amitymamaThe Attachment Parenting Community

Sandi · 09-05-2007, 04:41 PM

I'm so awful at pricing. I never want to under-value my time or product, but also want things in the affordable-for-a-SAHM range. I also think some price points end up sort of setting the bar for the quality of the product. KWIM?

So, how do I do it? I looked on etsy and things ranged from $3-$11 that were similar to what I've made.

Dannielle · 09-05-2007, 05:15 PM

I follow this formula:

(time x hourly rate) + materials = price

I don't stray from it even if it seems that my final price is too high.

Things tend to take more time than average for me because I'm super picky about quality and details.

Once people know what sort of work you do, your reputation will carry you far.

So, if I make something that seems to be priced too high, I give it a chance. I might not make a ton of that item just in case I end up stuck with them lol.

Usually, I find my perception is off as far as what I think the item is worth. After all, *I* wouldn't pay that since I can just make it myself LOL! That tends to warp my perspective.

But, bottom line, if I price something cheaper than it works out to be with the formula, and it becomes a popular item, I've got a problem.

BTDT. It sucks.

The error in that sort of thinking becomes apparent when you've got 20 orders for an item where you're making $2/hr. Say each item takes 2 hours to make. Is it worth taking 40 hours away from your family/home time for $80? How peeved would you be if your dh spent a 40 hr week at work for $80?

You could make 3 times that at McDonalds. Just sayin'.

By the same token, I follow the formula even in situations where there's the opposite problem: my price seems lower than the going rate for that item.

Sandi · 09-05-2007, 05:33 PM

I getcha. Thanks!

Any advice for coming up with cards for presentation and shipping?

You have your earrings on such cute little cards, I want to come up with something (uniform) that I can send my clips on.

Also, what do you use for shipping little things like this? I planned on doing free shipping, and I'm thinking those small bubble mailers might work, but I'm always afraid of damage.

Dannielle · 09-05-2007, 07:15 PM

I just buy cardstock and cut it to size with one of those slide cutter thingie-ma-jobbers (from the scrapbooking dept).

Or index cards...

And I use custom rubber stamps for my tags/labels. Got them [url=http://www.simonstamp.com/] here. Super fast service.

(I *love* my NaturalPlaythings label-making stamp. Pic at the bottom of this blog post:
http://danniellesartyparty.blogspot....s-dyefest.html)
I use polymailers with bubble wrap (usually recycled). I save all the packing peanuts and bubble wrap that comes into the house so I rarely have to buy any. Bubble mailers are mighty expensive. But they're more readily available than polymailers.

Dannielle · 09-05-2007, 07:17 PM

If you were less than sane, you could make adorable little pillow-puff boxes out of cardstock

http://www.botanicalpaperworks.com/p..._pillowbox.pdf

Sandi · 09-05-2007, 07:19 PM

Ooooh, that's cute!

But, see, in order to do that I need a logo. And, I suppose for a logo, one might need a name as well!