How to Price your Arts and Crafts

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[@karenm8952]

I had a store online for about 3 years, before I got sick. I was making beaded glass and crystal jewelry and glass pendants and earrings. In the beginning, I would take my cost, double it, which wasn't a lot for most beads, and then add some for my time, maybe $10/hour. But if it took me a real long time, stringing and restringing to get it right, I did not think I should pass that on to my customer for some reason. My pieces were very low priced..... and not selling. A friend told me that nobody was buying my jewelry because they assumed they were cheaply made from cheap products. When I told her I wanted people like myself to be able to afford it, she shook her head and told me to price my jewelry to the customer I would like to attract. I doubled the price of everything across the board and my sales tripled! :) My bet is this: if you are afraid to overcharge, you are probably under-charging. Value your work and your time and others will too. Once you start establishing a customer base, people will see that others believe your art is worth it, so they will too. And suddenly it is, and so are you. :)

[@amandagoudeau1963]

thanks i needed this :)

[@AngelicPeopleHurt2]

Karen M Thank you. I was thinking of pricing my stuff much lower than other who sell the sort of same thing. So f they sold it for 80 id do 40 or 50 but i spend hours and hours on one thing....so idk maybe ill cover my costs first then add gas and time and rent space?

[@AngelicPeopleHurt2]

Karen M Oh and i just realized that some of my stuff i got on sale and if i have to buy it again at full price...when i need it and cant wait for the sales.... I need to reconsider my costs and not as she says inthe video "undercut myself".

[@rosalynfreeman3382]

I'm still working on pricing & make one of a kind jewelry pcs, among other things. But one thing I make sure I do, is even when I get materials on sale, I use the original price instead of what I paid when figuring what to charge. That way I can keep the pricing the same if it's something I reproduce. My thinking is, if you're buying quality materials that happen to be on sale, great! You r still producing quality pc's & the price should reflect that.

[@traceybooker3245]

Karen M 0

[@susanfalkler7643]

I used to do craft fairs, and the draw to my booth was $1 bracelets for kids. I would buy a big tub of glass beads, string on elastic thread and put a big sign up. The kids would drag their moms to the booth and then I would get lots of lookers and buyers. I would spend about $10 on supplies and sell 75 to 100 bracelets. I would also give the kids an extra bracelet if mom bought something! I was selling decorative painting, not jewelry!

[@thefrugalcrafter]

Susan Falkler nice idea!

[@mamashanshan2772]

I appreciate you sharing your experiences, great idea expressing to customers what goes into our art work, it’s also a great way of getting to know them and what they would like more of! I love your awesome personality also!! You are so welcoming, and so full of info! Thank you once again! Happy crafting!! Xoxo

[@HeidiMBlankenship]

Fantastic video Lindsay!! Pricing our arts, crafts and jewelry can be so hard sometimes. I have been designing for 20+ years and have dabbled in all kinds of things from painting, card making and rubber stamping, jewelry, home decor. I used to do the craft shows but haven't done them in a few years. Now I just sell my stuff by word of mouth and I have had stuff in a couple of boutiques too. I am currently working on opening up a online store. I came across an article not too long ago on pricing for jewelry and I think it could also be used with other arts and crafts. This helps to get a base price and then like you said you can determine what will work for the market in your area. I thought the article had some really good points. Also for storing beads and keeping track of the cost--I see a few people commented on this.--I store all of my beads in bead containers/trays and then I use tiny label stickers to write what the bead is (stone/color), the brand, and price per bead. I count how many beads are in the strand and divide that by the price. If I get something on sale I still use the original price--because if you need to make multiples of something you never know if you will be able to get it at the sale price. Doing this makes jewelry pricing so much easier. I do this with a lot of other craft products too. Here is a link to the article for jewelry pricing. jewelrymakingjournal.com/jewelry-pricing-formula/ Love your videos Lindsay!! Thanks for always sharing so much information with all of us!!

[@thefrugalcrafter]

Heidi Blankenship Rena is wonderful, I follow the Jewelry Making Journal. This woman knows her stuff. Thanks for sharing the link. I get her mailings too, she is a wealth of info!

[@elaine-cb]

Thank you Lindsay..... Really helpful and useful information to consider for the future. I like the fact that you take everything into consideration, rather than using a formulaic method

[@AndraMarieArt]

I only do the craft fairs that the local elementary schools put on. A percentage of your profit goes to the school, it's nice they package everything for you and run a cash register. One thing I've noticed is that some people feel more comfortable visiting an unmanned booth or that some people will pass over your booth if they think it may be too expensive. The whole thing is mostly for the kids, to raise money and help our mountain kids buy something for their families so one of the rules is that you need to have a dollar item. Making price signs that are clear to read and can be seen from a distance for the cheaper items help. Also the craft fairs are around Christmas and so our booths are decorated with little Christmas trees, one thing that crafters have noticed is that people don't buy the things placed on the tree. The lady in the booth next to me sold earrings and ornaments and we found that taking them off the tree actually made a big difference.

