I Am Lowering My Prices To $1

In which size?

Love your style!

How about an I'll pay YOU 1 cent to buy my art "sale"?

Even this probably would get NO takers.

My idea is an If you don't buy it, then I'll burn it before your eyes auction. "Save my paintings from death; pay only the equivalent of twenty-five cents a day to give this poor deserving painting a home. [Do sad, dramatic TV commercials to promote it, like those abused-animal commercials or those starving-children-in-other-countries-commercials]

buyers might bite - but previous buyers and perhaps even future buyers may feel you have cheated them. Ok, so it's an advertising stunt that might work. Of course, at the current rate of my sales - that would be a bonus - I might could sell thirty for a dollar to make my next payment to FAA.

lower prices don't attract attention. higher prices do. try those.


---Mike Savad

I think if I were to take this much of a lose I would take a different appraoch rather then telling people your only making $1 on your prints. I would offer a discount equating to your only making $1 per print. For example if FAA charges $11.00 for a print and your markup is normally $10.00 giving a final cost of $21.00 and all you want to do is make $1.00 per print. if my math is correct it would be around a 43% discount when you round up. I think your sending the wrong message by telling people your only making $1 on each sale and to me that's devalueing your prints. Rather then people thinking wow what a great deal, people are thinking wow why is he so CHEAP on his prints compared to others. Whereas if you run a special discount of 43% off with a discount code which I believe FAA offers discount codes (a code the purchaser enters at checkout) I think you would get better results this way. I'm guessing your goal here is to get traffic to your gallery? You could even offer a buy one print get one of equal or lesser value for free. I know I can do these codes through smugmug and I'm merely guessing that FAA offers this same thing but have not yet checked it out here.

Some people have advised that the way to increase sales is to raise your prices, not lower them. Some people have tried this and found that they sell MORE prints, and get more profit on each one! The perception of value is a complex thing. Fire sale price reductions probably don't help your customers to perceive your work as valuable. I hope your sale works, but maybe you should try increasing your prices, particularly on larger prints. Everybody loves a rags to Rich(i)es story. You've already had rags. All I am saying is "give rich a chance". (rimshot)

its like - how do you perceive the art - imagine the image you supplied at the top in a:

1. subway display splayed on the ground.
2. in a dollar store.
3. in a gallery

you would have different prices for the same work. because it's in a gallery, or the price is high, people see it as a work that took a long time to make with a certain mastery of things. if they see it in a dollar store, they think cheap knock off. and if they see it on the street or in some subway vendor, they will probably not even make eye contact. even though it's the same thing. you couldn't get a really high price for in on the street, and it is a setting.

there was a test (though be a it a crude test). a very famous violist, with a very expensive violin, played songs in a local subway station. it's rush hour and this is what messed up his test. but anyway, people just rushed by, they had no time to listen. he concluded that people are too much in a rush to see the art right in front of them, he later went back to play on stage at some fancy concert place. people ignored him because of his setting, for the most part.


---Mike Savad

interesting,idea and I like your style

however, I read this recently, urban myth and all
Guy bought a new fridge, nothing wrong with the old one, just an upgrade,
He put the old one in his garden in front of his house with a sign, 'FREE TO GOOD HOME'
after a few days there were no takers so he decided to put FRIDGE FOR SALE €50
It was stolen that night.

That was not an urban myth, it was my fridge and I want it back .........Slan agus Dia Tony

Well so far nothing. I figure that if I can make a dollar then that is a dollar that I didnt have. Hey I'm not losing anything by doing this, not gaining much either. I mean it's not like I sell massive amounts of art on here anyway, I sold one all year last year and nothing this year. I want that to change, I want to look and find that I sold 5 a day! That would be friggin awesome! Mike I want all 3! I Tried raising prices then raising them more then raised them some more, and to what avail? The echo of the breeze blowing over the desert. I want business and lots of it.

