Shattered Jig or I Need Your Opinion
The spline cutting router table jig needed a slight adjustment. It went awry and now I get an opportunity to redesign the jig. The important part of the jig, the carriage which holds the box, was not damaged, so this set back wasn’t catastrophic.
I have always been a ‘bowl of noodles is half full’ sort of guy, and the jig, wasn’t the lest bit sexy. It was functional, but not as pretty as I might have liked. So tonight I will come up with something else.
The tiny box building is intriguing in that the education has been invaluable. Tonight for instance, before I exploded the jig, I cut a wenge lid to fit one of the hard maple boxes. It fits snugly. To get a tight fit, I sneak up on the proper cut, starting with the router table, then finishing by chiseling up to the line.
Then comes the sanding. 220, 320, 400, 600, 1500 are the grits I use. When done, the wood being sanded looks lovely and feels even better. The lid I cut tonight, has thus far, taken up about 2 hours of sanding. It looks pretty after about 15 minutes, but if one takes off the lid and looks at the underside, there are scratches, and I just can’t have that.
I have put a lot of effort into these tiny boxes and when they are done, I want them to be as close to perfect as possible. Philosophically there isn’t anything wrong with spending five or six hours sanding each tiny box, to get it where I want it to be. Where my brain starts to get a strangle hold on my psyche is the thought of selling them.
Several people have expressed interest in buying a tiny box. I hadn’t started building them to sell, but the further along I get, it does seems like I should let those who wish to buy them, have that chance. I am not planning on selling my first tiny walnut box however, even though Alexandra and Bob have been battling about who has claim to it. I am keeping it. A box or three will likely go to Mom and Dad. But when I get done with the dozen I am working on, I will have 14 boxes, and I suppose I could part with a couple of them.
The question then becomes the price. This is where my brain starts to hurt. There is a number, which I wouldn’t go below, because at that minimum price I would rather keep them. I sort of love the tiny boxes. I like seeing them sitting everywhere, keeping an eye on me, watching their brothers and sisters come to life.
It may not be widely know, but I have a degree in Economics. This herd of boxes represents a textbook example of economic theory. I could draw a graph, well maybe I couldn’t, college was a long time ago, but the point is this, at what point does supply equal demand.
In the picture, the box on top, with the splines is the only one which is nearly complete. (It can’t be seen, but there is still some sanding which needs to be done on the underside of the lid) Eventually they will all have splines, with the possible exception of the tiny walnut box.
So I would like to ask all of you folks a marketing research question. What should be the price for a hand made, tiny wooden box, with a sparkling personality? All of the boxes in question are both witty and charming. They have been made with a considerable amount of love.
I want everyone to be honest, so don’t feel like you will hurt my feelings by saying, “$1.37 plus shipping and handling.” Actually that would hurt a little, as I am sure they are worth at least a buck and a half. I should also state that Mom doesn’t need to leave an answer, as you are horribly biased, and you will be getting some for free.
All you folks who say they can get $40 to $100 for these little boxes, let me know where I can send you a bunch to sell for me. I batch-make these boxes and sell them for between $10 to $15. I have larger boxes that I sell for more, but the small ones like these go cheap.
- spam
- offensive
- disagree
- off topic
LikeWell see Don, there is the slight rub between being batch made, to those with a story & the time required. In some respects - it's all about the marketing and where you go. (Art show's & online are 2 places BTW)
- spam
- offensive
- disagree
- off topic
LikeDon,
I think people are giving a price, in part, because they have been following the story of the tiny boxes. Gordbot indicated he would pay more, because he knows me. So I think that is part of it.
- spam
- offensive
- disagree
- off topic
LikeI'm pretty frugal and try to limit my spending to needs. As such, I'd probably say $10. Then again, I'd probably spend $100 on the tools to make the same thing if I needed one. I think all this shows is that I'm probably not your target market. I do think yours are better than what I could make thoguh and it would probably take me hours to do it.
- spam
- offensive
- disagree
- off topic
LikeHokieMojo,
I can assure you, the satisfaction you would receive from spending the $100.00 would be far greater than buying one for $10.00. I think the most frugal move would be to spend the $100.00, as you could use the tools for other things too! :-)
- spam
- offensive
- disagree
- off topic
LikeYou have some smart friends brian. I agree with most of what has been said. Since you asked us to name a price, I would have to say that I would pay 25$ at an online store, and up to about 40$ if I knew the person making them (which I do) and the care/quality with which they are made.
I hope that isn't insulting, and helps a little. Also, if you decide to sell, let me know. I love, love, love little boxes.
