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Splitcoast Dirty Dozen Alumni VSN Go to Girl Pretty, Pretty Princess
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Is a 50 cents handmade card even possible??
Someone at work asked me if I could make cards for her to send out to her church members (she's a deacon) for their bdays and anniversarys, etc.
The problem is she buys them at the Dollar Tree for 2/$1.00...and I dont know how I could possibly compete with that.
Does anyone have any ideas on how to do this?
I suppose I could use less expensive cardstock than SU! for them but I would still want them to be high quality and pretty, KWIM?
Frankly, I don't think that it could be worthwhile unless you do *VERY* simple one layer designs. And solid images, too (you wouldn't want to use a line-art image that requires coloring. Too time consuming!) It's lovely that she'd like something homemade, but unless she makes them herself I just don't think she's going to be able to find something for 50 cents.
Splitcoast Dirty Dozen Alumni VSN Go to Girl Pretty, Pretty Princess
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Quote:
Originally Posted by GloriousGreetings
Just posted a new thread on selling cards, didn't see your's or would have posted here...sorry. Just wondering myself how much to sell cards for?
Everyone else here in my office pays me $3-$5 for 1 card so I dont know how to determine what the average person would pay for a card. My co-workers (besides this one mentioned above;)) seem to have an appreciation for handmade cards and always insist on paying more than they would at Hallmark
Someone at work asked me if I could make cards for her to send out to her church members (she's a deacon) for their bdays and anniversarys, etc.
The problem is she buys them at the Dollar Tree for 2/$1.00...and I dont know how I could possibly compete with that.
I ran into this problem at work when I tried to sell my cards. People wouldn't pay more than $1 and said "I can get 99 cent cards at Hallmark." Well, yes, you can, but you get what you pay for and not much variety. (So I stopped selling my cards altogether, sadly.)
Have you asked what she's willing to pay? Even if you decide to "donate" your time to a church, you at least need to pay for your materials. Fair is fair.
Had to pipe in here since making cards for my church is my ministry and my passion. Since you are doing this for a co-worker and I'm assuming you do not worship at her church, I would not think you could do cards for fifty cents and be profitable. I make cards every day for my church's prayer ministry and donate all of the materials and my time because that is my ministry to Jesus and my church. The prayer team has a limited budget as your co-worker probably does if they are buying from the dollar store. I know that I am tremendously blessed as I make the cards and have gotten very positive feedback from my church and recipients. You should ask what she is willing or able to pay and then you would need to consider if any part of the cost would be a personal ministry. By the way, I charge $3-$5 for individual cards that I'm selling for profit. HTH a little.
Last year someone in my office wanted me to make Christmas cards for her and balked at my price -- $3.00 a card. I told her (nicely, of course) that perhaps she should go to Hallmark and get them. She bought 12 from me!
I made some cards today with PTI's garden and blossoms sets that are one layer white cs with brightly colored solid images (that strawberry is perfect!) and a message. Takes a few seconds to make, very inexpensive, and pretty. Haven't posted any to the gallery yet but will...eventually, LOL! The main thing is that it would be easy to give a big batch to the church and not feel cheated at 50 cents a piece.
Had to pipe in here since making cards for my church is my ministry and my passion. Since you are doing this for a co-worker and I'm assuming you do not worship at her church, I would not think you could do cards for fifty cents and be profitable. I make cards every day for my church's prayer ministry and donate all of the materials and my time because that is my ministry to Jesus and my church. The prayer team has a limited budget as your co-worker probably does if they are buying from the dollar store. I know that I am tremendously blessed as I make the cards and have gotten very positive feedback from my church and recipients. You should ask what she is willing or able to pay and then you would need to consider if any part of the cost would be a personal ministry. By the way, I charge $3-$5 for individual cards that I'm selling for profit. HTH a little.
I agree with what you said about your card ministry. I make cards for our Bereavement Committee -- at no cost to them at all. And I make birthday cards for an assisted living facility -- at no cost to them at all. But selling cards is an entirely different matter. Your $3-$5 charge is quite reasonable IMO.
