Pricing is a Big Deal

How would you price this?
Dream Baby  and assemblage art doll by Angie Nelson 

Who is to say what "Dream Baby" up there is worth? Can you put a price on art? She was made very inexpensively from mostly junk I had saved from other projects...I had a blast making her and it only took me a few hours...and I've only made a few assemblage dolls..does this mean I should start out low until I make a few sales?....

These are all statements and questions that I hear all the time. Artists, trying to justify NOT charging for their art or vintage dealers not taking the time to correctly value their wares for the current market.

I will just jump right in here and get to the point...Pricing things to sell is not rocket science but it's terribly important to do it right. My pet peeve for the last few years is the issue of under pricing.

Whether you are an artist, craftsman, shopkeeper or booth vendor...you HAVE to be fair to yourself first and then the rest will fall into place. Good and fair pricing reflects not only a respect for yourself but for your peers who do the same work as you do.

I know some people believe that if they are fortunate enough to get a really good deal on something vintage they want to pass along the savings to the buyer by pricing low...really low. It's a nice gesture but it causes problems for other sellers and sometimes too for the antique or craft mall, or collectibles shop.

Auction Items

Some of the pieces in the photo above are highly collectible. Although they are not my particular taste, I purchased them at an auction because I know that mid century collectors are looking for these pieces and as a dealer it's my JOB to find them. I spent my morning, my diesel fuel, my money and my elbow grease on day one. I then spent more time researching makers and dates and price comps for our area before I put them into my shop and hauled the rest to my antique booth. Expertise, time and money were all invested before I set my prices.

Sometimes an artist may work for weeks designing and making their craft but feel like they can only get X amount of dollars for it because that's what a a similar mass marketed piece at Home Goods sells for....

The Guardians
Printed Coasters from original art by Angie Nelson

To produce this set of coasters, I first designed them, painted them, printed them on my archival ink art printer, sealed them with polyurethane, applied them to painted canvas and cork backed them. Here again, talent, time and money are all invested before I priced them to sell.

I'm not selling my work to people looking for mass produced, coasters just to set glasses on. I'm selling to people that appreciate and enjoy my art, appreciate that it is functional and want to buy it from me. Rather than price low to try to sell to those looking to just buy coasters, I price them with the formula at the bottom of this post and I show my appreciation to my returning customers by giving them small samples of my work such as an art card or maybe one of my hand poured candles. 

In both of these situations, it is all well and good on a personal level to give a friend a deal, but it's a poor business practice to sell for a lot less than your peers. You may take the stand that it's your stuff and you will price it the way you want to. I've even heard people say that they just want to get rid of their things at any cost...then I say DONATE IT!

If you sell in an antique or craft mall, either a brick and mortar or online such as Etsy, pricing much lower than other vendors is considered under cutting and is frowned upon by seasoned artists, craftspeople and antique & collectible dealers...Remember, that a lot of people make their living selling their wares and even though it may be your hobby you should still keep your prices comparable. It's a win win!

Lower than value prices drive sales down for everyone and I've seen several local antique stores turn into low end emporiums because they didn't manage their vendors properly and make this a priority among sellers.

I was happy to sell one of the vintage furniture pieces to another dealer for her personal use and we agreed on a price that was about half it's resell value, so that if and when she got ready to sell it she could still make a little something. This is good business. She jokingly said as we made the deal..."you probably got this for $5."...and she wasn't far off but she was happy with her end and I was happy with mine...and I didn't feel like I should have sold it to her for $10 or $15. 

To price your art fairly use this formula:

Materials + Labor + Expenses + Profit = Wholesale x 2 = Retail

To price vintage or collectible pieces it's easy to see what things are selling for by using Ebay's advanced search in completed sales. You can also see IF there is a market for what you have in mind to sell.

Remember, the right prices reflect your respect for your own time and talents as well as those of others. 

I'm a little late with this but...

Happy New Year!!

