What’s in a price?
I’m prepping for my first Common Fields Artisan Market sale on September 9, gently packing up some greenware to fire, sorting through pieces to include, pulling together bits and pieces for decorating my table, stewing over pricing.
Last month when I stopped by Kristy Lombard’s studio in Tillamook, I mentioned that last bit of stressful contemplation, and she noted that it’s a perennial point of worry for all artisans. Then I mentioned my spreadsheet I use for determining what I should charge for a piece, and she was sore amazed at me being so methodical. Yes, I calculate what a piece costs me to make and what my time making it is worth using a spreadsheet.
So, what is in a price?
Pricing our wares as ceramicists becomes something of an existential crisis for a lot of us. Particularly at the moment when we are fairly new to the market, we run the risk of under valuing ourselves, and worry about what the buying pubic will tolerate. I think it’s fair for buyers to know what’s behind our pricing, so here’s a breakdown of mine, the Old Lady Pots.
Clay: $1.68-2.70 per pound
Glaze: $2-6 per piece (approximate)
Labor: $13.50-$20 per hour – I’ve set my hourly wage depending on the level of practice and expertise required to make it. As artists become more proficient, they also become faster, generally speaking, but they also rightfully calculate a larger hourly ‘wage’ into their wares. A lot of time and expense have gone into developing and growing in their craft over the years. Some very proficient ceramicists with many years of experience may be allowing themselves an ‘hourly wage’ well over $50, quite possibly much more if they are well known and their work is highly sought after.
A larger, more complex piece with sculptural elements may take several hours to build and glaze.
A smaller piece, like a small kurinuki vase, might take an hour or less.
Some simple pieces can take well under an hour, depending on the production method used.
Size and intricacy both factor into the time it takes to build and glaze a piece.
Overhead: I currently calculate $2.00 per piece in overhead (studio/firing fee, utilities, etc.). That will vary according to the ceramicist’s circumstances, including how many pieces are made in a month and what equipment they’ve invested in.
Tax: The artist with a registered business needs to set aside 15% of sales for a potential self-employment tax, so 15% is added to the above calculations.
Fees: The folks running an event charge a fee for displaying artists, plus might take a percentage of sales. That may be calculated into the price, too, or that may fall under ‘overhead’. I choose to categorize that under overhead.
Processing fees: Processing payments through Square or other service is another expense artists need to account for. That is generally in the 2-3% range, although that, too, might fall within the ‘overhead’ umbrella category.
