Note: as of beginning of July, put a hold on this. He got some sales and seems resistant to doing things any differently than he’s doing now
Black Orchard Leather - FB, Instagram & TikTok
“Everything on my various websites is listed clearly as either ready made or made to order.
I currently make when I'm feeling well enough so that can be a couple of items a week or sometimes more.
I have a set price for each item like bags made with plain leather and I quote for the custom carving as an extra on top depending on the estimated time required.
If it's a full bespoke item I quote for the whole thing from scratch.”
“I try my best to work on £20 per hour for my labour when quoting but most often on ready made items I have to reduce them to sell them so I make around £5 per hour.
My pricing formula is as follows.
Materials + labour = Final price.
I've never been able to work any profit margins into my products which is why I can't sell in shops and galleries as I don't have room to absorb the 40=50% commission without making a loss.”
“I've paid out £700 in studio rent and £1000 on materials in that time which has all gone on credit cards just to keep afloat.”
“I need the studio if I'm going to continue with my leatherworking business. I'm on the fence about that right now. I've been considering shelving that to cut overheads and focusing on my art and design if I can't sell enough to cover rent each month but my issue is that I have a studio full of large equipment and nowhere to store it so I'm kind of stuck with needing the space...unless I sell everything to pay off some debts but that won't be quick or easy to do.
Studio rent is £165 a month. It's a 20 mile round trip so I estimate I spend £40 a month on fuel getting there and back if I continue to go there 6 days a week.
I have 4 websites which each cost £15 per month to host.”
“Selling online is my only viable option. Fares and shops and galleries cost too much for me to make any profit.”
Upto now my products are in the mid to high range prices - £20 - 250. I probably need to ditch those and aim at something I can make quickly and sell in volume at a low price point of around £10-15.
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