Sabie A Carey on mon 18 feb 02
We have a studio & retail shop combination, and we have two great friends
that help us out. In turn, they have full use of the studio, equip,
clay,etc. We have a seasonal business and we are close to going into
crazy mode. We would like to pay piece work but we are clueless as far
as: 1. how much? Since we are providing clay & glaze, it has to be less
than wholesale. 15th about failures, pay for a piece after it's bisqued,
or all the way to completion. 4. Should they buy the clay, then we pay
for the pieces? They can also make their own pieces and sell them in our
retail shop, how much "commission" should we take since we are providing
the studio. Or should we just buy those pieces outright, less than
wholesale?
I hope someone has some insight here. We are in an area where we are
the only pottery for miles around, so I feel that offering a great studio
to those who otherwise would not be able to work in clay, is a terrific
benefit, not to mention sharing our entire customer base. But on the
other hand, we can't expect them to work for nothing. Any advise will be
appreciated here in (slower) lower Delaware. Sabie & Jack
Richard Jeffery on mon 18 feb 02
difficult to go wholly commercial with friends. but perhaps it does offer a
way - work out objective commercial rates, then haggle from there - and
write it down, all in a nice friendly way...
how much does your studio cost per hour to run? that rates, heating,
lighting, other services, loan repayment, insurance, cup cakes, whatever.
decide whether to work that out on a seasonal or an annual basis. doing it
seasonal might be more realistic for this scenario, but will work out
dearer. or do you use the workshop outside of season for other things?
make it as simple or as complex as you want, but write down your rationale
for doing it.
the rest should be easy - clay used, glazes used, cost per firing, etc. put
cup cakes here, if you prefer. ]never seem to see those in Uk any more. I
have memories of the late 50s early 60s in Plymouth where everything was the
same colour as the destroyers they made in the dockyard, and the sky....
used to be taken around by my parents for Sunday tea with their friends, or
family. wet lettuce and "fancies"... sponge cakes with soft icing or
marzipan shells. bits of candied fruit on top. are they out there still on
this planet?]
anyway...
the easiest/cleanest approach would probably be if your friends turned up
with their finished work, and you bought it. the most objective way to cost
what they do for themselves would probably be so much an hour, plus material
and firing costs. by combining those two "cleanest" calculations, you
should be able to arrive at a realistic and objective basis that you could
then ignore if you chose. Forget they are friends while you do the
calculations {what if they move away and you actually hire real piece
workers?] - apply the friend bit once you know what the real figures are.
finally, jus to complicate things, you might arrive at one set of inclusive
mechanics for production work they do to your design, and a different
costing structure for one-off or individual pieces that you choose to sell
for them.
have fun, and a cup cake...
Richard
Richard Jeffery
Web Design and Photography
www.theeleventhweb.co.uk
Bournemouth UK
-----Original Message-----
From: Ceramic Arts Discussion List [mailto:CLAYART@LSV.CERAMICS.ORG]On
Behalf Of Sabie A Carey
Sent: 18 February 2002 13:34
To: CLAYART@LSV.CERAMICS.ORG
Subject: paying for piece work
We have a studio & retail shop combination, and we have two great friends
that help us out. In turn, they have full use of the studio, equip,
clay,etc. We have a seasonal business and we are close to going into
crazy mode. We would like to pay piece work but we are clueless as far
as: 1. how much? Since we are providing clay & glaze, it has to be less
than wholesale. 15th about failures, pay for a piece after it's bisqued,
or all the way to completion. 4. Should they buy the clay, then we pay
for the pieces? They can also make their own pieces and sell them in our
retail shop, how much "commission" should we take since we are providing
the studio. Or should we just buy those pieces outright, less than
wholesale?
I hope someone has some insight here. We are in an area where we are
the only pottery for miles around, so I feel that offering a great studio
to those who otherwise would not be able to work in clay, is a terrific
benefit, not to mention sharing our entire customer base. But on the
other hand, we can't expect them to work for nothing. Any advise will be
appreciated here in (slower) lower Delaware. Sabie & Jack
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Jeff Brown on wed 20 feb 02
>We have a studio & retail shop combination, and we have two great friends
>that help us out.
Sabie & Jack
I have worked for a number of potters and factories with different piece
rate pricing structures. In Seagrove, NC, I have been paid by the pound
(rates range from about $0.75 - $1.25 per/lb.) for throwing only; for
thrown and handled pots 10% =96 20% of retail (depending on the difficulty
factor).
I have also been paid 10% - 20% of wholesale at a hi-volume factory (up to
200 pieces a day), where they bring the pre-weighed, ready-to-throw clay to
my wheel, and they provide all the tools and equipment.
As for selling your helpers' pottery,
Here is my opinion for what it's worth: You can take a 20% - 35% commission
on behalf of the store, and charge a price per/lb. for the clay, glaze, and
firing to be taken out of their sales after your 25% has been taken out.
If they are your friends and you are grateful for their help with your
production, then you are probably letting them use your studio space out of
appreciation for their help=85or=85 you can charge them a monthly fee=85I ch=
arge
a private student of mine $100.00 a month for use of my studio on a time-
share basis. I have been charged $200.00 a month for the same kind of
arrangement. For a full 50 cubic foot kiln, I charge $100.00 plus the cost
of gas (200.00 plus if I do the firing).
Jeff Brown
162 B, 1st NH Turnpike
Northwood, NH 03261
(603) 942-8829
http://www.jeffbrownpottery.com
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