Why Should Artists be Obligated to Do Custom Work?

Shall I start a controversy?

I was recently on a forum and found a thread asking the question "Why would someone not want to do custom work?".

It seems everyone has a different opinion. I think this is great, we are different people. There are as many reasons to not do custom work as there are to do it. I think it is about who you are and why you create. It is the difference between being a crafter and being an artist. Both are legitimate perspectives, just with different needs and motivations.

Some of us just feel a need to express ourselves and our own vision, not someone else's. And many of us in this category will occasionally customize for size, etc. The problem with this for me is that I never make the exact same piece twice. It begins to get close to the line when I make say a bracelet in red, but someone wants one exactly like it in a larger size. If I do so, I will have made two bracelets very nearly the same... In fact, I recently accepted a custom request to make a bracelet in a larger size. I will be using a different button, and the original bracelet is not for sale. This way, I will not be putting two bracelets out there that are the same.

Sometimes, when in a creative lull, a custom request where the customer gives me some creative freedom can be a challenge. It can stir the creative energy. For me, it is about the creativity, not the manufacturing. That is why I do not use anyone else's patterns, I make my own.

There is a commitment that goes with accepting a custom order. The customer rightfully expects the item within a reasonable time frame. Some of us cannot make those kind of commitments. I think it is better to say no, than to say yes, and then not be able to comply.

Of course, there is a polite way to say no, but some people do not like to hear no even if said as diplomatically as possible.

The person who started the thread said that she had asked an artist to do a custom job. Apparently the artist refused, saying that she only worked on what she felt like working on. The artist offered to let this person know if/when she felt like doing it at a later date. The person seemed to feel this was a rude response. Another poster agreed, saying she would just take her business elsewhere, where it was appreciated! Sounds to me like she is "going off in a huff" because she did not get what she wanted. Disappointing, I am sure, but does it merit a huff?

What is wrong with saying I do not feel like it? Is it to say that if I don't have some reason why I cannot do it, then I should do it, regardless of how I feel? Do I not have a right to say no for my own reasons?

For me, feelings are very important to the creative process. In order to do a good job, I need to feel like it. I have read of many other artists who express this as well.

I put a note in my shop announcements about how I do not do custom work, with a convenient reason of already having too many projects. While it is true that I have way too many projects already that I want to do, I can't help but to wonder what I should say if that were not the case. That I simply do not want to? I am not very good at making up excuses, I am too direct for that.

There seems to be an expectation that if a customer wants something other than what is offered in a shop, the shop owner should jump through hoops to comply. That we should do whatever it takes to make a sale. That if we don't then we are somehow in the wrong, and will get criticized for it. Like being told we don't appreciate a customer's business just because we don't want to do custom work. I do appreciate every customer I get, even the customer with a request I cannot or will not fulfill. I appreciate the customer's interest in my work. When I say no, it is not lack of appreciation of the customer, it is simply that I am being true to myself. Certainly the customer has a right to shop elsewhere if they cannot get what they want from me. But why criticize me?

Balancing the Scales

Pricing. So very important. So very difficult. Seems easy at first. Calculate cost of materials, and calculate how long a piece took to make, factor in an hourly rate, set your price. However, pricing is not so simple as all that.

I opened My Etsy Shop on 14 January 2007. One month ago. I began with Introductory Prices. I put up an announcement in my shop messages. From various forums, emails, etc, I have received a lot of feedback saying my prices were too low. Some came right out and said I was out of my mind for pricing so low. Some of the feedback was indirect; from comments made saying what a GREAT PRICE a certain piece of jewelry had.

Now, much of this feedback was from other artists who rightly are concerned with pricing. Pricing of their competitors as well. Hand crafted jewelry is very competitive. There are a lot of us out there. On the one hand, we compete. On the other we cooperate, trading tips and supportive attitudes.

Competing, we are usually driven to WIN. Our culture tells us to "stamp out the competition". I certainly like to win. I don't really want to stamp anyone out, though. And Enlightened Self-Interest tells me that in order to live in a better world, I should help to create that world. If I help to create a better world, I get to live in it.

The crafting community I have recently joined here on the internet seems to operate under this Enlightened attitude. I have come across forums as mentioned above. Among many other topics, pricing keeps coming up. So it appears difficult for a good many of us artists.

With all the competition, so much to choose from - How do I get the attention, and of course the buyers? By being unique. I believe my work is unique. There are few micro macrame artists out there (compared to other techniques). Networking, and advertising gets the lookers. But to get someone to buy? A common practice is lowering prices. In the short term, it may produce some sales. However, does it devalue the work? Do people get used to the lower prices and come to expect them? If the prices are low, do customers not see the value of the work? Or do they think it is easy to produce these pieces? Then, there is the psychological theory that when you raise your prices, customers value your work more and decide to buy. I have been reading, asking, and reading.

Here is what I have come up with. At first, as mentioned above, I began with Introductory Prices. Since no one knew me, yet, I felt that was the first order of business. I hope this implied to my potential customers that my work is worth more, and will be priced higher in the future. My work is worth more. I spend time developing my designs, and it can take hours to make a piece (depending on the intricacy). I must string each bead, and tie each knot. I have 10 years experience, and my skills are honed. So my execution is pretty good if I do say so myself.

So now I am raising my prices. I want to remain competitive, and not price myself out of business, though. So, I raise the price on some items only a few dollars, and others a bit more. I have begun already, editing some items, and relisting others to get attention. My introductory prices remain good on any items I have not gotten to yet. This will take a few days, so check in and see what I am doing. I am also renovating a little, reorganizing my sections, etc.

Here are my recent changes:

The earrings went from $8.00 to $15.00.
The bracelet went from $18.00 to $22.00.

This bracelet went from $18.00 to $24.00
And this one went from $28.00 to $35.00


I am sure I will continue to struggle with this issue.
I am open to feedback. Please leave a comment.