We sell to friends who see our crafts and want to order some. (We never solicit sales from our friends or co-workers). We usually reduce the price. For instance, if you normally price your ornaments at $4.50 at craft shows, we would probably sell to friends for $3.00. We had one artist friend who wanted to "exchange" craft/art with us. We exchanged ours at the reduced rate, but she priced hers at the price we would have paid in the RETAIL SHOP that carried her artwork! This was way above what she would have been paid for it, since this shop added 40%!! Needless to say, we never did that again! Good luck with your crafts! Bettye

I have a slightly different problem. My family EXPECTS me to sell them my stuff cheap. I resent that . It should be up to me whether or not I want to discount my stuff and how much. I suppose it's my own fault for having done it ONCE . Now - I only sell my "Leftovers" at a reduced price . It's up to you whether you want to start a "Family discount plan" - I'm sorry I did. Good luck in whatever you decide !

Maybe instead of a "friends & family discount" you could trade hourly tasks. If you spend 2 hours making a project... then the person who wants it should be willing to babysit or clean your house for 2 hours to get it. It's a deterrent LOL

Adella, my advice would be to put an approximate dollar amount on your projects before you show them to people. That way they will already have that number in mind when they offer to buy them. It's so awkward to price your work AFTER they've ordered them.

I find it interesting that uncreative people see the time consuming, labor intensive, task of making a craft project as completely overwhelming. Yet they don't think twice about asking us to make it for free :)

Most of us love making gifts for people. But there's a huge difference between giving a gift... and taking an order!

How many times have you heard the words, "oh that's so cute, if I buy the supplies, will you make one for me?" My response is, "get in line." I remind them that I have 4 kids and 6 grandkids in line in front of them.

Sounds like you have two issues going on. One is selling and what price for friends. I sell to friends all the time and I dont discount much at all. And some friends commission me to make elaborate things and they pay full price with all the caveat about a 50% non refundable materials. I think if you approach the concept in a business like way friends respond in such a way.

The other issue is lack of confidence that your stuff is good enough. I can get wrapped up in that sometimes too and think that if *I* made it, it cant be valuable. Let others make that decision for you, dont double think yourself out of the running before anyone else does. what is junk to someone is a treaure to someone else and the other way around. Place a fair price on your stuff, taking into acct time, materials and profit and just go for it. You can always mark down later.

Even though I have been selling my crafts at shows for about 12 years now,I still feel uncomfortable selling to family! My solution in most cases has been, if I find out they want something, I will make as a gift for them. But have had DD and GD show up at shows and buy things from me. I always give them a "family discount" which makes me feel better and they feel like they bought the item.

Usually I discount 20% of the listed price for friends and family, they've never asked for a discount, but I too don't feel right charging full price. I have one cousin (she's like a sister because I'm an only child)who works in a large doctor's office. She sells hundreds of dollars of things for me every year. I do not charge her for anything beyond the auctual cost of supplies. My mother actually traded services with our vet one time, and neither discounted their fee. I think if your going to barter it should be that way. I've been approached about doing this with other crafters that make things differrent from mine, but have never followed through with it.
Susan In Bama

I also feel really weird selling my crafts. I think it is hard to price them and I am always afraid I am charging too much. I have never been in a craft show, I can't keep my things long enough to do one. I'm always giving them away. I was crocheting dish rags and for the last month everyone that has come to visit has left with a set. I've been like one of those resort places, come and visit, listen to my spill and leave with a gift. Come to think of it...that's why Sally down the road has been visiting so much lately!