold annual events where bowls are sold. Donating bowls to your club gets them properly priced and benefits the group you have learned so much from.
Very informative and thorough discussion, thanks. In-depth. To the point. Great advice. The suggestion to donate to charities and support them is one of the best ways to improve confidence and to give back. Plus free up flat surfaces again! If you sell, please don’t undersell.
4:36 Perfect Advice. Start with what you enjoy FIRST. The money will come later. I have seen artist/ hobbyists have left after it become drudgery work. I disagree with the copying comments. We all have to start by copying someone. ( Even this video) Be Well and Good Journey Richie.
I always enjoy your content Kent. But this video is a stand alone. I related to all of it. This video should be in a classroom for all turners, new and old alike.
I saw a bowl for sale at a craft show and the price was $500. I could hear the whispers about it being too high for them. I didn't know the bowl turner but I said in his presence, when I consider that the blank was at least $50 and the finishing materials cost, plus the lathe and the turning tools, plus the skills, the bowl is priced right
great video! I would like to add: As a mechanic and custom bicycle builder, I DO charge by the hour, but the hourly wage has increased as I have become more skilled and efficient year by year.
How could this video come at a better time. I'm starting sales in the online store next week, with only a few jobs to start with, and the pricing has been a pain for me. This is very helpful, as have been many of your other videos, thank you, from Finland🇫🇮
I appreciate a lot of what you said, especially getting maximum market value. But as a person with an MBA, I can say, you simply cannot develop a mathematical formula and a tape measure for determining your price. There are such an enormous amount of variables to be considered. It may work fine for dumping some product so you can buy more materials to make more stuff. Its a way to support a hobby so, good on ya if that's your goal. What you make and hour is irrelevant. It only determines your opportunity cost. Nobody cares but you. You need to determine whether you should make bowls or work at McDonalds. Materials are a variable cost. You cannot charged based on materials alone. Only if those materials produce a up charge enough that it actually covers that expense. Fixed costs are not usually considered. Cost of the shop, depreciation of the equipment, property tax, etc. My wife works in glass, She asked me once what to charge for a slumped plate she made. We live in Montana and it had an outdoor theme with a moose. So immediately it appealed to those who have a rustic theme in their home. She thought $40-60 dollars. I explained to her that she needed to develop a brand and a reputation as an artist, not a hobbyist with a kiln. I told her to ask $300. The idea was that art sells for more that dishware. High prices says artist. People buy art to show off to their friends how classy they are. I then told her to carefully choose her venue. Craft fairs in high end neighborhoods, high end shops, or galleries. She sold it immediately at the asking price and gave away a lot of cards. She developed a reputation and now sells whatever she make at big prices. She sells less, but a much higher prices. Her other option would be to buy lots of kilns, use the best tech she can find and batch out items she can sell lots of at a lower price.
I read in a magazine where not charging enough can cause you to lose customers, in the article this guy was selling pens at a market, he was selling some here and there but they were not flying off the shelves. There was another seller selling pens and he was selling them out pretty fast. He spoke to him later and come to find out he was selling his too cheep he raised the price a little and they started selling faster.
So true Bryan! Think about when you see something super cheap or free. Does the product seem like a "deal" or someone trying to get rid of "junk?" It's kinda odd how the human brain processes cost and value. All the best to you and Happy Turning!
Extremely helpful . . . and on a very important, critical topic . . . and thorough, well-articulated. One other factor that I think about as a step beyond "what the market will bare" is the idea "what value does the piece hold for me", i.e. at what price am I willing to part with this item? The material in question might be a rare opportunity . . . items not easily reproduced, etc.
Great video (as always) especially about your comments on the low ballers that really hurt our "trade"... Fortunately I'm a retired Carpenter and don't have to make a living at this but I do put a lot of time money and hopefully talent into my pieces and have found it's harder and harder to make a decent profit after expenses... Fortunately I'm lucky that people know the quality of my work so it hasn't affected me too much but I've seen other Turner's really get beat up today by ridiculously low pricing...sad Thanks again for the informative videos Kent. I have learned a ton of tips with your laid-back approach and knowledge/skill to this great craft...
