Pricing Products

[JD Alan]

I remember a while back that Dalton Masterson started a thread regarding setting prices for belts holsters and such. I realize it's both challenging and subjective, but I sure am curious what some of you charge for what I would conssider additional things like lining belts and/or holsters. What about setting spots or bullet loops?

I could not set an hourly rate, because no one would pay it. I don't do all that much, but I have people asking me to build specific things for them, and of course that takes time and material, They rightly want to know how much, and to me it's most difficult part of leatherwork.

Well that & sewing toe plugs 

Your help would be most appreciated, and thanks Dalton for responding to my email; it was a big help!

[Trailrider]

You have to at least break even on your materials, even if you count your time as worth nothing.  Beyond that, it depends on the market you are trying to acquire, and how much competition there is (a LOT nowadays!!!) for a particular item.  You need to do a little market research, i.e., get catalogs and prices from the competition.  You also need to decide how much business you want, and whether and where to advertise.  Most printed advertising is expensive!  You may have luck with a website, and it may be a lot cheaper, depending on who does it for you.

There. Now you have all my trade secrets.   

[Cliff Fendley]

I'm curious how others charge for spots.

I generally charge a dollar each for bullet loops over 30.

Toe plugs are no extra just the price for a hand stitched holster. In other words I charge the same for any hand stitched holster since I would actually rather hand stitch a toe plug than a regular closed toe. All Montana, Wyoming, or Slim Jim variants that require a toe plug are hand stitched but I have started offering other styles with the option of hand sewn with linen or machined stitched for a little less.

[JD Alan]

Thanks Cliff; hopefully we'll hear from someone on the spots. One of our shooters has asked for two belts, black with a row of spots on each edge, suede lined. He saw the 2 inch buckle I got from Ohio Travvel Bag, and wants those buckles, which run 10 bucks each plus shipping. The length of the belt is 48 inches from the buckle to the tip.

Trailrider, thanks for your response as well. I'm not advertizing, partly because I don't have lots of time to devote to leatherwork. I'm trying to respond to the needs of my club.

I'm looking forward to hearing from some other guys. Thanks a lot     

[Mogorilla]

I haven't sold a lot of items.   I basically price the leather, and take an inventory of supplies.  If I need to buy needles, thread, etc, I factor that into the price.   Once that is totaled, I add 20% to it.   Usually there is leather left over, that is my bonus and can be used for other items for myself, or friends and family.   10% of the sales price I donate to a Native American School in the Dakotas.  I figure in the grand scheme of it, I was always an Indian when playing C&I as a kid and it is a fun hobby that keeps me off the streets, so they can benefit.   The remaining 10% goes back to my leather/ammo bank account.   Then the process begins again for the next project.   Not sure if this was helpful or not, but that is how I price it.   I don't factor time into it, as I am slow and still learning.  no one could afford to buy my stuff but Bill Gates if I charged by the the hour, and he would probably baulk at the price. 

[outrider]

JD,

Does the customer want bullet loops on these belts?  I would charge at least $100.00 for a 2" lined belt...more if bullet loops were involved....2" wide shotgun belts with 12 double loops, suede lined, and a 6 loop slide for handgun cartridge = $135.00 min.

[Slowhand Bob]

JD, just a couple of observations that kind of relate to pricing.  It would seem that many of the commercial makers put most of their mark-up on the base item and thus are able to deal down for the add-ons.  When I see things such as liners added for say twenty percent or less over base on a plain holster, then I know that a liner actually adds far more time and cost to the maker than that minimal percentage added to cost.  There are so many variables, such as Cliffs question concerning spots, are they individually hand set or do you have a press set up just for that task?  Cliff also mentions the difference between hand sewing versus machine.  I hate hand sewing box joints (toe plugs) and consider it time consuming and tedious work while others do quite well at it so I might charge more than Cliff for this.  Is every holster or belt a law unto itself or do you spend most of your time wqorking with established patterns?  There are many variations between the amount of production techniques, machine versus man and/or replication versus art that must be figured into pricing.  Most of you guys are what I would consider to be in the artist side of the business and how could one expect you to compete with the prices offered by Hunter Holsters or one of the Mexican importers?  While these outfits spent years building numbers, you guys spend that time building skills and beauty. 

[JD Alan]

No loops Outrider. I should have addressed that. With the buckle I figure roughly 35 in material. If it wasn't for the lining it would be a lot easier, meaning cheaper, and I will tell him so. The way he wants the spots spaced each belt will need 32 spots.

