So one thing I have never really done before is write up how I go about pricing my products, especially my cosplay costumes. I've been working, though, on getting a definitive list of the costumes I've made, how I make them, how long it should take, what materials I'll need to make the outfit (and how I can substitute different materials if the commissioner requests them), and any special notes I need to be aware of.
I thought I'd share this with you, what I do, and some theory about my views on pricing, in the hopes that it can help you all out, if you ever want to sell something you've created!
Sunday, July 25
Saturday, July 24
Revising Prices
Well, first off, for those who are nosy, the camp went wonderfully. Significantly better than I expected, which was a pleasant surprise! The girls in the class were wonderful, and came up with some utterly amazing ideas - I hope they keep with sewing, they all had such great ideas and designs! I'll post some pictures when I get a free moment, both here and on my DeviantART page, but right now, there is too much going on to spend time doing something like that, unfortunately...
This weekend, I'm setting a goal of having most of my price list revised. The new version of the site that I've been working like crazy on will indeed show an estimated price to have a costume custom made, since I'm always surprised when I look at other commissioners, or Chinese manufacturers of crap cosplay, that my prices are very competitive. I always tend to think that I would be wayyyy more expensive, but that's turning out to not be the case! So, hooray for that!
This weekend, I'm setting a goal of having most of my price list revised. The new version of the site that I've been working like crazy on will indeed show an estimated price to have a costume custom made, since I'm always surprised when I look at other commissioners, or Chinese manufacturers of crap cosplay, that my prices are very competitive. I always tend to think that I would be wayyyy more expensive, but that's turning out to not be the case! So, hooray for that!
Monday, July 12
And away we go
Last week was fantastic.
The class went wonderfully, thanks to the amazing teaching ability of my wonderful husband, Chris. I swear, people who think that being a teacher is an easy job, or even that it is something anyone can learn... you have a surprise coming! It is hard!
But, it all came together as a success.
Before the camp, however, I had been working on a commission for a Namine outfit that was nearly completed. Finish up the wig, put the trim on the bottom and straps on, and ship it out - that was all I thought I had to do with it.
Until I looked at it again this weekend. And panicked.
Those of you who know me know that I'm really, very anal about the stuffs I send out to customers. I utterly refuse to send something out that isn't the very best I can produce, and this outfit was... bad, to say the least. That's what I get, I guess, for trusting a commercial pattern company to scale patterns up to a size 18 successfully - my bad for thinking that would work.
The commissioner is almost exactly my size (I'm shorter ;P) and this dress would have fit, assuming that I didn't have boobs or hips. Ya know, like a runway model scaled up, or something. So... I trashed it. I just couldn't - I'm sure I could have tweaked it, added a gusset or two and be done with it, but it just feels so wrong to do things like that. I know a lot of people wouldn't even notice if I did, but... but...
Now you see why I get paid on the average of $4 an hour for the work I do ^^;
But, the only reason I do what I do (well, the main reason, at least) is because I love it when people receive something so amazing that they cannot believe that someone made this, and made it specially for them. So, I can't just patch it up (like, honestly, I would do for a theatre job...) and send it on it's merry way.
I throw it out, and start again.
And, I'm so thankful a year or so ago I purchased a dressform in my size. Like, a real dressform, not an adjustable POS. Greatest money ever spent. And saved my butt on this.
So, the exceptionally long story capped, I threw it out, and remade it. And it looks fantastic. But, she wanted it delivered by today. So I'm waiting to hear if it needs to be Express Mailed out, or if there is some leeway in the delivery date, or if I need to refund them entirely...
Lesson learned - do everything to the best of your ability, but expect things to go wrong. Even on simple outfits. And, admit when you've screwed up, and take whatever comes of it.
Tomorrow, I'm taking pictures, and working on Utility Skirts or Kimona, whichever peeks my interest. I have orders for both, so it's more of a matter of feelings. Plus, answering emails... oh gawd, the emails...
I think I need to go to sleep, or I'll keep rambling away at you all...
The class went wonderfully, thanks to the amazing teaching ability of my wonderful husband, Chris. I swear, people who think that being a teacher is an easy job, or even that it is something anyone can learn... you have a surprise coming! It is hard!
But, it all came together as a success.
Before the camp, however, I had been working on a commission for a Namine outfit that was nearly completed. Finish up the wig, put the trim on the bottom and straps on, and ship it out - that was all I thought I had to do with it.
Until I looked at it again this weekend. And panicked.
Those of you who know me know that I'm really, very anal about the stuffs I send out to customers. I utterly refuse to send something out that isn't the very best I can produce, and this outfit was... bad, to say the least. That's what I get, I guess, for trusting a commercial pattern company to scale patterns up to a size 18 successfully - my bad for thinking that would work.
The commissioner is almost exactly my size (I'm shorter ;P) and this dress would have fit, assuming that I didn't have boobs or hips. Ya know, like a runway model scaled up, or something. So... I trashed it. I just couldn't - I'm sure I could have tweaked it, added a gusset or two and be done with it, but it just feels so wrong to do things like that. I know a lot of people wouldn't even notice if I did, but... but...
Now you see why I get paid on the average of $4 an hour for the work I do ^^;
But, the only reason I do what I do (well, the main reason, at least) is because I love it when people receive something so amazing that they cannot believe that someone made this, and made it specially for them. So, I can't just patch it up (like, honestly, I would do for a theatre job...) and send it on it's merry way.
I throw it out, and start again.
And, I'm so thankful a year or so ago I purchased a dressform in my size. Like, a real dressform, not an adjustable POS. Greatest money ever spent. And saved my butt on this.
So, the exceptionally long story capped, I threw it out, and remade it. And it looks fantastic. But, she wanted it delivered by today. So I'm waiting to hear if it needs to be Express Mailed out, or if there is some leeway in the delivery date, or if I need to refund them entirely...
Lesson learned - do everything to the best of your ability, but expect things to go wrong. Even on simple outfits. And, admit when you've screwed up, and take whatever comes of it.
Tomorrow, I'm taking pictures, and working on Utility Skirts or Kimona, whichever peeks my interest. I have orders for both, so it's more of a matter of feelings. Plus, answering emails... oh gawd, the emails...
I think I need to go to sleep, or I'll keep rambling away at you all...
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