Great video I have a question on pricing bowls that are segments bowls I know it's takes days to make one would you have a idea on how to come up with a price on something like that
Barry, good question. If you price a segmented piece to sell in the marketplace and do the math you might be discouraged by how much you end up making per hour. Segmented pieces are a special breed and unless you have some tricks for making them incredibly fast, I'm not sure how you can make a living turning them. Unless there is a "Segmented Turnings" collector market out there that I don't know about, I don't know what to tell you. I think segmented pieces should be treasured family heirlooms for sure, but I'm not sure the general public will pay for all the time involved? All the best to you and Happy Turning! Kent
Ha! My wife has relegated a 'shelf' for my treasures, which looks like a shrine to a novice woodturner! Think it's time to dip my toe into the craft market so great info on next steps.
Everything Sir very well explained, thanks for that And who has a lathe…and get the wood, drying and so on…. And not only your but also your skills Cheers from a 63 old beginner from Luxembourg 🇱🇺 Europe
I don't sell my bowls but just give them away. But your idea of charity giving hit home. A friend had kitten break it's leg, the vet charged over $700.00 to amputate. So I gave her 5 bowls, maybe 5-6" and told her to sell raffle tickets at a buck ea. She worked in a store and the customers fought over those bowls. She pulled in several hundred for the bill.
Excellent advice! I also have my wife help me with the pricing. She has many more years of experience on Etsy and knows markets better than I do. Finding others who have a bit more objectivity to help us price realistically is a big help. I also donate a portion of every sale I make to the Arbor Day Foundation as a part of my own conservation efforts. I wanted to make my art work impactful beyond myself and my customers. Doing this has also helped me not under value my work. Different regions of the country also differ in demand and "frugality." Nebraska is a difficult State to sell in when it comes to craft fairs. I get a lot of positive feedback on my work, but sales are very slow. Don't exactly know what to do about that. Thanks for taking on this difficult and sensitive subject.
Hi Kent, thank for this video. I would like to sell my creations but am stumped as to what to charge, this has been great for me and I hope for other people. Joe
I have been turning for "a while", and am one of those who gives most of my bowls away. One of my favorite things, after my kids take what they want, is to give to the local charity events, which we have several of during each year through one of our local woodturning clubs. I get a lot of personal satisfaction, as well as helping to support charities without giving money, and my bowls usually sell at the "Buy it Now" price. I think the most important point you make is to not underprice your work. That is counterproductive for a healthy artwork community. It is better to give it to charity than to underprice.
nice video, living in europe (france) and turning wood bowls for my living, I can relate to a lot of what you say. Other things that has to be considered (at least in my country) in your costs : VATs and other social contributions can represent up to 40% of the price you charge when living from the craft ; you also have mandatory insurances when you want to sale at a farmers market. It's even more frustrating to see people selling very cheap items (usually retired people doing it as a hobby) when you know their global price is not even equivalent to your VATs. I use a similar trick as your's for my pricing, changing the multiplying factor depending on the wood and the type of piece : my standard factor would be 1 ; and I would use 1,5 for a very rare wood ; 2 for a natural edge bowl ; adding 0.25 to any factor when using a high end finish (shellac)compared to a simpler finish like oil... I think you also need to consider where you're selling : I only sale on crafts or farmers market ; and I've found that having some very high end pieces on display and overpricing them a bit helps dragging people to my shop because they see the beautiful piece, and then they see the normal pieces and find the price pretty fair. Whereas if I've got no high end products, or if the beautiful piece is cheap, they may find the other prices "expensive for just a bowl". Selling online seems more difficult cause the algorithms may compare you to an industrially made product, and it takes more work on building your website to show people that you are a real human doing artisan work that justifies your prices. You also have to invest on a good camera because before spending 200$ on "just a bowl", customers need to have a good idea of what the product looks like ; you spend money on packing and expeditions...
