how much should I charge?

[creekfairy]

I have a friend (from online) that has saw my beadwork and asked if I could make her a barette and she would pay me for it... I found a few patterns/designs that I could do... showed her and she picked one...
I just dont know how much to charge her for it...
anyhoo heres the barette...
what do ya'll think? how much should I charge her?

[Josiah]

I have a friend (from online) that has saw my beadwork and asked if I could make her a barette and she would pay me for it... I found a few patterns/designs that I could do... showed her and she picked one...
I just dont know how much to charge her for it...
anyhoo heres the barette...
what do ya'll think? how much should I charge her?

Simple formula
Cost of Materials + Time to Make
Set a per hour rate such as 15 dollars a Hour
That gives you some thing to work with

The next factor is where you going to sell it?
Online = XXX$
Powwow Booth = XX$
Friends/Family = x$

Add that all together

= $60 or $40 or $20

[creekfairy]

thanks alot Josiah :)

my Mom-in-law was thinking somewhere on the lines of 50... but..I thought she was nuts!... but, than again ...since I'm totally new to the whole selling beadwork thing (obviously)... I dont have a clue!

[NorthofAda]

thanks alot Josiah :)

my Mom-in-law was thinking somewhere on the lines of 50... but..I thought she was nuts!... but, than again ...since I'm totally new to the whole selling beadwork thing (obviously)... I dont have a clue!

$50 wouldn't be out of line. I've heard of some folks using a rate of something like $10 per square inch. You have to make sure that your time and materials are covered, though.

[creekfairy]

$50 wouldn't be out of line. I've heard of some folks using a rate of something like $10 per square inch. You have to make sure that your time and materials are covered, though.

well... if I did it by the inch...
lemme pull out my ruler
just a smidge over 4 inches long and a smidge under 2 inches wide
.. as for time... it took me about 2 weeks to complete... working an hour here or there.. because I work.. I'd take it with me to work and work on it during my lunch or my breaks...
materials werent much...
the beads...maybe a hanks worth... hanks run about 2.50-2.75...the leather was a piece of scrap I had... so maybe a 1.00 worth if that....thread is barely pennies... needles are 10 or a 1.00... and the barette I buy them 4 for 1.00

I'm thinking maybe 30.00

[Chevy_truckin_NDN]

Man that's pretty! And the work looks good. What size beads? $30.00's pretty cheap, since you used leather, and depending on the size of the beads. I think people here sell felt pieces and seed beads for $30.00.

[legalstraight]

ask your friend what it is worth to her....

I like Josaihs formula, but have learned in the past, either cash up front, or we agree on a price after the design is done, that way I dont end up letting something go for just over what the materials cost and I dont have to pack it around for months trying to sell it.

On the other hand, I have had something that to me was a $30 piece that the person I made it for wouldn't pay me less than $60.

[kiyaanii mom]

Bead size
time
materials
I would say $40-$50.
Not $30.

[Flying_Raven]

If it were for me i'd pay $50, like Josaih said in his post, use that formula, when make stuff to sell, i use something similar myself depending on the item, say for bone chokers i had been told to charge $10 per row plus the cost of the other beads i used so its like this:

3 row of 1.5inch hair bone beads = $30
+
turquois, goldstone, and desert jasper = $10

bringing the total to rougthly $40

as i haven't really leard beading in much of anyway i have no price formula for that, though i definately would charge a decent labor charge for it.

[BeadMan]

I agree that 50 is a good price for that piece as it is very well done.

Ultimately you sell for whatever people will pay for your work. If you are just going to sell a piece or two here and there you can price one piece at a time. I sell a lot of stuff (almost all loom work). I charge by the square inch, but when I started out as a teenager I sold my first belt for $80 and thought I was doing good. The exact same belt today goes for $300 and up so it is just a matter of supply and demand. High demand and low supply raises the price. The quality has improved over the years too.

[Tibiki Kinew]

I agree $50.00 minimum is the only way to sell this great piece. Great work!!!!!

As per the loom, I have given up on that years ago and have returned to the traditional wampum stitch, with this kind of beading stitch you can wash it in the machine and not loose one bead ever! We tested a piece in the washer and dryer for numerous loads and not one change. With loom work we found threads and no beads! As well with the loom the shape shifts as the threads move. With the wampum stitch there are never any changes, it stays solid and I have pieces that are about a hundred years old and have seen a few wampum belts that have not been loomed that have lasted for over 400 years. This is the ironman stitch for beaders that want to be remembered in the future not just a week from now. Just my two cents worth!

[raindrops]

I have a friend (from online) that has saw my beadwork and asked if I could make her a barette and she would pay me for it... I found a few patterns/designs that I could do... showed her and she picked one...
I just dont know how much to charge her for it...
anyhoo heres the barette...
what do ya'll think? how much should I charge her?

[creekfairy]

Man that's pretty! And the work looks good. What size beads? $30.00's pretty cheap, since you used leather, and depending on the size of the beads. I think people here sell felt pieces and seed beads for $30.00.

thank you... it looks so much better in person... just doesnt scan or photograph well.. its done in 11's.. all sorts of finishes...pearl, matte, frosted and and translucent.
... I always back my pieces with leather unless sewing it directly to something...
I know 30.00 is cheap... but, I guess I should mention this isnt the only piece she's buying... she wants 4 barettes in total... the one shown is the first one I made and now I'm almost done with the 2nd...
I just dont want her thinking I'm trying to rip her off... but, you guys are the more experienced ones :)... I'm new to selling stuff

[creekfairy]

ask your friend what it is worth to her....

I like Josaihs formula, but have learned in the past, either cash up front, or we agree on a price after the design is done, that way I dont end up letting something go for just over what the materials cost and I dont have to pack it around for months trying to sell it.

On the other hand, I have had something that to me was a $30 piece that the person I made it for wouldn't pay me less than $60.

thanks so much for your insight..
I guess I just keep doubting myself and the value of my beadwork... my Mom-in-law says I need to quit short changing myself... but, in the back of my mind... I keep telling myself that this girl I'm selling this piece to has never bought any beadwork before and I dont think she realizes how much time, eyestrain, shoulder pain etc that it causes LOL
The person I'm selling this piece to is a member of an online support group I'm in for women...there are many women in this group... and some of the others have had interest buying some pieces from me also... so, if I set the price too high I might not get many orders... know what I mean?

[legalstraight]

I agree $50.00 minimum is the only way to sell this great piece. Great work!!!!!

As per the loom, I have given up on that years ago and have returned to the traditional wampum stitch, with this kind of beading stitch you can wash it in the machine and not loose one bead ever! We tested a piece in the washer and dryer for numerous loads and not one change. With loom work we found threads and no beads! As well with the loom the shape shifts as the threads move. With the wampum stitch there are never any changes, it stays solid and I have pieces that are about a hundred years old and have seen a few wampum belts that have not been loomed that have lasted for over 400 years. This is the ironman stitch for beaders that want to be remembered in the future not just a week from now. Just my two cents worth!

Tibiki, you willing to share this stitch with others, I am intrigued now