[@Cre8tvlyYrs]

Great tips and thanks for sharing your ideas! I am about to do at least one Craft boutique but I know I tend to underprice my items and am always being told that so thanks for showing me the 'reasons' for pricing fairly to me. I felt like you were talking to me personally especially when you mentioned about underpricing and then someone orders 4 more...I always feel so frustrated when I do that because I know I'm now only getting paid for mainly materials...ugh!! I do tend to feel guilty since like you mentioned about how we feel that if we are enjoying the process but now that I've matured a bit I've learned not only to value my time but also my talents...so that has helped me with my mindset to present at a better price that's fair for me and my potential customers! I was also wondering if you happened to have any tips on a good way to price artwork...I have a lot of finished canvases but it's so personal and I need to stop getting attached to them...lol! As well as what you mentioned about letting things go, I noticed I've been struggling to paint more of my original artwork again and I suspect it's all my older artwork...perhaps? BTW, I love your confidence in what your doing too and you have really inspired me!

[@MaryPoggemann]

Dear Lindsay, Thanks so much for these great tips! I love to make cards and crafts and people frequently ask for cards. I want to learn to price things fairly so I can continue my craft.

[@ShoryoTombo]

YOU! You made my night! This was exactly what I was looking for! Thank you so much!! This video was very helpful, comprehending, and educational. I love how you explicitly mention about explaining to your buyer and become educated on your pieces which increase your value. Very smart indeed! Thank you once again! I know I seem to post comments with lots of exclamation point! :D

[@thefrugalcrafter]

+ShoryoTombo glad it helped:)

[@Faerysong1]

Thank you for sharing.....This has been the bane of my existence. I've never been able to price my work, whether it's a painting, (usually oils), jewelry or a craft item. Where I live a lot of people paint, and do crafts. I usually price on the low side simply because it's so hard for me to know what to charge. I was at a craft fair where I had an oil painting for sale, (16x20) had priced the painting at $50. without a frame, my friend had an extra frame so we used it to show off the painting. I had one lady ask the price and when I told her, and that the wooden frame wasn't included she said she'd pass. I was dumb stuck. Other paintings there, in the same caliber as mine were $150, framed. It was a real blow to my confidence. Since then, I usually give one as a present rather than price one for sale. I know I have no self confidence, even though everyone says I am a very good artist. Maybe someday.......

[@thefrugalcrafter]

Alice Clark no one buys a painting because it is cheap. They buy it becaue they love it. Art is funny that way. Price in line with your area and buy a few inexpensive frames and frame them, add the frame to the fair price of the art. People like to buy a framed peice ready to hand, it removes a consideration. The do not have to look for a frame, or pay to frame it, it is ready to wear so to speak.

[@os2841]

She was probably put off by the low price and thought you used cheap materials.

[@judichristopher4604]

I live in New Mexico and love seeing the Native American Arts In ABQ and Santa Fe... (and all over too).

[@imnotfromhere]

Great video, Lindsay! I'm definitely going to take this points into account. My day job isn't crafting, but I find this advice sound for both my day job AND my crafting. Thank you so much for sharing this video :)

[@UtahGmaw99]

Love this! Lots of great advice. Can you do one on how to do a craft fair or flea market? I have seen simple to extravagant set ups and wondered what works best. Thanks a ton for your great videos.

[@thefrugalcrafter]

UtahGmaw99 I have one here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/hJWnnYyvarB9fM0

[@terrierqueen4091]

This is all good advice for people who's craft inventory is secondary to their main focus, but not for people who focus on their craft and expend more time and love into their work.

[@MelWatchesYT]

Thank you so much Lindsay. This has helped me a lot thinking of how to price my products on Etsy!

[@darleneiglehart6605]

I haven't done craft shows in a while but am thinking about getting back into it some. One of my best customers comes to mind when I think about all the shows I did. In the 80's when the country blues and mauves were so popular a lady in the booth next to me was asked by a man "What color blue is that on that wreath?" The lady said "Oh, that's a trade secret". He and his wife came into my booth and was admiring some things and he said "I sure would like to know where to get that color paint. My wife just loves it and wants to do a picture frame to match some things we have. I told him the brand and where I bought it. They went on to spend a hundred dollars in my booth buying things that would go with that frame. This was before internet and I always shared what info I could. Most people come to a craft show with a limited amount of mad money and they are going to spend it. Well I do...lol. A lot of times someone may not be able to afford to buy from you but they will remember you and buy from you when they come back with money to spend.

[@thefrugalcrafter]

Darlene Iglehart that is so true, I am always leery of someone who will not share what they know, it tells me that lack ideas.

[@akartisan1]

thefrugalcrafter Lindsay Weirich or that they are insecure. Sometimes they could learn more from me by sharing

[@judichristopher4604]

Darlene Iglehart I totally agree... You are wise.

[@Scalh143]

Thank you soo much for this helpful advice this is really help me as sort of a starving party favor/card making artist and I'm kind of transitioning into into sort of a jewelry making a little bit also where is light jewelry stamping and then using apoxy covers for certain jewelry, also I want to start my online business but never was sure how to price my items and you're totally right the time and effort put into certain items that you produce is a major factor in pricing so I'm really going to have to think about a lot of things when doing this LOL but thank you so much for your advice!!

[@judichristopher4604]

Great video as ALWAYS... I think I told you I am SERIOUSLY thinking about doing the Craft & ART Fairs and Trade shows for a Steady income... I now find myself being able to do this since my children are grown. I heard you say... something about Rice Warmers... I used to make them... but I would not have an Idea how much to sell them for... The reason this would be such a great item... is: I also do Chair Massage (30 years now as a Reflexologist/Massage Therapist) and I manufacture my Gold Rush Liniment for Arthritis, Sore Muscle & Joint Pain... The Rice Warmers would go great with this theme... How much would you suggest to sell a Rice Bag? Thank YOU again for helping me... You are a God-Send. I love all your videos...

