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Hopefully you will get answers from people who have successfully sold their cards. But your subject line is not as specific as it could be. If you can change it, try "how much do you charge for your cards" since that is what you really want to know.
I can tell you from reading similar posts over the years out here prices seem to range from $2.50-$5.00. A lot depends on the area you live in, how many layers and embellishments you use, and if the person asking to buy your cards really values the handmade quality you can provide or if they have the opinion that handmade should be cheaper than mass production. And they think they are "doing you a favor" by supporting "your little hobby".
It's easy to figure out the cost of supplies you use the tricky part seems to be charging for your time. Good Luck!
As a rule, I charge 3$ for a card and envelope. If I make multiples I give a bit of a break, it's easier to make several the same. Although boring haha. Say I sell a dozen all the same, instead of charging 36$, I would probably charge 30$
This is a constant question for people. Some of us seem to sell for a good amount and some cant get it.
Maybe what you want to do is back into this....ask how much they are thinking of spending and how many they want. Then you know a) How much you want to put into a card and b) If you want to do it at all.
Christmas is a hard one because the commercials sell those boxed sets which can go on sale in early -mid Dec. we have to compete with.
what size are the cards? ( are they all the same size?)
are they all assembly line stacks of the same thing?
or one of a kind?
did you use vintage materials that you cannot replace?
consider the cost of all the materials ( I package mine with a paper mailing envelope inside a clear bag envelope) I tend to do layers which means more adhesive.
generally to figure out what something should start being sold at you need to say I have X amount of material costs and X amounts of labor.
( did that card take you 2 hours to color the image?)
if you do not value your time people will not take you seriously with buying cards. so, don't under sell your self.
(it does not matter that you enjoy the process of creating them that is like the cream in your coffee, a side benefit, not a reason to give them away to people who want to buy)
I am jjust trying to get a idea on how people are selling cards whether it is by the card or a set of 5, or 10? I have been selling cards at work at 3.50 a card and some have asked for a box set and I enjoy crafting them but dont want to give them away either.
I've sold them at $3 with envelope, and always am asked to make them each year, but I figured the cost of the supplies (patterned paper pads) would be more than the actual earnings from the cards I sell.
ah, I tend to make one of a kind cards so, people who buy mine are buying ones for "special" people is what they tell me at the booth.
I have a few times "tried" to do "sets" with like 4 cards the same inside, they did not sell that way. ( even with fancy packaging that matched the cards) so, once I took them out of the fancy box and priced them individually they did sell. ( all to different people) :mrgreen:
The cards I sell are in my gallery. I sell them (via donation) to 3 different churches. I used to supply 2 swim teams for fund raisers. I always felt that was easy money!
I don't know if this helps, but I asked a similar question on here a couple of years back when I was asked to make wedding stationery. I asked how those that did this sort of thing worked out a fair price. The reply I got back- and I'm sorry but I cannot remember who from, but it was great advice, so thank you so much- was:
Total up the cost of all your supplies. Everything, including things like glue/tape runner/etc. Over estimate rather than under.
Then multiply that figure by 4.
That is: a quarter for supplies, a quarter to cover costs- printer ink/electric/heating and so on.A quarter for your time, and a quarter for you.
That equation works really well. You make sure all your costs are covered, and make some profit.
Totally agree with everything JBGreendawn says. It may be a hobby, you may enjoy it, but don't sell yourself short. Your time is a valuable thing,don't work for nothing. After all, if you had a friend who liked tinkering with cars, would you expect him to fix your car for free- parts and labour provided by him? Of course you wouldn't, and we shouldn't view ourselves any differently.
Shaz has a good formula...but it works only for cards that are quick to make, or that you can mass-produce.
For example. Let's say that you are making a moderately complex card that has 1/2 sheet of Neenah 120 pound, you use 2 quarter-sheets of color and 2 6x6 sheets of patterned paper and use dimensionals, ink, sequins, wink of stella pen, and a piece of ribbon. The paper costs around 55 cents altogether and the others would generously add up to, say, 35 cents. That's 90 cents.
For the sake of easy math, let's say materials are $1.00. Multiply by 4. You would sell that for $4.00. That price is a little low for that kind of moderately complex card with all those supplies. So think of the $3.00 you make as "profit" on that card. Did it take you 20 minutes to make? That would be $9.00 per hour. Or did it take you an hour and a half? That would be $2.00 per hour. Big difference.
To be honest, I haven't seen anyone willing to pay the true value of a one-of-a-kind card at even minimum wage. I don't even try to sell them anymore. My time is worth more to me than one or two dollars an hour. However, that doesn't apply to what I make and donate.
Completely agree with you Fionna. It's great for what I wanted it for- a large number of pieces of wedding stationery, Or, as you say, a quick batch make. But you are spot on, no-one wants to pay what you'd need to charge to actually make this hobby pay.
cost of a card