Wow! Yet again, as others have stated, another extremely educational and helpful instructional video for me. I made the time to sit down and really listen to what you were saying, took notes and so forth. As a relatively new turner who is looking to make a business out of this as I'm already a professional woodworker, this has enlightened me. Thank you. Honestly, all of your videos hit it right on the head, and leave us all yearning for more knowledge!
This is a very helpful video for wood lathe beginners! thank you. If it is a bowl made of plywood rather than a bowl made of natural wood, how should I measure the price?
You are absolutely correct in saying that selling your dork at "bargain basement" prices just to outsell the competition devalues everybody else's work. The same holds true for all creative work, whether it's woodturning, photography, or candle making. We are craftsman, and should value our work as accordingly.
Very correct, Herrmann! Everyone is more valuable than they might think. All the best to you and Happy Turning!
When I gained some skill tuning bowls I thought my wife would want them every place in the house, WRONG She didn't. So I made some large shelves in my garage and stacked them on the shelves. Now I have a large quantity of bowls that no one sees. I have never sold a bowl, I have given some away to certain people and I enjoyed that. After watching this video I feel better about myself and my turnings I thought my bowls didn't look good, because if they did my wife would want them everywhere. I found out my wife is not the only one who doesn't want them everywhere thanks to your video. Great Video, Thanks.
Fantastic video on pricing. You covered everything from material costs to equipment. All of that is so important. Not only did you hit on donations but giveaways and discounting. Very thorough. You gave me lots to think about both as a juried craftsman but also as a consumer looking to purchase. Thank you!
You nailed it time, materials, skill, and finished product!
And as for looking at “flea market “ sales of hand crafted goods, watch out for the larger “Amish” presence, I had made toys for many years by hand, and would sell them at a local flea market, 3 months in, the Amish started selling toys they manufactured inside their store, and I was requested to stop, making and selling my products at the flea market, lost my bench place, and almost had all my products confiscated except that I had marked everything with my initials, date and time!!!
Very helpful and interesting video. After a few years of giving bowls away to friends I'm at this point. I gave a bowl I turned to my supervisor at work for a secret Santa gift last week. His supervisor saw it and was amazed that I gave such a beautiful thing away. I had four requests for bowls from people I work with who were very willing to pay. Your advice in this video is great and gives me a starting point to begin selling my bowls and not devaluing my work.I love this hobby.
Glad it was helpful, Mike! It's exciting to see people excited about your work, right?! Great for you! Enjoy and Happy Turning! Kent
Excellent instruction on pricing. I tested your formula with the pieces I’m selling or sold and my multiplier is from 4.5 to 6.5 based on complexity, wood species, etc. When I’m at a show and someone is asking how many hours it took me to do that piece (and I think they are doing the $/hr) I tell them 20 years of experience.
I appreciate the 20 years experience response. You are politely explaining to them that the piece is not a per hour item.
I had seen much of what was in the video in other places but never any mention of money baggage. That advice makes this video priceless if I may use that word here. Great job.
Well said! Yes, we all have that baggage in one way or another. ;) All the best to you and Happy Turning!
Brilliant, a good start to fixing prices and not letting other turners down
Thanks for your formula. That makes sense. Compared to my "gut pricing" mine work out close, but now I have a formula that gives me more confidence.
Glad to help John. Happy Turning!
Brilliant! Every craftsperson would benefit from your clear headed view of the real world.
Thank you kindly Maurice! All the best to you and Happy Turning!
This is by far the best explanation and advice I have seen in regards to pricing and choosing your niche.
I wish I'd seen this years ago when I first began selling my pieces. It took awhile to figure all of this out on my own and the advice given me by fellow was so confusing and contradictory to what I felt was best.
I hope that other turners who are just entering the market will see this and benefit from your words of wisdom.
Glad it was helpful! Yes, there are many things to consider. All the best to you and Happy Turning!
Excellent video. As a production wood worker I can say this is great advice. It took me two years of business to learn how to price appropriately. There are many costs that most hobbyists don’t think of when considering going into business.