[@thefrugalcrafter]

I sell then for $10 with a washable cover

[@judichristopher4604]

Thank you for getting back to me so fast... That sounds like a great price... and I never thought about a washable cover!! Great idea tooo... I'm so excited to go back on the road with doing trade/art show... I'm a little rusty... but I have courage since I have been watching all your videos.. Lindsay, Thank you so much for all your help.

[@nightcore_ricktor7633]

one of my classmates wanted to keep one of my small paintings one time...and the thought of pricing my art came to mind, thank gods I found this vid :3

[@ingebird3380]

I don't know where to ask you this question so I thought this might be a good place. My question: Do you sign your art? Where do you sign it and what type of pen do you suggest? I am making collage art and using Modge Podge and I don't know what type of ink to use to write my name on the piece. I am making inspirational craft art to sell because we have no income right now due to the virus. My plan is to make money to help buy food for us. Your videos are teaching me how to do that on a shoestring budget (Thank you!) I follow Buddha Doodles online and see she uses white ink. What do you think about that color?

[@lindadechow2212]

Thank you so much for sharing your experience. I have a couple of questions, and hope you don't mind if I ask them in this arena: Do you sell your original paintings (watercolor, or otherwise) at craft fairs? How do you locate craft fairs in your area? What is a fair price for a booth at a craft fair? and...What do you think is the best location for a booth for a good turnout, i.e. shopping malls, churches, schools, etc. Thanks so much you are so generous with your sharing!

[@thefrugalcrafter]

Linda DeChow Hi Linda, yes I do sell my original watercolors, cards are $7 and the paintings (I mat them and place them in clear bags) go for $15-$50 on average but they are quick paintings.I probably would not bring a really expensive framed painting to a craft fair unless I thought it would draw people into my booth because it would take up space and be unlikely to sell. Booths can run from $10-$75 for a local fair in my area. The more expensive fairs are usually juried or you need to belong to a guild to get into them. I usually stay in the $25-$50 range. Any place with good traffic is good. School are good because you usually have a community there. Mals can be tricky because you are competeing with cheap stuff made overseas and people are at the malls to shop in shops and may not have time or interest to stop. The best customers are ones who want to buy homemade stuff. But hey, the the booth at the mall is reasonable and gets good traffic it would be worth a shot!

[@1NatureLuvr]

Thank you! Your videos are a wealth of knowledge with quite a variety of topics!

[@rondabergeron4414]

For me it has depended where I have lived. When in a big city it seemed that things moved quickly and for the price I marked. I also don't mind bartering as long as I get the price that I have in my head. Because my "art" is very unusual most of the time my table is empty very quickly. I never replicate anything. I do something once and when it is out of my head I don't do it again. This has been my experience. And has been pretty successful.

[@thefrugalcrafter]

Ronda Bergeron thanks for sharing! Be unique folks:)

[@dianer8881]

If I make something that is really beautiful, I replicate with different colors. This saves time. New patterns are very time-consuming.

[@thepeddler9226]

My mother would have loved you. She went to craft fair, bought a lot of stuff and had written guarantees by the artists that these were unique pieces...

[@sonialynnstation9905]

You are always delightful to watch . Good advice! Thnx!

[@TheKserwin]

This was an excellent video with great advice! I used to work in a ceramic and pottery shop where the owner was (and still is) a wonderfully talented artist. Among other things she made Raku pieces. If after a while, some items did not sell, she would destroy them. When a friend asked her why she didn't try to sell them at a reduced price, she said that it did not make a positive statement about her time, her ability and her art. Point being, like you said, Lindsay, you -- the artist/crafter -- are a part of what you are trying to sell.

[@thefrugalcrafter]

Karen Erwin good point but I would "grab bag" items like this. You are giving people a good deal without really reducing your price and they pick your stuff over, they get what they get and you get something at least. people can tell how confident you are and if they can beat you down on a price. I do not budge BUT I will offer a special, buy 2 get one free, therefore rewarding my best customers but not discounting my items.

[@TheKserwin]

I will pass this on to Renee. It may give her something to think about! Thanks, Lindsay!

[@plicketyplunk]

I don't sell my art but I found this video fascinating. I have always wondered how people price their items. Thanks, Lindsay, you are a fountain of amazing knowledge. :>)

[@thefrugalcrafter]

plicketyplunk you are welcome and you never know, you might decide to sell one day:)

[@marigoldStudio]

Wonderful video and tips! You covered a lot of great tips- a delight to watch as usual! Had a quick question about how to reply to people who ask for wholesale pricing on handcrafted products... I make detailed greetings cards and paper goodies using stamps, dies etc. so spend a lot of time and effort on each card. My pricing is okay I think, not too high or extremely low either ( between $4-6 per card based on work and size) but then I recently got asked how much i would charge for a bulk order & come up with several different designs too in that order. My initial thought is that making more of the same is not going to cut my costs that much, since each is crafted by hand...and coming up with new designs takes up a lot of time too, besides producing them... Any ideas how to approach this or frame it to the potential buyer? Would greatly appreciate it!!!

