tkvancil
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since September 2011
Posts: 1,548
|
Post by tkvancil on Feb 25, 2014 11:01:28 GMT -5
My wife does craft shows. She sells her quilts and other hand made items. I wanted to send some of my tumbled stones with her this year but really don't know how to price them. There is only one local shop that sells tumbled stones. They charge 2 and 3 dollars a piece. I'm thinking that's a little high.
So to any who do sell ... Do you sell by the piece or by the bag? And how do you price them?
|
|
|
|
Post by captbob on Feb 25, 2014 12:00:22 GMT -5
I don't sell so I can't comment on prices, but I still have some comments (as I do on most anything!) that may be pertinent. First, I think that the price depends on the value of the material, the size of the tumbles and the quality of your work. My tumbles tend to be a bit on the larger than norm size. Kinda like each stone could be used as a worry stone. As such, many of them I might easily ask more than 2 to 3 bucks each for.  If you are tumbling in bulk and common material, I would sell in bulk - by the bag. Quality larger stones should be sold separately and priced according to the cost of the rough material and quality of the finish. Sell on a Good, Better, Best scale kinda like Home Depot does. And offer stones in each range so the customer can choose whether they want "Good" or "Best". Maybe assorted grab bags that the kids would like filled with stones that are "pretty" but of lesser value. Don't know if it would be prudent to add a "Don't eat these!" kinda warning card in each bag... Add information cards showing the Metaphysical properties of the stones and the tie dyed crowd will eat them up - and you can probably charge more! The seller is going to have to keep a close eye on the tumbled stones. Items this small seem to grow legs rather frequently these days. Good luck! ETA: How about larger bags of your bottom quality tumbles with a sign explaining they are for fish tanks? |
|
tkvancil
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since September 2011
Posts: 1,548
|
Post by tkvancil on Feb 25, 2014 12:14:39 GMT -5
Thanks for the input captbob. Good ideas and good food for thought. The stones you have pictured there are sweet!
|
|
jollyrockhound
spending too much on rocks
Member since March 2013
Posts: 409
|
Post by jollyrockhound on Feb 25, 2014 13:21:58 GMT -5
depends upon the rarity of the material and the types. I have sold some jasper for .25 cents each some smaller size of a nickel for .10 zip lock sandwich baggies for 2.00 each. Hope this helps
|
|
|
|
Post by 150FromFundy on Feb 25, 2014 16:52:27 GMT -5
I stuff a 3"x5" mini zip-lock back stuffed for $5. Other locals sell a slightly smaller bag for $7.
Most of the bags are sold to kids in the 8 yrs. to 12 yrs. old age bracket. For me, I want to make them affordable for the kids in the hopes of encouraging new rock hounds.
To make it even more fun for the kids, fill a fish bowl or punch bowl full of tumbles and let the kids rummage through them and fill their own bags. It takes about 5 minutes for a typical kid. This is an old trick that allows you to talk/sell to the parents while they watch over their kids.
Darryl.
|
|
|
|
Post by Drummond Island Rocks on Feb 25, 2014 20:53:58 GMT -5
I sell tumbles by the pound on etsy and sometimes ebay for specialty batches but most of what we sell is stuff my kids sort by size and put out in bowls at the shows. There's always kids at the table searching for gems and if your lucky that will draw the parents over to the table too. Not much money to be made the way we do it but its my favorite part because the kids enjoy it.  I just did these tonight and I am thinking the tumbled rock magnets will be priced at $3 each or 2 for $5. these are real strong neodymium rare earth magnets.  Good luck with your selling. Chuck |
|
Thunder69
Cave Dweller 
Thunder 2000-2015
Member since January 2009
Posts: 3,105
|
Post by Thunder69 on Feb 25, 2014 21:03:22 GMT -5
I sell a lot of tumble material at the shows I do ...I let them fill a bag with tumbles for $3.00 It is a 3x4 bag.. The kids enjoy it as well as the adult kids LOL....I have like 20 of the plastic shoe boxes with stuff they can choose from..here is a link to the pouches I use...Best of luck with it...John www.uline.com/Product/ProductDetailRootItem.Aspx?modelnumber=S-9673Chuck the magnet idea is really cool...John |
|
tkvancil
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since September 2011
Posts: 1,548
|
Post by tkvancil on Feb 26, 2014 13:15:18 GMT -5
Thanks Jolly, Darryl, Chuck, and John. Your responses are appreciated and will help me decide what I'm doing.
I like the magnet idea as well. Got some slabbettes that would be great for that. You mind if I copy that one Chuck?
|
|
|
|
Post by Drummond Island Rocks on Feb 26, 2014 16:18:33 GMT -5
|
|
