Would Like all your opinions

[Andreadoria]

HI All,

I have been making flowers and babies from sculpey clay for a few years now. I also do custom Wedding bears of the brides dress...tons of details...and christening bears ..I have to scan the pictures I have of those..... I have been giving them as gifts.

I would like to start selling the flowers first.. I would like suggestions on prising...As you all are crafty and in the know.... I saw some on Esty....Some are much better than mine http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=11845887 I hope to start making different flowers one day. When I get settled in the new place...lolol if the girls let me....1 year old and 3 year I will be helping to take care of..and possibly another.....lolol

and this one http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?ref=sr_gallery_9&listing_id=9628303
Not as nice but the price???

I make roses and Cala lilies from the size of a nickel to full size. Some can stand alone on a created pedestal or on their sides with a very small stem, and some are on floral wire so they can be placed in a vase...wrapped with floral tape.

I make solid colors and multi colors of the persons choice..the Babies I got the idea from I don't know when a friend was having her first grand child...the babies are either flower babies or Butterfly babies.

Do you all think there is an interest for them???? It takes me about 5min to create the larger ones ...the small ones about 3 min....the clay is about $2 for 2oz....the large flowers are about 1.5oz...the small ?oz

Attached is my Photobucket link ...I can't get rid of the password part so the Password is "Spotty01" http://s138.photobucket.com/albums/q245/Andreadoria1/Flowers%20and%20babies/

I appreciate all input..Good .....bad or go to hell...*rotfl**rotfl*

If you all are interested in the bears Let me know and i will find the pictures of the brides and grooms & Momma, Poppa and Baby

[SHpepperKat]

I like what you've made. I think you could see them on etsy at least. I would figure out what the cost per sale is on that site if there is one and then figuring how much clay you use and adding for your time then pick a price based on that base rate.

Say you spend $50.00 on supplies to make 50 flowers. That's 1.00 per flower in supplies. Then you add in the .20 per item listing fee. You are now at 1.20 then the 3.5% sales fee. (I suck at percentages but you see where I'm going with that.) Now add something to that for your time. You said it takes just a few minutes to make one so add 2 or 3 dollars to that. You are now at a base rate of 3.20 for supplies and time. Add 5.00 to 10.00 depending on the size of the flowers for indivvidual flowers and you now have a price of 8.20 to 13.20 plus the 3.5% sales feel.


If the person who made the multicolored floral brooch can get 45.00 for that you should be able to get 8 - 13 for yours. I'd start with a few examples and make them as orders cone in so as not to have a lot of initial outlay for supplies. Also that way you can make them to order as to color size and type of flower.

Just my 2 pence worth.

[Margaret]

You do very good work hun and the baby flowers and butterflies are such a good idea!

I don't do the 'craft for sale' thing, so I have no idea how to honestly price stuff, but Miss pepperKat has some pretty sound advise. Make sure you know the cost of your supplies down to the last paper clip and postage stamp.

Could you do a 'market test' kind of thing in a local store? You know, at a local floral store or something? Make a vase of flowers as samples, display it and see what happens? That way you can at least see what the local market is and if your pricing is viewed as fair.

[Nimue]

I don't have pricing advice, but your work is beeyooteeful! I love the roses, and the babies are adorable. Get on with your crafty self! ::yay::

[Lady Anisette]

Your stuff looks great. One piece of advice ~ start looking for the Sculpey at better prices and buy at discount. Don't just buy in a store. Sometimes you can buy supplies online and the shipping is very low cost or free if you buy a certain amount. You save money in the long run. Trust me, at the price of silver and gold today, I shop around for the best priced supplier.

One place I found online is the Polymer Clay Superstore (http://www.polymerclaysuperstore.com/index.html). Check it out.

[Andreadoria]

Your stuff looks great. One piece of advice ~ start looking for the Sculpey at better prices and buy at discount. Don't just buy in a store. Sometimes you can buy supplies online and the shipping is very low cost or free if you buy a certain amount. You save money in the long run. Trust me, at the price of silver and gold today, I shop around for the best priced supplier.

One place I found online is the Polymer Clay Superstore (http://www.polymerclaysuperstore.com/index.html). Check it out.

I had started to price the clay on line if this works for me then I will be buying supplies on line....it's way to much from a regular store.

[Capt. Stamina]

Something that may help you out is putting information onto spreadsheets. Start with a master sheet that has all of the supply and material costs. If you’re using Excel you can break out individual tabs for the various product types (roses, lilies, etc). For the roses, you can break it down into different sizes and link the material costs to the master spread sheet; that way if you’re costs change, you only need to do one update and all of the subsequent tabs are updated.