[@thepeddler9226]

You have made very good points. I''m preparing for my 1st show (don't know when but I'm making lots of stuff) and I'm following someone who has great ideas and great prices. She's in the US and I'm in Canada so I'll adjust the $$$. She makes a lot of plain stuff but I'd like to add my pretty stuff too and up the price on those. Do you think my customers will get confused?

[@irenelindsayjewerlycrafts2251]

Thank you so much i make design and sell my jewelry, and now to have something a little extra i make crafts and Greeting cards. 😊

[@SageDeerborn]

Sometimes presentation makes all the difference. I had some necklaces that were prices low and I could not sell them. After a year I repackaged them, raised the price, and sold them out within 10 minutes of opening. I learned that sometimes if your price is to low people will think that they are cheaply made or something is wrong with them.

[@thefrugalcrafter]

onewhocrops yep, perceived value folks!

[@opal777]

Renae is advocating Craft Maker Pro. Have you tried it? Just curious if it is worth the effort of typing in all of the inventory.

[@mgscrapbooking]

Ur the best I was not sure how to prove my stuff

[@michellechristopher6468]

Thank you been doing craft fairs for years pricing is a hard part also yeah figuring what will sell . The other thing is true is you can make something and it sells real well at one craft fair so you make more and it don't sell at the next or you take back the next time to that same fair next year and it sells. It can be so frustrating and confusing at times. smiles

[@barbarahenninger6642]

Really good, straightforward advice. Thanks!

[@vmtee]

I always have this problem... Thanks for the input. I've heard the same thing, however, I seem to under value myself and time. Cuz, to me I'm "good" and I have a hard time selling my items at a higher price.. thanks for the input and love your vids. :)

[@PatsTreasuresNCrafts]

Very helpful info. I used to do 10 or so craft fairs a year until I really started having major health issues. I'd love to get back into it, but I have found, through my experience, that there really isn't a "good" craft fair venue in my area. I have tried ones at churches, VFW's, in the commons, at schools. It just hasn't been worth my effort. HOWEVER lol I also have a growing mound of finished projects that I'd like to sell. Any suggestions? I have priced exactly how you explained here. I've dropped my prices when necessary. I find that not much sells, no matter what it is over here where I live. Schools seem to be the best for me, but it is definitely hit or miss. TFS ~ Pat :)

[@thefrugalcrafter]

***** what are do you live in Pat? Maybe go to a few fairs and see what is selling...maybe nothing is and you might have to try a store like ETSY online or consign at a shop. I had luck renting a stall in an antiques mall. I found I sold lots of cards and small jewelry there, probably as add-on gifts for other things people were buying. The downside is you have to pay rent every month weather you sell anything or not.

[@PatsTreasuresNCrafts]

thefrugalcrafter Lindsay Weirich I live in Northampton, MA. I tried a consignment shop and got burned. The owner closed up shop without notice, without paying anyone and without returning our items. There was a big court thing and nothing came of it. She basically got off scott free! There are lots of antique shops around. Actually my hubby's uncle owns one in the center of Northampton. Maybe he would let me sell some of my cards there. I certainly will ask. Thanks for the advice. I value what you say.

[@myserenitycrafts]

Hi Lindsay, Great video. Thanks for the help. Sara

[@rxstrmom]

Very helpful Lindsay...xo patti

[@gerardineberry6161]

Thank you so much for answering my question... how long should I keep it at that price before marking it down?

[@CraftyLoops]

Fantastic advice, thanks Lindsay. Lee xx

[@lisamr40]

I am going through this now. A friend of mine asked me how much I charge for a baby blanket and hat. I said 'I don't know!' Lol I have to really think about it. I know this woman doesn't have a ton of money to spend but yet it takes a while to make. I also don't want to feel as though I am charging to much. It's very difficult to decide how much to charge. Thanks for the helpful advise!

[@kimwhelan4936]

U r very informative and seem to have alot of knowledge. Do you know if can sell finished framed cross stitching or finished as a throw pillow. And if u know where I can go about it. They r time consuming I love doing but have no where to hang anymore n can only give friends so many lol...

[@MalonsShop]

Some very good tips... Thanks for sharing!

[@craftyfiber]

I've only sold stuff to people who have asked me to make something for them. Like you said you feel guilty for charging so I just let them pay what they think the product is worth to them but no less than $10. However now everyone is saying I should do this as a business. I only have made custom things for a particular person. Do you have any advice on how to branch out? My craft is knit and crochet. I make anything head to toe, housewares and toys a.k.a amigurumi

[@noobsfansub]

Grab bags are the best. I don't have a lot of money so I can't often get everything I want from an artist, but if they have a grab bag I will take that. Also I can't resist to the surprise factor. I am always so excited to see what's inside and even if there is an earing pair or something I like less, I usually know someone around me that will love it.

[@thefrugalcrafter]

noobsfansub I always make sure they are getting double what they paid for it:) Usually it is things I over made.

[@dianer8881]

For jewelry, I bought cheap acrylic beads and created quick, easy patterns. I sell $2 bracelets and $4 necklaces, which is about 5 times the amount I paid for materials. I sell about 150 pieces of jewelry per year as a hobby. If prices were higher, I don't think they'd sell in my area.

[@letschatdisability108]

hi lindsay, im terrible with being confident with my pricing. i always think im over charging so keep under charging or giving it away for free to family/friends. my husband has taken over my pricing until i build my confidence. im a disabled crafter/artist and wondered if you had any tips for building confidence with my art/crafts and being proud and able to say 'yeah i made that' 'im great at what i do' etc. loving your stuff and videos x mrszakscreations UK.

