For what it is worth

Last weekend I attended a vintage/handmade fair as a vendor. This particular event has become a real favourite of mine. It is really well organised, there is always a wonderful selection of sellers and lots of other things to do when you are there too. It's a great place to catch up with friends too, a wonderfully social event.  I usually do really well here, selling on the day and in picking up commissions. Unfortunately, this wasn't the case this time. Everyone had a bad day sales wise.

A lady came up to me stall and was interested in buying one of my new birthday brooches. They are super cute. They are made of felt with a fabric applique, with a little picture frame and button detail and a age number to top it off.  It was to be a present for her niece's first birthday. She ummm-ed and ahh-ed over it, then decided to buy it. I put in a bag for her and asked her for the £4. "Oh" she said, " I thought they were £1" (To be fair, there was a little bowl of fabric badges that I sell for a pound, next to the birthday brooches on my table). She decided then that she didn't want it.

 

I was at first disappointed, then angry. I was gobsmacked that she thought my work was worth so little. How do you put value on a maker's time and attention to detail? Apart from the materials, what cost do you assign to the design process and the time it takes to make something handcrafted? If you want something cheap, mass produced and made in China - fine. Come and see me if you want something that is unique, lovingly handmade, and costing a little bit more. £4 please.