Pricing your work

[sheathmaker]

I have been involved with leather craft since 1951 so I've done my share of "hand made" "hand stitched" etc. I've also made a few observations in general and in this thread.

Some of the things that are suggested that I do not agree with are:

Hand sewn is no more attractive, stronger, or better quality in general than machine sewn. Either, if done with loving care and precision will look and serve just fine and neither is better than the other......but I can stitch two or three running feet around as many curves as you like in about 15 to 20 seconds. How fast can you hand stitch?? Mine will look as good as yours and I'll bet big money on that. Mine will last as long as yours and I'll bet big money on that as well.

My inlayed goods are as good as any I've seen and they are all hand cut and machine stitched, a blending of the two methods.

I make and deliver about 600 knife sheaths a year based on the last three year's production. Each one has it's own design pattern and is hand cut and machine sewn. I charge a relatively high price ranging from $75 to $300 depending on complexity and size. I've have a constant flow of orders, but because I utilize machinery in the process my turn around time is generally four days or less. Consistant quality seems to be the key along with speedy delivery that allow me to have little resistance to my pricing.

Really fine hand finished edges are another thing I devote particular attention to. This is part of the customer's "first impression" which sets their mood as to whether it was "worth every penny" or not. The amount of repeat business I get makes me think it "was worth every penny".

When you start to wonder about the whys of customer acceptance of your pricing, I think the first place to look might be the quality and CONSISTANCY of your work.

None of this is meant to incite you to a flame war with me, but rather to offer you another perspective for improvement of your pricing acceptance.

I am posting below a truly random photo representing the average of my production as it was the very last one I finished last Saturday. I certainly would not hold this example up as some of my very best work.

Paul

Edited April 13, 2009 by sheathmaker

[kevinhopkins]

Pricing leather products has been a challenge for many for years... It's been my experience that if you can approach the sales of your product from a position of strength, along with a huge dose of humility and sincerety, folks will generally pay the price if you can help them to see the value of your workmanship.

Kevin Hopkins

[Johanna]

You know you have selected the right price when the customers gasps, and reaches for his wallet.

~J