[Woodcarver] Business Plans?

[Joe Dillett]

Hi Ivan,

I took a peek at the website video and some good memories came back. Thanks.

Also good insite into the pricing question. You've been there and done that.

I hope your golf clubs treat you kindly this year.

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 7:14 PM
Subject: Re: [Woodcarver] Business Plans?



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

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

>

>

> 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

>>>

>>>

>>>

>>> _______________________________________________

>>> Woodcarver mailing list

>>> Woodcarver at carverscompanion.com

>>> http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/woodcarver

>>>

>>

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