New Hours:

Thursdays and Fridays 12 - 6

Saturdays 12 - 4

.....we now take credit cards,

....our newsletter is scheduled to go out soon,

...Hazelnut Coffee is our candle fragrance of the month,

...and we are finally getting a sign.

We are growing.

Thank you for your support!

Breathing Again...

I guess it's true that I thrive on change...I hate it in some ways, but that's the only constant I seem to have in my life these days! 

Somehow, I've managed in the last week to empty two antique booths and set up a new one, with pieces to spare and add to my shop here at the ranch. All in all everything worked out great and I hardly remember how I got all these bruises!

Needless to say, now I need to focus on working in the studio all winter and produce a nice body of work to start adding to all of the cool vintage finds I have for sale. The marketplace at the Purple Pig Emporium has been described as Etsy and Pinterest...it's that inspiring! 

Today, I'm making soy candles in two heavenly scents, Pecan Pie and Pumpkin Souffle. I make the biggest mess doing it but love how it makes the shop smell wonderful for days without even burning them.

For the sake of every one's time today I'm going to show a few photos of my spaces and a few more of the PPE. I hope you will make the drive out here to the shop or down to Lexington to the Purple Pig soon!

The shop this fall...still have my husbands birthday greeting on the chalkboard

Just the sweetest chair sitting inside the door

Always my favorite corner of the shop with all the vintage kitchen wares

The coolest vintage necklace from the large estate we first opened our business with

Blue transferware and old silver and glass are a favorite combination of mine

I began taking orders this week for hand painted pet and house portrait ornaments...I will just have to say, Facebook  rocks!

The following photos are courtesy Purple Pig Emporium...you can see lots more from their Facebook Page or even more in person....

Looking down on the first floor at the Purple Pig

This is actually my sister's booth...LORIGINALS

I love these cute pieces in the vignette in front of my booth....see me back there? 

Some retro kitchen wares from my booth...LOVE THEM!

The back wall of my booth just before it was finished...

The Barbecue Festival in Lexington is this Saturday and approximately 140,000 people will be in town so I'm off to the studio to hopefully be very productive today. Have a great one!

~Angie

Our Secret is Out

The Purple Pig Emporium

I'm happy to announce that Ranch Dressing will have a presence at the newest addition to Uptown Lexington's group of antique and specialty shops that line Main Street.  The shop's name, The Purple Pig Emporium, was inspired, of course, by being born in the Barbecue Capital of the World.

As you know, I've had antique booths, in addition to our shop here at home, for a little over a year at both The Depot at Gibson Mill and The Thomasville Emporium. Both places have their appeal for sure but I haven't truly found the right fit just yet...until now.

The Purple Pig Emporium  is a whole lot like what I have been seeing in my mind's eye when I possibly think for a moment, that I would again open a retail store other than what I have here at my studio...and I say that in all honesty. Yesterday, I called it a Live Etsy shop..a combination of vintage collectibles shop and fine craft gallery. Kind of like Ranch Dressing actually. I think I've found the perfect fit! 

It's in a busy little uptown shopping destination. I think there are about seven antique shops within walking distance and this one is just different and edgy enough for me to feel at home in. I quickly found out that I am not primitive or shabby enough for The Depot and not traditional enough for the T'ville Emporium. This one, however has good chi and you feel it the moment you open the door.

The owners, Wanda Cox and Lee Manring, are both interior designers and not only have a vision for a fun shopping experience but they both possess many years of combined retail knowledge that will make the business succeed. They've already shared some wonderful ideas for what's to come and I tell you, I can hardly sleep. 

 I will snap some teasers next week when I'm getting my booth set up. Just so you know...it is purple, pink and green...with wood floors, a balcony surrounding the sales floor...and that's not even the important stuff really. The booths are starting to fill already with great vintage finds accented with handmade wares of all kinds. FYI, I also saw a piece of gallery quality, hand made furniture coming through the front door...see why I feel at home already?

