Eleanora Eden on wed 3 dec 97
In fact I price this way and tho it's a hassle I am used to it and it
works. I figure out a factor for each shape in each design and measure a
pot and multiply by that number. Sounds complicated but I'm not into
throwing to exact size it's not my thing so this way when somebody is in my
booth and they put two things next to each other the bigger one is a bit
more expensive and it makes sense to them.
Eleanora Eden 802 869-2003
Paradise Hill
Bellows Falls, VT 05101 eden@sover.net
Michael McDowell on thu 4 dec 97
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I've been following this discussion since Mel first mentioned that this was
how he established his prices. It worked for his mentor, Mr. Uchida, it
works for him, and from the responses one would almost think this is a
universal approach. No way=21
It wouldn't be appropriate for me. Nor for a lot of other potters I
imagine. So I thought I might share why I feel that way, just in the
interest of dispelling the illusion of unanimity.
For one reason, I work in a variety of =22styles=22 or =22genres=22. Some =
styles
are far more time consuming to produce than others. If a piece that I spent
four to eight hours doing alterations stamped, slipped, and carved
decorations on was priced the same as one that was simply glazed, I'd
either be overpricing one or underpricing the other. I like doing both
styles, and depend on both for my support. The simpler pieces fill my
shelves =26 kiln to keep the work moving through the studio, and they help =
me
maintain my throwing skills. The more complex pieces are important to
maintaining my interest in the whole process of being a clay person. If I'm
using my time effectively in producing them, they must be worth more per
inch than the others.
Here's another reason why I'll vary from strict, by the inch, pricing -
racers. You know, those happy surprises, where one or two pieces in a kiln
will just rise above all the others similarly treated. I like to salt those
away somewhere, not even offering them up for sale in the same channels as
the rest. When they finally come out of hiding, maybe for a show or
competition, a dear friend, or a discriminating customer, they are usually
priced 20 to 25 percent above the typical. Works for me=21
Even within the same style of work I like to vary my prices a bit according
to how well I like the piece. This may be a little disconcerting to some
customers, but they usually get with the program if I'm clear about it.
After all, I like to think of it as offering a discount to those whose
preferences in my work varies from my own. The advantage of such a pricing
method is that if I have misjudged, it will result in me having the pots I
like best left unsold. If my estimation of which pots are best is shared by
my customers, but I just follow by the inch pricing, I'll be left with all
the ones I like least.
I'm not saying I'm right, and Mel's wrong. I'm glad to be different, that's
all...
Do what works for you.
Michael McDowell
Whatcom County, WA USA
Nan Rothwell on fri 5 dec 97
Earlier generations of potters in the Shenandoah Valley priced by volume. I
have seen some Nineteenth Century invoices that list a variety of crocks,
with fractions next to each entry denoting the portion of a gallon each piece
held, and then a total at the bottom of the sheet rounded to nearest full
gallon amounts. I can remember one where they charged $ .10 a gallon. The
only exception was for "larg jugs" which measured at 8 gallons but went for
$1.20.
Nan Rothwell
in Nelson County Virginia
>----------------------------Original message----------------------------
>In fact I price this way and tho it's a hassle I am used to it and it
works. I figure out a factor for each shape in each design and measure a
pot and multiply by that number. Sounds complicated but I'm not into
throwing to exact size it's not my thing so this way when somebody is in my
booth and they put two things next to each other the bigger one is a bit
more expensive and it makes sense to them.
Eleanora Eden <
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