[@thefrugalcrafter]

Charleyz Angelz You pretend until you believe it is true (Fake it til you make it REAL) Keep telling yourself that you made it and it is good and you will eventually believe it:)

[@letschatdisability108]

lisa I am with you!!

[@nadinesawtell3267]

I admire your courage keep crafting. You have talent. Best of luck

[@bejayroles5820]

Great video, Lindsay. It's good to read all the comments as well, some good ideas here today :).

[@thefrugalcrafter]

Bejay Roles yes, my viewers have wonderful ideas and tips and questions too!

[@gilbertlozano902]

Thank you Lindsay! That was helpful!!!!💕

[@vanessapagan5803]

I am considering selling my crafts for the first time at the Fall Festival at my Catholic Church. It is a small church of middle income families. My crafts will be earrings and necklaces I have made from cabochons I bought off eBay that I hot glued onto earring posts and bails for the necklaces which are on pink link 2 feet chains. I also have many paper purses and unique boxes for gift giving that I learned to make from watching KZbin videos, but the designs are mine. Last year I saw no one selling these types of crafts. I'm thinking the earrings and necklaces can be sold for $5 each, but I just don't know how to price the paper purses which take a lot longer to make. Any suggestions? How should I set up my table to display my crafts? Thank you!

[@thefrugalcrafter]

the $5 earring will probably be the big earner with the most profit. The paper purses are a harder sell BUT if you can make them into a gift card holder or include a lip balm they will sell well. You might need to simplify the design to you can make them faster at a lower price. I only get about $5 tops for any paper crafted item so I take measures to make in batches to reduce time.

[@craftycrafter1960]

great ideas, pricing items is never that easy. Im always looking around at what others are asking for similar but Ive never been able to get paid what it would have taken me hourly to make something. This was very true when I was knitting and crocheting for craft fairs. Presently Im working on jewellery from paper beads and I havent figured out a good price yet.

[@thefrugalcrafter]

Sandra Gallant-Crabtree knitwear is the worst to price because it is impossible to get a fair price unless you take commissions. I was commissioned to make a katniss wrap last year after a lady saw me wear mine. I named my price for labor plus the cost of yarn. And she said sure but there is no way I could have put that price on a wrap and sold it for that. That also makes it exclusive and more valuable to the buyer.

[@craftycrafter1960]

thefrugalcrafter Lindsay Weirich I have been trying to figure out how much I am making on one item. I did read the article about using the formula but it gets confusing.

[@rachelherrera]

love the grab bag idea!!

[@theculinarycrossover148]

I gotta say, Lindsay, I really like you and your channel. However, I get a little bugged that you don't look at the camera when you present. Just a friendly observation. Love you!

[@lOwlEyesl]

Hey Lindsay, what about getting selling prints or postcards? First off, where would you go to do this and then how would you go about pricing the prints?

[@thefrugalcrafter]

lOwlEyesl there are companies who specialize in artist postcard printing, they advertise in art magazines. There is also Vistaprint who I use for business cards. Or Cafe press or Zazzle for print on demand, people can order from your cafe press shop and it gets printed as needed. You earn whatever you mark up the print over base price. I have a cafe press store but never made any money at it.

[@bcdoula]

Such great tips! Thank you!

[@diannadiatz1140]

Dear Linsay, You are very pragmatic! Perhaps you can make suggestions for people who want to sell their arts/crafts online, like on Etsy or Ebay or Facebook or KZbin, Pinterest... Does one need to put watermarks on their art/crafts online? I think it is always good to try to figure out what and who your ideal markets and customers are. Thanks for your tips!

[@thefrugalcrafter]

Dianna Diatz I think tha tthe compitition for online selling is high. Not only do you need to make a fantastic craft but you need to showcase it properly. If I were selling online I would watermark it with my name and website where it is for sale so people could find me. All of that plus marketing takes time I am not willing to invest, I'd rather pack it up and sell at a craft fair but if someone asks me to buy something I made I will sell and ship it. Since the maine portion of my income is not sales I do not want to devote a large time to listing, packing and shipping. Someone who wants selling their crafts to be the main income should totally have an online shop AND sell at craft shows. It all depends on your business plan.

[@joek468]

Glad I found this video. I was looking on how to price for a craft fair. We have them at the mobil home park where I live and I have never done one and just getting into making decals and t shirts. Was trying to figure out if craft fairs should be priced at garage sale pricing. Seems like from this video it should be NO unless the customer base dictates that and then lower pricing?

[@thefrugalcrafter]

I'd do some research, go to a few craft fairs and see what similar quality and style crafts are selling for. If it is too low to get your time and materials out of look elsewhere or try online.

[@joek468]

thank you 😀

[@elizabethvallely4044]

Very helpful Lindsay thank you for Sharing!!! hugs Liz x

[@MicahsCrafts]

I usually sell my card from $2-$5 and certain people will buy them. But they aren't selling as fast as I would like them to. Should I try to lower the price or should I make bundles of card for a little cheaper? Also I never did a craft fair before because it is kinda expensive just to rent a spot. I live in Hawaii and everything is more expensive here, but do u think I should try to do one? Anyway thanks for the video and have a great day

[@thefrugalcrafter]

MicahsCrafts do not lower your price. Bulk packs are a great idea! Esp for Christmas coming up. The cost of a booth should not be more expensive because you are in HI but you might be in a prime tourist spot for a higher price and you can make things Hawaii themed that would make a lovely souvenir for tourists. I love Hawaii BTW, i've been 3 time all the way from Maine! Schools and churches will have cheaper tables but probably not as many customers.

