charging for hand embroidery?

Posted by angelsinarchitecture on July 9, 2005, 10:21 pm

hi everybody,

I make belts & similar accessories to sell. Now one of my customers has
just enquired about my doing custom hand embroidery for him on an item (what
he has in mind is rather extensive). Though I do embroider, I've never done
it for a customer before, how would I go about pricing something like that?

your thoughts would be very welcome!

Rae

Posted by Karen C - California on July 10, 2005, 2:45 am

angelsinarchitecture wrote:

show/hide quoted text

I'd start by telling him "if you have to ask, you can't afford it"

--
Karen C - California

Finished 6/28/05 - Painted Bunting pillow (Bucilla)

WIP: 50th Anniversary sampler for my parents

LTR: Fireman's Prayer (#2), Amid Amish Life, Angel of Autumn,
Calif Sampler, Holiday Snowglobe

Paralegal - Writer - Editor - Researcher
http://hometown.aol.com/kmc528/KMC.html

blogging at http://journals.aol.com/kmc528/Lifeasweknowit/

Posted by F.James Cripwell on July 10, 2005, 6:49 am

"angelsinarchitecture" (angels@verizon.net) writes:
show/hide quoted text

This subject has come up many times on rctn. Trying to summarize
some of the ideas, here are a few. Make sure you have an agreed price
*before* you do *anything*. The chances are that a price that is
agreeable to your customer will work out to be something like a tenth of
minimum wage. If you enjoy needlework enough, you might be satisfied with
this; i.e. you write off what your time is really worth against the
enjoyment of doing the embroidery. Dont expect to get rich quick.

--
Jim Cripwell.
From Canada. Land of the Key Bird.
This creature of doom flies over the frozen tundra in winter,
shrieking its dreaded call; "Key, Key, Key, Key rist but it's cold!!"

Posted by Dianne Lewandowski on July 10, 2005, 9:22 am

angelsinarchitecture wrote:
show/hide quoted text

You must decide between what you think it is worth and what a customer
is willing to pay. I used to do extensive embroidery for christening
gowns and simply couldn't get paid for what my time was worth. However,
I was able to supplement my income, I enjoyed the process, my materials
were covered with a very decent profit margin if you don't count wages
(the time it took to embroider).

Dianne
--
"The Journal of Needlework" - The E-zine for All Needleworkers
http://journal.heritageshoppe.com

Posted by Gary V. Deutschmann, Sr. on July 11, 2005, 11:43 am

Hi Rae

It's impossible to get what hand embroidery is worth! So the next best thing
is to get what would you settle for?

If I calculated the time, materials and preliminary work that went into my
WIP, "The Old Mill at Pigeon Forge", by the time it's finished, it's value
at only double minimum wage would be over $30,000.00, a price no one would
ever pay for a piece.

Even at 1/2 of the minimum wage, it would be worth over 6 grand, which is
still more than anyone would pay.

And don't forget, whatever you take in as hobby income, our dear Uncle Sam
still want's around 26% of it!

TTUL
Gary

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