Proving The Value Of Handmade

[togan]

I was reminiscing about some of my first real exposure to "customers" when I first started making 'higher quality' pieces in high school. I was at an art festival and my aunt was helping me out.

It was actually one of the worst experiences I've had with the public. A number of "interested" ladies came by the booth and were super quick to dismiss my pieces. Not because they didn't like the designs...they just wanted me to sell for 5 bucks. Literally.

One lady said that if it's "handmade" it's 'crap' she could do herself, she just didn't have the time.

Another said that because it's handmade and NOT mass-produced...it's not worth much.

My aunt had a 'disagreement' with another lady saying it wasn't 'art'.

The whole 9 hours went that way....lots of visitors...and lots of "it's not worth anything".



(Years later, I've experienced plenty of events that were much more positive and successful even.)



Currently, we have a small business event here that focuses on handmade/artisan things. The interesting part of it, is that beyond food...most of the vendors are members of pyramid schemes. Avon, Mary Kay....and as it pertains to jewelry...Poparazzi. When I was walking through and seeing the massive line up they had compared to the handful of actual artisans of jewelry...it made me think of the above...it made me a little sad I guess. I could see the disappointment on the vendors' faces having to compete with literal 5$ jewelry at an even that's supposed to be for artisans. They even had stunning displays. But the bulk of the crowd, despite it being an "artisan" event, wanted quantity over quality.

This just got me thinking...even though handmade is mainstream...sometimes it seems like it's a challenge to prove the value of it to people especially when they want to 'stretch' their dollar to get more. (Unless you have massive branding appeal...people will give up their first born for some brands).

[michelle]

I have thought that it really takes other makers to appreciate handmade. Back when I was deep into quilting, it was other quilters who really appreciated the time and effort that went into creating quilts. I heard an awful story from one lady who had made a quilt for a relative as a gift. A few months later when she visited those relatives she found that her quilt had been used to make a dog bed in the barn. 🙄🙄🙄 All of those hours of work and no appreciation for her effort.

[caeterle]

Don't we all know about that. It's one reason - there are more practical ones - why I can't imagine selling at a show or festival. I know several vendors who gave up on it because it was too frustrating and not really worth their time.

Of course you get those reactions online as well sometimes, but maybe it's easier to deal with them because you don't see the people's faces. I still remember one customer sending me an email telling me the rock (it was an interesting tumbled rock and there were about ten pictures of it in my shop, so I'm not sure what she had expected, also it was obviously priced accordlingly) was "as ugly as mud" and that she "would like to send me a beautiful stone to show me what God could do". I offered to take the pendant back, but that she didn't want because it was beautiful craftsmanship. I politely declined the offer of her sending me a stone. It was so weird.
Then there was the lady who told me her three year old niece could make that, so I should go down with the price and would she get a 50% discount if she bought a second one?

It is sad, for artisans and for artists, no matter what their line is. And it's sad that those kind of people don't just seem to not understand the difference between handmade and mass produced, there are also those who think it's okay to put those artisans and artists down, sometimes just to their own advantage by saving a few bucks.
What makes me even sadder, though, is when I see artisans doing this to one another, and I've seen it more than once and have discussed it with artisans friends as well.
The other day a lady who generously spends money on supplies asked me to reduce the price for a new pair of earrings by $2.50. Honestly?

I don't know if there is even a way to change that in a world of slogans like "Geiz ist geil" (being stingy is cool - the slogan of a German electronics store chain).

On the other hand there are people who let you know how much someone loved their new piece of jewelry or those positive events you have mentioned.

It reminds me of the story that is going around every, now and then. I don't know if it really happened, and it doesn't matter.

It's about the lady who told a jewelry artisan that her prices were too high, so the artisan asked her how much she thought it should cost. The lady said, there's the wire, there's the tools, so and so much. So the artisan sent her the wire, the tools, the stones and told her that was what she had paid for, but not the time she needed to learn how to make things, the time it took to make things, etc.

