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Outlets to sell my cards etc
AUTHOR: Karen Clynes
DATE: 14 Mar 01

Hi,
I hand paint cards prints and bookmarks with my own Celtic style designs. I am looking for outlets to sell my goods. If anyone has any ideas I would be most grateful.

Kind Regards,
Karen Clynes

Re: outlets to sell my cards etc
AUTHOR: Heather Martin
DATE: 15 Mar 01

Hi Karen,
A friend of mine has recently started selling her cards at her local "craft" shop. It sells all sorts of gifts e.g. jewellery, candles, pottery, glass etc. She sells them via the shop as 'sale or return'. The shop does take a part of the price. Because the shop sells Rennie Mackintosh style earrings and necklaces, she uses that type of stamp for her designs some of the time. Hope that gives you one idea in finding an outlet.

Good Luck,
Heather Martin

Re: Selling Cards
AUTHOR: Eveline P Scott
DATE: 11 Jun 01

Here are a few tips to get you started:

Think carefully about what you can offer and decide how long it will take you to create the cards and set a price before you go.

I had a bad experience when I received my first order. I was prepared to reduce my prices a little as I was going to get free advertising. The mark-up on cards to the shop owner can be 100% or more!

Do you make bulk orders or are the cards unique? My shop owner wanted multiple copies of my cards. I don't work this way - it became a chore not a pleasure.

Have some form of recognition on the card or cello bags so you can acquire more custom. If you have an Email I suggest make it a different one to personal use.

I don't sell to shops now. I sell mainly at craft fairs, PTAs and Fund Raisers or through word of mouth.

Eve - Happy Apple Cards

Re: outlets for handcrafted cards
AUTHOR: Eveline P Scott
DATE: 17 Jun 01

I tried my local post office that also sells unusual crafted goods. The lady told me that the mark-up on cards is as much as 100%. Please think carefully if you wish to adjust the price that you sell them for. Also make sure that your work will be displayed to the best advantage. It is a form of advertising so ensure it works for you.

Re: Want advice to set up a business
AUTHOR: Funky
DATE: 28 Sep 01

Before you decide your prices, you should total all of your expenses and compare that amount to the number of cards you made. Decide what's profitable to sell wholesale versus retail.

Selling to stores is great because they are willing to buy in large quantities whatever they are positive will sell. However it's possible that selling wholesale may not be profitable to you because of the high cost of materials plus all the time, effort, and love you've put into your creations.

Selling retail is also great because it allows you to mark up your prices 2 and 3 times whatever it actually cost you, however you're stuck with trying to make individual sales.

Another option is that you can try online booths and malls. I've heard many good responses from crafters on other message boards.

Re: FAO LISA - SELLING TO SHOPS
AUTHOR: Gill Pritchard
DATE: 24 Nov 01

It really annoys me when I make lovely cards, which I design and make myself, when the shops where I sell them to sometimes even TREBLE the price which I ask for!

Have you a friend who is either a hairdresser, teacher or nurse? I have found that these friends of mine really help me with selling direct to the public and they take a small commission from me or free cards for themselves. Word of mouth is one of the best recommendations of selling at a reasonable price.
Good luck,
Gill
P.S. Keep your eyes peeled for local craft fairs which are an excellent way of selling.

Christmas Fair
AUTHOR: Hilary
DATE: 4 Dec 01

As requested by some of you, I thought I would let you know how it went. This was my first ever retail experience with my stuff.

The Christmas fair was in the village hall in the village of my childhood. I knew loads of people there, most of whom I hadn't seen for years.

My mum had warned that in previous years people who had made soft toys, knitwear etc, had had bad response as 'people would rather buy raffle/tombola tickets, than buy quality items'. This turned out to be very true.

In 2 hours I took £48, less £5 for the stall. I actually thought I had only taken around £25, so was pleasantly surprised. I was surprised also that long-term family friends didn't buy a thing from me.

My stall looked very professional in comparison to the others, so maybe this put people off. I had specifically priced the Xmas cards lower, in a bid to generate business - most people preferring to spend £1.99 for 20 cards etc, however, I sold mostly non-Christmas stuff. The gift packages, decorated candles and candle votives (except for 1) did not sell at all - people did not even pick them up to see how much they were. They were all wrapped in cellophane and tied with curling ribbon.

Anyway, I am going to try to find another fair for this weekend in order to sell some more Xmas stock, otherwise they will all be sent to friends and family.