[@MicahsCrafts]

Thanks for your advice. I really appreciate that u responded. I am a 15 year old boy that makes a lot if cards for friends and family and if I have extra I sell them. Thanks for everything. Please check out my channel if u have a chance.

[@diannadiatz1140]

MicahsCrafts Dear Micah, It is great that you are creating so many art cards. I haven't been to Hawaii yet, but I think it would be great to include Hawaiin expressions on your cards with native Hawaiin scenes, flowers and birds... Perhaps you can also add simple shells, or charms to your cards that have an Hawaiin meaning. You could even make your own charms with Shrinky Dinks plastic sheets, or clay. Does your school have an annual fair? Perhaps you can help create an arts and craft fair to celebrate Hawaiin culture. Be sure to visit different gift shops and galleries in your area. It is always inspiring to see other artists' creations, and see what things are out in the world. Talk to your art teachers at school. For cards, you might also want to create some for different holidays and themes. There are many different ways of selling items. HAVE FUN! EXPERIMENT! ENJOY THE PROCESS OF CREATING!! My best wishes for you as a budding artist and card maker!! Dianna

[@cozycountryquilts7655]

I am trying to ind the video you did when you talked about selling online not Etsy but a place where you are not in competition with any one else and I can't find could you tell me where the online place is to sell your crafts

[@strawberryNvanilla99]

I like to do price checks on etsy and such to see how much other people are selling their stuff for

[@thefrugalcrafter]

strawberryNvanilla99 great idea, I had not thought of that. Do you like ETSY is a good judge or do you think it is higher or lower than craft fair sales?

[@PatsTreasuresNCrafts]

thefrugalcrafter Lindsay Weirich I find, in about half the cases, Etsy sellers charge more than people at craft fairs :)

[@strawberryNvanilla99]

Yeah, often they do sell things for a higher price than those at craft fairs, but I still find it helpful to take a look at those who seem to be rather successful in selling their arts and crafts.

[@thefrugalcrafter]

strawberryNvanilla99 Since you can really reach a niche marker online they can get a better price but also the competition is higher which can bring down prices. interesting that it still seems to be higher. Etsy sellers also have to account for paypal fees and listing fees.

[@kristenk1995]

I replied on a different comment but you may want to look at other places than Etsy as they now allow in shops with full manufacturing capabilities so their pricing can actually be really low compared to a handcrafted item. www.huffingtonpost.com/shannon-whitehead/how-etsy-changed-the-rule_b_5708565.html

[@gerardineberry6161]

Thank you so much .. I have starting making jewelry as a hobby to help me quit smoking but I decided to start selling them at my dad's shop at the flea market and put in at necklace and two pairs of earrings at $15 is that a fair price they are plastic beads but I figured with the string in the earrings and the fastest that was a fair price... what do you think ??? I'm needed some ideas and some help THANK you ... sincerely Gerri

[@thefrugalcrafter]

give it a try and see, yu can always mark them down if needed

[@ClaudiaDelaMora2308]

Something short I spend my Christmas season that I always doing beautiful Christmas wreaths and when they came to ask for money, they were thinking, they also looked to my postcards and are to expensive then I was saying the whole process it takes to do these crafts, acrylic paintings etc, and I got to listen to say behind my back I can do that but I'm lazy, let another stand those comments took away the desire but you are a wonderful lady who shares with us this type videos and I have decided I have been buying equipment to start promoting my postcards and my acurelas now in 15 days, I include topics thanksgiving and god christmas you Bendia for being so so beautiful with those who follow you, bendicones your family and you for all that you do for us, artisans, painters etc. watercolorists

[@vidbox44]

I found it difficult to FIND craft fairs. Google brought up a couple of paid membership sites, but I couldn't tell if it was worth joining - do they have reliable listings in my area? I'd like to try it, just to move out my inventory of stuff (to make way for more, of course!), but locating the craft fairs seems very challenging.

[@thefrugalcrafter]

vidbox44 search your city an craft fair, I came up with several this way:)

[@aclark30121]

I love making baby sweaters--but I am having a hard time deciding on the price of them--do you have any suggestionss?

[@thefrugalcrafter]

that's tricky as knitwear takes time. I'd calculate how long it takes yo to make one x your hourly wage plus cost of yarn and start there. If it seems way higher than what others charge for hand knit you can adjust.

[@PrairieJournals]

I like the grab bag idea🇨🇦

[@anniemadera5570]

How would you price ocean crafts? Seashell earrings and necklaces. Or wood crafts? Earrings and necklaces.

[@thefrugalcrafter]

it depends on your area and what similar items sell for

[@dianeandrews1081]

My husband was a wedding photographer and his teacher told him if you price too low people won’t hire you. Lydsy how much for hand painted (not foot painted) cards. Hallmarks cost more than the gift some times lol

[@thefrugalcrafter]

Simple ones are $7

[@patyost5595]

Is it wise at the end of a show to lower your prices just to get rid of some of your items? Will that cost a problems

[@thefrugalcrafter]

it depends on if you have other shows coming up, you don't want to give away your stock if you have another show. I don't lower mine but it might not hurt because people who bough earlier would not know you lowered. Just make sure your prices are fair. If someone doesn't want something at $10 they probably still won;t want it at $5 is my experience.