[michelle]

That’s a great story, Cat! I hope it’s true!

[togan]

Happy Friday!

I agree with Michelle, that is a great story Cat. First I'm hearing of it but it's almost like an artisans proverb! lol

Since we're discussing support of handmade...

Have you guys heard of the Handmade Artists website/store? Looking at their forum, they seem to have been around a long time. I think this guy's goal was to build a platform to compete with Etsy but stick to the ethos of supporting only truly handmade crafts. I support his movement, but being in IT...there are some things about his site's functionality that drive me nuts (though he's working on it).
Etsy has him beat there (but then they're a big corporation).

Since I was working on product listings for my shop yesterday after work, I tried his out. Definitely some quirks. lol I can't get over them. But I thought the lack of fees and such were a nice gesture. It's 5 bucks a month or 50 a year. It "feels" like it's quicker to list items than when I'm going through with all the details on Etsy. Especially since the product descriptions seem to have a limit on how long they can be (one of the quirks).

Again I love his mission, but I think his platform needs a bit more polishing to make it more trustworthy? I mean that's Etsy's big advantage besides catering to younger generations...they have brand integrity and people trust the platform.

[DawninCal]

I don't think that people can truly appreciate the time that goes into truly handmade items unless they've actually tried to make handmade things themselves. Using jewelry as an example, they think that it's just a matter of slapping some beads on a string and you're done.

Using my summer challenge piece as another example, I've lost count of how many hours are in that necklace starting with harvesting the flowers and leaves to drying them to the very fiddly work of the final composition. Once dry, they are quite delicate and I had to use medical tweezers to set them where I wanted them before pouring resin. Then there was several layers of pouring resin, waiting for each layer to cure, drilling a hole and attaching the handmade bail, making the macrame cord and attaching the beads from the longer lengths of cord. There was also the time spent in planning the design and sourcing the materials. But people who don't do that sort of things themselves just can't see all that behind the scenes detail, therefore, they can't understand why handmade is so much more expensive than jewelry that is churned out one after another in a factory setting.

I've done only one show and after that I said "never again." One of the best encounters I had was being told there was no way my inventory was handmade because it was too perfect and that it was obviously commercially made stuff that I was trying to pass off as hand crafted. Plus, I realized that I didn't like people pawing through my things like barbarians.

Where I've found my work to be most appreciated and people willing to pay what it's worth is when I was consigning in art galleries. People who shop in galleries do so because they already get it, at least to some extent.

As far as other artists undercutting each other, I think part of that is that we (in general) are afraid to ask for what our work is worth and with that mindset it's not too much of a stretch to try to devalue the work of others when we ourselves are shopping. Like everyone else, artisans have also been conditioned by the Walmart, Amazon and Ebay mindset of cheap things in our hands right now. It's a very easy thing to fall into.

It's very disappointing to see how commercial products have taken over arts and crafts show as well. They used to be a haven for hand made and now they are just another example of how the public has been conditioned to expect that jewelry, candles, soaps or whatever be cheap. When they are not, they can't understand why so they denigrate it with their comments of how they could make the item themselves, it's crap, it's not worth as much as mass produced, etc.

It's a very disheartening situation. Etsy was orginally started as a place for hand made and hand crafted, but they've succumbed to mass produced as well. They don't even make a pretense of trying to keep it off of their site because it brings in a lot of revenue for them. Unfortunately, we've yet to see another handmade site take off like Etsy did. Many have tried, but none have succeeded. togan, I'll have to check out the site you've mentioned.

At this point, I'm happy if my sales cover the costs of my materials and tools. I love creating and that's why I do what I do. I accept that I'll never get rich or even generate a moderate income from this jewelry making journey, but that's not what it's about for me and I'm ok with that. Whether or not other people come to appreciate the time, effort and skill that goes into making hand made is something I've given up hoping will happen. Some do and those are the folks I hope to reach and every now and then I do.



