George1983
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Advice on where and how to sell workshop made furniture?
Where to sell your furniture?
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Dangermouse
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My advice to you would be never make furniture and then try to sell it, hardly ever makes any money. Always make to commissions.
Really very difficult indeed to do this. Most cabinet makers will tell you that making on spec is a shortcut to bankruptcy. Reason is that you have to sell the piece for several times the amount that a similar piece will cost from a big manufacturer (usually based in china, with low wages and big economies of scale). Add on to that the markup you pay the gallery/shop owner, which is usually well over 40% and it all starts to look a bit silly. Selling online cuts out the mark up, but still you are having to charge way more per piece than people are paying elsewhere, and people are used to bargains online....
As dangermouse says, commissions are the way to go.
As dangermouse says, commissions are the way to go.
Cheshirechappie
Established Member
Try to track down a copy of 'Marketing and Promotion for Crafts' by Betty Norbury. The best source may be abebooks.co.uk or other secondhand sources. Betty Norbury ran the gallery selling her husband's woodcarvings, and organised several fine furniture exhibitions, so she knows her stuff. The book was written just before the interwebs really took off, but still contains a lot of down-to-earth common sense.
By all means have a look at Betty Norbury's book but do remember that a) she had plenty of money to start with (so I've heard) and b) it was hard enough when she was writing but the economics of the proposition are even worse now.
My assumption, based on your previous posts, is that you are asking with a view to making a living, rather than as a hobby that you make a bit from here and there. If it's a hobby then you may sell a few things now and again at craft shows and exhibitions, but it is really very unlikely you could sell anything like enough at enough of a markup to make a living.
However you may find that shows and exhibitions are a way to make contacts with potentional clients, which may lead to commissions which, as has been said, is the way to make a profit.
My assumption, based on your previous posts, is that you are asking with a view to making a living, rather than as a hobby that you make a bit from here and there. If it's a hobby then you may sell a few things now and again at craft shows and exhibitions, but it is really very unlikely you could sell anything like enough at enough of a markup to make a living.
However you may find that shows and exhibitions are a way to make contacts with potentional clients, which may lead to commissions which, as has been said, is the way to make a profit.
Ok I've just thought of an exception. I believe this chap http://www.posture-chair.co.uk/ started his business making his chairs and selling them at shows and by mail order (online now obviously). So one way is to have a very original idea that can be easily batch produced and has a clear niche market, and patent it. I think he used to go to 'alternative' fairs with them.
Sam malloof is another example (makes high end rocking chairs) now I think of it. So another way is to produce something that can be batch produced that is genuinely different and stunning, and be brilliant at self promotion, and also a very personable chap. He's as much a brand as the chairs.
In other words you can do it if you can find and develop a niche (and keep the niche to yourself), batch produce something to fill it, and be brilliant at what you do.
Sam malloof is another example (makes high end rocking chairs) now I think of it. So another way is to produce something that can be batch produced that is genuinely different and stunning, and be brilliant at self promotion, and also a very personable chap. He's as much a brand as the chairs.
In other words you can do it if you can find and develop a niche (and keep the niche to yourself), batch produce something to fill it, and be brilliant at what you do.
On second thoughts I'm wrong about Malloof. He makes his chairs to measure for each client, so essentially he is working to commission, not selling a pre-produced product. The wave stool chap is a genuine example though.
George1983
Established Member
marcus":2zximcuh said:
Simply brilliant...Thx!!
George1983
Established Member
marcus":4wsx0rg3 said:
You got it right but i`m now at the beginning of everything and i want to gather as many information as i can before i start...so thank you guys for the help...
George1983
Established Member
By the way..When you work on commission do you guys make a contract with the client before starting the job?If yes then what are things you agree with him?
Re. contracts: for smaller things this can be quite informal, and may be more or less implicit in the email exchange that leads up to the order. Bigger jobs need something more formal. I also take a deposit for any job over a few hundred pounds, usually between 25 and 50 percent.
I try to agree a concept and a price rather than have the design absolutely written in stone at the start (I do very 'sketchy' drawings!), so there is space for the thing to evolve as it goes along. This is perhaps a little risky, but I've rarely had a problem with it. I know I do better work that way; the customer will be happier with the result and I will be happier making it.