- spam
- offensive
- disagree
- off topic
LikeBrian,
I, too, have a degree in Economics, but I have forgotten more than I ever learned. Except for "ceterus paribus" and a few other choice phrases, which are always handy to keep in your back pocket when you want to shut someone up.
I guess you could look at the price two ways:
1. What is the lowest price at which someone would buy it, and you would recoup your costs. Unless you're going to scale massively, my guess is that for two or three boxes, you might as well not do the math on this one.
2. What is the perceived value of these boxes, which are witty, charming and imbued with a sparkling personality? If people think they are getting something special, something one-of-a-kind, they'll pay more for it. "More" being, of course, a relative term.
Hold an auction and see what they go for. Or make it a contest of some sort among your readers and supporters, and donate the "winnings" to charity - maybe one that is environmental in nature, or plants trees, or something? It may not be a lot, but it will start to give you an idea of the perceived value, and you'll also be doing something good for wood. Without which you wouldn't have the tiny boxes.
See? I told you I don't know anything about Economics no more.
- spam
- offensive
- disagree
- off topic
LikeHi Brian, Why not do it auction style? As you finish a box, hold a silent auction for 24 hours. This would allow you to take some of your wonderful photos and celebrate each box on it's own. Only the market knows what an original Brian Meeks (signed and dated) tiny box is worth. That should keep the blog hopping for a while. :)
Later,
Doug in AZ.
- spam
- offensive
- disagree
- off topic
LikeThat is a tough question - I can see allot of people that would probably balk at paying $10 for one online, while you could easily fetch $35 - 40 at a typical art show
With that being said others would bypass your table if they saw that price, because they like not only buying higher price items, but ones were the artesian understands the value of his time - price willing to spend $249 & up.
If you truly want to sell them, I would look at creating an online sales gallery or as stated above, find a high-end arts show.
- spam
- offensive
- disagree
- off topic
LikeBrian, that is the hardest part of designing and making beautiful things such as this. After knowing what you put into them, and watching them come to life, I would think that in the proper atmosphere you would be able to get $35 to $40. I hope that doesn't sound insulting. I can see them sitting in a 'la-de-da' gallery for much more than that. Especially with the fine finish you describe.
Pricing is so difficult. That is part of the reason I am happy to sell my designs instead of the finished product. It is quite painful to see the limit of what others will spend on a hand crafted piece of work. People are so used to dollar store crap that many don't see the value of the care and time in making a true piece of art with a sparkling personality.
I am like you and would rather give things away to others who appreciate them then sell them for less than what they are worth. (Just think how demoralizing it is to the box itself, to be devalued!)
They are beautiful and a joy to see. :)
Sheila
- spam
- offensive
- disagree
- off topic
LikeI suggest giving the perfect ones to family members or close friends. They will have more value as a "piece of you", I think, than they will as a fine wooden box. A problem with getting a fair value is that most people have No Idea what is involved in making one...you would need to show them at an art fair (or something like that) to get appreciative customers. Make sure you save a few for yourself. However, if you name them, then you probably won't be able to sell them (and no one will want to buy one that's already been named...).
- spam
- offensive
- disagree
- off topic
LikeThanks, but I am not interested in going to that much trouble. I was just hoping to get an idea of what people would choose as a price. Then if it is above my minimum, I would sell a few, if not, I will keep them.
- spam
- offensive
- disagree
- off topic
LikeAll you folks who say they can get $40 to $100 for these little boxes, let me know where I can send you a bunch to sell for me. I batch-make these boxes and sell them for between $10 to $15. I have larger boxes that I sell for more, but the small ones like these go cheap.
- spam
- offensive
- disagree
- off topic
LikeWell see Don, there is the slight rub between being batch made, to those with a story & the time required. In some respects - it's all about the marketing and where you go. (Art show's & online are 2 places BTW)
- spam
- offensive
- disagree
- off topic
LikeDon,
I think people are giving a price, in part, because they have been following the story of the tiny boxes. Gordbot indicated he would pay more, because he knows me. So I think that is part of it.
- spam
- offensive
- disagree
- off topic
LikeYou could probably get $60-$75 for each box. If you had some type of inlay or stringing on just one face of the cube, you could probably get double that.
- spam
- offensive
- disagree
- off topic
LikeTorch02,
That is an interesting idea. I am really interested in learning inlays, and the one I did for my jig, really wet my appetite. Thanks for the idea!
- spam
- offensive
- disagree
- off topic
LikeTorch02,
That is an interesting idea. I am really interested in learning inlays, and the one I did for my jig, really wet my appetite. Thanks for the idea!
