Selling Cards
 

Just wondering, since I am fairly new to the world of stamping and cardmaking, do any of you ladies sell your cards? If so, do you sell them in sets, or individually? And if you don't mind me asking, what is the price range that seems successful? I love to make cards, and am beginning to get an inventory, just thought maybe I could sell some and buy more paper..lol

Any suggestions appreciated. (I am aware of the angel policy and do have the proper stamps to uphold that policy.)

I sell mine however I can and I'm thrilled with the new SU policy as that is all I use. I sell my:

3x3 for $.75
4.25x5.5 for $2.00
5x5 for $2.50
8.5x5.5 for $3

I also give a $.25 a card discount for large orders especially if they contain multiples I can assembly line. I offer this as my starting point. Something that requires a lot of time or has a bunch of hardware is more. These are the price points I find I need to be at to sell any where I live. I try to make sure I am clearing 50% for my time.

I am selling my cards. Have just started actually. $4 a card...no one bats an eye. the ones that have alot of detail are $5. If people buy 6 I will give them one for free. like the $4 cards 6 for $20 and the $5 cards 6 for $25. Good luck.

$4 a card is great and what I wish I could get......I think that the price you can get away with is regional. When I am....$4 would never fly. I get $2.50

I usually only make the 4.25 X 5.5 cards and I sell them for $2.00. I have a group of girls at a bank where my sister works and they buy them as fast as I make them. (I know I wouldn't sell as many if I charged much more) Graduation time I make gift card holders in the colors of our local schools and those sell faster than I can make them. I get special orders for out of town schools and they actually send me the invitation so I can match colors. I also get $2.00 for these. I have put a couple packages together but they don't sell as well. They like to pick out what they want. I do stamp a sentiment on the inside and my envelopes are always stamped on the front bottom, usually on the left corner. I go to my local candy store and buy the cello bags at a really cheap price, the card and envelope fit perfectly. I then stamp the sentiment on a scrap card and put it in front of the envelope so they can see what the inside says. I put the back of the card and the back of the envelope together and that way they see the front of each. (make sense?????) Hope this helps you a little. Good luck and have fun!

I do 3-4 card classes a month. I start the first class with two samples and in each class I do a card while I demonstrate. By the end of the month I have 5-6 cards of five designs. I only want one for my personal stash so I sell the extras to my class people at a dollar each. I figure I get my money back and a tiny, tiny profit and they are very happy. I know it is probably too little to charge but I see it was ridding myself of the excess cards and making a little and my class people love it. If I make cards during the month, other than for class, I often make 2-3 of them and sell the extras. I figure it covers the base cost of my cards. Of course, it doesn't count the zillion stamp sets I buy and all...but I am very happy with the arrangement.
Margaret

Thanks for all your wonderful suggestions...it was a big help!

I find pricing to be a regional thing!

I am in Maryland. I sold 2 cards this morning, $5 each...one was 5 x 7", the other was 5 1/2 x 5 1/2". Both very specific, personalized with recipients name and age.

Kathy

Here is a link for the mass production cards I have done:
http://sherrie-cardcreme.blogspot.co...s%20production

I sell them to the shops for $3 a card and they turn around and sell them for about $5. It goes pretty well, I average about 100 cards a month. Nice cash for new hobby goodies!

Wow Sherrie, that is awesome. I am just starting out, but that is a great goal to aspire too. Thanks for all your wonderful suggestions.

whatever you do, don't sell yourself short. I sell my cards anywhere from $3.50 to $5.00, depending on time spent making them and cost of supplies.

around here people are cheap and I find that $2 or less is what cards go for no matter how great they are

if you go to the search button and type in "selling cards" - you willf ind a whole list of threads on this very topic...lots of flunctuations based on different regions...

my basic $2.50 each or 6 for $10...

Can anyone tell me what the new SU policy is?

I'm in Canada and I usually sell for $2 or $2.50 per card, with some kind of deal for buying more cards (like 3 for $5). For those of you getting $4 or $5 per card. . . that's awesome! I don't sell in sets, but I have had people ask me if I sell boxes of cards, so that may be something you'd like to think about. This pricing is for 5.5 x 4.25 cards. I sell smaller pocket notes or gift cards for $1 each or 3 for $2.

The new SU policy is that we may sell cards, etc. in permanent retail locations and online, which was not allowed before.

Wow! I hadn't heard that! Thanks!

i was at a craft show today and one person sold hers $3.00 ea or 2 for $5.00 and another persone sold hers $2.00 ea or 3 for $5.00.

I put so much time and effort into a card that I sell mine for 3-5 depending on what they have on them. Some christmas cards are now selling for over 6. I love that!

The SU policy - do you have to identify the stamp as a su product?

I sell most of my cards for $2-3 depending on how complicated they are. People really love them too. I get a lot of orders from people at work and now my name is starting to get around.

Yes you need an angel policy stamp for the back of the card.

I sell most of mine for $3-$5 depending on how embellished it is, so far everyone seems happy with the price.

Sherrie, your blog is very inspiring! Congrats on selling your cards to shops. That's really great!

GloriousGreetings, in the past I have sold my cards for $2 a piece but I'm going to up it to $4 or $5 depending on the card. I'm pretty sure I can get that around here. I know a lady who sells her cards regularly for $6 each. Good luck!

