For the last 4-5 years, I have been actively involved in
improving my art in my craft and therefore, improving the wares I sell.
And for all the years I have been going to markets, lines like “Oh I can make
that”, or “Take a picture so we can try that later”… have fluttered about not
only mine, but many a crafter’s ear.
Yes, we do use ideas and things we see (even subliminally).
Accusing someone of “stealing” your craft idea is like accusing someone of
using the English language just because you can.
But that’s not what this “series” of posts will be about.
After hearing and saying (guilty as charged), that someone’s wares are “too
expensive”… I decided to give in and write a bit on the COSTS and INCOMES
involved in handmade culture (or as much as I can while not being too
experienced in the costs of EVERY craft).
So not only as a crafty, but hopefully as a buyer, you will see just what it is
to do this, not only as a hobby but as a living… and yes, some of us (including
me) have had to resort to doing this for a living.
This isn’t a HOW TO, or formula on getting started in the craft business, this
is more for “why we crafties charge what we do”.
Let’s get down to brass tax…
A crafty month at Wonder Struck Inc. I will be using some
costing from November, as these are still fresh in my mind and stretch into
December (even though we close for part of the month).
* Resin & Silicone – R1950
* Chain, findings & beads
(agate and glass) – R560
* Petrol (for supplies,
deliveries, post, markets) – R2100
* Market stall rentals – R1100
Total: R5710
That’s an average cost of R190.33 per day in November (30
days)
As a freelancer, and in order to pay what needs to be paid,
I NEED to earn R150 an hour over each and every single working day of a month.
But as a crafter, I cannot realistically expect to carry this cost, and that of
my overheads onto my items I make.
So we work on a % markup on cost.
If I had to use just some of these figures to work out what to charge excluding
component cost of a necklace we would get a figure of approximately R180 (per
necklace).
This is again, not including the material cost of the necklace, this is purely
the overhead cost in making it.
Would you pay over R200 for a necklace that ISN’T sterling silver or platinum
or gold? … I wouldn’t. Honestly.
On one market day, a crafter EASILY spends over R350 to be there, not to
mention food or drinks (even if packed from home). And that’s IF a market is
charging under R200 for a stall.
Our COSTS involved at the Medieval Fayre, just for petrol and stall alone, were
R850. For the day. This is not a ballpark figure, but actual costs that we
incurred for petrol and stall rental. This is not including bottles of water
and one meal each to keep us sustained till home time.
And this is where some of my greatest frustration comes when
a market patron/buyer/shopper thinks that an item someone has HANDMADE (and
most are not able to put a time on how long something makes) and spent time on
and displayed hoping to pass on this piece of their day/week, onto someone
else… is “too expensive”.
Admittedly, I have seen prices that HAVE been taken to the
extreme, and this is probably where the debate comes in over what is TOO
EXPENSIVE FOR HANDMADE or not. But to the handmade/indie artist sitting at the
market, their prices are real and often very carefully considered….
These items you buy from most of us, cannot just be easily
remade and are not mass produced.
Even as a resin artist, things that come out of the same mold are never always
100% the same as eachother. Colours/ridges/nicks/sanding down, all create an
entirely unique piece each and every single time.
There’ve
been a few pieces on some websites, discussing the possible future value of
handmade items over greater mass produced items.
I’d like to research this for a future blog entry, as I see this as a very
valid point. (Think about it).
For those who don’t make handmade, but appreciate and shop handmade, thank you
for helping us build on the handmade culture we work so hard for. For those who
have never really known or understood and go past stalls saying things are “too
expensive”, I do hope that some of this gives you a bit of perspective ;)
And to crafties that don’t do this full time… I hope this gives you slightly
more info to research before taking it on full time.
