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Post by fernwood on Jul 1, 2018 7:22:28 GMT -5
Was wondering what those who sell on consignment are charged? I stopped at a couple of places and picked up their forms. The charge ranged from 25% to 30%. Some have a policy if the item does not sell within a month, they automatically drop the price by 20%. They all collect sales tax on purchases. All have specific tags to place on items. Some would not allow me to use my own business card style tags, others would. My tags are a ½ size business card. Components in each piece are listed on the back of the card. The front has my business name and contact info.
A couple places said my items were too high priced and would never sell. Suggested dropping the prices by 50%.
I am following the suggestion of my small business counselor for pricing.
Cost of materials+$10.00/hr for my labor+20% overhead (to cover transportation, tags, utilities, etc.). For some items, I am cutting the overhead to 10%. To that total is added any consignment/booth rental fees.
I spend 1 hour, making a necklace/earring set. ($10.00). Cost of materials is $10.00. 20% overhead=$4.00. Total is $24.00. Plus the 30% consignment fee of $7.20 (drop the .20). Total price would be $31.00 for the item. Can understand why some shops say my items are overpriced. But, what can I do? I prefer to use higher quality stones for the jewelry. Never misrepresent any stones used, ie calling turquoise dyed Howlite/Magnesite Turquoise. If the Turquoise is reconstituted, that is stated.
Some of the shops I visited have a mix of vintage, used items and new ones. Some are basically resale shops and some are considered art/craft galleries. Some offer new, costume jewelry, which they purchase in bulk for resale. Some are only open in the summer months.
This area has a very eclectic mix of residents. There are a lot of artisans here, who do very well. It is all about establishing a name for yourself. Doing something that others are not doing. I have done the area craft shows. Love meeting new people, but sales were minimal, compared to cost. There is almost always several others selling similar items for a lot less. I had someone check out their items and ask questions. They were misrepresenting the materials used and also telling customers not to even consider my stuff, as it was way overpriced. Even saying that my natural Turquoise was dyed stones that were not Turquoise. That their Turquoise was genuine (when it was obviously dyed Howlite/Magnesite). Their Sterling Silver pieces were not Sterling. Etc. Cut throat world here for craft shows. I was accepted to a coupled juried, art shows in the future. One this year, one next. Also have a standing invitation to exhibit/sell at a local event which happens monthly in summer. Fees for that are quite expensive, but thousands attend.
Appreciate the thoughts of others. Thank you.
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Post by vegasjames on Jul 1, 2018 8:08:50 GMT -5
Sounds to me like your prices are fair and reasonable for a hand crafted item with real stone. Not some epoxy filled/stabilized, dyed stone necklace made in an overseas sweat shop. If they think $31 is expensive for a hand crafted artisan necklace they should take a trip to Sedona and see what they are selling those for down there.
Sounds to me the problem is with them, that they either don't know how to market or are just too lazy to do so.
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Post by fernwood on Jul 1, 2018 8:12:15 GMT -5
Thanks for the confirmation. I remember the prices for items in AZ when I lived there. Quality and natural stones, metals. You get what you pay for.
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surreality
starting to spend too much on rocks
is picking up too many rocks at the beach again
Member since January 2012
Posts: 217
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Post by surreality on Jul 2, 2018 22:06:42 GMT -5
We've run into this problem with consignment a lot. I've been selling jewelry with my mom since I was 12, and I turn 45 this year. (Took over the family side business for jewelry a few years after she retired from her day job and didn't feel up to doing shows any more.)
I would suggest looking into more shows, and a web storefront somewhere.
We have not had the best luck with consignment, from things going missing/breaking and them not taking any responsibility for them, to places closing up shop and taking our stuff with them. It's almost never gone well.
Check around to see if there are any places that will let you rent a display case or a shelf. Some places will do this for a fairly reasonable price -- there's one locally here that's $25/month, for instance, in a little artsy and antiques area. Others in more high end areas are considerably higher, or have crazy requirements. Some gallery co-ops are similar, or require hours working the gallery shop, which may or may not work for you depending on distance and schedule and what they're asking.
Our main issue here is that most shows are in the middle of summer and outdoors, which is just not something that works for a gal that melts in heat like Dorothy threw a bucket of water on her. :/ It hits 85 and it's likely I'll fall over in a faint at least once an hour.
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Post by stardiamond on Jul 3, 2018 1:32:04 GMT -5
The lower the price the faster they get their money. They don't care what you make.
I haven't tried to sell cabs. Lapidary isn't a cheap hobby, but at least a person has the satisfaction of creating something. I spent more on golf and I hardly had time to play; club repairs, lessons and range balls. A person selling their creations is happy to get back some money back to buy more material and equipment. Actually getting paid for their time applies to very few. Your art is in competition for space with the work of those who work for free.
Before I retired, I had limited free time and I would rather spend it creating than selling online. I have no experience with Etsy. I am familiar with ebay. The seller does all the work and ebay and paypal get their fees. I have done sportscard shows with my son and they are very similar to lapidary and jewelry shows; buy a table and spend the day for very little money. A craftsman selling their creations has a tough go of it.
