Selling Your Work - Are Consignments Shops Worth It

Seems to me that if you’ve already got the items to sell, what can you lose? Just pay the $20, display your stuff and see how it goes! If you don’t have to staff the shop waiting for customers you’re heaps in front. I do a market every month here at Bribie Island, Australia and sit there from 7:30am to midday, some months are good but other times I don’t even make enough to cover my petrol costs, but it’s good to interact with people, and have your work on show. I say go for it…you can always quit after a couple of months if you don’t sell.

-- yesterday today was tomorrow

Michael has a few things to say about consignment in his most recent marketing blog that might be worth thinking about. Some useful points just to make sure everybody dtays happy with the arrangement.

-- I may have lost my marbles, but I still have my love of woodworking

Do it.

-- Every step of any project should be considered your masterpiece if you want the finished product to reflect the quality of your work. http://www.FineArtBoxes.com

I have thought about this. There are many stores in Raleigh, NC that do things like this. The only issue I see is having someone pay for what it is worth. For example I made a coffie table that cost about $600 in wood and supplies, $600 is a lot of money, my time is free but still worth something, the question is how much is my time worth…...

agallant – you have spoken words of wisdon. In scrollsawing this is so true. I just finished a Arts and Crats show. Total sales about $250. by the time you take out material and such and that I spent TWO MONTHS getting ready – I say I made about 0.38 cents per hour. Problem is, there do not seem to be many stores in North Texas, where I live, that do this. So it’s word of mouth, WEB Site or consignment. I’m still trying to sort all of this out.

I just love doing this type of work, execpt this morning where about a hour into a cutting I broke a piece.

-- Just learning the craft my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ practiced.

I would suggest talking to some of the other vendors that sell at the consignment shop. See what their opinion is of the sales. Are they making a profit from the store or are they just treading water? If you would do it, now is the time as the holidays are coming up and people will be looking for items.

The downside is that your products are treated like products on the shelf at WalMart. No one is there to sell the customer by explaining all the work, the type of wood, the way it is done and why you love to do what you do. All of these intangible things help motivate a customer to buy.

At the show I just did, I had a couple of previous customers come by and stayed for a while trying to find something they could purchase. They really wanted to buy something from me, because they like me and my products. With one of them, I designed an idea for them on the spot and they bought it. Now I have to make it but that’s part of the fun.

Give it a try in my opinion, but don’t expect it to go like wildfire. Go in with your eyes wide open.

Jim

-- Jim Beachler, Chief Puzzler, http://www.hollowwoodworks.com

My experiance with consignment shops is that sales are poor . I never paid to display my stuff though. The store just marked up my items and paid me 60% of sales price. I no longer bother.

-- In God We Trust

I think it is worth a try.
As you said with the shows – by the time you make it all, pay for the site, set it all up at the show, spend the day trying to sell the stuff you have and now you need to sell the stuff you haven’t sold some how.
I dont like the idea of shows etc because of all the drama involved. I would love to have a store here to put some of my stuff in. I have an outlet 3 hours drive away and have done pretty well out of it. They only take out 15% consignment fee once its sold and it can sit in the shop till sold. So its not a bad deal but as I said it is 3 hours away (little country town where my mum lives).
give it a go if nothing comes of it you really dont have anything to loose. also you dont need to stock up before you try to sell it, just drop something new in when you have completed it.

-- Theresa, https://sites.google.com/site/tmj65treasure/

I have some boxes and cutting boards on consignment in two galleries. One has been okay with sales. I like that I can leave my stuff there and be in the shop making instead of at a show. There are a lot of minuses to doing shows as Theresa stated. Since one gallery has a 40% commission, the selling price gets bumped up quite a bit over the show price. I discount my price to them because I am not paying a booth fee and spending my time at a show. I can be in the shop. This keeps the price more reasonable- to me at least. I do know the owner is motivated to sell things and likes my work The other gallery is a new artists’ co-op and the commission is 20% with a $30.00 a month fee and a commitment to work there 1 day a month. It is in a good location and has good sales. I will have to see how this one works. I have raised my prices for this place because the clientele spends money. I have tied up a lot of inventory in the two places, but now I can make more. for shows. I do like to interact with customers at a busy show. I get to talk about what I do and get nice feedback. And I make new wood contacts at almost every show. I hate to sit around at a slow show. I could be in the shop. It is all a learning experience for me.

-- Robert, so much inspiration here, and so little time!

I agree with Jim – consignment shops, the only person who makes any real money is the owner of the shop. And no interaction with people who may want something custom from you, so lost sales. Some consignment people will let you advertise your phone number, website, etc., on the shelf, that helps a little.
The gallery and artist’s shops are much better if you can get to one. Especially if you make friends with the person running the shop. Shows are still the best bet, although they chew up time. And gallery people will do a much better job promoting your stuff.
Another problem with consignment shops is I found most owners also have their own stuff in there, and it gets all the attention, the best spots, etc. A lot of the other stock is used as filler for the store, and a revenue generator for the shop owner. I stay away from them. Sorry….

-- Paul, Tennessee, http://www.tsunamiguitars.com

They are. You CAN sell through them and at least its a public place to showcase your work. A number of our tables are in these shops.

-- ~ eandscarpentryandwoodworking.com ~