Making Wallets To Sell

[aguilerag]

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.

[Cyberthrasher]

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.

Quick answer is yes! Especially since they know you're learning still. There's nothing to be ashamed with in those pictures. If you think you're not good enough to sell now because you're still learning, then where do you draw the line? We should all constantly be learning new things and improving what we do. So, if the fact that you're still learning stuff is reason not to sell, then you'll never sell a thing. Plus, I find that I refine my techniques and get even more OCD when I know that there's customer orders on the line

[aguilerag]

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.

[JLSleather]

Head over to Etsy and search 'tooled leather wallet'. You won't feel at all concious about selling yours! Sure, there's some room for improvement, but alreeady nicer than a LOT of whats out there for sale!

[Cyberthrasher]

Head over to Etsy and search 'tooled leather wallet'. You won't feel at all concious about selling yours! Sure, there's some room for improvement, but alreeady nicer than a LOT of whats out there for sale!

EXACTLY what I do whenever I want to start on a new product. It gets me a good overview of what type of stuff is out there for handmade items and gives me an idea of the average cost for stuff that's at "my level".

[Cyberthrasher]

I think I am always nervous to make and sell something the first couple times.

You just have to have faith in yourself and remember that they came to you knowing what you do. I always look at my stuff and say "man, I hope this is what they're expecting to see" until I realize that they came to me after seeing pictures of my work and admiring it - it's EXACTLY what they were expecting to see because it's in the style they've already enjoyed. From there, you just have to keep in mind that if it's something they have an option on, it's easy to make sure of their wishes before hand.

One I'm doing right now, he requested "the color like the 'kevin' strap", which wasn't even the strap he was looking at, so that was almost a disaster. By mocking things up and verifying every step of the way, we ended up getting on the same page and found out which strap he really wanted to duplicate the color from. Then he came back and said "I want this part burgundy" - google burgundy and tell me how vague of a color that is!!! So, I start light and leave myself room to adjust to the shade of burgundy that he wants. If you make sure you're working WITH your customers instead of just doing a blanket order, then there shouldn't ever be any surprises for them, which means nothing to be nervous about

[electrathon]

I see some room to improve but overall your work looks good. Sell your first items at a reasonable price and concentrate of cleaning op the details. Look through Etsy and see some of the poop there attempting to be sold for top dollar. Your work is already better than a lot of it there.

Aaron

[aguilerag]

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.

[billymac814]

Your wallet definitely looks better than a lot of what's on Etsy. I use etsy as a self esteem booster sometimes. I also like that you're upfront with people about being new to it. Every crappy piece on etsy says that is really high quality using the "finest" leather and so on and its clearly a Tandy kit made of the crappiest leather possible.

The only thing I'd suggest you do different is get all of the money upfront, especially for ones with names or initials or otherwise personalized or hard to sell ones. Half down isn't bad on a normal one that you can sell to someone else but if and when you start getting a lot of orders it turns into too much extra work invoicing twice. I only do half down on special occasions and usually only on items above 300.00.

Good luck, you'll be busy with orders soon I would guess.

[lightningad]

Definitely go for it!

I was in the same place as you a few months back. I was asked to make a passport wallet for someone based on the one i had made for myself. The thing to remember is that they have already seen your work - which is why they asked you to make them one. They know your current skill level and are still happy to commission a product from you.

Thats a great endorsement. Don't panic - its a good thing.

You will definitely approach the commissions with trepidation and more care, and in the process you will learn and improve...and thats as it should be.

My Skull Journal was a prototype, but within seconds of it being seen, someone commissioned one for her boyfriends birthday. I'll finish that this weekend, and because i already made one and knew all the areas i made mistakes, i prevented those by creating a sequential checklist rather than my usual way of just winging it!. The result is a big improvement. I can't wait to present the finished item.

I also photograph every piece before i send them out. Its a good record of how i improve, and its useful to have a gallery you can show potential customers.