How to work out your hourly rate

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How to work out your hourly rate
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Rob R

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 31902
Location: York

Posted: Wed Mar 14, 07 10:10 pm Post subject:
Good points from Justme - if you don't keep an eye on your overheads, you won't keep a roof over your head

sadierhanne

Joined: 14 Mar 2007
Posts: 10

Posted: Thu Mar 15, 07 1:29 am Post subject:

I think that it is incredibly hard to price goods - if i was paid the national minimum for all the hours i worked a week i'd be a millionaire as it is i haven't had a penny of salary in a year.

Your product is lovely, i like the labels - i have been thinking about going into selling craft items, need to approach it slowly - what do you dye the pink wool with?

I think for hand dyed, hand spun wool you should be looking at the cost of your materials inc costs then adding �5 an hours labour so if it took you half an hour to do a ball and �2 in materials charge �4.50 a ball - if that feels cheap then raise the price.

because it is a hand made item i think you can pretty much afford to charge for the exclusiveness of it - i'd make sure that you add a lot of info and explain the process that goes into making it - this way people can really see what they are paying for.

it all looks lovely - do you make your own labels?

xx

sneeuwklokje

Joined: 08 Mar 2006
Posts: 277

Posted: Thu Mar 15, 07 10:14 pm Post subject:

This is an interesting topic and I'm pleased you posted it. It's given me lots to think about too.

Something else that struck me as I was reading through the thread was that because of the colourways and so on that You put together, I think that makes your wools relatively unique? Almost like when an artist paints a picture - how much do you charge for an idea? For the finished product / concept? For your "signature" blend so to say, that would make your stuff instantly recognisable from all others? It's hard. Then again, something can be worth whatever someone is willing to pay for it. *looks for the headache smiley*

I don't know the answers to your question(s). I think at the very least, you are entitled to charge the minimum wage?

Good luck with it though! At least you are out there and doing it.

Stacey

Joined: 18 Jul 2005
Posts: 8380
Location: Kernow

Posted: Fri Mar 16, 07 9:02 am Post subject:

Yes I do my own labels on the computer. All my labels/flyers etc are done on my computer. I'm really fond of my logo as it's one of my sheep and if someone told me I needed to get rid of it I'd be really sad

They're dyed with acid dyes - I'd like to try using some natural dyes on the alpaca but the chemicals used make me very ill

I think it's a good idea about the signature blends - at the moment I'm just doing plain colours to see what they look like but I plan to do themed blends i.e summer collection etc.

I'm going to put some up on the site and see if there's any interest. I might go up to the farm where I bought the alpaca and see if she minds me taking some pics of them.

sally_in_wales
Downsizer Moderator

Joined: 06 Mar 2005
Posts: 20809
Location: sunny wales

Posted: Fri Mar 16, 07 10:23 am Post subject:

Stacey wrote:

I'd like to try using some natural dyes on the alpaca but the chemicals used make me very ill

Are you ok with urine, or alum and cream of tartar? Those are very simple to use and generally don't upset peoples systems (other than the smell from the urine)

Stacey

Joined: 18 Jul 2005
Posts: 8380
Location: Kernow

Posted: Fri Mar 16, 07 12:33 pm Post subject:

Can't use alum - in fact anything that even looks like it might have been near a heavy metal is out

I really don't want to use urine and I had patchy results with cream of tartare. Can't say I was overly delighted with the colours to be honest - I've never seen a naturally dyed yarn/wool that I've liked but it's a bit trendy at the moment and people ask me for it so I'd have a go for those reasons.

sally_in_wales
Downsizer Moderator

Joined: 06 Mar 2005
Posts: 20809
Location: sunny wales

Posted: Fri Mar 16, 07 12:43 pm Post subject:
what about the natural dyes that don't need a mordant, though colours can be a bit limited with them. You do get the brightest colours using mordants. But stick to what you know works for you, its not practical to do absolutley everything and if natural dyes don't do it for you, don't worry about it and stick to what you know you are good at

tahir

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 45674
Location: Essex

Posted: Fri Mar 16, 07 12:54 pm Post subject:
Walnut doesn't need a mordant does it?

Stacey

Joined: 18 Jul 2005
Posts: 8380
Location: Kernow

Posted: Fri Mar 16, 07 1:00 pm Post subject:

sally_in_wales wrote:

its not practical to do absolutley everything

Who are you and what have you done with sally?

Stacey

Joined: 18 Jul 2005
Posts: 8380
Location: Kernow

Posted: Fri Mar 16, 07 1:02 pm Post subject:

tahir wrote:

Walnut doesn't need a mordant does it?

Don't think so but then it'll probably just come out the same colour as naturally dark alpaca fleece. Bloody work - don't wanna sell fleece anyway - someone's just spent 2 hours telling me I should give it all up and go back to stand up

tahir

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 45674
Location: Essex

Posted: Fri Mar 16, 07 1:07 pm Post subject:

Stacey wrote:

Do whatever you feel best. I think you're extremely talented at this mullarkey. AFAIK making comedy pay isn't exactly easy either.

Last edited by tahir on Fri Mar 16, 07 1:22 pm; edited 1 time in total

sally_in_wales
Downsizer Moderator

Joined: 06 Mar 2005
Posts: 20809
Location: sunny wales

Posted: Fri Mar 16, 07 1:20 pm Post subject:

Stacey wrote:

sally_in_wales wrote:

its not practical to do absolutley everything

Who are you and what have you done with sally?

umm yes, I did feel I was being just a shade unlike myself when I wrote that

Stacey

Joined: 18 Jul 2005
Posts: 8380
Location: Kernow

Posted: Fri Mar 16, 07 1:23 pm Post subject:

tahir wrote:

Stacey wrote:

Do whatever you feel best. I think you're extremely talented at this mullarkey. AFAIK making comedy pay isn't exactly easy either.

Thanks - I think I'm just really tired.

Stacey

Joined: 18 Jul 2005
Posts: 8380
Location: Kernow

Posted: Fri Mar 16, 07 1:23 pm Post subject:

sally_in_wales wrote:

umm yes, I did feel I was being just a shade unlike myself when I wrote that

hedgewitch

Joined: 26 Nov 2005
Posts: 5834
Location: Daft wench GHQ

Posted: Fri Mar 16, 07 1:44 pm Post subject:

tahir wrote:

Stacey wrote:

Do whatever you feel best. I think you're extremely talented at this mullarkey. AFAIK making comedy pay isn't exactly easy either.

Well, Stacey, you do know what they say about this.... to (mis)quote the late Edmund Keane,

"Dying is easy, comedy is hard!"

I'll get me coat...

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