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surreality
starting to spend too much on rocks
is picking up too many rocks at the beach again
Member since January 2012
Posts: 217
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Post by surreality on Jul 3, 2018 6:20:05 GMT -5
Actually getting paid for their time applies to very few. Your art is in competition for space with the work of those who work for free. This is so true. I'm primarily a beader, jewelry-wise. I do a lot with intricate beaded bezels and oodles of branched fringe. Plenty of people do beading 'just for fun' and so it's assumed it takes zero skill. If I had a nickel for every time I heard, "Why so expensive?! My cousin could make that for me!" I could afford to buy all of my highest-end pieces by now. :/ Worse is, "Tell me step by step how you made this, and give me a materials list, so my friend can make it for me (and I don't have to pay you)?" -- which you would want to think is a joke, but we hear at least twice every show, and have for years. It happened so often, we had to come up with a strategy: "My tutoring price is $20/hour, materials not included. I can write you up a materials list for that piece, but you should know it took over 35 hours to complete, and I can't teach all the techniques involved in less than three hours." A lot of the ones people ask about that are more pricey are 20-60 hours of hands-on labor. That does give folks some perspective about it pretty quickly, though! Odds are their cousin who just started tinkering with beading last month probably would get frustrated by hour three and throw the piece across the room before running outta there in tears, potentially cursing the name of the person who asked them to do it for them.  |
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Post by fernwood on Jul 3, 2018 7:04:03 GMT -5
Yup, surreality agree completely. I was asked by a local college to facilitate classes in the SW style jewelry I make. Once I told them the cost of materials/hand tools each participant would need, the college backed out. Another reason, was that I could not teach the class and have participants complete their item within a hour. I had proposed a series of 4, 1.5 hour classes. The cost was $32.00 for what I was providing. Participants would learn how to make their choice of three different styles of necklaces and earrings. The cost included all materials for one style of necklace/earrings and the needed tools. Also proposed further classes in intermediate and advanced techniques, which had a higher materials cost. The college would have needed to increase my initial amount to over $100.00 to cover my instructor fees and their building use fees. They had a set per hour amount for instructors. I really think the adult education person I spoke with thought anyone could learn how to make a high quality necklace/earring set and complete it in an hour for about $20.00, including all tools and materials. That class fee would have allowed for about $4.00 for tools and materials. Was not going to happen. Was asked if I could teach the class using imitation stones, plastic beads, purchase the tools myself and keep them, etc. Said no. I have a reputation to uphold. I also mentioned that it takes a lot longer than an hour to learn the techniques and to complete something like this. So, hope this person learned something. |
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Post by HankRocks on Jul 3, 2018 9:38:54 GMT -5
Attempting to make more than "Beer and Gas" money selling rocks, minerals and hand made jewelry is a daunting task. Recovering cost is tough especially using a consignment outlet or a site like Ebay or Etsy. Unless you are able to get to higher rates of production, as with Jim's glass, or lower your cost of materials and equipment you are limited to selling on a one-off basis. The face to face selling experience is enjoyable for me mainly because I only do local Shows and I limit myself to 5 or 6 shows a year. In addition I am selling mostly self-collected or deeply discounted material. Most of my self collected material was collected on paid vacations making me one of the higher paid rock pickers around.
Bottom line for me is I enjoy collecting, I enjoy cutting and polishing and making simple pendants. If I make enough money to cover most(?) of my costs it's a win-win for me.
Henry
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Win
spending too much on rocks
Member since June 2017
Posts: 337 
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Post by Win on Jul 3, 2018 11:35:03 GMT -5
I've consigned photography for years, usually it's a 70/30 split. I'm happy with that, pays for more inventory. My biggest issue is having my work displayed correctly, really hard to tell gallery owners what is best for both our interests. Met an artist the other day that's in the same gallery I'm in, we agreed "Don't quit your day job". If you're in Cedar City, UT check out the Artisan's Gallery on Center St.
I've been asked about my polished rocks by a very nice rock shop, haven't decided if I want to get involved. Meanwhile I keep filling cigar boxes!
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Post by stardiamond on Jul 3, 2018 12:28:14 GMT -5
The ideal situation is to have your own website. There are a lot of expenses associated with that. My wife went back to school and got a degree in studio art. She did very well in student art shows and was had offers for her work. I suppose some people like the idea of someone willing to buy their art, but what is typically being offered is an insult to the effort and materials used.
My best friend's father was a goldsmith and had a small shop in town. He had a sign on the window; 'no repairs'. He did well enough to support his family. He worked very hard for the Christmas season and took long family vacations in the summer. I really admire people who can do what they like and earn a living.
Jewelry making is beyond my skill set. I decided to start making cabs when my wife was buying cabs. I had taken wood shop throughout HS and I thought there would be a carryover to lapidary. My wife got a cabbing lesson and I observed and then I had a lesson. I felt confident enough to buy some used lapidary equipment. Someone that saw some of my work recently asked me to teach a class thousands of miles away. I thought it was pretty humorous because my skill level is just okay and I am pretty much self taught and the logistics for teaching the class would be daunting other than a power point presentation. Some people tend to oversimplify a complex situation.
