hey every one i've been thinking about the price change in different locations
and would like to see what prices every one is getting for a 3 foot welcome
bear since im sure we all make them
i have 200 on mine and there moving slowly in northern lower peninsula of Michigan
please respond with the price of your 3 foot welcome bear and where you are
thank you john
the economy hasnt affected me on sales its affected me in other ways and I think your too cheap also...
I once had an aprentice that came to me and asked to work with me because he couldnt sell a thing.
I said sure , he brought his stuff and I raised all his prices and sold out of his stuff in a week.
John Gauge would sell a bear for a hundred dollars and sell ten a day .....this was way back and now its more.
but a lot of carvers would buy his bears and then resell them for 4 times the amount.
was he too cheap or did he have a good phylosophy????
everyone has there own way. but I can tell you every area has it slow times and its good times. seasonal we call it I guess.
the reality is that its getting competitive out there??
I felt(opinion) when I was in MI that the small cheap stuff sold and none of my big stuff.
but the only reason I had small stuff with me was because i couldnt sell it at my spot. and I didnt have all that much big stuff because that all I had left.
every area is diferent you just have to find it .I raised my prices last year and this year. how can you not???
finish has gone up and gas and bar oil ......and if you lower your price and not raise it you better start filling out aplications and serching monster .com for REAL job
John K
Unless they make doors diferent in your area the two big ones are bigger the 3ft ....I know i could get 600.00 each for them , they have a nice finish and shows you pay attention to detail. dont sell yourself short there are alot of vultures out there.
loading up on cheap carrvings and reselling them while you go out of business because the word got out that when your hurting you sell cheap.
and the Vulture will circle
they will even set you up , ever have a customer come in and ask a price and they get over dramatic about how much it is???
I can tell you a real customer will say its more then i have right now but i will save my pennies as they walk out with the order they just picked up.
happens to me all the time.
the bad customer that flunked acting class is trying to make you feel bad so the next time they hope you dont recongnise them or they send the husband in next time to get a lower price . thinking you took the bait.
yea its sorta the game of putting sold on a carving ......
yes all of this works but if you are just honest charge a fair price (based on quality and subject time and material) and leave out all the games you will probably end up with more customers less bears and less whining about the economy.
john put a santa hat on your bears put a sign sold on one mark them 295.00 and when they pull up and start looking say which bear do you like when they gasp at your prices say i know the economy is bad so i can give you a better price check 235.00 and cash 200.00 and start loading it
mark your on the kill buzzsawz band wagon those nice bears are john k new england . big john is in the most depressed state michigan he,s asking 200.00 and not getting it people expect discounts now i was talking about his bears mark them up in the end get what he,s asking .
Mr. Tone you got a cigarette in your mouth daily and the booze is handy .
Give some of that up and maybe , just maybe your body will respond,heal and allow you to carve more .
Sammy, Unfortunately, I am in the middle of finishing a Sold house so I can get some money in the bank.. I don't have much help because everyone is real busy doing thier own thing.. I have about anouther week to go and then I can rest a little.. I've tried Doctors and so far it's a thing that should cure in time.. I do rest and I don't take medication..
I just want to know who is Sammy and how does anyone know/ guess what I do in my private life ?
i do angie fish bears foxes coons eagles deer pelicans and soon some angels santas and snwo men oh and a giant fork to put in the middle of a fork in the road up town as an avertisement next spring lol
You're living in one of the most depressed parts of our country right now. You may have to try somewhere else, or do Like MWR says and be more mobile. Doc PS Good Luck!
John, although the original purpose of this thread seems to have been lost, I think it's a great idea to check the state of the economy using this vast resource we have. If carvers would just answer the question, we would all have a good idea of where things stand. This first part is from Desiree, by the way ... and I don't carve 3' welcome bears. I only carve small things for now. I do have that one black bear who is about 2 1/2' tall if you include the large stump he's sitting on and he is priced at $150 and still sitting in my shop ... sorry I can't be of more help. I can, however, tell you that when a customer comes in and orders a 3' welcome bear from Chaz, (have to order as he doesn't have time to make inventory right now), they are paying $350- $450 for a fully detailed, finished out, painted, and sparred bear. Yes, sales have slowed down here in Indiana, but they have not stopped. He is still overwhelmed with orders for Christmas and on average has 3 people a day asking him to take "just one more". Ok, so I guess this whole response has been by me (Desiree) sorry, but I am the one who deals with the business side of our carving, so I am the one to ask. LOL! Take care, John, hope this post turns into what it was meant to be for you.
To make this simpler, take John K.'s bears (since he was so kind as to post a picture) and answer the question..."what would these sell for in your area?".
All bear carvings are certainly not equal, and John William's bears are not likely to sell for the same price as Jaime's bears in the same location.
So, to get a sense of economy, let's single out one size, one style, and estimate what it would sell for in your area.
DOWN HERE IN GEORGIA I SELL MY 3 FOOTER FOR $250-$300
SALES HAVE BEEN TERRIBLE HERE. I WILL HOLD ON AS LONG AS I CAN BEFORE DROPPING MY PRICE. HOPE THIS HELPS.
JOHN
I think I charge about $100.00 per foot for the bears in the 3' range.. Same goes with the fairly quick carved perched eagle.. Some have more details and then the price stays higher.. I have a price list I leave out front along with my card and info incase I am not around.. I hate being haggled so the price list ( Which is what I should be getting in good times ) makes them feel better when I say I'll take this much today..
