mac davis wrote:
On Fri, 02 Dec 2005 19:33:49 -0500, "J. Clarke"
wrote:


The hard part is establishing your product as something that people want to
buy for the price you need to charge in order to make the income you want.
In all honesty I'm not sure how to go about that--you really need to find
someone who understands marketing like you understand turning.

Right on the "money"!

Very few folks have both creative and business talent...

But not all need it. I sell my work, but have a full time day job. I
turn when I feel like it, what I feel like making. I probably gross
about $2000-$2500 a year which paid for my tools, fishing gear, and
other toys. If I got serious I could probably do an awful lot better
than that, but as it is I can still enjoy turning w/o any pressure.

I'm in a rather unique position however. I sell at a local gift shop,
mostly to tourists in the summer, but they're open all year too. I've
worked out with the lady that owns the shop that I can bring stuff in
when I get to it, and she gets to pay me when she gets to it. Works
quite well actually. Since I'm buying toys, not paying bills, it isn't
an issue to not get paid w/in 30 days. (I don't charge interest on
invoices over 30 days.)

It also means I can go fishing instead of turning if I want. Pulled in
a 68 lb. halibut this year, as well as salmon and king crab - I'd have
to sell an *awful* lot of bowls to match what I'd have to pay in the
store for that!

I try to keep the shelves stocked so she doesn't get too depleted.
Probably my best seller is potpourri dishes and salad bowls. (samples
on my web site). Also do pretty good with natural edge bowls and weed
pots. Problem with the weed pots is people like the bark on them, so
they dry in the round which causes a lot of them to crack. Some survive
though and they're a pretty quick turn.

Guess the long and short of it is I'm just spoiled! Eat your hearts out
boys. g

S'later...

....Kevin
--
Kevin Miller
http://www.alaska.net/~atftb
Juneau, Alaska
Registered Linux User No: 307357