jljack

I sell some of my quilts, and I charge double what the fabrics cost, generally. If it's a complicated pattern or it was hard to get the fabrics, then a little more than that. I'm not a professional, but I don't want to give away all my work, either!! :-)

UglyCook

Now I'm on a roll, so watch out!

Something else to keep in mind:
If you make and sell one quilt for $800 in a six month period. How many lap quilts would you have to make and sell at $40 a piece to make the same amount?

20!

So don't sweat the small sales. Make it worth your time. If that $800 quilt is 4 times bigger than one lap quilt and takes you 4 times longer to make, your profit is HUGE in comparison. Get it? The price is 20 times higher!

I listen to people endlessly discuss what $5 items they can produce and sell at craft fairs and I wonder why they bother when they are only make $1 on each item. It's OK to have less sales at higher profits. Wouldn't it be better to sit all day and sell 10 items at $25 each rather than 50 at $5?

patricej

i am soooooo taking notes! :-)

UglyCook

Funny story: I know someone who was selling hand knit scarves for twice what she paid for the yarn, and she used cheap yarn so we're talking about $12 apiece. I don't know why, but she raised her prices last year and sold even more at $20 than she ever did at $12. And she's still spending about 5 bucks on yarn.

grannylou

Wow, that is a lot of info but very helpful. Thanks. It's actually overwhelming...lol :? I printed this out so I can digetst it.... I didn't realize there is so much to consider. Thanks all of you for comments.

patricej

higher prices have more snob appeal.
some people automatically assume that if it's more expensive, it must be of superior quality.

the Goodwill and Salvation Army sell used jeans for $5 a pair.

a Vintage Clothing Boutique will sell those same jeans for at least $50. $150 if they're dirty and have holes in them.

i will never understand why anybody would be willing to pay $50 for a used blouse from a VCB, but wouldn't be caught dead in a charity thrift shop.

human beings. what'cha gonna do with them? :lol:

CraftsByRobin

Thank you UglyCook (gosh I'm not sure where the handle came from but your picture is beautiful!) for the advice ... which can be applied to any business ... not just quilting :)

MaggieLou

Uglycook you are so right! I have never figured out why people want to sell their stuff so cheap. We used to do art fairs until everybody else started doing the same thing my husband did at half the price. (The quality wasn't nearly as good.) We quit doing them. It's not worth it to spend 40-50 hours making something and selling it for $50.

QweenBee

Aw, they are both so sweet!

grannylou

Thank you for all your help and advice. It has been very helpful for me. :)