[Andreadoria]

I like what you've made. I think you could see them on etsy at least. I would figure out what the cost per sale is on that site if there is one and then figuring how much clay you use and adding for your time then pick a price based on that base rate.

Say you spend $50.00 on supplies to make 50 flowers. That's 1.00 per flower in supplies. Then you add in the .20 per item listing fee. You are now at 1.20 then the 3.5% sales fee. (I suck at percentages but you see where I'm going with that.) Now add something to that for your time. You said it takes just a few minutes to make one so add 2 or 3 dollars to that. You are now at a base rate of 3.20 for supplies and time. Add 5.00 to 10.00 depending on the size of the flowers for indivvidual flowers and you now have a price of 8.20 to 13.20 plus the 3.5% sales feel.




If the person who made the multicolored floral brooch can get 45.00 for that you should be able to get 8 - 13 for yours. I'd start with a few examples and make them as orders cone in so as not to have a lot of initial outlay for supplies. Also that way you can make them to order as to color size and type of flower.

Just my 2 pence worth.

I was thinking I would charge about $25 for the large ones....MIne are much more are much more detailed and finished. I can very easily make my flowers in to brooches and the babies too. I do have a finishing liquid that they sell for the clay and for the roses I sometimes mix rose oil in to the liquid to give them nice smell.

I have been looking in to getting the clay cheaper

[FairieTink]

I love the lilies, and once you get some pricing ideas I would like to talk to you about doing a bunch for my living room table.

[SHpepperKat]

I was thinking I would charge about $25 for the large ones....MIne are much more are much more detailed and finished. I can very easily make my flowers in to brooches and the babies too. I do have a finishing liquid that they sell for the clay and for the roses I sometimes mix rose oil in to the liquid to give them nice smell.

I have been looking in to getting the clay cheaper


The numbers I used were just hypothetical. I was more pointing out a way to figure out how much to charge. and there were things like shipping and boxes and opostage that I didn't add in their. It just gives you an idea on how to set it up. I'd say 25 would be a good start for the large ones and also I like someone elses suggestion of making a few and perhaps showcasing them at a craft store or aven see if someone at a faire will consign them for you.

[Andreadoria]

The numbers I used were just hypothetical. I was more pointing out a way to figure out how much to charge. and there were things like shipping and boxes and opostage that I didn't add in their. It just gives you an idea on how to set it up. I'd say 25 would be a good start for the large ones and also I like someone elses suggestion of making a few and perhaps showcasing them at a craft store or aven see if someone at a faire will consign them for you.

Here is Queens it is hard to find someone to consign them...but I do have a friend that is a hair dresser I am going to ask if they will do a display for me, and see how it goes.

When I get to Ypsilanti I will look in to doing more...As during the day I will be the Au pair for my Cousin and his wife. I will have the girls and go about town and see if I can get some consignments in the local shops...and per haps have them used as table settings in the local restaurants...there are about 6 down the block from where I will be living in Depot town (http://depottown.org/) it is a gentrified town and has a local coop and lots of little fairs. I figure by next year I might even be able to contact a few people at the renfaires there.

I thank you for all your help...this is a new thing for me I am going to start ...As I am about to start my life over...I want to use my art skill when I start over....On my page is a painting I did many moons ago I am thinking of turning her into a print to sell...Everyone I know has tried to take her especially the guys...lolol

[Andreadoria]

Something that may help you out is putting information onto spreadsheets. Start with a master sheet that has all of the supply and material costs. If you’re using Excel you can break out individual tabs for the various product types (roses, lilies, etc). For the roses, you can break it down into different sizes and link the material costs to the master spread sheet; that way if you’re costs change, you only need to do one update and all of the subsequent tabs are updated.


I knew Asking all you Business savvy crafter..was the right thing to do....I will work on the spread sheet....Great Idea Mon Capitan.....just an fyi...i also leather(thanks to my Dad) if all thicknesses by hand if you ever need halp *rotfl*

I worked in the theater business I should know after all these years how to keep books....DUH!! out of the business for 4 years and your brain falls out *rotfl*

[Andreadoria]

I love the lilies, and once you get some pricing ideas I would like to talk to you about doing a bunch for my living room table.

Dear Tink I am flattered.....About how many would you want???? We could very easily work something out pricing wise of you want a bunch.

I make all colors ...the great thing is they are easy to clean...lololo