I try at all costs to avoid getting myself tied down to a finishing date.
Just to be clear though, it is HIGHLY, HIGHLY unlikely you will be able make a living doing only freestanding pieces. Built-ins are a more realistic proposition.
I try to agree a concept and a price rather than have the design absolutely written in stone at the start (I do very 'sketchy' drawings!), so there is space for the thing to evolve as it goes along. This is perhaps a little risky, but I've rarely had a problem with it. I know I do better work that way; the customer will be happier with the result and I will be happier making it.
I try at all costs to avoid getting myself tied down to a finishing date.
Just to be clear though, it is HIGHLY, HIGHLY unlikely you will be able make a living doing only freestanding pieces. Built-ins are a more realistic proposition.
George1983
Established Member
marcus":38mgldy2 said:
What do you mean when you say built-ins?
George1983
Established Member
Perfect sense...but a bit disappointing for a complete beginner who was hoping to earn some money,as a payback,even for his beginner work.
Then i should consider learning to make those type of things...and i already made the first step in contacting somebody on the forum who does training courses.. I hope i`ll learn fast cause my budget is small...
Then i should consider learning to make those type of things...and i already made the first step in contacting somebody on the forum who does training courses.. I hope i`ll learn fast cause my budget is small...
I'm not sure what your situation is, but if you are an absolute beginner then you will need to learn basic hand skills which are the same no matter what you intend to do later.
Since your resources are limited, one thing you might consider is to get enough training to be able demonstrate some basic competence with tools, then try really hard to get an apprenticeship with someone — at least you can then show them that you have some skills and have made an effort already. An apprenticeship would give you the best possible chance of making a career out of it, and you should get paid something while doing it....
It's worth bearing in mind that although in one way being a bit older counts against you getting an apprenticeship, you will also be seen as more mature and likely to last the course (lots of young apprentices drift off before the apprenticeship is over) which counts in your favour.
Since your resources are limited, one thing you might consider is to get enough training to be able demonstrate some basic competence with tools, then try really hard to get an apprenticeship with someone — at least you can then show them that you have some skills and have made an effort already. An apprenticeship would give you the best possible chance of making a career out of it, and you should get paid something while doing it....
It's worth bearing in mind that although in one way being a bit older counts against you getting an apprenticeship, you will also be seen as more mature and likely to last the course (lots of young apprentices drift off before the apprenticeship is over) which counts in your favour.
It does. I've met quite a few people who've done one or other of the big furniture training courses. Off the top of my head: one is making kitchens and doing pretty well; one is an antique restorer working for the trade and doing well enough; one is working as a chippy; two lost interest and gave up when they found out it is actually a boring slog for a lot of the time; one is doing some freestanding pieces and some more general work; and four ran out of money and no longer have anything to do with wood....
Apart from that there is one who already had a well-connected family and a lot of very wealthy contacts and quite a lot of capital to start with and is, as far as I know, actually making a living making freestanding furniture to commission and nothing else.
Moral is, go into it with your eyes open, be flexible and have a plan B. Or do the sensible thing and get apprenticed to a kitchen maker.
But if making furniture really is your passion, and you just can't see yourself doing anything else, then you'll probably ignore all this and follow your heart anyway, which is the way things should be....
George1983
Established Member
Well...nothing seems bright enough these days in any kind of job you may try.I can`t say that working with wood is a passion but maybe a newly discovered way for me to do something i like and earn money.
I don`t want to get rich out of this...i want to work and afford paying bills,having a quiet week-end and maybe a yearly holiday.I am asking too much from woodworking?
I don`t want to get rich out of this...i want to work and afford paying bills,having a quiet week-end and maybe a yearly holiday.I am asking too much from woodworking?
Might be better to take it up as a hobby first and find out if you have a passion or skill for a bit first before spending money on courses etc.. Start out small and cheap with a book from a library and a few cheap tools.
Apologies but it sounds a bit like "I'm unemployed / hate my job and want a new career ASAP"
Having said that I'm doing exactly the same thing lol.
Apologies but it sounds a bit like "I'm unemployed / hate my job and want a new career ASAP"
Having said that I'm doing exactly the same thing lol.
