AWA was a terrible event for most artist (and attendees) from what I've seen. I'm sorry it wasn't better for you. I think finding your "perfect" prices is a lot of trial and error, but don't give up! Once I figured out my ideal prices for keychains, I started moving them so much better and getting better interactions overall.
Thank you so much for the advice! Hopefully AWA fixes their problems for this Year. And yea, I'm trying to work on a good price that works for everyone that comes to my table.
Small business owner here, I appreciate your honesty. I agree with you to generate more sales, your prices are valid but yes, create different levels of priced products high$$$, medium$$ and low$. Small take away pieces so more individuals that admire your work can at least walk away with something small. Also remember cons attract a young audience, a young audience that doesn’t have much spending power compared to middle aged, more established adults.
I think there is a reason that many clay artists on etsy and at conventions hyperfocus on miniature figures and jewelry, because the audience for that is much less niche and it is far more affordable to the average con goer who is probably a broke college student yknow? But then there's also far less "diminishing returns" because you can still charge noticeably more for handmade jewelry simply on the basis of it being handmade clay, and there's a higher profit margin there, because the expenses required to create it-- sometimes even including time and effort-- is far less than a large bowl or tray, but even with artisan prices it can still be within a price range people are willing to impulse buy for something they like. You want to reduce prices for your customer base as much as you can, right? So you want to streamline your process and cut down on material expenses, etc etc so that you can be competitive. Because you have to bare in mind-- I don't remotely know how certain wizards of crafting do it-- but at every convention there is going to be this booth that has a gorgeous, epoxy risen, light up electronic pokemon terrarium with a prism glass frame and every variant of mini eevees dancing inside, and they're selling it for just 80$. And that is the kind of thing you're up against when it comes to big ticket items, you're competing with some of the single most expensive things possible to buy at a convention and you have to think how stark a fight that is. But I totally get it, hand making a clay item, especially one that big, is incredibly time consuming and material intensive, and 100-300$ is to ensure that its worth the sheer amount of time it takes to make something like that. But sometimes you have to ask if something is worth the time it takes to make it, the sheer loss from every one that breaks or has an unfixable error-- on a market level, not quality wise. ( quality wise your clay is so pretty and shinier than any porcelain and very fun, I love the calcifer pan I want it in my kitchen-- ) But I think most people come to an artist alley at a con and they're young and broke and they really only have money for prints and keychains, maybe they're saving money for a rare figurine of hatsune miku, and they don't come intending to spend 250$ on one purchase at one booth for a decorative plate the way- say- a middle class enthusiast at an artisan craft fair is. But of course, artisan craft enthusiasts aren't into fandom the way an anime con goer is, they want original, and preferably prestigious work.
Thank you, exactly these are the things that I've been thinking about lately and I'm trying to change moving forward... Making smaller items and having a tiny little section on my table for bigger items... Thank you again for taking the time to write this!😊
AWA was a terrible event for most artist (and attendees) from what I've seen. I'm sorry it wasn't better for you. I think finding your "perfect" prices is a lot of trial and error, but don't give up! Once I figured out my ideal prices for keychains, I started moving them so much better and getting better interactions overall.
Thank you so much for the advice! Hopefully AWA fixes their problems for this Year. And yea, I'm trying to work on a good price that works for everyone that comes to my table.
Small business owner here, I appreciate your honesty. I agree with you to generate more sales, your prices are valid but yes, create different levels of priced products high$$$, medium$$ and low$. Small take away pieces so more individuals that admire your work can at least walk away with something small. Also remember cons attract a young audience, a young audience that doesn’t have much spending power compared to middle aged, more established adults.
Thanks, that's really smart and something I'm actively working on for this year!😊
I think there is a reason that many clay artists on etsy and at conventions hyperfocus on miniature figures and jewelry, because the audience for that is much less niche and it is far more affordable to the average con goer who is probably a broke college student yknow? But then there's also far less "diminishing returns" because you can still charge noticeably more for handmade jewelry simply on the basis of it being handmade clay, and there's a higher profit margin there, because the expenses required to create it-- sometimes even including time and effort-- is far less than a large bowl or tray, but even with artisan prices it can still be within a price range people are willing to impulse buy for something they like. You want to reduce prices for your customer base as much as you can, right? So you want to streamline your process and cut down on material expenses, etc etc so that you can be competitive.
Because you have to bare in mind-- I don't remotely know how certain wizards of crafting do it-- but at every convention there is going to be this booth that has a gorgeous, epoxy risen, light up electronic pokemon terrarium with a prism glass frame and every variant of mini eevees dancing inside, and they're selling it for just 80$. And that is the kind of thing you're up against when it comes to big ticket items, you're competing with some of the single most expensive things possible to buy at a convention and you have to think how stark a fight that is.
But I totally get it, hand making a clay item, especially one that big, is incredibly time consuming and material intensive, and 100-300$ is to ensure that its worth the sheer amount of time it takes to make something like that. But sometimes you have to ask if something is worth the time it takes to make it, the sheer loss from every one that breaks or has an unfixable error-- on a market level, not quality wise. ( quality wise your clay is so pretty and shinier than any porcelain and very fun, I love the calcifer pan I want it in my kitchen-- ) But I think most people come to an artist alley at a con and they're young and broke and they really only have money for prints and keychains, maybe they're saving money for a rare figurine of hatsune miku, and they don't come intending to spend 250$ on one purchase at one booth for a decorative plate the way- say- a middle class enthusiast at an artisan craft fair is. But of course, artisan craft enthusiasts aren't into fandom the way an anime con goer is, they want original, and preferably prestigious work.
Thank you, exactly these are the things that I've been thinking about lately and I'm trying to change moving forward... Making smaller items and having a tiny little section on my table for bigger items... Thank you again for taking the time to write this!😊