Dawn

[caeterle]

I know Handmade Artists, but never tried it myself because I had several other spots to sell then. I know some fellow vendors tried it out, but I don't know that any of them is still there.

[michelle]

“I didn’t like people pawing through my things like barbarians.” Dawn, this line made me laugh. I haven’t done any vendor events yet. Like you, I just hope my hobby will pay for itself.

When I began selling, I lacked confidence. I was afraid to take artistic risks, because I felt the items wouldn’t sell. Etsy was a bust for me. And honestly, I think it was because I wasn’t taking artistic risks. Also, Etsy is so competitive. Lots of jewelry artists - not to mention the mass produced jewelry. Next, I went to Poshmark. Given that it began as clothes reselling platform, I knew I would be lucky to get wholesale prices, but again, just trying to cover the costs of my work. I did fairly well on there, which helped with my confidence.

During that time a clothing boutique opened near my condo. One day I stopped into look, and was told that all the jewelry was made by local artists. I whipped out my cell phone pics of my jewelry so fast.... LOL! The owner bought quite a few pieces and commissioned quite a few pieces. Sadly, she became ill and had to close her shop. I opened my own online shop. But the drag of trying to encourage people to visit it was just drudgery.

Then I started wire-weaving. And suddenly, I hit the point where I didn’t want the selling to affect my creativity in any way shape or form. I shut down all selling avenues. At some point I’ll probably try doing a vendor event or find other boutiques that might be interested.

[DawninCal]

LoL, Michele. It really did bug me - all those people who didn't care touching my work (some being quite rough) with their dirty, sticky hands - ugh!

I held back from selling for a very, very long time for the same reason that you have decided to stop selling. Once I decided I didn't really care if I didn't become a high volume seller, I was free to follow my own creative journey. If people like my creations, great! If they don't, no skin off my nose; I'm going to make what i want to make the way I want to make it. If people like it enough to buy it, that's a bonus.



Dawn

[cymmy]

This is a subject near and dear to my heart and I am continually battling with it. I think of myself as an artist first and foremost so 1. I have a hard time bending my mind towards making things that are commercially viable. 2. I really have a hard time parting ways with some of my pieces that I have put my heart and soul into. Wondering if they will care for them as much as I do, etc. I have MANY pieces that I refuse to put up for sale for this reason. I really struggle with selling at all. I realize that I NEED to but I don't want to. Part of me struggles with the whole idea of adding just more things to the huge pile of crap we surround ourselves with. The other part of me says it isn't crap, it is art. I am bringing beauty to the world and that is a good thing. It is an ongoing battle for sure. I think if I ever did a vending event it would be at a festival, I doubt I would ever do any of those markets. They are soul-crushing, mind-numbing events and the people who frequent them can often be quite vicious. I refuse to deal with Etsy anymore, though I had a shop on there for years. They have worked hard to lose the trust of their vendors. I now have my own website and do as I wish with it. No rules, no crazy fees. And who knows, someday you may find that I have went back to just blogging my WIP's and doing long intricate weeks-long projects like I really want to do.

[caeterle]

Aug 24, 2019 4:35:23 GMT -6 cymmy said:

Part of me struggles with the whole idea of adding just more things to the huge pile of crap we surround ourselves with. The other part of me says it isn't crap, it is art. I am bringing beauty to the world and that is a good thing.

You know I have been thinking about that, too.
Then again I told myself what would have happened if people had thought like that from the start? There would be nothing, no music (you need the instruments or the appliances to play it), no books, no paintings, no photos, no jewelry, no sculptures, no movies, etc. etc.
Do we need to be more aware of not amassing things? Sure. Is a lot of it just business? Sure. Who needs all those thrillers, who needs all those posters, who needs boy or girl bands - just randomly picking a few things that I thought of first
We are not the ones that throw masses of "crap" onto the market. Our "crap" is handmade and our heart is in it. Humans have the need to create in their own way, if they paint the Lady Agnew of Lochnaw or if they decorate their one bedroom flat.

