I think your prices are pretty low too. You have to remember that if you are going to sell hand made quilts, you are marketing yourself to someone that wants to buy a handmade quilt. Some customers may want your prices to be the same as a comforter at Wal-Mart, but they are not your target market. You want people that know what it costs to make soemthing homemade. This may mean you will not have a stampede of sales, but you'll have a higher caliber of customers that will return to you for gifts etc... If you sell your items for 'cheap' then that is how customers will perceive your end product.

Rachel

you have to determine who and where your market is. in a high-end area? in a real store? craft market? yuppies? professionals? what is the competition in that area? are you selling in person or on-line? will you charge the same amount for simple quilts as for feathered stars (for example)? will you quilt on speculation or on commission? what if someone wants something special that doesn't fall within your pricing range? smaller pieces or different quilting or different fabrics or batting?

how much does it cost in materials alone (fabrics, thread, batting, etc.) to make a king quilt? add your time at minimum wage.
that's rock bottom. that's without any profit. you're not making any money at $550.00. are you sewing for income or love?

I was never able to sell finished quilts successfully. It was always .. OH do youhave that exact one in a ...( different size) or can I have that one without .... ( one or more of the fabrics) or I need to check my paint chips. WAY to much customization ... and with fabric line coming and going so quickly it is tough to be able to be able to tell someone with any cirtainty that you gat get enought of a particular fabric. Plus there will be the OH I can get it for less at... Spending that much money is not an impulse purchase! It was my experience You give out alot of cards... and almost no phone calls or orders. When they ask for your business card .. it usually means they are looking for a way to politely end the transaction/conversation. Over my many years ... if you want to make $$ its not selling quilts.
Stay with smaller stuff, that is not so decor specific. That they can walk away with their purchase.

I was never able to sell finished quilts successfully. It was always .. OH do youhave that exact one in a ...( different size) or can I have that one without .... ( one or more of the fabrics) or I need to check my paint chips. WAY to much customization ... and with fabric line coming and going so quickly it is tough to be able to be able to tell someone with any cirtainty that you gat get enought of a particular fabric. Plus there will be the OH I can get it for less at... Spending that much money is not an impulse purchase! It was my experience You give out alot of cards... and almost no phone calls or orders. When they ask for your business card .. it usually means they are looking for a way to politely end the transaction/conversation. Over my many years ... if you want to make $$ its not selling quilts.
Stay with smaller stuff, that is not so decor specific...that they can walk away with their purchase.

People in this area don't have a real appreciation for quilts. $650-550.00 for a simple but elegant king size quilt is about all the market will bear in the Greater Washington DC area. We have affluent people but not into quilts as much as midwest or west. Some of my quilts have gone for $950.-1500. the highest. They were intricate piecework with quilting to match. When I do a show, they are simple to do, but look much harder and the quilting is nice and $650. is my price but I have come down to $550. Mind you, these are quilts I can do completely in less than a week. Thats what I do for shows and I generally sell out.

Yup, you're right. Except what I was saying was the one I saw mimicked "real" quilts made by real people enough to make some people wonder why the difference. I would never wanna compete with a $50 Wal-Mart quilt...if they want one like that, they can certainly go buy one there. But a snazzy pattern with "sweatshop quilting"....there's folks that could go either way on knowing better...

hobo, at those prices, how much is actual profit?

My feelings on this is that you will never be able to sell a quilt and get what it is really worth. Right now with the economy the way it is it is hard to make money on any craft projects whether it be quilts or more simple projects.
I think your prices you list here seem pretty reasonable. You can always come down if you really want to sell them and they are not selling at this price. I guess too, it depends on the quilt. How hard is the pattern and what quality of fabric did you use? Lots to consider when you are trying to sell them.

I have 3 here, fabric incl. backing 97.00, quilting incl. batting and postage 95.00 (my LAQ is in AR) 14 hours @ 15.00 per hr.$210.00= $402.00 that $248.00 to cover use of machines, electric, profit, etc. I use only quilt shop fabric but I buy in large quantity when I find a good sale. My LAQ uses green batting which makes a lovely quilt. I take 6 King, 10 queen 4 twin 10 laps to most shows (3 per year) I generally only bring home twins and laps, if any are left. I have fun and quilting is my therapy.

i can't follow all that. what does that mean in terms of say, one king sized quilt? after all expenses are paid, what are you left with as true profit? on a queen? a twin? if you're in it for the income, do you think it's worth it?