Reply by Bill

I think you will be hard pressed to buy some of those things here. For example, plain handmade pens usually cost $10-12 just for the materials, a large part of that being for the pen mechanisms. Even add in an hour of time for the woodworking, and you are looking at something around $20 wholesale. A similar costing for the key chains.

The Wholesale prices for the frames, mirrors, planters, and end tables are also under priced, as the wood alone would cost almost that much. That would leave nothing for someone’s time.

I can not speak about the carvings, but I am sure the costs of time would be more than the wholesale price. I do not mind building production runs of things, but I can not do it at those prices.

Good luck and maybe you will find someone that can provide these items locally.
That is why a lot of these items come from overseas. Many times here you can not even get the materials for what it costs to purchase the item at retail. And, the retailer is only paying as much as half the retail price for these items, including shipping from overseas to their establishment.

-- Bill, Turlock California, http://www.brookswoodworks.com