Dissappointed

[JoeCool]

I have been scolling for about ten years now and have enjoyed the hobby even more since my retirement in '02. For the past couple years I have been trying to share my works with friends and family but there's just so much they will take on to display or "regift". I have also gone to small local craft shows and even tried a local craft store where you rent a space. My experince has been so disheartening. There seems to be such limited interest locally here in SE PA in this art/craft. I cannot price things low enough to sell. I get so many wonderful compliments but that's it. I am not cutting to sell but I want to share the works and make room for others. I expect when I die the family will use the remaining pieces for the cremation fire!
Yesterday I was invited to show and sell at a local Old Time Tractors Club event here locally...so, I made two sets of antique tractor cuttings and several small toys and ornaments with the tractor theme. Lotsa lookers and admirers but NO sale. I geve a few away to the club for there display or use in some way and packed up to come home again.
Is my experince the rule or the exception to the rule?
Do I keep on cutting or quit the hobby for fear of running outa storage space.
Just give my stuff away to whomever will take it........what?
Sorry to rant. This is NOT like me BUT..........!
Frustrated in my shop!

[Steviegwood]

Hi Joe, with shows, I have found that it is a hit and miss. The type of show will make a difference also. I will not put my cuttings in with yard sale items at any event as people expect yard sale prices. Right now the economy has people scared also. I have three shows back to back starting the end of Sept. and expect to do well, we'll see. If you would show us some photos of your cuttings and tell us what you sell them for. I am sure there are more experienced folks here that can give you better advice. Don't give up on it yet. Steve

[wood-n-things]

Joe,
Don't give up...I had the same experience for a while and then I found selling online. I built a website and after a few months I had more business than i could handle. I'm not kidding.

Recently I had a life changing thing come up and i had an awakening of sorts and found a new lease on life.
I still wanted to do scrolling but not as a business per/se. I now am making and donating to local churches, senior centers, womens shelters for the abused, waiting room at the oncology center, puzzles of all styles. It warms my heart every time I leave a couple for the folks that need some fun. Their smiles are all I need.

You may find your niche' this way, I found after a while on my website and online auctions I was taking custom orders and was making a bunch of things others wanted but I really had no interest in. Oh sure i was making sales but I was back working for someone else, and it was more like a job, and I been there and done that already. I want to remain retired and have fun at my hobby, not be required to make 10 jewelry displays, and 5 Elvis Pictures. I'm rambling now but I think you get my drift.

Find what you really enjoy making and you will be inspired who to donate to, I don't know if you have a church, if you do, they can always use donations for members of the congregation.
The local chamber of commerce needs items for silent auctions.

Let us know how it comes out...

[Jediscroller]

As Steve and Mike said, don't give up. It takes time to build a following, find the right shows and find out what sells in different areas. One thing I would NEVER do is lower my prices. If I have pieces that aren't selling, I raise (yes, raise) the prices. This attracts a different clientele and you'd be surprised at the difference. I would think around Philly and such there must be some good shows you could find. Don't discount NJ either, there's a couple of very good shows in the Camden area from what I understand as well.

[JoeCool]

Wow. These ideas and support are just great. I am not into scrolling for $$$$$$$$$ or asa business venture, I am retired and ENJOY the hobby and my retirememnt time too. Special orders would take the joy from my hobby BUT donating to some organizations would be right up my alley. My family bugs me what to do with all these items and I try to move 'em on but it has not happened to any appreciable degree.
I would ask wood-n-things how to find organizations as you described?
Here are some of my pieces foo you to see and determine if they're actually of any value/quality.

Picasa Web Albums - Joe - JoeScroller's...
Picasa Web Albums - Joe - JoeScrollers ...
Thanks again,
Joe

[Ramjet]

There is a forum drive for gifts for US troops overseas at Xmas . You might give that some consideration .

Roger

[Gill]

Originally Posted by Jediscroller

One thing I would NEVER do is lower my prices. If I have pieces that aren't selling, I raise (yes, raise) the prices.

It reminds me of a story about someone who had bought a new fridge and wanted to get rid of the old one, which was still in good working order. He put the fridge at the end of the drive outside his house with a sign, "Good Working Order - Free To A Good Home".

A week later the fridge was still there, so he replaced the sign with another which read, "For Sale - Enquire Within". The fridge vanished overnight .