I had hope to generate some funds to spend on Xmas pressies, however, our hairdryer blew up at the weekend, then on Monday I got a parking ticket when taking my 6yr old to the Doctors (no parking facilities there and she has a hernia, so had to park close by). So that has taken care of all the money I took, and more.....

I think a craft fair would be better, so will seek out for next year.

Hilary

Re: Christmas Fair
AUTHOR: Katharine
DATE: 5 Dec 01

I had an interesting experience last week. On Wednesday it was our church Christmas Fair, I had promised baking for it, however on Monday we discovered all our hot water was leaking into the ground under the house, and my kitchen was emptied onto the dining table and adjacent floors, hence no baking! I turned my hand to some quick, cheap and effective Christmas cards, these I packaged and labelled at 75p each. This was just more than double the cost price, the system traditionally used for pricing baking here. The cards were much admired when I took them in, however not one sold from the stall. That is not the end of the story, when I showed them, still priced, to individual friends, they sold quickly, one buying 6. At that stage I was just showing off, and not necessarily trying to sell. I don't know what the moral of this story is, but I did find it interesting.

Good Luck to all who try to sell
Katharine

PS The water problem is now solved, I have my dining table back and some kitchen cupboards have had their best clean for years!

Re: How do I price cards?
AUTHOR: Pamela
DATE: 6 Mar 02

I sell to colleagues and they kept saying you are not charging enough but I don't want to charge any more and not sell them - I would rather keep them at a price and sell them on. I have now sort of compromised and sell for around £2.25 - £2.50 for a large square card which involved quite a lot of work and around £1.80 for a C6 card - which is still cheap for a handmade card compared to some which I have seen in the shops for about £4.00 to £5.00. What media are you using - is it embroidery, stamping, collage? Have a look around and compare your work to others and perhaps you can reach a compromise like I have.

Re: Prices (again)
AUTHOR: Eleanor
DATE: 7 Mar 02

I sell cards for charity and donate the whole amount of the proceeds. Occasionally I sell to friends etc and then use this money to replenish stocks.

For the charity cards I work out the exact cost of all the materials (as I do a lot the same this isn't as bad as it sounds) including the bags and any sticky labels and then double it. A few of the stitched cards with a lot of beads and work (based on paper pricking stencils) I add an extra 50p to 75p simply because these take so long, although usually I use these myself.

If you were to sell commercially you would have to double again to get anywhere near a true profit.

Hope this helps.
Eleanor

Re: Prices (again)
AUTHOR: Angie
DATE: 8 Mar 02

Hi, I have just sold about 120 cards in the last few months - to friends and work colleagues mainly. I normally charge about 2.50 but charge 3.50 for something a bit different. It feels a bit awkward charging friends but they are normally really happy with them especially if it something personal to them. I do make some small cards that are fairly simple and charge 1.00 for them but most people go for the 2.50 ones....and order more than one!!! At least 3 friends have asked for my book of samples to take into their work so they can't be too expensive.
Good luck!
Angie

Re: How do I price cards?
AUTHOR: Jo Mowat
DATE: 11 Mar 02

Andrea

I just started selling mine, C6 for £2.50 depending upon design and £3.50 for A5. They seem to be doing well at these prices. A comment I had recently was that they were different, so therefore worth the extra. Tip: to make maximum profit buy off cuts. Make sure you have scan or take a picture of each card and put the date on the picture. Put a copyright symbol on the back of your card with the year. I do this, however, I don't mind if someone wants to use my design as an inspiration. I never directly copy anyone else's designs, only use for inspiration and would expect the same respect from fellow card makers (if they're going to sell that is!)

Re: Pricing cards!
AUTHOR: Christine M
DATE: 27 Mar 02

Hi

Try to work out the actual cost (not counting your time) double it and then double it again. I have been doing this and find it seems fair to me and the purchasers; however - when I sell my cards at charity events I have found that they sell quicker if I offer them as: BUY TWO GET ONE FREE. This drastically cuts any profit but the cards sell quicker and I would rather sell them than take them home to sit in my craft room. I donate to charity and then use the remainder of my takings to replenish my stocks. I don't work as a business - just a hobby with two or three outlets per year.

Chris x

Re: Pricing cards!
AUTHOR: Carol Battell
DATE: 27 Mar 02

Hi Avril

All the shops I deal with put on 100% and some have to add VAT too, I sell at £1.20 so they generally retail at anything between £2.50 - £3.10. I used to do all Sale or Return but don't do it any longer, you end up with too much stock in shops. I still occasionally do Sale or Exchange though, so that if they buy a lot say for Mother's Day and they don't all sell I will exchange for general occasion cards.

Carol :)

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