I am considering making some walker bags for sale and really could use your opinions about pricing them. My materials cost approximately $14-$15. I use only LQS fabrics. What would you be willing to pay for one? Don't worry..I won't make you buy one LOL

Please be honest and thank you. :wink:

It looks lovely.

Can/will you post a photo of the back of it?

The back looks like the front...a pocket on each side. It slips over the top crossbar of the walker and snaps on the side to keep it secure.

Okay, I'll be the first to bite! I would probably pay $15.00 for one, $20.00 if I really like it. Doesn't leave much profit in this price range.

OOPS...just saw the picture. It looks a little small so I would only pay $10 - $15.00. Sorry.

I would definitely purchase one for a gift. If your supplies cost $15 you will need to sell for $20 to $25 to break even on your time & materials. A funny tip for you, when I was selling items of this nature, if you tuck something like a used paperback book, or a quilt magazine or some little bonus in the bag people will go to that first thinking they are getting something for nothing even if it is a used item. Sold much more that way!

Those are wonderful! I would buy one as a gift for sure! I'm not great at pricing though....

I would think seriously about using WM or Joann's fabric, or buying some $3-4/yard online. It's a great idea and very pretty but I suspect most people would have a price threshold that won't allow for much profit for you at LQS fabric prices.

Really nice bag!

I know the effort and material that goes into one of these, so I'm wondering if you might not want to find some less expensive fabric (still good quality, but not quite as pricey) so that you could keep your price point at $20 and not feel like you're just giving them away.

We quilters know the value of such an item, but the general public has very little idea of the actual cost of materials plus the time and experience to do something like this, so they are going to mentally go with thinking it cost you maybe $5 and an hour or so to make.

Now if you are in a more affluent area you could likely get considerably more, but not here where I am.

I was going to suggest the same...I much prefer LQS fabrics, but the seniors have fixed incomes, and can't always afford $20. Make 2 seperate price ranges? LQS and bargain? Sometimes you can pick up sales online and then would be able to price accordingly.

Nice bags!

Love the colors. Not sure what would be a good price. Good luck!

I think I'd pay $20 - $25 for one...

Do you have an outlet? I made these for craft fairs and I wasn't able to sell but one or two and I live near an 'old fart' community with lots of nursing homes and assisted living places.

As far as the fabric goes, try the discounted area of your LQS. Mine has great fabric on for 4 bucks a yard, but it is lines that are several years old.

I would pay up to $20.00 for it as a gift. They are so handy that it would sure help out someone that had to use a walker

I agree..GREAT idea, but find a way to get decent fabric cheaper to increase your profit. Maybe buy by the bolt and or wholesale??

I do have a potential market. There is a very large (private pay) assisted care/Alzheimer's care retirement community near my home. The residents pay $5000+ per month to live there, so they are not living with a very small budget.

I wish one of my LQS's had "older" fabric for sale. One of the LQS's I go to has some of the same fabric I bought 3 years ago, but she NEVER has anything on sale. :cry:

I would try to get the material price down by using a cheaper fabric. I'm sure most that need the walker bag are on a more limited income. Have you tried a Google search for walker bags to see what others are selling for?

our local senior center makes these and sells them for $15 each...most people who need them are on very limited fixed incomes. could you make them using scraps and cut your costs some? it seems like you would need to charge $30 or more for them at your cost's and it may be hard to sell them for that/ unless of course you live in an area that can afford the higher cost. most items at craft fairs, boutiques ect that make and sell items for the elderly/handicapped population do much better if the cost stays under $20. (at least thats how it is around here)

the fact that they pay so much to live there does mean they do not have extra for items such as these...those places tend to take pretty much everything you have, leaving you with maybe enough for a hair appointment every couple weeks and maybe a birthday card for a grandchild. i worked for years in what was considered a very up-scale nice long term assisted living place. the residents may have seemed to outsiders to have unlimited funds but it really does not work that way. their money is set up to be able to sustain them for (as long as it takes) but they have very limited availability of any extra funds. it is assumed that their needs are being provided and they do not need extra cash. they 'choose' to give up alot in order to finish their time in a nice place.
so, please do not assume because it is a nice place that they will be able to afford what you are selling.
(maybe) some of the residents have family who visits who would pay a bit more but i have found that is not so common either...families tend to have the mind set...why pay so much for something like that, they will only use it for a short time then they will be gone..it is sad, but .... reality often is

First, I love your design. I made one for my Mom, but used four ties on the sides to secure it to the walker. Yours has a much cleaner look to it.
Personally I would pay $25 for a walker bag. The bag will last for years, and one would pay that for a purse, which is what this bag serves for my Mom when she goes out.

Thank you everyone for your input. :wink:

I am a bit disheartened that someone would only be willing to pay $10 for one of my bags.
Using $4./yd fabric, batting, and snaps my cost would still be $8. Add 9.75% sales tax on a $10 bag my final cost would be $8.98. Guess my labor is only worth $1.02. :-(

Janet, don't take what people would pay personally. It's no reflection on your talent and work. There are a lot of people who won't pay more than $50 for a king sized "handmade" quilt from China. With sweatshop labor so prevalent in our market and economy, many folks are used to paying 10 cents an hour for labor! It truly makes selling our home made goods, very hard. And usually only to people who understand we aren't slave laborers here in the U.S.

