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place settings and pricing

updated thu 27 jan 11

 

William & Susan Schran User on wed 8 dec 10


On 12/8/10 6:57 PM, "John Rodgers" wrote:

> I have been asked to make 16 5-piece place settings. Charger, dinner
> plate, salad plate, soup plate, fruit or desert dish and mug. The pieces
> are to have a simple two color glaze finish. I would appreciate any
> input as to how to price this work. It is a bit out of my normal scope
> of work, and I'm at a bit of a loss as to how to price this kind of
> work. Any advice on pricing of this or how to go about it would be most
> appreciated.

I would suggest you first consider what you would price each piece of the
place setting. How much for the charger? How much for the plate? And so on.
This will give you a price per place setting and thus the price for the
entire set.
You need to take into account you will make extras of every piece as
insurance against breakage, glaze defects, etc.
Might even want to consider making some prototypes that you will finish to
show the client in case there are questions about design, sizes, colors and
the like.
You will then need to figure out a realistic timeframe to complete the
project, adding on a couple weeks for unforeseen issues, such as kiln out o=
f
commission.
After the client has seen the prototype and agreed to a price, set a
timeline and consider a certain percentage down that is non-refundable.
Do all of this in writing, 2 copies and both of you sign both copies.

Here's a sample of an agreement:
http://www.roberthuitt.com/Commission%20agreement.htm

Bill

--
William "Bill" Schran
wschran@cox.net
wschran@nvcc.edu
http://www.creativecreekartisans.com

Rikki Gill on wed 8 dec 10


Hi John,

You should look at what you charge for each piece. I don't know your
prices, so what
I would do is price each item, add it up, and tell them what you would
charge per setting.
If a customer asks about a price break, I would tell them that each piece i=
s
custom made,
you can't afford to drop your price. You don't have to offer anything, but
if you feel comfortable,
a free gift item might be nice.

good luck,

Rikki Gill
rikigil@sbcglobal.net
www.rikkigillceramics.com



--------------------------------------------------
From: "John Rodgers"
Sent: Wednesday, December 08, 2010 3:57 PM
To:
Subject: Place Settings and Pricing

> I have been asked to make 16 5-piece place settings. Charger, dinner
> plate, salad plate, soup plate, fruit or desert dish and mug. The pieces
> are to have a simple two color glaze finish. I would appreciate any
> input as to how to price this work. It is a bit out of my normal scope
> of work, and I'm at a bit of a loss as to how to price this kind of
> work. Any advice on pricing of this or how to go about it would be most
> appreciated.
>
> Thanks
>
> John
>
> --
> John Rodgers
> Clayartist and Moldmaker
> 88'GL VW Bus Driver
> Chelsea, AL
> Http://www.moldhaus.com

Victoria E. Hamilton on wed 8 dec 10


John -

What Mel said.

If it's a 4-piece place setting, I charge $100 =3D $25 for each piece. Mor=
e
pieces? More $25s. I do lots of them. It's a bargain.....make sure you d=
o
whatever it takes so that your customer knows it!

Good luck.

Vicki Hamilton
Seattle

-----Original Message-----
From: Clayart [mailto:Clayart@LSV.CERAMICS.ORG] On Behalf Of John Rodgers
Sent: Wednesday, December 08, 2010 3:58 PM
To: Clayart@LSV.CERAMICS.ORG
Subject: Place Settings and Pricing

I have been asked to make 16 5-piece place settings. Charger, dinner
plate, salad plate, soup plate, fruit or desert dish and mug. The pieces ar=
e
to have a simple two color glaze finish. I would appreciate any input as to
how to price this work. It is a bit out of my normal scope of work, and I'm
at a bit of a loss as to how to price this kind of work. Any advice on
pricing of this or how to go about it would be most appreciated.

