Post #143703 by Monkeyman on Mon, Feb 28, 2005 10:30 AM

When pricing my first few frames, I had to consider what anyone off the street would pay for a custom made frame at a frame shop. If you went to Aaron Bros or Michaels and purchased a frame how much would they charge? Luckily, they charge alot (In my opinion) so I wasnt trying to back into a tiny number (I think the average mid sized frame cut assembled with matting is over $200).

I figured what an 18x24 frame would cost then I divided it into the number of inches in the frame. Then using that increment, I could bid on any sized frame by simply multiplying cost per inch times the number of inches in the frame.

The second component was trying to determine the demand or desirability of my product. As the percieved quality of the product goes up, I increase the price (slightly) to meet the demand.

I could never price it based on labor or time because what I do takes so freakin long. If I took an average frame, backed out materials costs (which are low) and then divided all the hours I spend making something I average about $3-4 dollars an hour. My salaried job pays about ten times that rate so a smart man would not pursue this as a living without significant technology or automation.

Luckily I love doing it.

The only real way to make money at it is to be so incredibly good that you can charge a super premium for your work OR learn how to automate the process with technology. Carving Duplication, Overseas Labor, 3d Computer Duplication.

I think about this topic often and am curious to hear responses from our other artisians.