I understand that. We have had many threads about how non-quilters don't understand the value of what we do.
BUT this comment was from a fellow quilter. :-( :-( :-(

Non-quilters don't understand the value of what we do because we're willing to price ourselves so cheap. We TRAINED them by not charging what we should for our time.

I agree with those who suggested $20 to $25 is what they'd bring. So . . .when you're priced at what the market can bare . . .you have no choice but to bring the price of cost of goods sold to a more manageable level. Look for bolt ends. . .sales . . .coupons, etc :)

Something else you might need to consider . . .if this center is an assisted living center for those with Alzheimer's is that patients living there may not have control of their finances. Most in that condition have assigned family members in that role :)

This community is for active seniors (independent), assisted care (several levels of assistance), and they have a section for Alzheimer's patients.

I think $25.00 - $30.00 would be a good price for this. Those using a walker, would appreciate it alot more than we do, and for the price, I would pay up to $30.00 for someone I knew, that needed one.

My guild made these (similar) for the boutique using orphaned quilt blocks, self stick velcro ties to attach to the walker or wheel chair. With the donated fabric, they sold for $10.

Nice looking bag but I have to agree--if I'm buying for a gift up to $20 but if I am older I could not afford that much. Less expensive fabric would work fine--it will still last a long time with use.

I would definitely purchase one of these for a friend who is using a walker. As others have stated, maybe purchase cheaper priced fabric that would still create a good look. I would pay $20 for one because I am always at a loss as to what to give to brighten the life of a person who has recently become handicapped.

Having my mother in a nursing home the past 3 years, another consideration is washing. Anything nice gets thrown in the washer with everything else with plenty of bleach. Even when you try to do the laundry for them, the staff will "help" when something gets dirty. So I refuse to get anything very expensive because I know how it will be treated.

Also, even though these people may be paying $5,000+ a month as private-pay residents, that doesn't mean there's lots of money for everything else. It's a matter of them having to spend all their own money for their care. Unless someone is giving them gifts, you tend to pinch the rest of the pennies for future care.

I agree. They would probably be purchased as gifts and if you could possibly get the home to put one on display you could sell them to visiting family members. I'll bet there are plenty of well dressed residents with families who can afford some extras.

A lot depends on the part of the country and the financial status...but think how much people pay for Vera Bradley bags!

I usually look at items like this and know I could make them, mentally figure up cost of fabric and time, and then conclude that it wouldn't be worth my time to make it for the sales price. In this case, I'd be willing to pay $25 for it, it's really lovely. You could use lesser priced fabric and make a little more, but I don't know if you'd have the same response.

Very Pretty and Great Idea!! $20-25????

My husband was on a walker for some years. I made him a
masculine walker bag from denim (found in yard sales, old
jeans) and it turned out well. I also put in a pocket with a
zipper AND a velcro attachment, since for some time he
loved to go to flea markets. And older people are far more
subject to theft of wallets, and have limited feeling in body
parts. So the zipper/velcro pocket had two LARGE inner
pockets for cash and change, with the bigger bills being
carried in the bottom of the change pocket. He never did
have any thefts.

I actually use a walker at times, and I had purchased an ugly black divided bag for I think $20.00. I would pay more for this because it is so pretty. So I think unless you aren't trying to make any money, you might want to buy lesser priced fabric. Was this your pattern? And do you have a pocket on the other side of the walker that didn't show in the picture.?

Yes, this is my original design and there is a pocket on the other side as well. :-D

REpeate: use a less costly fabric. They are lovely , but remember we "old farts" are usually on fixed income and really have to watch the $'s. Rule of thumb has been, in the past: double your cost and add at least 10% for time and labor. That is one reason it is getting harder to sell at craft shows. Cheap imports have gained the upper hand over fine , hand made products. Dollar Stores are the big winners...even among crafters. I am in the same boat with you...so far it has been a poor selling season...Hoping Christmas shows will be better. Best wishes....fmd in NH

I HAVE MADE BOTH OF THESE TYPES BAG AND HOLDERS FOR WALKER. I HAVE CHARGE 25 FOR EACH ITEM. I ALSO MAKE THEM OUT OF CHEAPER MATERIALS SUCH AS JOANNE AND WAL-MART. AND CHARGE 15. I FEEL YOU NEED TO DO BOTH HI END AND FICKS INCOME . HOPE THIS HELPS I LOVE BOTH OF THEM AND WOULD HAVE BROUGHT ONE AT THE 25 DOLLOR PRICE. HAVE FUN DOING WHAT YOU LOVE TO DO

If it is quilted you could try using the pre-quilted material when it is on sale. It would save you time. I made a pretty fancy one for a friend using a pattern off the internet - changed a part as I always do - and it took me 2 hours to make. At $8.00 an hour for my time that doesn't leave much for the fabric.

beautiful! $20/$25 ?