My take on the Dopp Kit

[YinTx]

12 hours ago, rodneywt1180b said:

Semi custom maybe?  Same size, standard colors, custom tooling on the side panels like name, etc?  You would still have to make them one at a time but just having a standard pattern helps.

It's a great looking kit and like the others said there are people who know quality are willing to pay for it.

I like the thought process.  I think this one was a bit big, so maybe a smaller version, and cut out several waiting for selection of tooling pattern and thread?  Appreciate the positive comments on the looks and quality!

9 hours ago, keplerts said:

Very nice work!  Love the piping.  To sell this at $150 that equates to only $11.50 an hour.  I don't think I would entertain any offers to make one at that price.  I try to tell my self that "I am not my customer"  just because I wouldn't pay $150 for a dopp kit, doesn't mean someone else won't.  But for that kind of quality the price should be higher and there are people who will pay it.  I think I read on here somewhere that someone said "if i'm losing money or only breaking even,  I should have probably just gone fishing".    Anyway, great job on the kit, you did a great job.

I think the big factor is the amount of time I spent on it, really needs to be reduced to be a viable product for me.  I think it was JLS that mentioned goin fishin vs. break even. I think I even posted some commentary regarding "fair" pricing on a post he had about some positive customer feedback he'd received on a holster he made.

Oddly enough, at $150 and 13 hours labor with $30 materials would probably make this one of my more profitable items, I suppose I should ignore the $30 bags out there and motor on, reduce the time input and see what $ the market will bear. I've been waiting for the recipient to get the package I sent before I put other photos on social media, it'll be interesting to see what the non-lw community thinks of it also.

Thanks also for the positive comments, the piping was a bit of a pain to make, and it complicated the stitching.  I have only done a little bit of it and was wondering if it was worth doing more of or not.  Something that could reduce time and materials input, but detracts from the flourish if it is absent.  At any rate, if I do more of it, I suspect I'll get faster at it just due to practice!

YinTx

[rodneywt1180b]

I'm pretty much in the same ballpark hourly wage wise on my canes.  I end up making around $8.00 an hour, sometimes I under charge and make less.  Some is just what the market will bear but a lot of that is my choice.  I aim to make good daily users for the most part.  I want people to actually use my canes.  Too high a price and people would be afraid to take them out and maybe drop them.  I'm working on leather handles as a way to stand out from the rest of the makers out there.

A part time job would pay better and be more regular.  OTOH it keeps me entertained, it's money I wouldn't have otherwise and I'm doing what I want, not what someone else wants, with my time.

[YinTx]

On 8/11/2018 at 2:31 PM, rodneywt1180b said:

I'm pretty much in the same ballpark hourly wage wise on my canes.  I end up making around $8.00 an hour, sometimes I under charge and make less.  Some is just what the market will bear but a lot of that is my choice.  I aim to make good daily users for the most part.  I want people to actually use my canes.

A part time job would pay better and be more regular.   I'm doing what I want, not what someone else wants, with my time.

I want folks to use my items as well, also trying to make it worth my time to make things.  Am happy to be doing what I want with my time vs. what someone else wants me to do as well.  I have put this out on social media, and it has garnered a lot of attention as far as my works go.  No one has yet asked me how much $ or if I'd make one yet tho...suspect they may be afraid to ask lol.

Now, if I could stop giving things away as gifts, and taking so long at making things, I might actually make some money!

YinTx

[Riem]

Wow! I like, and like plenty! Why don't you offer the customer a few options and differentiate on the effort it takes? Something along the lines of:

* Basic dopp kit - machine stitched, no piping, no tooling: $80

* Next level up - machine stitched, with piping and one tooled flower: $100

* "Level 3" hand stitched, piping, no tooling: $120

* "Deluxe" - hand stitched, with piping and tooling including three initials: $150

Something like that caters to the customer who wants a status item, or bragging rights, or to the gift market where quality is more desirable than low prices...

[rodneywt1180b]

Tiered pricing sounds like a good idea from here.  I like it. 

[ScoobyNewbie]

Sounds like a plan. 

[Northmount]

You know you are under-pricing when the buyer is willing to pay 2 to 3 times the cost of the item, just for shipping!

Tom

[YinTx]

19 hours ago, Riem said:

Wow! I like, and like plenty! Why don't you offer the customer a few options and differentiate on the effort it takes? Something along the lines of:

* Basic dopp kit - machine stitched, no piping, no tooling: $80

* Next level up - machine stitched, with piping and one tooled flower: $100

* "Level 3" hand stitched, piping, no tooling: $120

* "Deluxe" - hand stitched, with piping and tooling including three initials: $150

Something like that caters to the customer who wants a status item, or bragging rights, or to the gift market where quality is more desirable than low prices...

Thanks!   And this is something on the lines of what I do with my other product offerings, so if folks order this, it'll be priced with a structure like this.

YinTx

[YinTx]

18 minutes ago, Northmount said:

You know you are under-pricing when the buyer is willing to pay 2 to 3 times the cost of the item, just for shipping!

Tom

Haha, yeah I haven't had that problem yet... 'cept for the free gifts I ship out, even then I'm paying the shipping...

YinTx

[Rockoboy]

I really like the design and you have definitely nailed the construction. This is a beautiful piece of art.

I have seen so many of these things recently ... I am inspired to try making one. This will be my 1st zipper install, so maybe I will end up with a weird pouch to keep old tools in, while I make a 2nd 3rd or 4th attempt!