Good questions Bob. I don't have a press; I use Standard Rivet Company setters. I don't have a machine that works well enough to replace hand sewing, so everything is done by hand. I am most definitely a hobbyist, and have no illusions about that.

I enjoy doing this, but I'm also doing it to help with the cost of shooting, so I want to do more than simply replace material.   

Mogorilla, Outrider & Slowhand Bob I really appreciate your input.

Outrider I hope you are enjoying the bike. I bought my '94 Heritage Softail back from the friend I sold it to 3 years ago. I'm no longer feeling the effects of the stroke while riding, though I am getting back into it slowly, not having ridden for the past two years   

[Boothill Bob]

I'll take 369 for a lined belt, edge tooled with 20 loops, if not lined - 107.. Lined belt without loops is 251.
I can have high prices, we are few that makes hand tooled holsters in Sweden, and I'm the best 

[Don Nix]

There are several ways to figure how to charge for your leather orders .
If your not comfortable charging an hourly rate (I wasnt for years ,as I figgered "whats time to a hog?") . then the best way is to just use your supply costs.
The way I like best is to  start with your leather.say you order a side of skirting. and you pay $150 ,add shipping cost if any to this.
Now weigh the leather and divide the wirhg  by the cost and get a cost per ounce figure. Now you know how much it costs per ounce. When you cut a belt for a customer that needs a 32" belt. the strip you cut will be considerably longer so weigh the entire strip.. Then triple that number and add in the cost of glue,dye stitching and youve got the price per item.
By tripling your cost, you recoup your investment ,and can show a profit.
Dont forget to include your shipping and handling costs.
In the case of a belt like I described above. If I cut a 32''belt from a side 70 " long I chatge for the whole 70' strip.
That leaves me with a 38' belt strip. On the next order i will weigh that strip for price per ounce and x3 again. Now I am into pure profit and that recoups any labor charges.
On tooling I'll add say $25 for extra tooling if it goes beyond the basic . charge extra for spots always at the rate of 3x cost and shipping.
Its the way I do it ,and not a cut in stone right or wrong way. Its just one way thats easy to figure.

[TN Mongo]

J.D.,

I've struggled with this for years.  Currently for lined holsters and gun belts with a simple border stamp, I'm charging what Kirkpatrick charges for their Long Hunter rig.  The price goes up for spots, conchos, or a different buckle, etc.  Another top local holster maker and Outrider have recently told me that I'm not charging enough for the stuff I make.

If I charged by the hour, few people could afford my stuff.  I'm still teaching school and coaching, so currently this is just a money making hobby.  Leather work is "therapy" for me, but I think I should get paid a fair amount.  A week ago I had eveyone's stuff finished and was about to start a rig for my wife, who has just taken up cowboy shooting, when I got three more orders for stuff.

[Cliff Fendley]

A week ago I had eveyone's stuff finished and was about to start a rig for my wife, who has just taken up cowboy shooting, 

Tell her not to shoot the Cowboys Mongo, their not so bad once you get to know them

[Dalton Masterson]

JD,
I sent you a reply via email.

Basically, I charge enough extra for lining anything, that only the serious people will bite on lining. I dont like to do lining. The rest is no sweat.

I basically charge enough for a belt and holster to cover the cost of a new W&C side, plus a little extra for tools.
I am not making money at it for sure, but I am also doing it as a hobby as well. As long as my costs are covered, I am pretty happy.

For spots, if its just a few on a holster loop, I dont charge. If its a lot of spots, like my 1911 Frazier holster, I kind of eyeball it for time/spots, and adjust the price accordingly.

I am probably too cheap, but probably too expensive all at the same time.

There is a semi local maker that has a full pricing schedule in his catalog. He even charges for pattern making time. If I can remember, I will try to dig it out and see what spots were running.
DM

[Dalton Masterson]

Also, I used to tell every customer that it would be a 6 week wait, but that is now more like 8 weeks, especially with having a fun 2 year old around. Even then, I always have a 2 or 3 order backlog.
Thats plenty for me, in my opinion, as far as offering good customer service from myself, and managing time at home.

Taking that long, I cant see charging for my time.
DM

[TN Mongo]

Cliff,

You made me laugh!  Having her shooting with me is fun, but now I'm reloading for two and she has commandeered my new pair of Black Hawks as her personal revolvers.

[Cliff Fendley]

Wish I could talk my wife into CAS.