Thanks

John

--
John Rodgers
Clayartist and Moldmaker
88'GL VW Bus Driver
Chelsea, AL
Http://www.moldhaus.com

John Rodgers on wed 8 dec 10


I have been asked to make 16 5-piece place settings. Charger, dinner
plate, salad plate, soup plate, fruit or desert dish and mug. The pieces
are to have a simple two color glaze finish. I would appreciate any
input as to how to price this work. It is a bit out of my normal scope
of work, and I'm at a bit of a loss as to how to price this kind of
work. Any advice on pricing of this or how to go about it would be most
appreciated.

Thanks

John

--
John Rodgers
Clayartist and Moldmaker
88'GL VW Bus Driver
Chelsea, AL
Http://www.moldhaus.com

Lis Allison on thu 9 dec 10


On December 8, 2010, you wrote:
> It is a bit out......
> > of my normal scope of work, and I'm at a bit of a loss as to how to
> > price this kind of work. Any advice on pricing of this or how to go
> > about it would be most appreciated.
>
If the pieces are different from your normal work, you might consider
adding on an extra and non-refundable design fee. I have had bad luck with
commissions that ended up being a ton of development work. A simple, $50
jar but it took 3 months to get the colour she wanted ...... now I'm
smarter and I charge a design fee at $60 per hour and don't accept the
full commission until the client has approved a prototype.

Cheers,
Lis
--
Elisabeth Allison
Pine Ridge Studio
website: www.pine-ridge.ca
Pottery blog: www.studio-on-the-ridge.blogspot.com
Garden blog: www.garden-on-the-ridge.blogspot.com

steve graber on thu 9 dec 10


i used to offer a free bowl for any order of dishes reach $100.=3DA0 so peo=
pl=3D
e would =3D0Agather their dishes, see they are almost up to another $100 le=
ve=3D
l and simply =3D0Agather more dishes.=3DA0 =3D0A=3D0A=3D0A=3D0A=3DA0Steve G=
raber, Graber'=3D
s Pottery, Inc=3D0AClaremont, California USA=3D0AThe Steve Tool - for aweso=
me t=3D
exture on pots! =3D0Awww.graberspottery.com steve@graberspottery.com =3D0A=
=3D0A=3D
=3D0AOn Laguna Clay's website=3D0Ahttp://www.lagunaclay.com/blogs/ =3D0A=3D=
0A=3D0A=3D0A=3D
----- Original Message ----=3D0A> From: Rikki Gill =
=3D0A=3D
> To: Clayart@LSV.CERAMICS.ORG=3D0A> Sent: Wed, December 8, 2010 4:54:09 PM=
=3D
=3D0A> Subject: Re: Place Settings and Pricing=3D0A> =3D0A> Hi John,=3D0A> =
=3D0A> You=3D
should look at what you charge for each piece.=3DA0 I don't know your=3D0A=
> pr=3D
ices, so what=3D0A> I would do is price each item, add it up, and tell them=
w=3D
hat you would=3D0A> charge per setting.=3D0A> If a customer asks about a pr=
ice =3D
break, I would tell them that each piece is=3D0A> custom made,=3D0A> you ca=
n't =3D
afford to drop your price. You don't have to offer anything, but=3D0A> if y=
ou=3D
feel comfortable,=3D0A> a free gift item might be nice.=3D0A> =3D0A> good =
luck,=3D
=3D0A> =3D0A> Rikki Gill=3D0A> rikigil@sbcglobal.net=3D0A> www.rikkigillcer=
amics.co=3D
m=3D0A> =3D0A> =3D0A=3D0A=3D0A

Lee Love on thu 9 dec 10


In th building where my teacher's large gas kiln was, was a large
dining room table stacked with plates. Five or six different sizes.
He made sets of six that included a different inlaid design on each
plate in the set. Decoration was done before the plates were bisqued.
These were fillers when we needed more work to fill the kiln. They
worked nicely for this because stacks of bisques plates take up very
little room.

This might be a way to go for settings. You could let folks
choose their place settings before they are glazed.

I don't do commissions. If somebody wants something, I make a
bunch of work like what they request, and then let them choose from
what already exists.