[@amenecerdeabril]

Thank you! Great information as always

[@dianer8881]

Price needs to be based upon what someone is willing to pay. Jewelry is very competitive. It needs to be very unique and at the right price.

[@lynnsadauskas9344]

I'm trying to figure my cost to make one of my items. To buy the yarn is 9.99. The yarn has 1020 yards. I do not use the whole skein of yarn, only a few yards. How would you figure the cost per yard. I know you would divide cost into yard but I get wacky numbers.(.0097941) Can you help?

[@thefrugalcrafter]

figure out how many items you will make from the yard so if it is 4, and the skein cost $10, your supplies per project cost $2.50, then factor in your time and other expenses and make sure you pay yourself fairly for your time:)

[@grand2462]

I going to try a craft fair year but I like to now how mine pieces is good to start with

[@Christi.Uninhabited]

I seem to have a hard time finding craft fairs, do you have any info on how to find some?

[@thefrugalcrafter]

Clay AndCoffee funny I was looking for a particular fair yesterdy and could not find it but when I searched "bangor Shriner fair" 3 others popped up so let your fingers do the typing and you will find result that way. Also post to facebook if you have it, say anyone know of a good craft fair in the area? You will get great word of mouth leads!

[@Christi.Uninhabited]

Thank you

[@millana6292]

Everyone tells me to sell my stuff, however, I can’t bring myself to do it. I mostly give a lot away. It’s weird, because so much time is put into the work. I don’t know if it’s about self value or what, but, I know it kinda bothers me.

[@SusanScrapPassion]

I have done several craft fairs mainly during the holiday season. I live in the NE tri-state area, and for some reason people here think a craft fair is a flea market. Nothing irritates me more than someone who does not want to pay the price marked or wants something for free and thinks there is something wrong with you if you are not willing to bargain with them.

[@thefrugalcrafter]

SusanScrapPassion not at all but offer a but 3 get one free or something like that but don't change your price. Reward the best customers without dickering with the lookie-loos

[@whitneyhawthorne4555]

How do I Price pony beads and key ring art stuff

[@thefrugalcrafter]

factor your time, supplies and what others are selling it for

[@rmqbar9611]

Hello! I have been your subscriber for sometime now but i just came upon this video today. I would like to sell some of the cards that i make but i can only base my pricing on the paper and envelope that i use. When i use stencils or embossing folders i simply multiply the cost of paper and envelopes to 3 (cost of paper and envelope, labor, profit) I don't know how to incorporate the price of the ink and the embossing powder that i use. Can you please help me?

[@thefrugalcrafter]

+Rmq Bar the cost of ink and powder would be pennies per card. Keep all your receipts for supply purchases and write them off at tax time.

[@rmqbar9611]

thefrugalcrafter Lindsay Weirich Thank you!!

[@omgs5297]

Great info. Thanks.

[@KittehNow]

GREAT VIDEO!!!!! GREAT IDEAS.

[@Pebblesmas]

Great video!!! Thx so much👍

[@thefrugalcrafter]

Glad you liked it!

[@annecoble1129]

How do you figure if you can get 5 items made out of skeins of yarn plus hourly pay for yourself..blessings

[@os2841]

(Price of all materials + (hourly wage x number of hours it took you to make everything)) / number of items you made = price per item

[@HeartlandFamilyDesigns]

Realize just because you get a really good deal on some supplies doesn't mean you should lower your prices. Remember to charge what it would cost you to repurchase those items again. Also, when you choose to only make $1 or $2 per hour you are actually hurting other crafters because your price will be so much less than others that they will have to lower their price to compete or stay firm and not make any money on the event.

[@iverygirl]

Brilliant 💙

[@suzzetteallam6695]

THANK YOU, IT DOES HELP

[@jeanieferretti4203]

I use to do craft fairs. I cut and painted wood ornaments. I had to sell them to cheep to make a profit and some people wanted to get them for next to nothing. So it wasn't worth my time sitting there all day. I would rather give it as a present. Thank you

[@jennifermaddock4382]

I used to do a craft show with 8 others that took place in a house. One woman would always price her things so cheaply that the customers would always buy her crafts and ignore ours, which were more fairly priced (but still reasonable). Please don't price too cheaply, otherwise all crafters suffer.

[@XoCuddlesOx]

What about having to pay taxes from what money you make? I make jewelry and have toyed with the idea of selling things i make on Etsy....and even just selling for what it cost to make,send, and sell it on there (since i more enjoy just making jewelry and rather make money back on something I've made than have it sit around collecting dust and have the money for supplies to fuel my jewelry making addiction lol) but I have no idea where to start...and laws on taxes ...filling as a business etc..... have any input or information because I have absolutely no knowledge on the subject?

[@thefrugalcrafter]

Sydney Doe it depends on where you live weather there is sales tax to be collected. If you earn over $600 you should report it under misc. income to the IRS. Ask your accountant, if you have one.You can get a tax ID# and not have to pay tax on supplies but you have to charge it on the other end. Most bazzarrs and school/church craft fair are more like yard sales as far as income is concerned. You probably will not sell over $600 at one of those.

