I am new to this site. It is great! My husband and I are making the Lighted glass blocks. We were wondering if we were to sell them at a craft fair what would be a good price to charge?
Lady of the Lake
Answers:
Selling Lighted Glass Blocks
Here is a site that sells the glass blocks. Perhaps you can get an idea by checking their prices (click on the red band for each one). I'm sure you'll be able to sell them at craft fairs where people can see them "in person". http://www.shop.glassblocklight.com/ (02/25/2007)
By SL Edens
Selling Lighted Glass Blocks
I am also a crafter, and last October I happened to have a craft booth directly opposite from a woman selling lighted glass blocks with a Christmas theme. They were beautiful, and now I wish I'd bought one. You have to keep in mind the amount of time and effort that goes into your finished product in addition to the cost of materials. I believe she charged $17 for hers, but I think she could have gotten more at a bigger venue.
Good Luck! (02/26/2007)
By Donna N., San Diego
Selling Lighted Glass Blocks
I would like to know how to make them. Have instructions been posted on Thrifty Fun site? I am a newbie, from Canada.
(b)Editor's Note:(/b) We don't have an article with step by step instructions but at this link there is lots of feedback with methods for making them: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf37245405.tip.html (02/26/2007)
By Mary Earl
Selling Lighted Glass Blocks
I have seen them at craft shows from anywhere from 7 to 25 bucks. depending on what you pay for the supplies and how you decorate them, Set your price from there. Don't forget to add in the time it takes to make them. (02/26/2007)
By rosa
Selling Lighted Glass Blocks
I sell at craft fairs every weekend. According to the artists I've talked to & the books I've read about pricing. You can price your wares several ways:
---> One way is this: Take the cost of supplies and triple it. Example: Say you pay $6 for all of your supplies. You'd charge $18 for your artwork. EXAMPLE: 6+6+6=18
---> The second way is to keep track of how long it takes you to make your wares. (Keep a log book) Figure out an hourly wage you'd be comfortable with making, then add the cost of supplies. Make sure you at least get minimum wage, or it's not worth even doing.
---> The third way to price is the most important: Find out what others charge for something that is similar. Search online, on e-bay & in stores.
---> Price for where you live. Example: In the area I live there are many price ranges of homes. In some areas, people are only looking for "deals". In others, they are used to shopping at the best stores & you can demand more for your art. It's better to price a little high, then if need be, the next time, you could have a sign that says "20% off" or whatever on some of your easier to make items. I have a special "discount shelf" where everything on that shelf is 20% off. It's better to start high, then go down, than the other way around because everyone will remember if you raised your prices from the last time.
---> Remember that some fairs (especially Christmas fairs) charge a 20% fee plus a registration fee to sell at them. So price accordingly. You can either bump your prices up for those fairs only, or just add that much to your wares all of the time.
---> If you do "Special or Custom Orders" do not be afraid to charge more. (I always charge an extra $10, or 15 - 20% extra) Because it takes longer to make custom orders & I don't get to be creative. Make sure they give you HALF DOWN on any custom orders! Get a receipt book with Triplicate (3 colors of pages) Give them a receipt for the half they paid down, then when they pick it up, give them the second part & keep the last part for your records.
When they ask how long a custom order will take, I say "2 - 4 weeks, I'll call you when it's complete & you can pick it up here" Then I draw them up a picture of what they want & put it in my receipt book.
Be sure to get their name, phone & e-mail address.
---> When people come to you and ask if you wholesale, or if you'll give a discount for buying a certain amount. You'll need to know the answer to that question. Me? I can't afford to wholesale because my prices are already at rock bottom because my work is so time consuming.
Think of Prices like this: Retail - Art Fair - Wholesale. Wholesale is usually half the price of Retail & Art Fair prices are usually right in the middle. So if your Glass Blocks sell for $20 in a store, you'd probably sell them for $15 at a fair and $10 for wholesale bulk orders (Quantities of over 10 or 20, or what ever you decide).
---> Some artists sell their wares at Consignment stores. They display your artwork in their store & you pay a percentage when they sell it. (around 40% or so) The downside's are many, including if anything is stolen, you usually "eat" it.
Plus, your inventory is frozen & you can't sell it elsewhere. Sometimes consignment stores are in high-end malls & it can be worth putting your art on consignment there.
