Lampworking

[grandmoffdavid]

I haven't posted much about my bead making lately, and there's a couple of reasons for that. The first is that I went into a slump recently where I wasn't making very much. Having to be outside in a cold wet winter will do that to you. Also, when I finally got around to making things, it tended to be with some of the new silvered glasses that I'

Comments

[grandmoffdavid]

I mean the fact that there are people on Etsy selling beads for half what they'd cost to make. It's something I've talked about before: there are (as far as I can tell) sort of three levels of pricing on Etsy. The lowest are people who price things for what they'd pay for it, regardless of what it cost them to make. And of course, since they can make it themselves, they undervalue their work. The middle band are the people who price out what it cost them to make, factor in their time, and maybe a little profit. I aim for the low end of this band because, really, I'm still a dabbler. The highest band are people who see themselves as Artistes (said with a pretentious french accent) and since their work is clearly the artiest of the arty they are justified in charging the moon and the stars for a plain bead.

It makes figuring out what to charge a bit tricky since you're competing against all three bands for customers. So, in the end, I charge for materials, WA state minimum wage for my time (since, as I said, I'm still learning), and factor in a small profit which also covers business-wide costs like our business license and Etsy fees. Since I don't have to factor in things like making sure I make enough to feed our family, my prices tend to be on the low side. Which is fine. What I really need to do is just get some more beads up on the site.

[lunesse]

unless, of course, your prices are also undercutting the going rate for someone who does make a living at it. You know? Skill, I get, but just because you don't need it for the rent or whatever doesn't mean it is worth less than it would be otherwise. You know? =)

Don't undercut YOUR work, either.

[lunesse]

and by that I mean, don't undercut your own GOOD work, for less than it is worth based on your expectations on what to do with the income. =)