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Bears by EdieA comment by Andrea on another thread under miniatures value of miniature bears reminded me of
a topic I started on another discussion group years ago. I was asking if people charge a set amount for a certain size bear ie: say something like $100 for 8", $125 for 10", $150 for 12", etc. or if it was priced according to how well the bear turned out - that "WOW" factor.
We can take size, cost of materials, and time involved into our price setting but is this really enough and is it really the answer? I found out last time that a lot of people thought it was and they seemed astounded that I would even consider charging more for a bear just because it turned out better - in my opinion! My feeling here though is that we are creating art and as such isn't there some merit in pricing it according to the artistic results?I mean it isn't factory piece work where you get X amount of money for doing each of multiple items! If I am making a 3" bear, there is a lot more that goes into each one than just the fabric and original design and the amount of time spent. One bear might be a real struggle and take a ton of time and turn out "okay" and another similar size one just go together way more easily and yet ends up being far more appealing. Should they both be priced the same or the one that took longer priced higher? Or should the one that just turned out so much better be priced higher? I know a lot of the appeal is in the "eye of the beholder" but I am sure that we all have bears that really do seem to be better artistically (or whatever) than other ones (and I'm not talking about the "dogs" that we throw away before completion! 
) Say you are doing a show and you have one bear that is really exceptional and you know if you price it the same as the others that size, it will for sure leap off the table first - wouldn't it make sense to price it a little higher???? I've actually done this and still had it sell first even though it was priced a bit higher - is this wrong??? I also remember once comparing two miniature bears on someone else's table trying to decide which to buy. One was twice the price of the other and slightly smaller so maybe a little harder to make but to me just had that wow factor - I bought the expensive one and never regretted it!
In the other thread Andrea said:
I am a watercolorist since the mid-80's and paint landscapes by commission quite often. I have sold my work for 20 years plus and have never once been asked. . ."Hey, how much money in paint you got in that one?" To me, the value is in the artistry. . . .
Andrea, is every painting you do that is 12"x14" priced the same? - or is it priced according to the amount of time it took you to do it ?- whether it be because it is a more involved scene or just one that you struggled with - or is it priced by how well it turned out, the sheer artistry of it, with no consideration to the amount of time taken? (or the amount of paint used! :crackup: )
Also in the other thread Christine said:
I charge around the same for my minis as I do for larger bears
But surely not every bear you make is priced the same is it Christine??? Are you pricing by the wow factor rather than costs and time???
Well, I hope I've gotten across what I am trying to say. Lets hear what others think on this topic and I'd love to hear what collectors think too as they are the ones buying the bears. Actually that's why I like to sell on ebay - I don't have to determine the artistry - or the price of the bear - I can just let the marketplace decide!
Hi Edie,
Boy oh boy, this really is a complex subject!!
OK... here's my own personal reasoning for my pricing:
I charge around the same price for my minis as I do for my standard, basic bears that stand around 12" - 14". If I could, sometimes I would charge more, to compensate me for the failing eyesight and pain in my shoulders! :crackup: I would not charge more for a bear if it took me a long time to make, simply because I had struggled to get it right - I would put that down to my own lack of experience or clumsiness in a particular area and I wouldn't expect a collector to sub me on that one, ha! BUT, I might charge more for that elusive 'wow!' factor, yes - especially if I knew there was no way I could ever work that particular magic again. The final outcome is, for me, the most important factor in the pricing of a bear, and I don't really add in the cost of the fabric or my time.
Having said all this, I haven't put up my prices in over six years - and I still offer free worldwide shipping, even though my costs have gone up considerably in recent years.
Hmmnnn.... maybe I should review my pricing!!
Chrisx
Lots of ways to answer really. I really think it's time invested plus the cost of supplies. I would expect a tiny bear with excruciating detail would take a bit longer than a larger bear with less detail, or vice versa. However the larger bear will incur more supply cost. Something with a "wow" factor obviously took more time so you could definitely charge for that. I think you have to account for everything, even reputation. Obviously somebody more well known (published, established, awards, etc) can pull more money than a new kid on the block, like myself. Also a "wow" factor and well deserved.
Tami Eveslage Original Teddy BearsFor me it all comes into play. The cost of the fabric, the time I have spent, (on techniques that I have mastered--I am not talking about time spent struggling with a design, just time spent creating an intricate design) and most certainly the wow factor, all figure into the pricing of my work. I think the "wow" factor is the biggest part of the equation when it comes to what collectors are willing to pay. Just because a bear is made of expensive dense curly long mohair, and the maker has employed many time cosuming techniques, like eyelids open, mouths sculpted, paws etc. does not mean it is a work of art. It is an artist's unique vision, and personal style, craftsmanship and some thing sort of intangible that create the wow factor.
Tami Eveslage Original Teddy BearsSeveral of us were posting at the same time!! :lol:Jennifer, Good point about reputation being part of it!
Hello!
I do almost exclusively, cats. There is no price category for cats. I think I started out looking at teddy bear prices and I did figure my base price through materials and time. But I suppose my ebay experience helped a lot in deciding where to set my prices. But, of course, my ebay prices had a lot to do with collectors knowing who I am through awards and magazine articles. IT is such a complicated process "a long and winding road 
" but the WOW factor is Big, thanks to ebay and other online venues! I think it's a personal decision. Who knows, it's worth a try. When you put your heart into a special piece, why not try? But REMember don't take it personal 
You piece may just be ahead of the curve 
Karen
KJ Lyons Design
