Artist ally, standards in pricing, and a continuation of an discussion.

This post is a conversation i was having on facebook with a group of people who sell at convention regularly. I'm suggesting that there be a price standard, which can be a touchy subject. Here's what I think:

(do excuse typos, this is being writen mid discussion)



I was thinking more of a "gentleman's agreement" not a guild. I wouldn't expect people who don't agree with it to follow, the same way that not all stores set the same prices. But one thing I do notice, is that when they do, it sets a standard that people respect. I noticed with big box stores, people typically don't argue about their prices, they assume that what they are getting is of the best quality. For example, buying paper towels at Target, vs buying them at the dollar store, or a discount store. When there is a standard, things that sell below that price are considered of lower quality. But here's an important point: Typically noobs have to sell high to re recoup their start up prices anyway. It's not as if they would be considered not as good (at least as a result of not being part of the set price group) That works the way artisan goods work (this is a wonky bit, so try to stay with me on this idea) When we are asked to pay more for something, we first assume that it is of better quality, the person isn't experienced, or the product is being produced in smaller amounts. The later is typically true for people who are starting out; they have less to sell.

Is the quality better? Maybe, but that's something that the buyer will be deciding on their own.

So they customer can assume that they are paying more because the item is available in smaller quantities. Sometimes this can make an item seem more valuable, but only some times. The quality of the piece (and the display, because the table and the buying process are still part of the experience, and are still being paid for with sales) is still going to be the deal maker. If the work isn't up to par, the potential appeal of being available in lower quantities vanishes. Heck, it probably wasn't there to begin with. Crummy product+Small quantities= A lack of experience. People can tell that, and it immediately explains the higher price; they need the money. You wouldn't pay Starbucks as much as you do, if they were selling luke warm coffee out of a shack.

None of this happens because of the price standard. A table lack luster table with 7 poor quality pictures is still a table with 7 poor quality pictures.

So lets say the new artist doesn't suck. They come to artist ally with a modest set up, and high quality, appealing work, but they can't sell as low as the price standard. That's ok. This is the type of person who does benefit from only being able to sell in small amounts. Their work only needs to be on par with the standard work. This is, of course, looking at it in the most simplified view point. There are lots of factors when selling on artist ally: location of table, type of convention, subject matter, etc. The comparison I'm making is strictly a price vs quality vs quantity one.

So as I was saying, if the work is equal to or better than the standard, it may take longer to sell (as high priced and high quality items often do) but it still, baring external conditions, sells. If the item is on par, then the idea situation happens: the buyer is allowed to let their tastes make the choice or the.

Holy cow! What an idea!

So to recap:

Those selling by the price standard:

• Work is of a standard quality. 
• Prices are agreed upon by the group
• Anything set lower (scalping) is looked at as being of lower quaility (and if you can afford to go lower than the standard, and still make a profit, You are either printing/producing in bulk, or cutting corners with the quality somewhere. )
• Anything higher (beginner prices) must be able to stand on its own: If it's worth it, it's worth it, and if it's not, it's not. 
• anything higher (made by the group, but higher quality than what anyone else has) gets to "set the standard" for whatever made it special. So now, if anyone else manages to get to that quality level, their is already a standard for it. (example, Even museum pieces generally sell for the same amount, even if that amount is really really high) Yep, that's what setting the standard means!

I'm sure I'm leaving out part some important part of the argument. Leave me a comment pointing it out to me, if you catch it.