Selling completed models?

[Baltorigamist]

I was just wondering whether anyone had any tips on selling their models. I've sold a couple now--my own designs--(my price is ~$5, depending on the model and paper), but I feel like I could sell more.
I know about craft shows, etc. as well.

One other issue I sometimes have is people tell me that "It's paper, I'm not paying for it." Is it worth convincing them to buy a model or not, and how do you rebuff them?

[mixmastermarc16]

paintings are just paint on canvas......pots are just clay......people pay for the "artistry" used to change rough elements into something beautiful. if they cant understand that one....they dont deserve a model from you anyway, regardless of what they are willing to pay.


ps. five dollars is not enough compensation for your time and efforts.

[Baltorigamist]

Exactly my thoughts, actually.

Yeah, I know. But I used copy paper for those. xD I'll charge more for ones from good paper.

[chesscuber98]

Kade Chan charges over 1800 HKD ( about 200 usd)
That i think is too costly but then again his designs are wonderful.

[Baltorigamist]

That depends how good you think my designs are. ;D I would think $30-50 for simpler stuff, maybe $50+ for more complex stuff.

[Fluffy]

Mine sell for no less than $50 . Art is art. Origami is sculpting, and sculpting is art.

[rgieseking]

Sure, origami can be difficult to sell, but so is any type of art. Most artists, including the very talented ones, have to work hard to start selling their work. So until you put in that work to find the right audience of people who are willing to buy your origami, you probably won't sell much no matter how you price it.

But price has a lot to do with how people look at your origami. If you price it at $5, people will look at it as a fun craft, as something that isn't worth much of anything. That's like minimum wage for 45 minutes or so, not what you would pay a skilled artist/craftsman. If you raise the price and focus on selling well-polished models folded from high-quality paper, then you may be able to start convincing people that what you're selling is actually art and has value (not that it will be easy, but you can get there). I think you're more likely to sell a more expensive model that looks like it belongs in a display case than something cheap made out of copy paper.

[maddoghoek100]

This question seems to pop up often so thought i would take a moment to write out a proper answer, hopefully it gives value to others and is taken in the spirit it is given. Best of luck in your endeavor.

There are four general components to pricing original art: Time, Materials, Brand, Scarcity. i.e. how long did it take to create, what is it made from, and who made it

If you do not have a strong global brand/gallery representation/a publishing contract/etc then you will most likely only ever be compensated for your time and materials until you build those things, but a piece made from gold foil will always be worth at least the scrap value of the gold. If you are well known and you limit the number of works you sell in the market you will be compensated well beyond the amount of time and materials you have in the piece.

Look to the internet or other low cost distribution models. Set up an etsy which is very cost effective and used by a huge number of artists and crafts people. Build your brand through the large convention books and get yourself a web presence of some kind so people can follow your work and see what you have for sale. I displayed some work with my good friend at New York Comic Con this year as an experiment to judge the market. I can say that at a huge event we had a good bit of interest, but it was difficult to get a price point that made it cost effective. So i am skeptical that any craft fair can get you a decent return, especially if there is some cost to attend the event and you would have to choose the models you sell very carefully.

I would say that if you have any intention of selling your pieces you SHOULD NOT ever make something made from copy paper available EVER. Make sure that the things you display and sell represent your absolute best and are displayed in a way that is appealing. Put time and materials into the presentation and it will pay dividends. I make a small run of Christmas ornaments every year of some of my original models to raise a few bucks for charity. I take great care in the packaging and display and have been lucky to sell all that i can make the last two years.

Here are least a few data points for setting a price point against a few other artists with some degree of global presence:
- won park uses a few dollar bills and recently has been been getting 100 to 200 for a koi fish
- sipho mibona uses fine hand painted paper some with gold leaf and gets a few hundred dollars for a koi fish
http://www.etsy.com/people/MABONAORIGAMI
- Origami Caravan auctions for charity on ebay will give you good price points for many other artists in the open market (kamiya, Jason Ku, Peter Engel, and many others). They all sold for less than a private commission, but give a good feel for what the general public is willing to pay
http://origamicaravan.org/2012/05/20/ku_crab1-7/

Here are a few photos of how i pack and display items: