Pricing Your Jewelry
I know this has been talked about in etsy's forums, but I'm just wondering how you price your jewelry, especially how you figure your labor. I have found that is a touchy subject and that there is no "rule of thumb". I know that some of us consider ourselves professionals while others consider ourselves more like hobbyists. Also do you adjust your price, after you have figured it, for the venue you are selling at, such as a craft fair versus etsy, versus a juried art sale?
I'm asking because my husband, the businessman, tells me I'm doing it all wrong. While it has been years since I have been in the work world due to health issues, I don't think I've forgotten that much. Your input would be very helpful in proving that. Thanks!
I'm asking because my husband, the businessman, tells me I'm doing it all wrong. While it has been years since I have been in the work world due to health issues, I don't think I've forgotten that much. Your input would be very helpful in proving that. Thanks!
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Angel on -
I use a spreadsheet I found in the Storqee to figure mine out. A set labor rate + 2 x the cost of materials and a 20% profit. I think it makes my pricing fair. Also, I try not to change prices and I don't plan on offering discounts to anyone except maybe family members.
How do you figure yours?
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Permalink Reply by lulidesigns on
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I have a lot of problems pricing my jewelry and it has been something I have really struggled with. When I started selling on etsy in November last year I started pricing my work based on what other artists were charging for similar work. The problem is that since selling my work is my full time job so many of the prices that others sell there work is just way too low for me to make any money on after you consider all the fees and work that I have to put in shipping and everything. I have been adjusting my prices to what I charge across the board so that my prices at craft shows, etsy and stores is about the same.
The way I have always been told to base my pricing is this:
your time in a dollar value plus your material costs then multiple that number by 2.
I think there has to be some flexibility to that but it is a good place to start.
I would love to hear what other people have to say about how they price their work.
Happy creating everyone!
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Permalink Reply by Sidewing Creations on -
I use part of my husbands rules which come from the business world, but not all of it.
cost of materials + cost of labor = Y + 50% of Y = Sale Price.
Hubby thinks I should be figuring in over head (utilities, time spent promoting, depreciating costs on tools, gas to post office and supply stores) and he thinks I'm charging low for my labor. He also thinks I could go as high as 100% of Y.
I don't think at this point in my jewelry making career, I need to add in all the overhead. When looking over other jewelry artists, comparing their items and their ability, I think my prices, therefore my labor charge and 50% of Y seems fair.
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Permalink Reply by irith mashiah on -
Hi Sidewing creations,
What I know of here in Israel is that you calculate your expenses, then you measure the time you spent in creating your items and price it (new designs take much longer, so you should calculate after the 3rd or 4th item you've made of the same kind) . Then you double the price of expenses + your work, when you sell it to a shop, or triple it for private customers. (shops here take what you ask for it and sell it to customers for double the price + V.A.T; they earn 50% and even more, which is why I prefer selling directly to customers than to shops.
I think this is more or less what happens everywhere.
I hope I helped you a bit.
Irith
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10 Self-Employment Myths
| Article: | 10 Myths About Self-Employment |
Since there are so many myths about self-employment (especially among lifelong employees), a good place to start would be to dispel some of those myths.
I started my first business right after graduating college and have been continuously self-employed since then. The only time I was ever an employee was during college, when I worked six months as a part-time retail sales associate.
MYTH: Self-employed people have to work really long hours.
Many self-employed people work longer hours than employees. Some enjoy their work so much they want to put in long hours. Some set up their businesses in such a way that their physical presence is necessary for income generation. So working long hours is largely a symptom of the type of business you create as well as your personal choice. If you don't like working long hours, you certainly don't have to.
MYTH: The only reason to build a business is to sell it.
While you can certainly build a business to sell or to take public, you can also build a business to keep. As a self-employed person, you're free to build whatever kind of business you want. You're the boss. If you want to build a business to sell, go for it. If you just want an income source that doesn't require you to get a job, that's fine too.
You can also run multiple businesses at the same time. Once you've been running a business for a decade or more, it's not that hard to repeat the process and spawn another one.
MYTH: Self-employment is much riskier than getting a job.
Security is a result of control, and self-employment gives you far more control over your income than you have with a regular job. When you're self-employed no one can fire you or lay you off. Which is more secure? Owning your income stream or leasing it? Ownership obviously.
If you need to make extra cash quickly, that's very tough to do as an employee. But as an owner who controls all the business assets, you have the ability to channel resources to increase income in a pinch. Having control makes a huge difference.
MYTH: Self-employment means putting all your eggs in one basket.
Ask yourself this: How many people would have to turn against you to shut off all your income? For employees the answer is usually one. If your boss fires you, your income gets turned off immediately. Now that's putting all your eggs in one basket.
With self-employment, you can more easily diversify your income streams and thereby reduce your risk. You have the control necessary to make this happen. Generating different types of income from thousands of customers is a lot more secure than receiving only one paycheck.
MYTH: Being self-employed is stressful.
What's stressful is not being able to make ends meet. Self-employment is less stressful because you enjoy more control. Not having control over your time and your life is stressful. Self-employment can be very low-stress if you decide to make it so. You can turn your office into a relaxing place to work and set your own hours. If you notice the onset of stress, you can take time off to relax.
MYTH: The customer is always right.
If you're self-employed, feel free to fire customers that cause you grief. Some customers just aren't worth having. when a customer becomes obnoxiously rude, insulting, or threatening, you have the choice to not work with them. If you're self-employed, there's no need to do business with people who think it's their privilege to treat you like dirt. You won't enjoy having such customers, and you won't enjoy the types of referrals they send you.
MYTH: Being self-employed is lonely.
Many employees think they enjoy a rich social life when all they do is hang out with their co-workers. That's fine for starters, but it can get pretty stale after a while. On the contrary it's easier for self-employed people to recognize the need for social activities outside their work. At the very least, this may be motivated by the desire to network and to learn from other business owners.
MYTH: Self-employed people have to do everything themselves.
Self-employed people may be responsible for making sure everything gets done, but it's usually foolish for them to do everything themselves. That would be way too much work. You don't have to design your own systems if you can leverage someone else's.
MYTH: Self-employment is too complicated.
Self-employment can seem complicated because there's a lot to learn in the beginning, such as accounting, taxes, payroll, legal issues, insurance, etc. It does take a while to learn the basics, but most of it isn't difficult. Get yourself a good book on the subject, and you'll be off to a great start. Don't let the initial learning curve get you down. You only need to learn this info once.
MYTH: You need lots of money to start a new business.
That depends on the business. You can start an online business for very little cash. You don't need to pour your life savings into your first business. You do, however, need an intelligent way to provide value to people. The nice thing about an online business is that you can create value for a fixed time investment, and technology can deliver that value millions of times over without costing you any extra time or money. You invest a little time in the initial value creation, but you get paid for the ongoing value delivery. Technology does most of the work for a cost that's virtually zero, but you get paid for its results.
Take back control of your personal and professional life! Try self-employment or a side line business for yourself!
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