Last year someone in my office wanted me to make Christmas cards for her and balked at my price -- $3.00 a card. I told her (nicely, of course) that perhaps she should go to Hallmark and get them. She bought 12 from me!
Last year my ds took a box of my cards to her place of work. we never discussed pricing...well she was selling them for $2, and she sold everything i had in the box...but one of her coworkers told her that she was selling them too cheap...she got nervous and called me. i just laughed and told her that i really wanted $4 a card. OH well, they all got a bargain that day. She recently took in another shoebox of cards for me, and they all sold at $4 ech. She even came back to me with special requests...lol
1) Just because you make cards for one person at a discounted rate does NOT mean everyone else will expect it. Simple reason....she's a DEACON, it a church related thing, period. Special discount.
2) If I was asked I would probably do it, I realize she is asking for very little money and it may barely cover costs but most people who serve in churches do not make money. Im sure she cant afford it and is not being rude.
3) Can you make mass produced cards for 50 cents? Probably.
Get a couple stamps from the Michaels dollar bin (or any other place that has $1 stamps) a sentiment and solid or semi solid images that can simply be stamped. Check dollar stores for paper, embellishements like ribbon.....lay off the brads and anything spendy.
4) Check out todays Limited Supply Challenge gallery for inspiration on layouts, the challenge is no brads, hardware, excess layers or dimensionals and bows. Very limited supplies but the submissions are inspiring. Gallery at Splitcoaststampers
Honestly I'd do either just a donation, make nice simple ones and not charge her at all or tell her your going rate and let her decide.
Under no circumstances should any cardmaker feel they have to compete with the dollar tree, it's a totally different market. Go to a high end boutique and look at what cards with embelishments or that are hand painted are, THAT's your market.
*Erin, being unable to find steady buyers in the market she insists handmade cards are in does not sell cards*
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If this ministry speaks to you at some level and you want to help, you could ask her to consider the difference between what you charge her and a fair price as a donation and ask for a receipt as such for a tax deduction. I agree that handmade does not equal dollar tree...not even close to the same thing.
Just a thought. Maybe you could make cards for 50 cents for her (if you are so inclined), but ask for a receipt to deduct the remainder of the cost from your taxes?
I think you could probably do it mass production and 1 layer with a simple stamp and color for 50 cents. I personally wouldn't do it unless I had the time and felt that it was worth it. Maybe if you were to do it, you could get your work out there and get more for your product from someone else.
I would do it but I would keep it very simple. You could print the sentiment inside and/or outside the card prior to cutting the cardstock. I thought the two cards that "stampingcottage" posted links to were great examples. If you mass produce and use the cheaper cardstock it could happen. I like the white cardstock from Walmart and it's quite cheap.
I think it's for a very good cause so I would find a way to make it work.
I liked the suggestion of buying the bulk white cardstock.
You have to remember not every person in the world knows the quality of Stampin Up and other fine brands and they are just happy to be remembered and receive a card.
Here is a challenge from Beth to make quick cards and not all of them will suit your needs but there are some very nice cards here.
I made one in about two minutes for this challenge (after the supplies were gathered) and I like how it turned out. Two minutes a card and you'll be a rich woman! :mrgreen:
Perhaps you could help her make cards for her ministry.
If I were to do this, I would have her purchase the Whisper White or Very Vanilla card stock and 2 packages of matching envelopes-one package o9f cardstock will make 80 cards.
Then I let her use my stamps and inks to make a one layer cards. I would show her how to do it, then she could make them.
Her cost would be 7.50+6.50+6.50=20.50 +2.05 shipping and whatever your sales tax rate is.
I agree with Stampindoe. That would be my suggestion. I would actually suggest she buy a ream of white or off-white cardstock and envelopes from an Office Depot or Wal-Mart. I'd probably let her use some of my scraps for some of the layering - because I always have so much of it. I have done this and asked people to bring the paper and they could use my stamps and ink but pay .30 for each card. Stamps and ink are an investment and do cost
If it were me I would probably just donate them. $.50 a card is just too cheap, even if it is no layer one stamp card. What about envelopes, your time, gas to drop them off, etc? The dollar tree cards are probably mass produced by sweat shops in China or India or somewhere. Sorry - no deal with me
Splitcoast Dirty Dozen Alumni VSN Go to Girl Pretty, Pretty Princess
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wow, there are a lot of different ideas and opinions...