It will open just in time for the Barbecue Festival, so put it on your list to do and see! You will find it right there on the main drag,  221 South Main, Lexington. 

Garden Visitor

I almost didn't see this little fella on my way back in the house from feeding the horses this morning. I had just noticed that I had forgotten last evening, to pick the cherry tomatoes in the back door garden, when I happened to notice the painted turtle under the vine. He looked like he was ready to move on because there weren't any tomatoes low enough for him to reach with his wrinkly orange spotted neck.

Because I wanted him to hang around until I could fetch my camera, I pulled a tomato, popped it open with my fingernail, and put it down in front of him.

He appeared grateful for the meal and not the least bit camera shy...

When he had finished his first tomato, I enticed him out into the sunshine in the walkway with another ripe juicy treat, so I could selfishly get a few more pictures of his nice markings...

We've been seeing him around for several days so hopefully he'll be around as long as we have an abundance of Tommy Toes.

...and as you can see, we're not hurting in that department.

I love Mondays...I know you are not supposed to and if you really and truly do, I know you shouldn't say it out loud, but I've always loved Mondays. This is my day to get organized for the week. I've done some laundry, pulled weeds from some of the gardens, almost finished a blogpost, will do some office work, and pack for the antique booth. Earlier this morning I talked with my friend at the gallery in town and I'm headed there one day this week to take some floorcloths...don't know why I hadn't thought of him sooner, but everything has it's time doesn't it. 

I've really been thinking alot about how I can contribute to our sleepy but potentially wonderful downtown, and the best way I know is to support where I can instead of going out of town even if things look to be more "happening"...and lucrative...although that is a big part of the draw anywhere!

Anywhoo, I hope you enjoy your day doing whatever you do on Mondays.

Just my two cents,

Angie

Guest Post: Summer Airy Bedrooms

Hi! I’m Joanna. I write for Arcadian Lighting, a wonderful source for brilliant lighting fixtures for the interior and exterior of the home. I spend my work days searching the web for the most beautiful interior design images and ideas to share on blogs like Ranch Dressing. Today, I’m guest posting on summery bedrooms. I love the look of the rooms below for their light and airy feel. Which is your favorite?

This charming bedroom situated in a log home features a faux painted mural of birds, flowers and vines. The furnishings and textiles blend with the room for a natural look.

A minimalist bedroom takes the simple approach to living with just the basic necessities. It is a lovely example summery décor.

Feminine and romantic, this bedroom has all of the elements of a summery getaway. The distressed floors in a medium finish play nicely off of the crisp white of the rest of the room.

A rustic headboard and simple white bed linens contrast nicely. The light fixture is a gorgeous addition giving the room a shabby chic feel.

This bohemian bedroom looks comfortable and relaxed. It would be nice to wake to the sunshine streaming in the windows here.

A country cottage boasts a little sleeping corner for a daytime nap or curling up with a favorite novel.

This bedroom has a Moroccan feel with its platform day bed, wood chest and draped fabric canopy. The colors in the pillows are quite summery.

A summery cabin features dormitory style beds in iron and white linens. This space would be perfect for a children’s sleep over. The multiple light fixtures lining the ceiling provide plenty of light at night time. Images 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8

What do you think of these light, airy summer bedrooms? Leave us some of your thoughts below, and stop by Arcadian Lighting for a wide variety of ceiling lights, wall sconces, and a variety of lighting fixtures and tips for your home!

A Couple of Things....

Okay, so my phobia about Pinterest has passed and I'm back to pinning again...just so you know!
You can find me at http://pinterest.com/thejunkranch/

I was pleasantly surprised that all of my boards are still there...I had missed them and all of their wonderful inspirational goodness! 

....and too, I have a guest blogger for Wednesday this week. Her topic is Airy Summer Bedrooms and the photos are so inspiring you will want to start right away with your bedroom redo before the end of the season!

See you back here Wednesday!