Selling Your Wares   
Tip from the Editors of Scroll Saw Workshop

July, 2004

How to price:
Pricing your work is always difficult to master. Things that sell well in one location may not sell well in another. When you are pricing your work, keep a few important things in mind.

Do you want to fund your hobby or do you wish to have a supplemental income? If you are funding your hobby, you will not need as large a return on your work, but don't sell yourself short. Try to price your work to reflect the time and effort you put into it. If you wish to supplement your income, you have to consider the overhead that is involved in the process. How much time did it take to make the pattern? How much time did it take to do the cutting? How much did you spend on materials, from the blades and the wood to the glue and the frames? If it takes you two hours to design and an hour and a half to cut, you need to determine what your worth is for the time you have taken to cut and design.

Where to go

Craft fairs are a very good source for sales. Take plenty of business cards and hand them out for future orders. Word of mouth is also a great boost for your work. Try making a portrait of an animal and donating it to a local veterinarian hospital or try making a portrait to donate to your local church, club or organization. Once people see your work, they will inquire about it and possibly want to purchase it. The price of the portrait you donated will more than pay for itself in future sales.