Richie, one time I was given two tickets for an opera and when I try to give away the other one before the show. No one would take it for free.They all think it must some kind of scam until I went up to a woman whom was lining up at the box office for a rush ticket. I offered her the ticket for $60 which was less than the $120 it was wroth. She right away accepted my offer.
Maybe you should offer if one buy the first print at the regular price they can purchase the second one for $1? That might help.

telling us there is a sale isn't much point, those that want to collect want the original, anyone else who might want a print won't be here. you have to get it out there. 5 a day would take a while. thing is, if you don't tell anyone your here, no one will see your stuff. that's why you have to get on other forums and places to display. maybe make a card that has your artwork on one side with a qr code on the other. and just spread them out. you can even print them yourself in small batches. one code per picture, and it takes them right to that image.

people do want to think they are getting some kind of value for their money. and if they see they are getting it for cheap, they will think it's cheap. it's all a mentality. however this month in particular will be slower than the rest. your better off raising prices and sending out discount codes.


---Mike Savad

Let's look at this like it's a dog. Say, someone gives you a dog for $1. Well, heck, he didn't cost you anything and you invested nothing. Most people don't appreciate that which they get for free because it has no market value and they treat it as such. The dog ends up living in the backyard or they give it to a friend if it's too much trouble. Why would they want to invest time and love, discipline and food into something which someone else valued so little, they gave it to them for $1? IMO, if you want people to value your work, you should be proud enough to ask what you believe it is worth. When they buy it, they feel as if they've bought something special then. Your price is a reflection of how you see it and will affect how they see it also - cheap (as Mike said above).

Your work is unique and beautiful. You should be proud of it and show that you are. :)

Lil

I spent some time in the record business a number of years ago. I had an interesting conversation with a buyer for a very large retailer.

"Dieter," I said, "I bet if I lowered the unit price to zero it would increase the size of your order."

Dieter's reply?

"No, it probably wouldn't. You represent a niche product line in the recorded music business. I'm only going to sell so many copies of any given title and my order reflects my projections. Because you're a niche product, the people who are going to buy you stuff are probably not particularly price sensitive. They'll buy your stuff whatever the price is, as long as it's reasonable and lowering the price isn't going to make any more of those people ... so, lowering your price isn't going to make my order any bigger."

I think there may be some food for thought in there somewhere.

the same thought process works at any store. if you go to a dollar store, you are no more likely to fill your whole car with the stuff they have there just because it is cheaper than retail. many PODs think in that way, they tell everyone they should lower the percentage to 10% and they will sell more. but no, they won't. if someone wanted just one shirt, they will buy that one shirt, and not two just because it was cheaper. and if someone really wants something they will pay more. this is a gallery, so people are ready to spend money here. so prices should never be too low.


---Mike Savad

the same thought process works at any store. if you go to a dollar store, you are no more likely to fill your whole car with the stuff they have there just because it is cheaper than retail. many PODs think in that way, they tell everyone they should lower the percentage to 10% and they will sell more. but no, they won't. if someone wanted just one shirt, they will buy that one shirt, and not two just because it was cheaper. and if someone really wants something they will pay more. this is a gallery, so people are ready to spend money here. so prices should never be too low.


---Mike Savad

These are all related posts. One related concept I learned in Psychology 101 is fairly interesting. If you want somebody to like you, is it better to do them a favor, or to get them to do a favor for you? The fact is, it's better to get them to do you a favor. Once they've done this, even in order to do it, they have to decide that they like you, and by investing in you, and having invested in you, it is now in their interest to protect that investment by continuing to like you, and to continual to invest emotional capital in you.

I see no sense in doing this. The fact that the eating place was giving away food at no cost is a totally different concept. Had they given their meals at their cost, some in the public would have wanted to barter later on. (just a bit of personal reasoning) What was the purpose for "food for free" day? Was it to make a particular point, or possibly to help the homeless and hurting? Was it customer appreciation day?

But since we are on the subject of selling art for only $1.00 profit in this forum, and since there are many that scratch their heads, wondering where the sales are, I hope that you will follow-up and tell us the volume that this marketing maneuver garners. Maybe it would be an eye opener to some of us who play it close to the cuff.

Whatever my reasoning may be I wish you good luck in this venture. Do let us know the results.