There are also stores (or "craft-malls") where you can rent a space for $75(monthly) or more & donate a few days working at the store each month. Most artists have a hard time making any money at these places because you are not there to actually talk to the customers & sometimes these stores are in out-of-the-way places. If you want to try out a store like this, make sure your contract is "month to month" so you can get out if it doesn't work for you.
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=============== OTHER HELPFUL HINTS ===============
*** Unless you just want to get rid of something, DO NOT ever sell your artwork at or near a swap meet! We had a wonderful, established fair here in Seattle where many artists would come to sell. The owners got greedy & decided to make more money by selling spaces for a swap meet right next door to the art fair. Customers came with a different mindset. They came "looking for a bargain" & would no longer pay the prices for art, so artists could only sell their "seconds" or they stopped selling there all together.
*** But the most important thing to remember is: DO NOT UNDERPRICE your wares! If it is cheap, people will think it IS "cheap". Charge a fare price! I jury at my local artfair when we are looking for new artists. It's amazing just how many artists will underprice their artwork because they think "It's fun!" or "I don't really need the money, I just enjoy doing this!" With an attitude like this, no one will take you seriously as a craftsman. Plus as I said earlier, people will be happy to pay what something is worth. If it is priced to low, they will think it's just a "cute little trinket" & not really artwork.
*** Also, NEVER ever try to undercut a fellow artist who is selling something similar. Remember, the Art Fair community is small & everyone knows each other eventually, so keep a good attitude, help others when you can, never gosip, & enjoy yourself!
*** Remember, there is nothing more important than CUSTOMER SERVICE! Keep your customers happy & they'll keep coming back! I have a lifetime guarantee on anything electric I sell. I can't refund money, but I'll let anyone exchange anything, especially if it's a gift. If I make a Custom Order they are unhappy with, I say "No problem, I'll make it again just the way you like" Smile & let them know just how much it means to you that they support the arts! If you treat them right, they'll keep coming back & they'll bring their friends!
*** Make professional business cards, signs, have a receipt book, calculator, bags with handles & paper or tissue paper to wrap your glass with. Print out directions of how to operate your glass lights. Make sure they use the correct bulbs, etc. If you're doing outdoor fairs, don't forget about the rain & the UV rays. Either laminate your signs or use an Epson printer because Epson's ink is both WaterPROOF & UV resistant unlike other brands & believe me, it will rain on your paperwork more than once!
*** You'll also need to buy a tent (an "EZ-up") that you can put up & take down easily if you're doing outside fairs. Glass blocks are heavy, so be sure to pack them in a tough plastic box when transporting them. So you don't need to buy so many things you may want to start out slow, by selling at INSIDE Holiday fairs, where others open their homes to the public. They do all the advertising for the fair & you pay a percentage to rent a space. Or, if you know someone who is already selling, they may let you try your luck at their booth a few times. Maybe a friend will go half & half with you for the booth fee, the screening fee & the yearly fee. You'd both need to have your wares juried first. Juried fairs may sound like a hassle, but this assures only the best of the best, which means no junk, thus higher prices can be charged.
*** You may need a business license for your state AND the town you are selling in.
*** You will probably need to be "JURIED" into a fair. Call several, & find out when they are screening. They will send you a packet of information & forms to be filled out. Each Fair has different rules. Make sure your presentation for the jury is professional!
*** There are many great books about pricing & selling your arts & crafts, I sugest buying one of these books or checking one out at the library. These types of books are VERY helpfull!
I hope this helps, I've been selling at craft fairs for many years & I'm giving you some of the helpful advice I've been given through out the years. Let me know if I can help you more in any way .... HAPPY CRAFTING!
(03/01/2007)
By Cyinda
Selling Lighted Glass Blocks
I paid $20.00 for the ones I bought at a flea market (03/01/2007)
By Susan Grotts
Selling Lighted Glass Blocks
Terrific advice Cyinda. Having done that for a living in the past, your advice is right on target. Another problem with consignment is if the shop goes out of business and takes your items with them or getting payment from them when the items are sold. Make sure they have been in business a while and check in with them regularly.
Susan from ThriftyFun (03/01/2007)
By ThriftyFun
Selling Lighted Glass Blocks
Has any one seen pictures on the glass blocks with the lights inside? Please forward instructions, and more info. Thanks
Editor's Note: We have an article with many tips here.
(10/03/2007)
By cyndi
Selling Lighted Glass Blocks
My mother in law sold them at a craft bazaar for 25$ and they went quickly. (12/03/2007)
By Deb