--
=3DA0Lee, a Mashiko potter in Minneapolis
http://mingeisota.blogspot.com/

=3D93Observe the wonders as they occur around you. Don't claim them. Feel
the artistry moving through and be silent.=3D94 --Rumi

Larry Kruzan on thu 9 dec 10


Hi John,

I'm just finishing a order for a 14 place setting like that plus three 2qt.
casseroles. $2500 and I threw in a pitcher, platter, sugar bowl And creamer
set. It would have been $500 with the extras except it is for the daughter
of my best friend AND she paid cash up front. Got to love cash. LOL

Larry Kruzan
Lost Creek Pottery
www.lostcreekpottery.com



-----Original Message-----
From: Clayart [mailto:Clayart@LSV.CERAMICS.ORG] On Behalf Of John Rodgers
Sent: Wednesday, December 08, 2010 5:58 PM
To: Clayart@LSV.CERAMICS.ORG
Subject: Place Settings and Pricing

I have been asked to make 16 5-piece place settings. Charger, dinner
plate, salad plate, soup plate, fruit or desert dish and mug. The pieces
are to have a simple two color glaze finish. I would appreciate any
input as to how to price this work. It is a bit out of my normal scope
of work, and I'm at a bit of a loss as to how to price this kind of
work. Any advice on pricing of this or how to go about it would be most
appreciated.

Thanks

John

--
John Rodgers
Clayartist and Moldmaker
88'GL VW Bus Driver
Chelsea, AL
Http://www.moldhaus.com





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John Rodgers on tue 25 jan 11


I have a potential order for place settings - and this is way outside
my ordinary production. So, I am at a bit of a loss on how to price
this. Anyone care to comment or share experience/pricing.

Any input would be appreciated. Please reply off list.

Thanks,

John

10 -- 12" Dinner Plate
10 -- 9.5" Salad Plate
10 -- 9.5" Soup Bowl
10 -- Coffee Mug
10 -- Napkin Rings

Additional pieces to be included
1 - 22" Platter
2 - 18" Platters
2 - 14" Serving Bowls
1 - Bean Pot (2qt)
1 - Soup Tureen w/lid (14 in)

--
John Rodgers
Clayartist and Moldmaker
88'GL VW Bus Driver
Chelsea, AL
Http://www.moldhaus.com

KATHI LESUEUR on wed 26 jan 11


John,

My first question to you is, do you do all of these pieces as part of =3D
your regular production? For instance, do you make dinner plates all of =3D
the time and can you make them of a consistent size? An order like this =3D
sounds wonderful. A big chunk of money all at once. It can also be a =3D
nightmare. When I did dinnerware it was all slab except the mugs so that =
=3D
it was easy to duplicate sizes. I only made it available with my most =3D
consistent glaze. Even then it was a nightmare and I eventually stopped =3D
doing it. When people inquire about dinnnerware now I point them to =3D
people I know do it all of the time. They will be happier.
=3D20
KATHI LESUEUR
http://www.lesueurclaywork.com



On Jan 26, 2011, at 12:33 AM, John Rodgers wrote:

> I have a potential order for place settings - and this is way outside
> my ordinary production. So, I am at a bit of a loss on how to price
> this. Anyone care to comment or share experience/pricing.
>=3D20
> Any input would be appreciated. Please reply off list.
>=3D20
> Thanks,
>=3D20
> John
>=3D20
> 10 -- 12" Dinner Plate
> 10 -- 9.5" Salad Plate
> 10 -- 9.5" Soup Bowl
> 10 -- Coffee Mug
> 10 -- Napkin Rings
>=3D20
> Additional pieces to be included
> 1 - 22" Platter
> 2 - 18" Platters
> 2 - 14" Serving Bowls
> 1 - Bean Pot (2qt)
> 1 - Soup Tureen w/lid (14 in)
>=3D20
> --
> John Rodgers
> Clayartist and Moldmaker
> 88'GL VW Bus Driver
> Chelsea, AL
> Http://www.moldhaus.com
>=3D20