This is all great info, ladies, thanks! I am also venturing out into selling my cards!!

How much do you embellish your cards, esp since it will cost more to send?
Thanks!

Any Tips?
 

Sherry,
I checked out your link and your posts/pics are great! How do you find outlets (customers, stores, etc.) to sell your cards? I only sell cards to my relatives randomly, but have no steady business in this area. I would love to increase the activity of selling finished paper goods. Any tips?

All Viewers,
Have you had luck selling finished cards? If so, where do you find potential customers? I thought about starting a new thread, but the topic relates nicely to the pricing question.

I go into shops "cold turkey" I have about 5 shops and that is all I can keep up with (short of enlisting in my children). I work on consignment basis with these shops. I didn't know the owners at all,..... the worst they can say is "no thanks". So glad I can now add my SU cards into the mix!

Wow! Thanks for the info on SU! new policy. I had a friend ask me to make some for her sister's store, but I didn't think I could! Thanks for all of the info and your willingness to share!

I have been selling my cards at craft show for 4 years. First let me say that I live in rural western Pennsylvania, so one would think that prices would be very low here. I have found that not to be the case, though. I sell almost all my cards singly and the absolutely least expensive one on my table is $3.50. I do carry two sets of cards that are VERY simple and I sell them for $8.00 for a set of 4 and they fly out. In fact, I don't even make any single ones that are less than $4.00 now and those that are $3.50 are older ones that are left over and I am currently clearing them out. Most of mine are in the $4.50 to $5.00 range and rarely does anyone make a comment. Once in a great while......like once a year.......some elderly lady will say they are too expensive, but then every show I have at least a dozen people tell me that they are worth every penny. In fact, I just did a show last weekend with that one elderly lady making the price comment, and another lady at my table at the same time outright disagreed with her on the spot and said "Have you seen the prices at Hallmark lately? And these are much more limited and beautiful!".

Now let me say that my cards are always several layers, many of them with fancier specialty cardstock. There is always some kind of embellishment, anything from a ribbon to metal items. I always stamp the envelope to match and make them as special as I can. I have shaker cards, waterfall cards, gel cards, cards with bookmarks as part of the design, transparency cards, and cards with removeable acrylic ornaments on them. Plus I do the inside with an extra parchment sheet to make them more finished and special.

I have many customers come back every year to get special cards for the "special" people on their list. I have one customer who has me make all her Christmas cards for her.......about 80 of them. She does get a break, but it all depends on the design and paper she has chosen. This year it was simple, so the price was $3.00 each. I have also sold my designs in a museum gift shop not too far from my home.

I guess what I'm trying to say is that if you make quality items people will pay you what you are worth. As someone else said, don't undersell yourself! Sure I get a lot of people telling me they are stampers or that "so and so" stamps, but that happens for all crafts. I also get a lot of stampers actually buying my cards telling me that although they stamp they couldn't do what I do, so they buy mine anyway! Go for it!!

All of your ideas and suggestions are inspiring...Sherrie, your cards are amazing!

Mary

inkedtreasures, I would love to see some of your cards. I went into your gallery...nothing in there...please share with us!

One thing that I didn't read on any of these: I make an insert for cards with different sayings (Happy birthday, thank you etc) The people can pick out which card they like the look of , and them I quickly tape or fabric tac the insert of their choice! Some just want it plain. great suggestions above.
Ginny

This Saturday I will be doing my first craft show in a few years and have priced my greeting cards at $2 each or 3 for $6. Note cards are $1.50 or 3 for $4.

Sounds like that's pretty much standard.

Great thread!

Selling those cards
 

I'm from Maryland, and I agree that pricing is regional. I usually charge $2 per card (4 1/4 x 5 1/2) and I offer a discount for multiple sales.

A very good place to sell cards is the local beauty shop. While customers wait for appointments, etc., having a basket of cards to pick from is a "no brainer."

That is such a great idea. I never thought of that...hmmm...now my wheels are spinning!!

Never under sell yourself. I do not sell any of mine for less than $4.50.
I always use high quality paper and if you have several layers inside and out then this adds up. Ofcourse prices are regional. Let's face it you can hardly buy a Hallmark card for less than $4.00 now. Even assembly line stamping uses the same amount of supplies.
Beauty shops and florists are good places to try and get your cards into. Put a sample book of your cards in page protectors, with the word SAMPLE ONLY stamped inside or on the back so that people can choose their design and put a price on each card.
Best of luck and happy stamping.

WOW am I ever glad I asked this questions. All you ladies are awesome. I love all your ideas and practical suggestions....Thanks soo much!

Tell me about the Angel Stamp used for selling cards.
Thanx

Yes, more info needed about Angel Stamp. Is this the stamps that say Stamped by and have Stampin Up in the Catalog

My understanding of the Angel policy is that you can sell cards w/ SU' copyrighted images as long as you include a stamp that has the copyright on it. Most people do choose the "hand stamped" type of stamps on the back of the card. Just make sure, if that's what you choose to do, that the stamp you choose includes the copyright as part of the image.

If this is not correct, then someone's going to have to clear it up for me as well.