I just had a burst of inspiration to try this out, I might sell nothing, I might sell 100. I don't know. So far all it has done is increase my visitors and that in itself is great. I have tried almost everything I can think of to sell my art by self marketing and it has done little so far, so I thought that I would go the complete other direction for a bit and see what happens. I advertise on facebook and twitter @RichieMontgome1 and dont have many followers or friends so it feels as if I am talking to a wall about my art. I don't have family or friends in real life, at least none that want to buy art lmao, so I sit here debating to myself as to what to do. This idea really struck me as a good idea so I did it.

you can post anything in here and it will increase your view count.

i post my work on other sites and gather followers that way, you should do the same. get on deviant art (just don't check off that they can download it). put it on flickr, with the same settings, and don't join getty. have tiny ones printed as cards and maybe hand them out where you eat? get onto zazzle. it's free. and while your stuff might not sell well as a poster, it could sell well as a i-phone or pad case. and other odd things they sell there. there are other pod's you can put them on as well. you do have more flexibility then i do, since i have so many images it takes a long time for me to go to another site.

personally i need to do the same thing. i made a 1000 cards and handed out like 5, and that was to family. i was reading in some other forum, this one guy would leave his card on or near the urinal or in a stall of the bathroom as a sort of reading material while they stand or sit there. he would go into computer stores and change the homepage and put on all the large screens his web page. and it seems to work for him.


---Mike Savad

you also have to look at it like this:

you've been here for about 7 months. no one knew who you were when you first started here. it often takes years before anyone knows your alive, even online. in the past you mentioned that it will just happen, and your a free spirit or something (unless i'm confusing you with someone else). and that if you wait long enough it will just happen. but it won't do that.

i looked at you twitter page, the only keywords your using is #billionDollarArt #art a few have #fineart. but it doesn't describe the image like #surreal #bus #people #newyork #city etc. those tags are the things people are looking for and they will find you because you used those words. you have to make people curious enough to want to click on a blind link. just saying art isn't enough.

also to note if your using TWITPIX to post your work there - don't. they have the rights to sell your work if they want. they have in the past, but mostly for news related things. though the size and shape you should be safe. it's something you should be aware of though.

the problem with facebook is - in order to get people there you have to advertise for facebook. and that's counter productive. have the page in case people are looking, but beyond that i wouldn't fret about that. having your own website, that's a better idea.

oh and twitter - make sure to add #tags - to your description as well. the more varied and exact, the more exact your friends will be.


---Mike Savad

I will say this. I raised my prices and got more orders. Also, because I didn't like selling greeting cards very much, I REALLY raised their prices. It hasn't made a dent in my sales and I can't say it increased them because it could have been for other reasons but my sales have increased, even in greeting cards. I'm thinking about raising them even more!

Lil

the price i have for my single card - that sells ok. haven't tried the new prices for bulk cards yet.


---Mike Savad

I have sold one! And to a fine artist on this site even! Yippie I knew this idea would work out!

and all you had to do was throw away most of your profit.

are you going to frame it?


---Mike Savad

I just wish there was a way to sell them for donation only, People could just give me what THEY think it is worth. That way I would not have to worry about pricing and neither would they. Actually this would make life easier for everyone if the entire world was on a bartering system. I know I would trade food for my art and other things. All I need is food to survive really the rest of this stuff we surround ourselves with is just a luxury. I am still happy to say that everything I own can still fit in my backpack, granted it is much heavier now but it does!

?

Frame what Mike?

a tried and true method is to show you have a presence on somebody's page who IS selling a lot of work - it's all about networking. If someone with a lot of traffic has comments on their page it's likely you will get some people clicking those people's profiles to see if they have anything of interest - the whole "buddying with the rich to seem important" scheme.. it may seem like work and maybe a bit wrong but if you're giving those people honest comments then there isn't anything you are doing wrong in the end anyways.

I've been on this site for 2 days and already I am selling work. It pays to market yourself.

and he means are you going to frame the artwork you sold as a reminder of your sell.. a bit of a sarcastic jab your way methinks..

frame your dollar.

there couldn't be a barter system, most people want you to pay them, and well that wouldn't work especially since this site needs their own cut. it wouldn't make it easier but harder for those that need that money to survive. and the amount of insult.... hey i just got 50 cents from some guy. yay. no, that's why we set prices. many don't think art has any value at all.

you say you need food, yet your using a computer, with electricity, in order to sell in the first place. you can't make the money without those things, and if you only get pennies for the work, you can't afford any of those things.


