Ducky

Hi, Y'all. I am hoping for some input. My work week is going to be cut -- and as it is, I am living hand to fist. Don't get me wrong -- I am eternally thankful that I am still employed, even at a reduced salary. It was suggested that I look into perhaps selling throws, wall hangings, baby quilts, table runners/placemats, etc., to supplement my loss of pay. I've never done this and, quite frankly, I am apprehensive. I KNOW my work isn't top quality (and not the lowest quality for that matter) but I don't know how to go about selling and what to charge. I believe I can check out local craft shows and such, but pricing has me stumped. All I need is enough to kind of help with my cut in pay. I'm fairly confident there are people out there that have been in this same situation and I'm asking for help. Any suggestions or words of wisdome would be very welcome, and THANK YOU. And did I ever mention how much I love ya'll and this site. It's a bright spot in my life. :)

Rebecca

Shemjo

I wish I could help you with this, but I would like to know how to do that also. It seems to me that I always had people who wanted to buy something or have me make something special when I was working, and they were working. I have not had success at craft shows as people are looking for ideas, or for real deals and do not was to pay what the product is worth! IMHO.

kluedesigns

the price you can charge is really going to vary based on your location in the country, the other quilters/artists in your area, and the type of work you do utility quilts/art quilts.

i live in Metro NY and i charge $50-$100 per square foot depending on the extent of the work that went into the quilt.

i only do art quilts and the utility quilter is not my competition. people who buy my work are art collectors and my competition are other artists (paint/sculpture/etc).

i started out doing shows and competitions to develop my name, product, and client base.

now i do 1 or 2 shows a year and most of my work is done by commission only.

depending on the size of the projects i can take anywhere from 3-6 projects a quarter.

i have a cut off for project that are due in december of june to insure i can meet the deadline date.

CindyBee

Baby products seem to be big hits. Especially if you have an embroidery machine. Diaper bags, burp pads, bibs, changing pads, blakets, quilts. Do a search on EBay for ideas. Amy Butler style fabrics with ribbon trims and a bit of embroidery seem to be all the rage. My stepdaughter is expecting and did not want to pay the prices when she knows that I can whip these up for her. You could market these to baby boutiques in your area. Also, try hospital gift shops, regular gift shops. Embellished bags are hot right now too. The trick is to use the fabrics and trims most popular right now. Probably not what's on sale at WalMart for $1 yd. Since it's summer, beach bags and pool bags with a beachy embroidery theme or embroidered beach towels, cover ups. Even my hair salon had the cutest bags one of the customers brought in to sell.

tlrnhi

I think it all depends on the location as to what will sell. If you have shops around your area, look and see what is in those shops. When I did the craft fair last year, soft books, table runners sold the best. NONE of my totes sold. The prices weren't exhorbatant, it's just that I guess people didn't want them. They would look at the other things I had, say how pretty they were, but then left.

tlrnhi

I'm going to find a quick bib pattern and make some of those up for this next fair. Not sure if they will sell or not.
I know the cloth/soft books I made were a HUGE hit. I sold those fast. I just hope that all the ones I have for this year sell as fast! If not, they get packed up and toted to where ever we go to next.

Ducky

Thanks for the information. I knew that if I put out here, I would get helpful suggestions. You all are so great and I feel lucky to have found this site. I'm feeling a bit more confident now, and I thank you for that.

Klue, it sounds like you have a mighty fine set up there, and I can only imagine your work is incredible. Without knowing what your work looks like, I can tell you mine is nothing like it. I'm a pretty "okay" quilter with some creative ideas, but pretty "okay" doesn't bring in the big bucks.

Last night I decided to focus mostly on baby items, and after reading your responses, I know I made the right decision. Someone told me that baby quilts always sell. I had not thought about softbooks, Terri, but am very interested in looking into those now, but I have to tell you that it surprised me that your totes didn't sell -- that was also something I had thought about making :? . And my mother, God bless her, is going to give me her embroidery machine, as she said she will never use it again (she's quite ill with cancer). I've never used one before, but she said it was easy to learn and she has oodles of embroidery software and accessories.

I live in the Denver area and there are always craft shows that I can check out and "test the waters". Someone, here on the board, suggested the flea markets, too, which was a great idea.

Again, thank you all.

quiltsRfun

Speaking from a potential customer's viewpoint, I've bought quite a few embroidered quilt blocks at eBay. I don't have an embroidery machine and no plans to get one so this worked well for me. I've also bought pre-made applique blocks that were fused but not stitched. A time saver for those of us who work. My suggestion if you go this route: be sure to leave plenty of extra fabric around your designs. A block can be cut down but if the design is too close to the edge you're just out of luck.

Rhonda

I have been selling to a local store for the last 10 years and I can tell you that you will not get everything you have wrapped up in it. The formula is to add up the cost of your supplies and add for your labor.
But if you charged everything you should it would be more than most people would pay.

I look at it and think what would I pay for this? And you need to do some research and see what similar things are selling for in your area. I sell mine far below what i should because I want it to sell. If I make it and it just sits on my shelf it doesn't do me any good.
You want to decide what your bottom line is for how much you have to have back to buy more fabric and supplies. Then add what the market will allow. If you see a quilt or table runner with a price that seems reasonable to you if you were going to buy it then use that as a guide.

As far as selling things-- check out any gift shops and stores that might be interested in selling your products. Make up a sample that you can show and something you could give as freebie if you can. If not at least make up a flyer or card that you could leave with people that you talk to.

Enter your products on EBay or set up an inexpensive ministore online. You can find places online that will let you set up a page or do a blog.

Anything to get your name out there. Post flyers in quilt stores if they will let you. Here some stores have poster boards where you can post things, If you have any stores or places that will let you post an ad then try that.

You can run an ad in the newspaper also. Depends on how expensive it is. We have free papers here that go out jsut for this kind of thing. You can put an ad in the Bonny Buyer or the Fairfield Free Flyer for a small amount and the paper is free to anyone. So you get lots of people to see it.

Word of mouth is a great way to sell also. Let your local quild or quilt shops know you have things for sale. People will spread the word sometimes for you.

If you have any stores that take things on commission you could check that out also. They take a percentage if you sell. Some you have to pay a monthly fee and some you don't.

Hope this gives you some ideas!

ConnieF

Hi Duckey,
Sorry to hear your mom has cancer. I been through that myself and doing good. All holistic. You will love the embroidery machine. I wish I used mine more. I do so much other sewing I just don't seam to get to it. The Baby things are hot hot hot. And some of the hospital shops will buy out right and some you will have to consign. Wishing you the best in you venture. We who sew are blessed. My husband has said yes there is sewing knitting and crochet all over the house but it has paid the rent in hard times... so I wish the same for you.
Connie