Thanks for the great advice Kent. I have not sold any of my turnings but have given many away and the people that have them say that they really like them.
Thank you Kent for another extremely educational, helpful and for me, timely video. Yup, I am at the, honey we have no more flat surfaces in the house, do something spot! Took my bowl children to a local craft show and did very well. What was special was the confidence building aspect. I really did not know how good my craft was and to hear folks tell me how beautiful and outstanding some of the pieces were was wonderful. My pricing was good, possibly a bit low as this was a first time but using your formula maybe $5-$10 off.
Kent, I can't thank you enough for your teaching videos, from beginning, sharpening (the most important one), to green wood cut and care, you have been my guide and virtual mentor. You made a difference and lowered a very steep learning curve which made the craft fun and enjoyable from the start. Thanks again
Gary,
Thank you for writing and sharing! I'm so honored to be your virtual mentor. And I'm thrilled you are finding value in this content.
Keep up the good work and I wish you all the best!
Happy Turning!
Kent
Thank you so much for this video. I was beating my brain as to what to charge for my bowls. With your formula I’ll now get good starting point as to what to charge. Thank again Kent!
Glad to help John. All the best to you and Happy Turning!
Good video. I started turni h in the late 80's. Trying to get an older person to help me learn to turn was nonexistant. Either they didn't know how to teach or were "protective" of the trade. And printed material was rare as "hens teeth 😬 Then I discovered St. Louis woodturners. Wow! That was a "game changer". I appreciate your videos and always learn from them. You are a great teacher/turner.
Thanks for sharing, Charles! We're all better when we share. ;) All the best to you and Happy Turning!
one of the most difficult things for me to do is to price my projects. Trying to get out of the idea that no one would buy this or that. Thank you so much for posting this. A lot for me to think about here.
Thanks for the Video! Last market that I did asked vendors to donate an item to sell for a charity. It was a great feeling helping them out!
Kent, this was a superb video, full of useful content, no fluff, masterfully presented! Over the years, I have turned a great many pens and bowls and goblets and other round wooden items. Great fun, and my skills have come a long way. 99% of the items I turn are given away as gifts to friends and family. I did do one project on commission, which was a set of 15 pens made from moose antler. I have to admit that I did use a rough "how long did it take me to make each pen" calculation in setting the price. I guess I under-estimated the value of my work, because the client was so happy with how the pens turned out, they gave me a 25% bonus.
Helpful video Kent, as always. Retired shop teacher here and pricing bowls is my least favorite part of the process. Lucky my bride’s input certainly helps, I agree a formula is a good place to start. Another consideration in pricing is how much a gallery might charge to sell your items. Around here, in rural MT, the gallery I use gets 40% and some around here 50%! So the consideration of amount of gallery exposure and volume of sales all enters into it. I just wanna be in the shop…..to hell with the rest of the process! Appreciate your videos, you do nice work. Stay well.
Good point.
I have turned many bowls, vases, urns etc. and now am adding knurliing, wood burning and painting of things like grapes etc. I am a professional Real Estate Appraiser and you hit it right on the head, "what will market bear". Your pricing method gives a good place to start. I donate a large part of my turnings to particular charitys that hold auctions. The charity will give you a sold price that gives you a pretty good deduction on your taxes. You just go paid and helped a charity out at the same time.
Well said Kent, especially the part about selling work dirt cheap, thanks for all the thought and advice on this important subject.
You are very welcome Mark! Happy Turning!
Thanks for this video. I have give away a lot of turnings because I did not know how to price the items. So I have not tried to sell. But now I think I will give it a shot. Thanks.
Fantastic Gavin! All the best to you and Happy Turning, and best of luck selling! Kent
Thanks for a comprehensive summary of pricing. It gives me a lot of clarity on what to consider. I am a hobby turner who occasionally sells, and I have always pondered whether my pricing was too high/low. Your video has helped me take a rational view.