- spam
- offensive
- disagree
- off topic
LikeI'm pretty frugal and try to limit my spending to needs. As such, I'd probably say $10. Then again, I'd probably spend $100 on the tools to make the same thing if I needed one. I think all this shows is that I'm probably not your target market. I do think yours are better than what I could make thoguh and it would probably take me hours to do it.
- spam
- offensive
- disagree
- off topic
LikeHokieMojo,
I can assure you, the satisfaction you would receive from spending the $100.00 would be far greater than buying one for $10.00. I think the most frugal move would be to spend the $100.00, as you could use the tools for other things too! :-)
- spam
- offensive
- disagree
- off topic
LikeYou have some smart friends brian. I agree with most of what has been said. Since you asked us to name a price, I would have to say that I would pay 25$ at an online store, and up to about 40$ if I knew the person making them (which I do) and the care/quality with which they are made.
I hope that isn't insulting, and helps a little. Also, if you decide to sell, let me know. I love, love, love little boxes.
- spam
- offensive
- disagree
- off topic
LikeI would give them to you parents and very closest friends ONLY,noting that these are your first projects(I don't count jigs, etc as 'projects'). Keep the rest and go back to them periodically ( 6 mo. 1 yr etc) They will be a yardstick against which you can measure how much you have improved your skills and how much you have learned.
- spam
- offensive
- disagree
- off topic
LikeBrian,
I, too, have a degree in Economics, but I have forgotten more than I ever learned. Except for "ceterus paribus" and a few other choice phrases, which are always handy to keep in your back pocket when you want to shut someone up.
I guess you could look at the price two ways:
1. What is the lowest price at which someone would buy it, and you would recoup your costs. Unless you're going to scale massively, my guess is that for two or three boxes, you might as well not do the math on this one.
2. What is the perceived value of these boxes, which are witty, charming and imbued with a sparkling personality? If people think they are getting something special, something one-of-a-kind, they'll pay more for it. "More" being, of course, a relative term.
Hold an auction and see what they go for. Or make it a contest of some sort among your readers and supporters, and donate the "winnings" to charity - maybe one that is environmental in nature, or plants trees, or something? It may not be a lot, but it will start to give you an idea of the perceived value, and you'll also be doing something good for wood. Without which you wouldn't have the tiny boxes.
See? I told you I don't know anything about Economics no more.
- spam
- offensive
- disagree
- off topic
LikeHi Brian, Why not do it auction style? As you finish a box, hold a silent auction for 24 hours. This would allow you to take some of your wonderful photos and celebrate each box on it's own. Only the market knows what an original Brian Meeks (signed and dated) tiny box is worth. That should keep the blog hopping for a while. :)
Later,
Doug in AZ.
- spam
- offensive
- disagree
- off topic
LikeThat is a tough question - I can see allot of people that would probably balk at paying $10 for one online, while you could easily fetch $35 - 40 at a typical art show
With that being said others would bypass your table if they saw that price, because they like not only buying higher price items, but ones were the artesian understands the value of his time - price willing to spend $249 & up.
If you truly want to sell them, I would look at creating an online sales gallery or as stated above, find a high-end arts show.
- spam
- offensive
- disagree
- off topic
LikeBrian, that is the hardest part of designing and making beautiful things such as this. After knowing what you put into them, and watching them come to life, I would think that in the proper atmosphere you would be able to get $35 to $40. I hope that doesn't sound insulting. I can see them sitting in a 'la-de-da' gallery for much more than that. Especially with the fine finish you describe.
Pricing is so difficult. That is part of the reason I am happy to sell my designs instead of the finished product. It is quite painful to see the limit of what others will spend on a hand crafted piece of work. People are so used to dollar store crap that many don't see the value of the care and time in making a true piece of art with a sparkling personality.
I am like you and would rather give things away to others who appreciate them then sell them for less than what they are worth. (Just think how demoralizing it is to the box itself, to be devalued!)
They are beautiful and a joy to see. :)
Sheila
- spam
- offensive
- disagree
- off topic
LikeI suggest giving the perfect ones to family members or close friends. They will have more value as a "piece of you", I think, than they will as a fine wooden box. A problem with getting a fair value is that most people have No Idea what is involved in making one...you would need to show them at an art fair (or something like that) to get appreciative customers. Make sure you save a few for yourself. However, if you name them, then you probably won't be able to sell them (and no one will want to buy one that's already been named...).
- spam
- offensive
- disagree
- off topic
LikeThanks, but I am not interested in going to that much trouble. I was just hoping to get an idea of what people would choose as a price. Then if it is above my minimum, I would sell a few, if not, I will keep them.
- spam
- offensive
- disagree
- off topic
Like