[@kristenk1995]

You may want to try a different host as Etsy now allow full scale product manufacturers to sell - www.huffingtonpost.com/shannon-whitehead/how-etsy-changed-the-rule_b_5708565.html . I think Zibbet, iCraft and Artfire (and there are probably others) may be better venues for independent artisans/crafters.

[@XoCuddlesOx]

Thanks yall for the replies.... Lindsay- So that also includes me selling online and not making a profit just getting back the money for supplies and other fees i have to sell....I'm not really looking to make a profit or have as an income its just a hobby and just making something selling it and get the money back to just get the supplies i need for keeping my hobby going. Kristen- I didn't know etsy had changed I always thought the site was just for handmade crafters.

[@thefrugalcrafter]

Kristen K thanks for the link, I read the article and I am shocked! Shophandmade is free to sell on too, the website is not the best but it is not bad. You will need to do your own promotions but it is a start!

[@thefrugalcrafter]

Sydney Doe I would think bigger than just making your materials back, for that matter you could just take apart your items and reuse the parts. Try to get your time as well because you will be spending time learning software, listing and shipping product. You want to feel like you are getting something for your effort:)

[@sherlockhoka]

Congratulations on another great video. I sell hand made hair styx at SCA events. I make them from semi precious stones and pearls. I bead on silk because tiger tail and all the others don't flow properly. I sell them from between $60-$185. Some of my merchandise I have had for over 3 years, and now I know what to do. Can't do a grab back because no one will pay $25 to $40 for grab bag. The's to cover my costs. But your suggestion about looking a little old (tags are getting shabby) (some silver bead caps are tarnished) is a good idea. Clean up the bead caps and put new tags on them. Also lower the price between 10 and 25% for a quicker sale. Thank you. When I get a chance, since I can't get to facebook in the office, I will send you some pictures. I tried on Etsy, but they never moved.

[@thefrugalcrafter]

Sherlock Hoka what about a salon, see you they will consign for you, give them a 30% commission. Pearls are great for weddings, maybe they can di brides hair with them and make a sale?

[@sherlockhoka]

Thanks. Have gone that route but they don't like them because they loose clients once they learn how to use them. It's real easy.

[@yeoldebookshoppe1761]

I make my crafts while I am also writing my book store in homeschooling my child. I have made an Excel spreadsheet to track the cost of my supplies and then I multiply it by 2 to 3 times the cost depending on how detailed the work is. Because I am always crafting in between customers and jobs I have no idea of the time I spent!

[@amsamu1]

Great video:-). I was told by a woman to dubble the price. If the price is ten dollar to make it, you sell it for 20 dollars or more if you feel so:-). I make many different things as cards, canvas to jewerly so i find it difficult to price my things. Once a year i go to a marked to sell my things:-).

[@thefrugalcrafter]

Anne May Samuelsen the doubling the price of materials method does not work for crafters because we might use recylced (free) materials but spend hours on it, or we might use really expensive beads and spend 10 minutes making a bracelet. I think time plus materials is a base price, double that if you can get it but is the only way to make sure you are paid for your time and you get a fair price, plus you can set a fair hourly wage ($2/hour is not a fair wage)

[@dianer8881]

Consignment is a lot less work and a lot less expensive than craft shows. Consignment gives people more time to consider a purchase.

[@sherrikent6628]

After you explained that one of the ways you get paid was by people watching the commercial, I always let them run before the video.

[@thefrugalcrafter]

thanks!

[@sunshineb4804]

I make fabric bows average size 5in x 3in

[@aclark30121]

Great advice--thanks so much--

[@nursevanhelsing4413]

Simple answer, u just take the cost of your supplies and triple it.

[@dianer8881]

For jewelry, begin with a cheap alternative. The acrylic transparent, faceted beads look like glass.

[@thefrugalcrafter]

great tips! I agree the jewelry market is saturated and any cost cutting measures you can think of without cutting quality will help:)

[@os2841]

By bringing cheap tacky stuff to the craft fair you are devaluing all of us who make things from scratch.

[@takeetawoods5565]

I just started making jewelry an I work an have people asking me for cards cause they notice what I have on how should I price my homemade things

[@brandywyatt6552]

Awesome video. I have been asking this question to myself for the past year or so. I have recently taken up an interest in making customizable dream catchers and when I sold one to a family member they told me that I should be charging more. In fact, I have heard this from a few other people as well. So I am always asking myself am I undercutting myself. Maybe you can give me some advice on what you think. You can see a few that I have posted here zaharenyce.deviantart.com/gallery/45592574/Dreamcatchers Message me your opinion as to what you think these should sell for just by looking at them. I have been collecting opinions for a while now but they have been from people that don't really craft...so your opinion would be great!

[@thefrugalcrafter]

Brandy Wyatt I sent you a message

[@fayloids5656]

Any advice on selling online without a app and without PayPal I don't trust PayPal any comments eplies saying PayPal is trustworthy and great will be ignored!

[@supergeeky7529]

The only thing I can think of is using listia. It's an auction site like ebay but they use credits to pay. You can sell your credits back for cash. You do take a bit of a hit (I don't know how much) but at least then you have a way for everyone to be able to pay you. You can also set up buy now (they call them get it now or GIN) or you can do a typical auction. I don't blame you about paypal. I had problems on there many years ago!