Also, as a member of our (UK) local community shed, where we produce all sorts of items for sale, I can apply a similar process to pricing for diverse products/services.
Thanks once again.
Glad it was helpful, Tony! It can be confusing without a gauge to go by. Now you have a tool to use for your pricing. All the best to you and Happy Turning!
We had a show today. The weather was not the best for this outdoor market day, but we still did alright. We had many customers tell us we had great looking products. ( we have many other hand made wooden products than bowls) Most said that we could be charging more than we are. It makes us feel great to know that using your scale DXHX2.0 or 2.5 people still think we can get more. Thanks so much for sharing your information
Just what I have been looking for! Thanks so much.
as I have learned to turn, I have given bowls as gifts to Family and friends. I have also given bowls to be auctioned off for a local charity. I do hope to have a retirement business. thanks for this great video.
Thanks - a very useful video, and not only for me. My daughter is a glass and painting artist, and has had trouble pricing her pieces. She graduated from a respected (and costly) art college, but they never offered any courses or advice as to the issue of how to make a living as an artist.
Hi kent, I’m watching this a year after you posted it and I’m in the situation just as you described and wow what a packed video full of Everything anybody needs to know regarding the art/ skill of wood turning.
Loving the calculation of finished pieces and the advice of not bringing the trade down so as to make it worthless, thanks very much from jim in England 🏴
Glad you enjoyed this Jim. Thank you, and Happy Turning!
I have to admit my baggage was a big one for me and is still a constant inner struggle on nearly every piece i make! Great insight and advice 😊
This is brilliant! Especially your comments regarding 'financial baggage', much of which rang true with me. I've been turning regularly for about 18 months now and, with the help of your videos, I think I'm becoming reasonably competent and increasing in confidence. I have a growing pile of bowls in my workshop and several people have asked me if I'm going to start selling them. That suggestion has me hiding in the corner, babbling nonsense and looking for excuses as to why it's not possible . . . Part of it is, 'are they good enough?', part of it is ignorance in setting a price and part of it is a fear of being dismissed by the buying public. Just chock full of neuroses!!! Still, it's probably time to bite the bullet and see what happens. Thanks again!
Robin,
Thank you for writing and sharing!
Yes, we all have financial baggage. Bite the bullet. Your turnings are probably better than you allow yourself to believe. We all have that to a degree.
Give it a try selling your pieces, and give it a little time.
It won't be perfect at first, but you can adjust and figure out what sells best and for what price. It's an incredibly rewarding feeling to not only earn money from your work, but realize others appreciate what you have created and they want to cherish it in their lives too.
All the best to you and Happy Turning!
Kent
@@TurnAWoodBowl Thank you so much for taking the time to reply to my comment. I shall certainly take your advice on board. You're a great teacher, by the way, and I should know, having spent a large part of my career mentoring and supervising trainee teachers here in the UK. I can see that you're definitely a 'natural' in that respect. Thanks again!
@@robinholland1136 Thanks Robin, you're so kind! ;)
One or two other variables I struggle with: first, complexity of contour +/- inlay or composite preparation; and second, rarity of wood or it’s rare characteristics (old olive wood, colorful carob wood). There are no pat answers, I know. I do appreciate you daring to dive into this pool, and feel you have offered cogent advice. That said, size isn’t everything, and it perhaps might not be the first basis of dealing. I must say, I feel like I need a marketing research team ! Finally, developing a name and reputation over time is priceless/invaluable….
Thank you Kent!
Great video. I'm a retired vendor and have been turning and stacking my bowls, goblets and vases.
I have been confused about pricing my products. I have been to a few shows and checked out their products and pricing.
This formula will help guide me in a direction where I want be giving my products away or ripping people off. Which is the last thing
I want to do. Thanks a lot and keep putting out these great videos. Have a good one.
This video is a gold mine of knowledgement! Thank you
Thank you, Rodrigo! Happy Turning!
Great video. Likely answered a lot of questions for a lot of people
Great information and explanations on bowl pricing. Thank you for all ypur vidros Kent!