I don't see my own work as art - we could get into that big discussion art vs. crafts now and why I don't think one of them is better - but I see it as valid. If others don't like it enough to buy it, that's frustrating, yes. Two members of this forum have heard me whine about that often enough and I apologize to them. It doesn't mean I don't deserve my tiny spot in the creative world, though.

[cymmy]

Aug 25, 2019 0:37:52 GMT -6 caeterle said:

Aug 24, 2019 4:35:23 GMT -6 cymmy said:

Part of me struggles with the whole idea of adding just more things to the huge pile of crap we surround ourselves with. The other part of me says it isn't crap, it is art. I am bringing beauty to the world and that is a good thing.

You know I have been thinking about that, too.
Then again I told myself what would have happened if people had thought like that from the start? There would be nothing, no music (you need the instruments or the appliances to play it), no books, no paintings, no photos, no jewelry, no sculptures, no movies, etc. etc.
Do we need to be more aware of not amassing things? Sure. Is a lot of it just business? Sure. Who needs all those thrillers, who needs all those posters, who needs boy or girl bands - just randomly picking a few things that I thought of first
We are not the ones that throw masses of "crap" onto the market. Our "crap" is handmade and our heart is in it. Humans have the need to create in their own way, if they paint the Lady Agnew of Lochnaw or if they decorate their one bedroom flat.

I don't see my own work as art - we could get into that big discussion art vs. crafts now and why I don't think one of them is better - but I see it as valid. If others don't like it enough to buy it, that's frustrating, yes. Two members of this forum have heard me whine about that often enough and I apologize to them. It doesn't mean I don't deserve my tiny spot in the creative world, though.

Amen on that Cat. I do have that part of me that is a naysayer but I don't give her too much floor time XD

[michelle]

The things we need to survive on a daily basis are not the same things that make life worth living. I tend to think of myself more as a maker than an artist - although I’m not sure where that line is drawn. Besides the people in my life, being able to create something is one of my biggest joys. And in that case, creating has already paid for itself.

[togan]

"The purpose of life is not to be happy. It is to be useful, to be honorable, to be compassionate, to have it make some difference that you have lived and lived well." -Ralph Waldo Emerson

I think having utility/usefulness in life is the real 'pursuit of happiness'. It's being there for family and friends, doing your best at your job, volunteering, donating, and creating. Being an artist/maker/creator/etc. is all about bringing beauty and perspective into the world for others to enjoy/interpret/be inspired by. If that's not being useful I don't know what is. There's a lot of ugliness in the world to combat (like rude bargain hunters at markets/fairs) but it doesn't matter as long as people like us keep being useful and sharing our creations with the world. Even if they don't buy them, as discouraging as it is, just having someone like or comment means you've served a purpose.

People who create amazing works that we idolize are doing so to give inspiration, not to make us feel inadequate (which is why we shouldn't compare ourselves all the time). They're showing us a mirror that has our potential in it. That's another thing that makes handmade so special. It's not a machine or assembly line mindlessly pumping out product....it's coming from a more thoughtful place and it carries with it the efforts of someone trying to improve their craft and themselves.

[michelle]

Just read this at jewelrymakingjournal.com:

“I tell the customer I love negotiating.

I then up the price of the item by an equal amount to the requested reduction.

The customer chuckles and either buys the item or, wanders off.

This lets the customer know that you know your value, and the item will be purchased by someone else at the listed price.

Often, people haggle as a form of entertainment, or to exercise their need for ‘power over’ another.

If I have a customer who buys a fair amount, I often reduce the price at the till.

I keep the option of ‘goodwill’ up to me, and the customer sees this as a surprise bonus.

There are customers who buy often, and at times I give them a reduced price, but only when I know I am can still be looking after myself and my business.”

Marilyn Cardinal