Coat hook commision.

[muttley9050]

Couple of pics of a coat hook I was commisioned to make. Oak burr around 1150mm long and six wrought hooks. Think I undersold it though. What do you guys think its worth. Oak is 2" thick.

[Gray git]

Nice, how much if you don't mind sharing?

[Ian Leach]

I've just done 2 out of lime but there fitting the hooks so would be interested in rough costs too.

If you don't mind can you pm me what you charged .

 

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[muttley9050]

Ok, met the lady at a market I was doing where she saw a much smaller burr oak with 3 hooks I was selling. 25mm thick 600mm long. This was advertised at £40. She wanted twice as long and " as rustic as possible" she said she didn't want to pay more than £60. I emailed her some pics of some wood she could have for that money and that bit she could have for bit more. More than 4x as much wood as the one she had seen. Anyway we settled on £80.

I was happy with that. The hooks cost me £2 each and I only paid £6 for wood at auction. So expenses around £20 with oil, sand paper etc. And 2.5 hours work ish.

The reason I asked what you thought was because I'm questioning I could make another for the same money. So what would that lump of oak cost if I were to go buy it from a shop? I have quite a few bits like this I got from auction, should I charge more, although £80 sounds a lot for a coat hook, its not any old lump of oak.

[difflock]

Lovely wood like that deserved better (i.e. blacksmith made) ironwork.

imhpo

[Gray git]

I'd 2nd what difflock said, get some handmade hooks as individual as possible and sell for more, get it infront of the right customers and they will sell no problem.

[muttley9050]

I couldn't agree more, problem is getting customers to pay for it. Forged hooks are costing around £10 each. So overheads for that piece go up to £80. Meaning I'd have to charge £140 for a coat hook, More ideally. Might be the odd customer who would pay that at market, but most wouldn't. Lately I've been trying to make stuff I can sell cheap to appeal to all, not just the rich few. I guess there's more money trying to tap the richer side, but how. The last market I did was Buckingham artisan food and craft market. A very rich area. But no one willing to pay silly money. But how/where do you best tap the rich?

[slackbladder]

Hi Muttley

I agree it's getting harder to sell stuff nowadays

Getting charged around £150 for a stall and then struggling to get the right price

The mirror I made the other week wouldn't even sell for £60

I am getting talked into doing commissions for less and less money just to keep ticking over

[difflock]

Know anyone involved with Prison workshops?

For "bespoke" ironwork.

jat

M

[Gray git]

Try putting a few into a local gallery on a sale or return agreement, tell them what you want back for the pieces and it's up to them what Mark up they put on it but make sure ever piece has a 'maker's card' on it so the clever people can come direct to you and bypass the commission

Works for my stuff anyhow.