Full Version: Perceived value #1?

From: scroller (JEFF) [#26]
 29 Jul 2005
To: Shaddy [#25] 29 Jul 2005

We have been scroll sawing and selling at craft fairs for over 10 years now. Within the last year I have switched 70% of our products to laser cut. I have found that while there are some people who buy our product because it was made with a scroll saw or laser, 90% of them don't care. They are just interested in the product and not how it is made or how long it took to make. I was really worried at first putting out so much money for a laser and having people judge us on whether we made it by hand or automatic machine, however most of them don't seem to care. In fact our overall sales have gone up because I can produce more products and do more shows. It's a double edged sword however because I was basically forced to do more shows to make the laser payments. I'll tell you though it is much less intense work than the scroll saw. As far as the customer saying you're not charging enough and then walking out of the booth, we get that all the time. My standard answer to them is "We would be glad to take more if you would like to pay it." I've never had a customer take me up on it though. :S 

From: Ken D. (KDEVORY) [#27]
 29 Jul 2005
To: Shaddy [#25] 29 Jul 2005

quote:
I had one lady telling me my little acrylic box (that probably cost a couple dollars, all things considered) that I was selling for $10, that I should be asking $40 to $50 dollars.

Can you market them as "whole sale, direct from the manufacturer. Only $15 instead of $45 retail."

From: Shaddy [#28]
 29 Jul 2005
To: scroller (JEFF) [#26] 29 Jul 2005

Point taken. I don't have much experience, I've only done 3 shows ever (c:

I do sell little things quite a bit, like bookmarks and tiny cheaper ornaments, because people want to take soemthing away that's been "lasered", they just never intended on buying something big. I need to just invest (and write off) and make a bunch of wooden business cards. I just haven't made the plunge yet.

Did you laser your clocks? I'd LOVE to make one for my other-job boss (he's an avid clock collector). The plans I bought for a different one came on paper, and I had to scan in and vectorise. i got overwhelmed and couldn't complete doing it.

What laser/wattage do you use? Do you vector cut 1/4 Oak well? I haven't had much luck with 1/4" oak. a lot of charring. Did you vectorize your own stuff or get a PDF from somewhere?

You have some great stuff on your site. Also, where'd you get the puppy plaque plans?

And Ken, that's a good idea to put a "Retail" sticker price somewhere. I might experiment with something like that just to see where it leads. It kinda feels weird, like almost being dishonest. But when it comes down to it, I'm going to decide a price, and they're either going to pay it or not. They have a choice on whether they want to buy it or not. This whole thing is still pretty new to me, I've never sold things before (as anyone who's read all my posts have probably guessed).

Shaddy

From: scroller (JEFF) [#29]
 29 Jul 2005
To: Shaddy [#28] 29 Jul 2005

Shaddy,
I still scroll saw anything 1/2" or thicker which includes all the clocks however I have been experimenting with a few by lasering part of the design and scroll sawing the other part. I do that now with my helicopter clocks and the balloon clock but have'nt updated my website with new pics yet. I really like the way they turn out done half & half and hope to do more in the future if I can ever find the time. Most of my 1/4" oak products are done with the laser now. I don't get much charring however the inside edges have a dark carmel look. The outside edges I either do with my scroll saw or on the simpler items like the dog signs I use an Onsrud inverted pin router. That way the natural look of the oak still shows on the outside edge where the customer can more easily see it. After lasering I sand all the signs with a Performax drum sander to take off any smoke or burn marks and then apply Danish Oil and 2 coats of lacquer. I have an Epilog 75W Legend 24EX and I vectorize all my own images by using the bezier tool in Corel. With the dog signs I started with 20 patterns from a Judy Gale Roberts scroll saw book and the other 60 I have traced off of photos myself (very time consuming). I sell quite a few of the dog signs so it makes the time investment worth it. Hope this helps, Jeff.

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