You are very welcome
Great insight, well explained. I made an excel calculator with four ranges of "woods" to auto price my work! Takes all the subjectiveness out of it! THANK YOU!
Your video is actually very very helpful. Along with all your videos actually. Thank you for parting your knowledge with us in such a comprehensive way.
Woodturning clubs often hold annual events where bowls are sold. Donating bowls to your club gets them properly priced and benefits the group you have learned so much from.
Good point, Paul!
That was an interesting watch. You gave a lot of helpfull insights and your formula for pricing is certainly handy. Cheers Deno
Thank you I appreciate your great advice. I sell my bowls in a pottery shop and get a good price for them Thanks again.
Very informative and thorough discussion, thanks. In-depth. To the point. Great advice. The suggestion to donate to charities and support them is one of the best ways to improve confidence and to give back. Plus free up flat surfaces again! If you sell, please don’t undersell.
4:36 Perfect Advice. Start with what you enjoy FIRST. The money will come later. I have seen artist/ hobbyists have left after it become drudgery work. I disagree with the copying comments. We all have to start by copying someone. ( Even this video) Be Well and Good Journey Richie.
I always enjoy your content Kent. But this video is a stand alone. I related to all of it. This video should be in a classroom for all turners, new and old alike.
I saw a bowl for sale at a craft show and the price was $500. I could hear the whispers about it being too high for them. I didn't know the bowl turner but I said in his presence, when I consider that the blank was at least $50 and the finishing materials cost, plus the lathe and the turning tools, plus the skills, the bowl is priced right
great video! I would like to add: As a mechanic and custom bicycle builder, I DO charge by the hour, but the hourly wage has increased as I have become more skilled and efficient year by year.
Very well done, lots of valuable information shared! Thanks a bunch!
Your videos are really great. They were a big help in learning the basics of turning.
Glad you like them!
Thank you for this help
My pleasure, Ron! Happy Turning!
Great video. Thanks for bringing up the
Issue of undercutting prices, devaluing the market. Cheers!
My pleasure! Happy Turning!
Great advice for all craft, not just bowl turning! A great video, thankyou
Thanks. Clear and simple.
You're welcome, Mike! Please subscribe, and Happy Turning!
Excellent advice
What an interesting video. I'm just about to start turning, so food for thought.
Tx for that great lecture on pricing. I truely appreciate.
How could this video come at a better time. I'm starting sales in the online store next week, with only a few jobs to start with, and the pricing has been a pain for me. This is very helpful, as have been many of your other videos,
thank you, from Finland🇫🇮
Glad to hear J.S. Thank you for writing and sharing! All the best to you and Happy Turning in Finland!
Great subject, not obvious to determine a price! Have a great week,
I appreciate a lot of what you said, especially getting maximum market value. But as a person with an MBA, I can say, you simply cannot develop a mathematical formula and a tape measure for determining your price. There are such an enormous amount of variables to be considered. It may work fine for dumping some product so you can buy more materials to make more stuff. Its a way to support a hobby so, good on ya if that's your goal. What you make and hour is irrelevant. It only determines your opportunity cost. Nobody cares but you. You need to determine whether you should make bowls or work at McDonalds. Materials are a variable cost. You cannot charged based on materials alone. Only if those materials produce a up charge enough that it actually covers that expense. Fixed costs are not usually considered. Cost of the shop, depreciation of the equipment, property tax, etc.
My wife works in glass, She asked me once what to charge for a slumped plate she made. We live in Montana and it had an outdoor theme with a moose. So immediately it appealed to those who have a rustic theme in their home. She thought $40-60 dollars. I explained to her that she needed to develop a brand and a reputation as an artist, not a hobbyist with a kiln. I told her to ask $300. The idea was that art sells for more that dishware. High prices says artist. People buy art to show off to their friends how classy they are. I then told her to carefully choose her venue. Craft fairs in high end neighborhoods, high end shops, or galleries. She sold it immediately at the asking price and gave away a lot of cards. She developed a reputation and now sells whatever she make at big prices. She sells less, but a much higher prices. Her other option would be to buy lots of kilns, use the best tech she can find and batch out items she can sell lots of at a lower price.