---Mike Savad

Yes unfortunately this site or any other that I can think of demand money for products. And in a monetary based society yes, that is acceptable because that is what the world we know of revolves around. I would like to create a website and a bartering based system for my art someday. I think it is a great idea, it would give everyone the chance to have a work of art even if they had no money. This would create a whole new way of thinking about the "value" of an object. If you take away the money issue then what is left is strictly limited to one persons view of how much that object means to them. Have the whole thing "Open" to negotiation. I like it! If money is the root of all evil then eliminate it.

oh my gash good luck amigo
BTW. nice work!

so how would one paypal a sheep? the reason we have money, is because it's hard to put chickens in your pockets.


---Mike Savad

I 'm beginning to think Rich's best friend is a deadbeat. Freeloaders are liike fleas; once you get them they are ddifficult to get rid of. Good luck though!

money is not the root of all evil - people and their limited comprehension of the bigger picture of life are. Change their comprehension and you change the world.

Otherwise "chickens" simply become a replacement for "money".

Congrats! on selling one Richie.

i need to turn this hen into change, i wonder how that works. maybe we can go back to the huge stone wheel system.


---Mike Savad

Even if none of this transpires it is a great thought experiment.

Mike I'll give you 5 gold coins for that chicken.

how many oxen do i need to pay my electric bill, and how do i get them in the envelope?

hi, yeah, fill it up with regular... how much? oh about, 2 horses and a cow worth.


5 gold coins should be worth about 5 grand in todays market, your own, let me go get one.


---Mike Savad

Not necessarily livestock as the bartering basis Mike, but if I could use this site as a tool of sorts to print my work and sell it at cost and then whatever donation the buyer wants to give. Something like that would be awesome, no need for prices period. Just donation only. I think if someone wants a work of mine they should not have to pay an exorbitant amount for it, just what they think it is worth to them. When you get down to it is is really just ink on paper and how much does ink on paper cost me, very little. But to a person who really loves my art it might be worth millions.

the thing is, paintings are just paint on cloth. and digital art is just light. they aren't buying your materials, they are buying your skill, creativity, imagination, etc. that's what you are selling them. and you can't tell me that it's not worth anything. otherwise the buyer can make it themselves. they are buying your skill and talent, otherwise they would go elsewhere. they might love it, and if the love it, they should be willing to spend money for it. if they think it's worth millions, then they should be able to afford spending a few hundred on it. yaks or otherwise.


---Mike Savad

Ya know the more I think about it, the more I like this idea. Donation only, if you have a buck you can get some of Richie Montgomery's art. How can I put a price tag on something that has sentimental value to someone else? If someone came up to me on the street and really loved my art and all they had was a dollar and I had to watch them walk away without it I would be heart broken, I would just give it to them and tell them to keep the dollar (and I have done this!). Because in the end it is not about how much money you have in the bank. It's not. This can all be changed quickly back to getting more of a profit, but for now and until I decide, I think I will keep it like this. In 400 years I will most likely be dead and the money amount given to me for a work of my art will be meaningless. I think my art will still be bringing happiness though.

if you want to do it like that. then i would suggest going to a copy place and see what you'll get for your stuff.

as pricing sentimental value, i've had no problem so far. but these are just copies and not a real thing, very little value will be held onto one of these.


in the end it all depends why you are here and what you want to get out of your art. if you want to make money then you have to charge money. otherwise there is little point in being here. but you can do what like, right now, this is my job. this is where my money comes from. i wouldn't be able to do it for for a dollar profit, that would barely cover health insurance.


---Mike Savad

I am not making a profit right now as it is so doing this will either keep me as is or it might make my art very popular. either way its a step forward.

And, maybe it will get you a few sales and help you get placed higher in the searches here, whereas then you can increase your rates if you wish or leave them for only $1.

Exactly!

on of my theories about ranking - it may not be the amount you sell,but the amount you sell it for. but it's unconfirmed. i do know that the higher you mark your price, the more the site gets a cut.


---Mike Savad

Love your art work! The detail is amazing! Let us know if your $1 sale works.

A very interesting concept you mentioned Richie; What are things worth to you - if you couldn't asign a monetary value to them.
Just little green pieces of paper - or a swipe of plastic now a days. We know what we have to put into it to get them - but are we are really aware of what we give up ?

I think the barter system could work very well for you in your personal life to get your needs met, but for here chickens & goats don't Fed Ex so easy.