aguilerag

I thought the same about all tooled wallets being the same price. I was thinking that if it is a complicated or super detailed piece, then I would discuss a higher price. I do that with my Airbrushing and my screenprinting jobs. I like the idea of your hourly base for tooling work. I think that making this second wallet will be a good idea since now I will be making it without having to worry about "how do I put this thing together". Since I want to get baselines, should I do standard tooling art work to it for time purposes?

Welcome to the community.

Lacing does take me a lot longer than stitching for sure. I am going to start working on my "timed" wallet tonight. I want to keep track from start to finish. I am going to tool the whole thing and lace. I figure this will give me a good baseline of approximate time. Your right about finding the most proficient way to get a product done. Investments in tools to help cut time is a smart investment and you should not lower your cost because of it. Work smart, not hard is something I really believe in. Thanks billy

tnawrot2, so I should make different price for stitched wallet vs laced wallet? If so how much do you think? Exactly the feedback I am looking for. Thanks

I didn't think I really put anyone down from Etsy, or bashed anyone. I looked there (didn't even know what Etsy was) and saw stuff people are selling and their prices and it did make me feel not so self conscious of what I can produce. I think one of my problems is I base where I am at in leather working (beginner) to what my grandfather use to sell and I am a far ways away from that. I figured price wise for a simple wallet like the picture I posted I would charge $40-45. If they want one side tooled I would charge $50-55. If they want the whole thing tooled $60-65. Stiched or laced, finished colour, of course is up to the persons choice. I was told that if it is a pretty intricate or super detailed design they want that I should up the charge too. Is this correct? Not one person seemed to have a problem with that price range that wanted to order and all said they understand that since it is all hand crafted it would be a little more. Is this a good price range or should I charge less since their are still details to be fixed on the product? Again, I appreciate all the advice that everyone has given me.

Great advice. I went and looked at Etsy and am shocked at some of the prices for some of the work. I came up with a plan. I am going to make one more wallet to see how long it takes me so i can have an approximate time frame down and to clean up some details. After I am done with that, I will start to take the orders and work on them. I think I came up with a reasonable rate too as not one of the people said it was to much or to small amount. Your right cyber. They are ordering what they want from what they saw. Good point and helped me to feel more confident about it. Thanks everyone.

That is kinda what I thought. I am in the same mindset about what you just said. I completely agree that when you are doing something for someone who is paying you, that you do become more OCD for sure. I remember thinking the same way when I first started screenprinting and doing Tattoos. I think I am always nervous to make and sell something the first couple times.

Not sure this is the correct spot to post this, so I apologize if it is not. As you all know, I am still new to this wonderful thing called Leather working. I have learned a lot from reading all your posts and from the tips and suggestions I received on my other posts. I have a new question now. I am sure it won't be the last one I ever ask. I have had quite a few people ask me to make them Wallets like my first, from scratch wallet I completed last week. There are 4 who want a tooled wallet and the 2 others who want just dyed with their initial. My question is, would it be good practice for me to make them and sell them? They all know I havent been doing it long and I told them I would need half of the money up front and they agreed. I think it would be a good way to learn but afraid to put out a product that is not to my quality. I have improved as happens when you practice a lot, but want to be better of course. My overall goal is to be able to make some things to sell just like I do with Airbrushing, screenprinting and drawings. Included some pics of finished wallet. I got the edges looking decent but I have been practicing on scrap leather lately and its a lot better looking. This was my first try for "from scratch wallet". I fixed the patterns in spots that needed it and have different interior patterns as well.

I have been a dog trainer for approximately 4 years on my own and Martingale collars are a good "tool" to use. I dont agree with it being the only real way to train though. I actually train all my dogs without the collar but have my clients buy them to help during walks during the beginning of training. I never have them pull on the leash, ever, but if the dog starts walking in front and doesn't slow down or look at the owner I have them just stop and the dog does the rest to itself. You could use any collar for this but the I like the way the martingale squeezes and not just ads force like a regular one would do. After a couple of lessons they usually do not need the collar any more.