I know right off that she doesnt want to make them herself. She wont even be upset if I cant make them, she is 100% happy with her Dolalr Tree cards.
The whole conversation came up when she was mailing some of her Dollar Tree cards and another co-worker saw her sealing them and said "No one wants a store bought card...once they get one that is made by Jimmi, anyway".
Now this is a friend that buys cards every month from me for $3-$5 a pop so the other co-worker got the idea to ask me about making some for her but told me that she gets them for .50 and could never afford to buy as many as she needs for what my cards must cost (cause she doesnt know, she just assumes they cost a lot)...so I said I could see if it were possible, I didnt say yes or no, yet.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ebethneu
Just gonna throw my 2 cents in here;
1) Just because you make cards for one person at a discounted rate does NOT mean everyone else will expect it. Simple reason....she's a DEACON, it a church related thing, period. Special discount.
2) If I was asked I would probably do it, I realize she is asking for very little money and it may barely cover costs but most people who serve in churches do not make money. Im sure she cant afford it and is not being rude.
3) Can you make mass produced cards for 50 cents? Probably. Get a couple stamps from the Michaels dollar bin (or any other place that has $1 stamps) a sentiment and solid or semi solid images that can simply be stamped. Check dollar stores for paper, embellishements like ribbon.....lay off the brads and anything spendy.
4) Check out todays Limited Supply Challenge gallery for inspiration on layouts, the challenge is no brads, hardware, excess layers or dimensionals and bows. Very limited supplies but the submissions are inspiring. Gallery at Splitcoaststampers
I have enough stamps to make a million cards and not have to buy any new ones.
What I am wonderingthough is about non-SU cardstock and the quality. I want them to be nice still and not cheap feeling. I only have ever used SU and Papertreyink white cardstock...
I have found great non SU paper at XPedX or at Paper Zone. I have to touch and feel the paper before I will buy - so I'm not good at buying paper on-line.
I have enough stamps to make a million cards and not have to buy any new ones.
What I am wonderingthough is about non-SU cardstock and the quality. I want them to be nice still and not cheap feeling. I only have ever used SU and Papertreyink white cardstock...
I get Georgia pacific from walmart. It's with the other printer paper, but this one says cardstock. I use it all the time. The thickness is the same as SU, and it's smooth, but not quite as smooth as SU. The only time I notice it though is when I'm sponging. It's a tad harder to smear your ink around...KWIM? I think it's $5 for 150 sheets.
Just another opinion here. I personally wouldn't do it for that price. I was approached by a local church's "Encouragement Team" about cards. I'm charging them $1 per card and they have to come stamp them. Each lady who comes to stamp is paying for each card she makes and then "donating" it back to the church. We'll see how it goes!
I am making cards for a gala that my store is having. I donate these cards and some cost $$ and some are very simple. I have been asked to make two cards and both of them I did not charge the person. I am not in to making money I just want to make cards for the fun of it. I want to thank everyone before me that made comments and also showed some cards to make that are very simple and inexpensive. Now I am off to CASE the card made with the embossing. Just lovely, thank you.
XpedX Brilliant White 80lb paper is $11.50 a 250 sheet ream. Wonderful paper! I use it all the time. Less than .05 a sheet and only .025 for one card that didn't have layers. Something simple like parrothead's card would be perfect and the lady would be sooooo blessed. It would have to be part donation on your part. Besides, the advertisment to those she send them to could bring your more business. Make sure you tell her not to tell others what she paid for them! ;-)
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Some people are funny, some love the "made with love" cards and are willing to pay my $3-$5 each. While others think because it is homemade it should be cheap but they will pay $5-$6 for a mass produced one.
If you just love card making, I'm sure you could do it for 50 cents/card, not counting your time or the investment you already have in your supplies. If you do decide to do it, even as more of a "donation", I would NOT provide an envelope at this price level.
Is a 50 cents handmade card even possible??
