- You can’t get what you want mass produced
- You want something unique or limited
- You want a custom size/fit/style
- You want something of lasting quality
- You want an item that meets your ethical standards
These are all cool reasons! I make for myself for all of these reasons but sometimes, I just can’t be bothered learning a specific skill so I buy it handmade. Sometimes I just fall in love! Do your research, compare prices, look at all the options both mass produced and handmade. But if you come to a place where the thing you really want is a handmade item and you’ve found someone selling it – don’t whine about the price! I’m dying for a Spunkarella pettiflirt and I think they’re very reasonably priced for the work involved in making one. But even if I thought it was overpriced, that’s what it costs and I have no right to quibble. I could buy something that looks similar much cheaper but it’s the overall quality I want so I will wait. I haven’t bought one because I know I will never wear it often enough to justify spending on it right now. Maybe I’ll start wearing more circle skirts and it will be more of a need that a want. Don’t worry it’s on my wish list and I’ll buy one eventually.
The second you really take this sort of thing on as business there are even more cost to add in. I’m not going to go crazy listing them because I think that someone said it better! Have a read of this post, it starts with a complaint and then others chime in with why things cost what they do. It really is worth the read but here are some of the more salient points:
- You’re paying not just for time & materials, you’re paying for the persons skill and the investments they’ve made to become skilled.
- It is illegal to make and sell from commercial patterns, so patterns must either be drafted by the maker (or sometimes you can buy a sale license from indie pattern makers).
- Overheads like power, machine servicing/repairs, needles, insurance etc must be factored into the cost.
- Handmade sellers are both the wholesaler & retailer. Therefore, online fees or stall fees plus time taken to photograph and list products and advertising must be factored in. Oh and packaging and posting take time.
- To keep costs down, buying fabric or other items in bulk makes sense but this keeps money tied up in stock. Plus you need to store it.
- If you want a more accurate breakdown on all the steps, this post is great!
So perhaps you can see why handmade costs what it does! I don’t know of a handmade business where the owner is paying themselves a living wage. Not even minimum wage. I really understand that handmade prices may be out of your reach but please don’t think you are being ripped off! It’s quite disheartening when people are rude about pricing. I have friends that have put time into making products to sell, paid their market fees, packed the car, spent all day looking after their stalls only to hear complaints all day. I’m not saying you have to buy what’s on offer but please be nice about the price! Imagine if you went to work and had customers asking you to lower your hourly wage? So perhaps instead of asking ‘Am I getting ripped off?’ when you are buying handmade, start thinking about what it takes to bring that product to market.
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