Thank you for answering many questions BEFORE I ask them. 🙂
I really like your "Public Service Announcement" ! Another great video - thank you
I read in a magazine where not charging enough can cause you to lose customers, in the article this guy was selling pens at a market, he was selling some here and there but they were not flying off the shelves. There was another seller selling pens and he was selling them out pretty fast. He spoke to him later and come to find out he was selling his too cheep he raised the price a little and they started selling faster.
So true Bryan! Think about when you see something super cheap or free. Does the product seem like a "deal" or someone trying to get rid of "junk?" It's kinda odd how the human brain processes cost and value. All the best to you and Happy Turning!
Extremely helpful . . . and on a very important, critical topic . . . and thorough, well-articulated. One other factor that I think about as a step beyond "what the market will bare" is the idea "what value does the piece hold for me", i.e. at what price am I willing to part with this item? The material in question might be a rare opportunity . . . items not easily reproduced, etc.
Loved your vid , it answered a lot of questions .
Glad it was helpful, Isabell! Happy Turning!
Well done nice to know that you appreciate the valuable work that goes into our art thanks Ian mac
Absolutely
Thanks for the advice and formula for pricing.
Great video (as always) especially about your comments on the low ballers that really hurt our "trade"... Fortunately I'm a retired Carpenter and don't have to make a living at this but I do put a lot of time money and hopefully talent into my pieces and have found it's harder and harder to make a decent profit after expenses... Fortunately I'm lucky that people know the quality of my work so it hasn't affected me too much but I've seen other Turner's really get beat up today by ridiculously low pricing...sad
Thanks again for the informative videos Kent. I have learned a ton of tips with your laid-back approach and knowledge/skill to this great craft...
Thank you for writing and sharing Mark! All the best to you and Happy Turning!
Great video I have a question on pricing bowls that are segments bowls I know it's takes days to make one would you have a idea on how to come up with a price on something like that
Barry, good question. If you price a segmented piece to sell in the marketplace and do the math you might be discouraged by how much you end up making per hour. Segmented pieces are a special breed and unless you have some tricks for making them incredibly fast, I'm not sure how you can make a living turning them. Unless there is a "Segmented Turnings" collector market out there that I don't know about, I don't know what to tell you. I think segmented pieces should be treasured family heirlooms for sure, but I'm not sure the general public will pay for all the time involved?
All the best to you and Happy Turning!
Kent
Great advice...yes I fall into most of your categories lol...
Thanks so very much for this advice! I'm just getting started and have a long way to go. But with this advice, I'm starting from a good place.
Ha! My wife has relegated a 'shelf' for my treasures, which looks like a shrine to a novice woodturner! Think it's time to dip my toe into the craft market so great info on next steps.
Go for it! You can do it!
Everything Sir very well explained, thanks for that
And who has a lathe…and get the wood, drying and so on….
And not only your but also your skills
Cheers from a 63 old beginner from Luxembourg 🇱🇺 Europe
Thank you kindly, Fern! BTW, buckle up you've got at least 40 years of turning ahead of you. Cheers! and Happy Turning! ;)
Very educational hit the spot perfectly.
I don't sell my bowls but just give them away. But your idea of charity giving hit home. A friend had kitten break it's leg, the vet charged over $700.00 to amputate. So I gave her 5 bowls, maybe 5-6" and told her to sell raffle tickets at a buck ea. She worked in a store and the customers fought over those bowls. She pulled in several hundred for the bill.
Thanks. I always struggle with pricing.
Happy to help!
Excellent advice! I also have my wife help me with the pricing. She has many more years of experience on Etsy and knows markets better than I do. Finding others who have a bit more objectivity to help us price realistically is a big help. I also donate a portion of every sale I make to the Arbor Day Foundation as a part of my own conservation efforts. I wanted to make my art work impactful beyond myself and my customers. Doing this has also helped me not under value my work. Different regions of the country also differ in demand and "frugality." Nebraska is a difficult State to sell in when it comes to craft fairs. I get a lot of positive feedback on my work, but sales are very slow. Don't exactly know what to do about that. Thanks for taking on this difficult and sensitive subject.
