[Woodcarver] Business Plans?

[Ivan Whillock]

Thanks, Joe.  Your handsome visage is on the carv-fest.com website, being 
interviewed by Melanie.  Go to 
http://www.woodcarverswarehouse.com/_e/Class_by_Instructor/product/Dillett/Joe_Dillett.htm

The topic of pricing is complex.  Because artistic value is in the eye of 
the beholder, and many factors other than traditional "market forces" are at 
work, a hard and fast formula is difficult.  Most carvers who want to "turn 
pro" do so with something of a track record:  They've had some success in 
selling and thus want to pursue it full time.  At that point it's a matter 
of doing the math.  How much do you need to make to live on, what price do 
you have to get, what must your production be in order to do that, 
considering factors of all sorts, marketing, keeping an inventory, you're 
not going to sell everything you make, etc.

For someone who simply wants to determine a value of a carving they've done, 
I suggest the purely subjective, not entirely tongue-in-cheek, "Don't insult 
me" rule.  Imagine a buyer offers three dollars for your carving.  You think 
to yourself, BUT NEVER SAY OUT LOUD, "don't insult me."  Another offers six. 
Again, you THINK, "Don't insult me."  The next offers 12, etc.  At what 
price would you no longer be insulted?  That's the minimum price you will 
take.  Add a little "profit" say 20-30% and you have a price that you can 
accept.  It also could be viewed as the "what's the least you will take?" 
rule.  At what price point would you rather keep it than sell it?  Add 20% 
or whatever to that, and determine that either way you win.  You either get 
to keep your carving that you've determined is worth such and such to you, 
or you walk off with a reasonable amount of cash in exchange for it.

Most artists don't inherit a price value for their work, they create it 
through exposure and marketing.  For example, many people who see a small 
figure carving have only the $15 figurine at the souvenir stand as their 
value guide.  Figure carvers then can either sell their works for $15, not 
sell at all, or work to establish a different public perception through 
displaying their art well and showing its value again and again.


Ivan Whillock Studio
122 NE 1st Avenue
Faribault, MN  55021
Visit my website at
http://www.whillock.com
Visit my Picture Trail album at
http://www.picturetrail.com/gallery/view?username=ivancarve

--------------------------------------------------
From: "Joe Dillett" <jdillett at thecarvingshop.net>
Sent: Friday, March 27, 2009 3:34 PM
To: "[Woodcarver]" <woodcarver at carverscompanion.com>
Subject: Re: [Woodcarver] Business Plans?


> Friends in Carving: Please support our List - visit the Carvers' Campanion 

> Shop at http://cafepress.com/woodcarving

>

>

> Another great idea Ivan. Nice to hear from you with more helpful tips.

>

> We're planning to see you at Carv-Fest this year. Looking forward to 

> another fun time.

>

> Joe Dillett

> The Carving Shop

> 645 E. LaSalle St. Suite 3

> Somonauk, IL. 60552

>

> (815) 498-9290 phone

> (815) 498-9249 fax

> http://www.thecarvingshop.net [business web site]

> http://www.carvingmagazine.com ['Ask Joe' column]

> http://community.webshots.com/user/joe_dillett

> ******************************************************************

>

> ----- Original Message ----- 

> From: "Ivan Whillock" <carve at whillock.com>

> To: "[Woodcarver]" <woodcarver at carverscompanion.com>

> Sent: Friday, March 27, 2009 2:46 PM

> Subject: Re: [Woodcarver] Business Plans?

>

>

>> Friends in Carving: Please support our List - visit the Carvers' 

>> Campanion Shop at http://cafepress.com/woodcarving

>>

>>

>>

>>

>> Back in 1978 I bought a book by Diane Cochrane called "This Business of

>> Art."  It was very helpful in helping me move away from the idealistic

>> "artist in his garret"  way of thinking into the real world.   In the 

>> "real

>> world" the people who can fine you put you in jail for tax evasion don't

>> really care if you just created the greatest masterpiece of our age.

>>

>> A business plan can take many forms, from a lengthy, detailed study to a

>> general outline.  What works for one doesn't necessarily work for 

>> another.

>> However, I do suggest that anyone who would like to pursue art as a

>> profession purchase a book on the business of art.  Not every chapter 

>> will

>> relate to you, but discussions of contracts, copyrights, commission

>> agreements, working with a dealer, insurance, income taxes, bookkeeping, 

>> even estate

>> planning, can be very helpful.

>>

>> Ivan Whillock Studio

>> 122 NE 1st Avenue

>> Faribault, MN  55021

>> Visit my website at

>> http://www.whillock.com

>> Visit my Picture Trail album at

>> http://www.picturetrail.com/gallery/view?username=ivancarve

>>

>>

>>

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