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empty bowls project/underselling

updated mon 24 jun 02

 

OWLPOTTER@AOL.COM on sun 23 jun 02


In a message dated 6/23/2 01:40:29 PM, you wrote:

>I realized that we were training them that bowls were worth
>$10.00. I wonder, if the sales of small bowls will eventually be hurt
>by the Empty Bowls phenomenon.
>
>What do you think? Are we guilty of underselling ourselves?

I think you should consider all the factors involved here.
First: You are raising money for a worthwhile project.
Second: Would you raise more money if you raised the minimum 'donation.'
Remember you are not selling, per se, you are encouraging donations.
Third: Think about all of those political dinners to raise money for
candidates. These are often $500 to $1000 per plate (and they don't get to
keep the plates!!)
-Carolynn Palmer, Somerset Center, Michigan

Michelle Lowe on sun 23 jun 02


At 01:01 PM 6/23/2002 -0400, you wrote:
>In a message dated 6/23/2 01:40:29 PM, you wrote:
>
>>I realized that we were training them that bowls were worth
>>$10.00. I wonder, if the sales of small bowls will eventually be hurt
>>by the Empty Bowls phenomenon.
>>
>>What do you think? Are we guilty of underselling ourselves?

Interesting question. We have a huge Empty Bowls here, usually about 3000=
bowls each year and last year raised over $38,000 (with the silent=
auction). I find that our regular Empty Bowls end up being not necessarily=
cream of the crop bowls...we include the public, and schools in our=
campaign each year to make bowls, so we end up with kid-made bowls, kid and=
novice-decorated bowls, and hurriedly thrown bowls by our faithful potters=
who contribute a hundred or more each year. Because we actually ran out of=
bowls last year, an hour and a half before our sale ended, this year a few=
of us lunatics have started a 'five hundred bowls pledged' club, of which I=
am a member. Believe me, these will not be my best work, but that's okay! =
They will be handmade, safely glazed for food and attractive enough to=
warrant the $12. I don't have an ego investment so big that I mind my work=
being sold for charity at lower than my personal value, I also donate to=
silent auctions (EB and others), and you have no control over pricing at=
those, other than a minimum bid. At our last guild meeting, we voted to=
raise our ten dollar bowls to twelve dollars this year, the vote being=
raised at the request of other groups we have worked with on this project=
for the last twelve years (the restaurant- Lombardi's, our charity- Waste=
Not, and other members of the Empty Bowl board). =20

Mishy, firing a load with some of those 500 right now...


-----------
Michelle Lowe potter in the Phoenix desert
http://www.desertdragonpottery.com
Mishy@desertdragonpottery.com
mishlowe@amug.org
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