No, this isn’t one of those odd fortune cookie adages. As an artist selling your work, it’s important to know the worth of the items you’re selling. And that’s what we’ll do with this article, using blankets and stickers as an example. As a textile artist, you might not sell stickers (though we’ll make the case for them here), and that’s okay. There’s still lots to be learned about items’ worth, so we still think it’s worth your time to give this page a read!
The Blanket: Craftsmanship, Time, and Longevity
As a textile artist, you undoubtedly sell blankets. Whether they’re woven or printed, blankets are likely one of the biggest sellers in your textile business. And, it commands a higher price point because of the craftsmanship, which can include knitting, crocheting, weaving, quilting, and more–note that the higher price point of the blanket includes the time and experience needed to master these skills.
A blanket is also worth a hundred or more stickers because of the time in designing it. You aren’t just weaving whatever comes to your mind (although that’s not really a bad thing, if that’s how your creativity works!). Chances are, you’re sitting with a sketchpad or computer and plotting out the lines, design, and colors you’ll incorporate into it. This also takes experience and education, which an artist must factor into their price.
Lastly, is the longevity of a blanket. Think about the last blanket you bought, and how long it lasted. Outdoor or pet blankets might be a bit of an exception, but in general, a blanket bought for use on the sofa or the bed will typically be used for at least a few years, barring any unfortunate coffee or wine stains. Like with anything else, the lifespan of a product is something that must be factored into the final price, and a longer lifespan often equates to a more quality product, which commands a higher price.
At Fiber Art, we’re well aware of all this. We know the craftsmanship, attention to detail, and materials that go into producing premium textiles and blankets, because we practice it. Our blankets are produced to the best of our abilities, and draw upon years of knowledge and experience in the textile industry. Hence, the premium nature of our products.
The Stickers: Quantity, And Not Much Else
Stickers are plain fun, we get it. People of all ages love to get stickers from their favorite musicians, movie characters, or other meaningful graphics, and place them on water bottles, cars, workstations, and more. But despite the sentimental or emotional value of stickers, that’s just it–they’re only stickers.
Stickers are one of the cheapest items you can produce, costing only a few cents, and can sell for $1-$3. That’s the first problem with them–the margins are simply not as high on them, compared to a product produced with more craftsmanship, like a blanket. You could sell one hundred of them, and that might boost your profit margin to a more premium range, but that poses more problems–you usually won’t be selling hundreds of stickers at a time, and since they’re so easy to mass-produce and little about them that’s proprietary, it’s very competitive to sell them.
There’s no doubt that stickers are fun, and can add another way for you to advertise and spread your brand if you do sell them (or include them in other art pieces that you sell), but they simply don’t have the material or sentimental value of a blanket, even a hundred of them. Stickers usually are forgotten about the second they start peeling or fading, or get tossed out along with that musty water bottle. A single blanket allows for a higher profit margin, and is superior for business in the long run because they carry the sentimental value of the artist along with them, in addition to the material value of their craftsmanship and lifespan.
In The End, The Blanket Proves Its Worth
The value of a well-made blanket by an experienced artist goes well beyond its monetary price, especially in the world of textile art. It’s a material expression of the artist’s time, experience, and craftsmanship, and in this way it provides value to customers. The same cannot be said for cheaper, mass-produced products like stickers, no matter how fun they may be. That's why, for textile artists, it's more worthwhile to focus on high-ticket items, such as blankets. These projects are not only more professionally and artistically fulfilling but also command higher prices, showcasing your talent and dedication.
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