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Post by fernwood on Jul 3, 2018 13:18:39 GMT -5
I am just weighing options right now. Have a sales web site, but it only allows for 10 items. I get more business from Facebook. Current medical restrictions are preventing me from doing most shows or any "regular" work.
No day job at the moment. I can only "work" on jewelry and rocks for about 20 minutes at a time (on good days).
Appreciate all the comments made.
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QuailRiver
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since May 2008
Posts: 1,640
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Post by QuailRiver on Jul 3, 2018 13:59:50 GMT -5
If you're set on going the consignment route, IMO find a Hair Salon owner in your area (or two, or three, or more) that you trust and work out a deal with them to allow you to keep a small showcase of your jewelry in their shop and pay them the commission for selling for you. Bored customers waiting to get their hair done just might not be able to resist. In a consignment shop you'll be a tree in the forest. As the only non-hair products in a Hair Salon you'll be the shining star.
Larry C.
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gemfeller
Cave Dweller 
Member since June 2011
Posts: 4,049
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Post by gemfeller on Jul 3, 2018 15:28:14 GMT -5
The show-goers who want you to help them make their own items to avoid paying you are a pain. I used to sell a lot of opal rings and pendants at shows. They were original wax carvings I cast in metal and set with special stones. But I got so many comments about my "high" prices (which were very modest for such hand-made items) I finally came up with a solution that shut them down pretty quickly.
When someone complained I said I offered a do-it-yourself ring-making kit at a big discount. Their eyes would brighten eagerly as I reached under the table and brought out a ziplock bag that contained a rough opal, some casting grain and a hunk of carving wax. With some folks who didn't stomp off angrily, I had the chance to explain the whole process involved in making my items. It actually resulted in some pretty nice sales to people who had new insight about what they were buying.
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Post by rmf on Jul 4, 2018 18:08:52 GMT -5
fernwood Years ago I did consignment sales in a shop when I live in WI. Not sure I would go that route again (but as they say your mileage may vary). If the shop goes belly up, what you have consigned gets counted with their assets and you get in line with all the other creditors. Just be aware. Also keep a inventory and check it monthly. Get in writing up front who is responsible for store theft. The shop probably calculates their cut similar to what follows. 30% to the shop I had stuff in meant that if I brought in a $10 item they added $5 to it making it $15 and when it sold they got $5 and I got $10. That is how they got their 33%.
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Post by fernwood on Jul 5, 2018 5:41:23 GMT -5
Thanks.
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Fossilman
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2009
Posts: 20,718
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Post by Fossilman on Jul 5, 2018 9:49:06 GMT -5
That's very good percentages...A place here in town wants 60%,people are using his business, but I won't !!!
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Post by fernwood on Jul 5, 2018 12:40:18 GMT -5
I am leaning more towards applying to galleries. All have a juried process. Members pay an annual fee. Then take turns manning the shop, per say. Also do cleaning, etc. The galleries have locked cabinets for small items. Some are art, some arts/crafts. If accepted, the buy in fee ranges from about $600.00 to $2400.00 year. Some offer exhibitions, highlighting the work of a couple members per month. These are modeled after NY Art Exhibitions. Quiet, musical performers, wine, appetizers, wandering servers (dressed to the hilt), etc. The members being featured, contribute $ towards the exhibition. They also do a presentation about their art, inspirations, methods, etc.
These events are well publicized and bring in huge crowds.
Because members are co-owners, the contracts state that if the gallery ceases to exist, all owners are allowed to remove their belongings from the premises prior to dissolvement. The wording was very much legal talk, but that was the basic idea.
High cost, but potential for high rewards.
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Post by johnjsgems on Jul 5, 2018 14:00:31 GMT -5
My wife made beaded jewelry for years and sold only at shows. She generally tripled materials cost (which in your example is very close). She had the people studying her work and some even took photos "to show a friend". We stocked a limited amount of very high quality pearls and a few other varieties of beads just for them. At the shows we did we had a mix of lapidary and the "off the street" jewelry/ purty thing buyers. Sounds like the consignment shops would be happy marketing made in China crap jewelry for a quick turn over. I sold a few turquoise cabs I made over the years. Knowing how much work I had in them I priced everything at probably twice what they were worth. I did sell occasionally. You have to find the right buyer that is willing to spend that amount. In the right market it is easier to sell things after raising the price as the picky buyers don't want "cheap junk".
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Post by fernwood on Jul 5, 2018 14:56:24 GMT -5
John, I agree. There is a market round here for genuine semi-precious items. I just need to find more ways to make my items visible and in the correct settings.
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Post by toiv0 on Jul 5, 2018 17:55:32 GMT -5
I don't even price my items, let the store do it. Pack it off in flat rate box. They price it and take their percentage. It works great for me. As far as theft goes I live by the motto....If they can live with it I can live with out it. I give plenty away, usually I love that and next thing you know I say "you should have that". I get to play in a media I love, and people are smiling. The consignment shop bought a display just for my jewelry. I make the women who work there something a few times a year. This spring they got MI green stone rings, they were worth about what I make some months. But great advertisement and they look after me.
I had a guy shut down and havent heard from him, again he has to live with it and I am alive and well.
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