Scrollers have a distinct tendency to undervalue their work. I agree with Kevin that you should raise your prices and give your work a greater cache. It is surprising how many people only appreciate expensive products and ignore identical products being sold more cheaply. If your pieces are still unsold, at least you will be no worse off than you are now.

[wood-n-things]

Joe,
I recently am a cancer survivor so i started by giving some puzzles to the local oncology waiting/reception room. I noticed kids waiting with their parents or grand parents and they had nothing to do while waiting. i asked and was given approval. they are a big hit.
Call your local hospital and ask if they have a hospice house, a place where cancer patients or other patients spend the night or some times the week while they get treatment. They need things for their day use areas.

Contact churches and ask if they have a need.
Contact the local crisis center and ask about the shelters for abused women, they invariably have children with them and can use puzzles.

Project Rudolph needs ornaments...Project Rudolph 2009!!!

That should get you started....If I can help any more give me a shout!

Your local Moose lodge and Lions clubs and elks clubs do things for the "needy" as well.

[wood-n-things]

Joe,
You have a large array of items and you do some very nice work. Thanks for the tour.

I especially like your sense of humor...
http://picasaweb.google.com/joescrol...67131528111906

[KtownScroller]

Hi Joe!

I guess we are neighbors. I live in Kutztown. Was that Old Time Tractors Club event held in Kutztown? If so that's right down from Kutztown University. Not far from where I live.

So you have been cranking out scroll saw projects for the past 10 years. I would think you made a lot of stuff by now, meaning that your family and friends are knee deep in scroll saw artistry!

Speaking from experience having grown up with a father who knocked out project after project I have an idea what you can do with your stuff. First of all his work was found all over the house. Everywhere you looked Dad had something hanging or sitting on table. Dad also gave away a heck of a lot of stuff. He made things for friends as a special gift and they for the most part appreciated it. He gave stuff to me, my brother and sister. We all have his work hanging somewhere on the wall. Once all those outlets were exhausted, Dad joined the Guild of Craftsman and sold his items at their high end shows. He always made enough money to pay for the wood for the next project. Once that period passed and Dad got a little older he started working a mall show or two each year. He never made much money, but just enough to keep his hobby going.

Now I have one year in under my belt making scroll saw projects and sometimes wonder what I am going to do with all my stuff. I guess I'm kind of selfish in that I have a hard time parting with my work. I have given an item or two away and I sold one or two things unexpectedly. I think once I get tired of looking at some of my animal puzzles that I will give them away to the kids that live near me. If they break the puzzles, so what. Then I have a reason to make another!

Since we don't have any pictures to review (WE NEED PICTURES!!!) we have no idea what you make. Without knowing what you do, may I suggest that you start working on more complicated projects, like a fancy clock or a cool looking cabinet/shelf. You get the idea. These projects will take longer to create and will be more salable down the road.

As for the items you can't seem to sell, I would donate them to a worthy cause or give them away to someone who has very little. You may be surprised how a small gift would be cherished by someone who doesn't have much or who might be old and forgotten.

OK I almost forgot. I can't speak for anywhere else, but people around here are cheap! They want everything for nothing. Sometimes I think they want you to pay them to take your stuff away. I'm not kidding!!! Don't let that discourage you. Keep on trying. I have been to a few craft shows recently and I see a lot of good looking stuff that no one is buying. I think people are looking for something unique, special and precious. Your craft items need to reflect that if you want to sell.

Before scroll sawing came along I made unique whirligigs. Everyone wanted me to make one for them. Only one problem... they barely wanted to pay me for the cost of the wood and paint. Did I say people are cheap around here. (Actually this is a product of cheap junk found at Wal-Mart courtesy of China). So I made whirligigs for myself and a friend or two and that was it. No big deal.

I suppose it all sums up this way. Make things that you enjoy making. Don't expect to be able to pass everything you make along to family and friends. Don't expect to get rich selling crafts. You have a lot of competition! Have fun and don't worry about getting rid of everything you make. I hate to say this, but once you pass on your relatives might just cherish something you made for them more than they do now. Do meaningful projects and hit the higher end shows. Poor people expect to pay low and rich people expect to pay high. Who would you rather sell to?

Hope I helped. Good luck and cheer up!