Very nice work. I really like the look and design.

Very nice. Good job on Betty

The reason I asked was that most of my friends on FB are old military friends ranging from age 25-40+ (SEALS/marines/military police) and some are people I havent met but are friends with my friends that are doing or did what I did in the military. FB in my experience is a way to reach a broad customer base. Maybe you should use FB ads (it does cost some money but overall cheaper than a lot of advertisement) to try to reach the correct customer base on FB. Over 9 million users and if you use FB ads correctly a great way to reach a wide base that could help sales.

Billy, what do you specialize in and what would you consider your customer base?

I am just learning how to do leather work and make items. I have made a total of 1 wallet kit, 1 wallet from scratch and 2 checkbook covers (works in progress). I have posted pictures of me starting the projects, a couple updates and the finish product (wallets) on my personal FB page and have recieved 7 people wanting to order wallets from me, and 1 wanting a check book cover. I explain to them that I am recently new at this but they still want to order. The Tandy wallet kit, which was my first full item I ever made, someone wants to buy it from me. I want to learn more and become better before I make my own FB page dedicated to my work. I think posting pictures of works in progress could be broken down to 3-4 without being considered spamming and keeping peoples interests. Beginning, after tooling/staining/dye, during assembly, final product?

Using FB as marketing is a great thing as social media has become the new, big and reasonably cheap/free thing for advertisement. (I'm not counting the FB ads you could buy). I have helped my friends develop a FB page for their business and like anything business related, you need to have a plan on how to use it. If I were to help someone use FB for their custom leather work (as I hope to start doing myself once I become better) I would advise the following. If you are making things from scratch I would start by posting a picture of the material you are going to use and a picture of the peices after you have cut out all the patterns. You can explain what item you are going to make, a little about what material you are using and some of the steps. This is a good attention grabber and will build interest in seeing future posts and pictures of updates. I have done this for my dog training business. I have my son video tape me at the first visit for the dog to see what the behavior problem is then edit it when I get home to add my voice and explain what the problem is and what I am going to do to help fix it. As I always follow up with my clients I tape every visit to show the improvement I have helped the dog to make. This has helped me get a lot of new clients as people are waiting to "see what happens next". This could be true for the follow up progress pictures of the item you are making. Just my opinion

Welcome to the site and the community. This site has very helpful members who will do there best to help you. The threads are great as well.

There should be another button to the right of post (think its advance button). Click on it and you can upload images again

Do you have a copy of the pattern you could put up?

Here the pieces. I've never posted a pattern before. Do you want dimensions of each peice?

Thanks. I am going to use it as my base wallet pattern (I have had about 5 people want to order one and I am a complete beginner) and change the interior to what people want. When I get home I will take a photo of the patterns and post it.

Thanks for the kind responses. I will look for the threads about how to burnish edges so I can finish it. Clyde, I seen a picture in a book online that had a basic wallet pattern. I printed it out, made a crap load of patterns out Of card stock till I got the correct dimensions (the picture from the book was rather small) then made patterns out of one of those boxes you would receive clothes in as a gift. I probably should have just bought the book lol! If you want the pattern I will post it for you.

Very nice job, it looks amazing. Is this a pattern or a kit?

Hello again everyone. I did this wallet from a pattern that I found. I didnt tool it at all except for my initial "G" because I wanted to concentrate on how to build a wallet. The inside is Buffalo calf leather. I dont know how to finish the edges, so I am not complete. During stitching I broke 2 needle backs while I was pushing on it so finally have some "leatherworker" war wounds. Anyway. I will look for more patterns and learn how to put together more things. Tips and critiques are always welcomed. Thanks Gabriel

Welcome to the forum!

It looks wonderful. Keep up the good work and you will continue to learn as you go.