Question about selling quilts...

[quilting mama]

Question for you ladies...Do many of you sell your quilts? If so, how did you get started? My husband and I have been discussing the possibilities. I would like to do something from home to earn a little extra money. We still have a house full of children and there is no possible way for me to work outside of the home. He figured if I'm making quilts anyway, maybe try selling something. I just wasn't sure how to go about getting my stuff out there. What are the best sellers? Bed quilts...smaller stuff like runners...baby quilts???

This has probably been discussed on here before, if it has, I apologize. Haven't researched the site yet to see if there is a thread on this subject. Haven't had the time lately.

Thanks ladies!

[tfrankum]

It's great to try to work from home, but there is one drawback to selling handmade quilts. THE COST! By the time you pay for the fabric, and the time it takes to piece a larger quilt and quilt it, you have a hard time making any money. People look at the fact that they can go to Wal-mart and buy a "handmade" quilt (made in a factory somewhere overseas) and it only costs $40-50. And, you can find some pretty ones. I purchased a couple before I started quilting myself.

But, when we make a queen or king size quilt by hand, you're looking at $300-500 with materials and time. Most people aren't willing to pay that. I'll give you an example. I recently made a baby quilt for a customer. It was a panel with borders - took about 3 hours to put together. Add another 3 hours for quilting an binding - that's 6 hours of labor. I only charged $10 an hour. Add the $65 in fabric (she had a specific fabric she wanted that I had to order online, and she took so long to make up her mind, I had to order from several websites to get it, which adds shipping charges to every order), so a 45x60 baby quilt ended up costing her $120. She was thrilled, and happily paid it, but mentioned that she never knew how much went into a quilt.

With the economy like it is, it's hard to find people with that kind of money to spend on a baby quilt - unless you can get in with professional people - doctors, lawyers, etc - that have more money than time and want something specific for a gift. The only other thing you can make money on is making scrap quilts from fabric leftovers that come from another customer's job. Then you only have your time involved. I would love to be able to do it for a living, so if you figure out how, please let me know.

[Bubby]

What I would recommend that you do is to make some small pieces like baby quilts, tummy quilts, changing mats, table runners, potholders, placemats. baby bibs, tote bags and set yourself up with a store on Etsy or eBay. By doing it this way you can begin to sell items as soon as you finish something rather than having to wait for a craft fair, etc. Yes, you pay a small percentage for using the service, but it's a way to get going right away. You will never get your money and time out of making larger quilts. Grandmas are happy to pay decent money for baby quilts. This would be a valuable way to make contacts and possibly someone would request that you make them a larger quilt and you could negotiate the price up front. This is the way I would go if I wanted to sell my quilted items. At any rate, it's something to think about.

I make and sell rag quilts from my home, but I'm known in my area and I don't even have to advertise. The phone rings when someone wants a quilt. I try to keep a boy and girl quilt on hand most of the time so if someone needs one immediately I have something to offer them. I know I have an unusual situation that most people don't have.

Hugs, Barb

[quilting mama]

I was thinking along the lines like you said Barb. Smaller pieces and setting up something on Etsy. I was given bolts of fabric. Literally. Plus odds and ends pieces. I have about 8 large totes of fabric. So, at least for now, I wouldn't really have to pay for fabric. I was once in business selling placemats, runners, etc. mad in the "rag quilt" style. I sold to shops around the country wholesale. That was about 8 years ago though. My MIL set me up in business. I quit when we had more children than time! haha Now I have a little more time and would like to work from home again.

Thanks!!

[Jean Sewing Machine]

Thanks for this discussion, because it is something I am seriously thinking about to do in my retirement--which at this point will be Jan. 2013. I want to be able to sell, but not have the hassle of trying to find customers. Barb, how did you get started with your customers? Word of mouth? I've seen your stuff, I'd be a customer in a minute!

[Divine Daisy]

I always seem to have someone asking from word of mouth. Many back out when they find out the cost though lol. What I have discovered over time is that there are ALWAYS some people with money and they will pay for well designed and handmade items. For a while I tried to compete, tried to price as low as I could and still make something. Then I had an enquiry for something I really really didnt want to make so I priced it through the roof thinking she would say no way! Instead she said great! From that two things happened.......1, I had to make something I didnt want to lol and 2, she got something she valued very highly, knew it wasnt a throw away or disposable item but something she would keep and pass on. From her by word of mouth others came and I charged what the quilts are really worth......time, fabric, how complete the pattern is. If it is too much they go and buy something from Marks and spencers but mostly they order.

The other thing I do is 'dress' furniture shops. I now have two of them. They put a % ontop of what I want for an item and thats fine but they do that, I tell them what I want out of it and if they add 20,30 or50% I dont care lol. Actually they dont add that much but you know what I mean. Very often when they sell a bed they also sell the quilt I have dressed it with, along with cushions and sometimes a bed runner too. When they sell a table they frequently also sell the tablerunner. They sell my stuff stand alone too but people buy a whole look very often because they don't have colour skills themselves and find it difficult to get a 'look' assembled.

Finally I have a very sophisticated website which Mr Daisy built for me. Sometimes I will put quilts I have around on there but mostly it just has information about my quilts, cushions ect and invite people to contact for a bespoke service. And they DO contact. At times I have a waiting list for design. If I am pushed for time I wont take an order but tell them I will contact them when I have space. Its absolutely amazing how people will wait, pay what its worth and value the service and quality if it doesnt come too easy. Of course I lose some people who want something in a hurry but when its all weighed up I keep more than I lose. Then I get word of mouth from happy customers.

My site is down just now because I just dont need more pressure, but it will go back up when things are sorted. Domain prices are very reasonable, there is usually a teenager who can assemble a site for you if you can't yourself or there are site templates that are easy. I am very lucky with Mr D......he built me a really divine website which draws in customers. Design of the site should reflect what you do. Chose your images and text carefully. Get a name that is easily remembered make the site EASY to use.

Meatime I dress my shops and make sales. Find a handmade furniture shop, wander in and show them some stuff and offer to dress for them. And do NOT under price yourself.

Gets off my soapbox

[sunnyQLDmum]

I sell lots of things on facebook and once every 6 weeks there is a local market that I take my things to. I do quite well at the market and it gives me a chance to get my name out into the community. From there I direct people to my facebook page and I usually get enough orders to carry me through to the next market.
I only buy fabric and supplies when they are cheap and really stock up to see me through to the next sale. I order a lot online as well.
Most of the best selling items are baby things, change mats, nappy rolls, burp cloths, small quilts, bibs etc. Feel free to have a look at my facebook page for ideas, the link is in my signature line.