Thank you for writing and sharing! Great idea to share proceeds with a charity! All the best to you and Happy Turning!
Hi Kent, thank for this video. I would like to sell my creations but am stumped as to what to charge, this has been great for me and I hope for other people. Joe
Great advice
thanks for sharing
Thanks Kent. Yet another very informative video. Great guidelines.
Glad you enjoyed it
I enjoyed the video and learned a lot. Thank you.
Thanks Kent for a very insightful and interesting video.
Glad you enjoyed it
Great advice Kent, many thanks!
Glad you enjoyed it
Very well explaned.thank you
Interesting video. How large is a salad bowl?
I have been turning for "a while", and am one of those who gives most of my bowls away. One of my favorite things, after my kids take what they want, is to give to the local charity events, which we have several of during each year through one of our local woodturning clubs. I get a lot of personal satisfaction, as well as helping to support charities without giving money, and my bowls usually sell at the "Buy it Now" price. I think the most important point you make is to not underprice your work. That is counterproductive for a healthy artwork community. It is better to give it to charity than to underprice.
Fantastic information. Thank you so very much.
You are so welcome Jack! Happy Turning!
Thanks for the excellent advice, Kent. Well said.
Very useful and sensible advice. Thanks.
Most clubs sell their stuff way to low and that hurts everyone.
Selling bowls
nice video, living in europe (france) and turning wood bowls for my living, I can relate to a lot of what you say. Other things that has to be considered (at least in my country) in your costs : VATs and other social contributions can represent up to 40% of the price you charge when living from the craft ; you also have mandatory insurances when you want to sale at a farmers market. It's even more frustrating to see people selling very cheap items (usually retired people doing it as a hobby) when you know their global price is not even equivalent to your VATs.
I use a similar trick as your's for my pricing, changing the multiplying factor depending on the wood and the type of piece : my standard factor would be 1 ; and I would use 1,5 for a very rare wood ; 2 for a natural edge bowl ; adding 0.25 to any factor when using a high end finish (shellac)compared to a simpler finish like oil...
I think you also need to consider where you're selling : I only sale on crafts or farmers market ; and I've found that having some very high end pieces on display and overpricing them a bit helps dragging people to my shop because they see the beautiful piece, and then they see the normal pieces and find the price pretty fair. Whereas if I've got no high end products, or if the beautiful piece is cheap, they may find the other prices "expensive for just a bowl".
Selling online seems more difficult cause the algorithms may compare you to an industrially made product, and it takes more work on building your website to show people that you are a real human doing artisan work that justifies your prices. You also have to invest on a good camera because before spending 200$ on "just a bowl", customers need to have a good idea of what the product looks like ; you spend money on packing and expeditions...
Thank you. Quite informative and useful.
Wow! Yet again, as others have stated, another extremely educational and helpful instructional video for me. I made the time to sit down and really listen to what you were saying, took notes and so forth. As a relatively new turner who is looking to make a business out of this as I'm already a professional woodworker, this has enlightened me. Thank you. Honestly, all of your videos hit it right on the head, and leave us all yearning for more knowledge!
great video Kent thanks!!!
So far my issue with "inventory" is the reverse. My wife wants all of them, ALLLLL OF THEMMMMM!
Huh, I guess I earned my first fan, lol.
Thanks for the great advice!
Great advice. Thanks.
Again you are very educational. Thanks
Thank you very much for this. What about bowls that have flaws like cracks or checks that have been filled? Should they not be sold?
This is a very helpful video for wood lathe beginners! thank you. If it is a bowl made of plywood rather than a bowl made of natural wood, how should I measure the price?
Loved the video, I guess my pricing has not been to far off. But I would like to know how you came up with the variable of 2 or 2.5