Calendars

Are calenders a big seller anywhere?

I have not used a hard copy of a calendar for years unless I printed it out on computer. But not with pictures.

With cell phones now everyone carries a calendar.

I get 3-4 of them for free in the mail ever year but I just toss them.

But, hey, if there is a buck to be made in them... go for it!

Thats a good point Floyd , especially when you figure how much time is needed just to put one together ,I don't know if it's worth it any more myself, just wondering what other folks do?

My wife is a hold out./ Even with her iPhone, she still uses two seperate calendars. One is a large desk top calendar that stays on her desk. By desk top, I mean the really big calendars you can get at office stores. Then she has a wall calendar that she also uses. My mother-in-law uses calendars. I know that many folks do not, but there are still some hold outs. I would like to have the oppurtunity to offer them here, on my only (so far) POD site. I hold no illusions that they'd sell like gang busters, but I could at least do beter quality calendar gifts than Shutterfly.

I find calendars too expensive to print for re-sale. I do use Vista print now 2 years in a row to produce small desk calendars which sell well at fairs and the retail outlets I have work in.

I saw calendars in an office store the other day selling for $2.99.

You want to try and compete with that? You want to sell an image for twenty five cents?

The only calendars I see that are in use a lot are the "cheese cake" calendars. And there is still a local fire department that does the "hunk" calendar featuring their fireman in "non-full dress" fireman gear. These are being done for fundraisers.

I think we should do a "cheesecake" and a "hunk" calendar featuring the artist of FAA. All the pic would be "selfies" and the money go to a charity.

Some one get a contest going on that so we will be ready for next year.

(I can't wait to see the flack I am going to get over this suggestion! ) lol

Most 2.99 calendars are just not worth the paper they are pti ted on. I use Clark and York for my personal use ones they run 7 bucks but are well worth the money.

Bonfire,

I don't think many people buying calendars are looking for archival work. If they are, they may be planning to frame the images. In which case, you are selling your prints at .58 cents each.

I've done well with my marshmallow calendars - 4th edition out now.
The amount I paid for them left me with more than enough room to make a really good profit - even if I have give a heavy discount on the few I have left in January .
Mine are just weird enough that people want them over some $2 calendar from walmart with puppies on it.

all the places i sell them at - $30 - none sell, base price is like $25 - too expensive. and for that price you giving away 12 8x12 posters. i stopped making them years ago. many places give them away, others are very cheap. i might sell one a year.

---Mike Savad
MikeSavad.com

I'm still a hold-out and use a paper calendar, and I actually write stuff in the boxes of when stuff is due. I need a visual reminder staring me in the face. The only time I have my phone (an old flip phone) is when I leave the house. I turn it off when I get home. As far as technology, I've also tried reading a book on one of the popular eReaders. It just isn't the same as real paper. I've had two calendars printed by Mpix in the past for gifts, and they did a nice job, but for me it would not be cost effective to have a bunch printed for selling. As was stated earlier, it's hard to compete with the $2.99 ones at Walmart.

Books, calendars - these things need to be printed by the thousands to make them competitive and affordable. Best thing to do is create a portfolio of images and approach a publisher.

I got 75 printed this year, and I'm nearly sold out. I sell them for about $18.95 + shipping each online or $15 in person since I don't have the extra fees to pay Etsy and the credit card fees if they pay that way. I sell them for between 4-5x what I paid.

I'm thinking about making some up for Christmas presents this year. Is it too egotistical to give someone a calendar with your own images? I know my mom would love it.

A paper calendar, what is that?
Oh wait, I think they were once used when people got their news from newspapers.....

I have, count 'em, four calendars on my walls this year. Two of other people's and two of my own that I had left over from selling them at fairs. Each year for the past seven years I've done two new versions from a series I call Life Lessons. I had them printed at Vistaprint for $6.50 (with a discount) and sold them for $20. This year is the first year I haven't done them though...just couldn't come up with enough new material.

Randall..I've been fortunate to have a publisher put together and distribute calendars the last few years using my images exclusively. I have received 'overflow" consisting of 100-200 annually for me to do as I please with. I've sold out each time, selling bulk lots of 20-25 to touristic small retailers in my area for under $9.00 ea. (depending on the actual amount) I sell my own retail for about $15.95 ea. I usually sell out by Thanksgiving each year. This year I declined my overflow lot.

I've gained critical connection in the industry to print my own as necessary at a nice bulk wholesale rate. To make profit, the print number is quite high so I highly suggest confidence in the ability to sell large quantities and have buyers lined up. You already have seen that the mass marketers "prey" upon individual artist to print their own calendars. Vistaprint is one only of them

An artists of FAA calendar should at least be able to outsell this::

http://www.nyctaxicalendar.com

I always have a calendar hanging. All appointments are written in the boxes. It works well when both my husband and I work around each other's schedules.

My daughter who is tech savvy has a dry erase one in her kitchen.

I have sold a few on another site and wish FAA offered them here.

Re: newspapers: We may not get our news from newspapers, but we still buy them.

Thanks Randall----for bringing up this subject. I love my calendars---and will always have them---however, after reading the notes above, I don't think I will try to sell any.

A benefit of using paper calendars is that they don't require batteries, or chargers to keep up with. ;)

I usually sell around 50. As has been said, it's very difficult to make any significant profit from them, especially if you do them via PoD sites rather than buying in bulk, and indeed when you include the time to create them it's probably an overall loss.

However, I find they work well for marketing purposes -- I've cleared over $1000 in subsequent print sales from people who bought calendars this year, and that's just print sales that I know about (i.e. customers who have approached me directly). It's not a huge amount but it certainly alters the profit/loss calculations. It's also quite possible that more sales have occurred via FAA (as I don't know the names of the buyers who buy through here), and that I may have sold work to friends of customers who have seen the calendar without knowing that was the source. Having something in someone's house that directly reminds them about your work every month when they turn the page, and indirectly reminds them every day, has definite value to me.

A significant piece of my Business is at regional level, so I decided to start selling calendars specific to my region this year.

I just started advertising 2 days ago and already sold 14 in 24 hours. I'm not expecting huge sells but it can help in terms of communication as Alexis said. I'm offering 2 versions : one you can hang on the wall and a smaller one to put on the desk.

Patrick, who prints them for you? They're nice, and I like the spiral binding.

Give me hard copy. I love calendars - & look forward to getting a new one every year for Christmas.

As most Artists are visual, I certainly need to see my week and month ahead to keep track of the family's comings and goings.

I'm working with Vistaprint. I also use them for Business cards

Maybe you find this interesting: http://www.calvendo.co.uk/

Calvendo is the POD brand of a big German publishing house. Iīve just started there, and sold some of my calendars already. Itīs like here: you have to find a niche and do your own marketing.

Here are my calendars: http://www.colinutzphotography.com/calendars-kalender

Well I have an Iphone, 2 Imacs, macbook pro, and I will always have a hanging calendar in my kitchen, and desk. I write everything on them. I find them much more convenient for family sharing and visual pleasure at that. A glimpse at the month that is right there, is so much easier than unlocking all of the tech devices. In my book, they will always be "in style".

I think there's a market for them, especially if they're unique, quality, and appeal to a niche/region. Though as others have said, one is likely going to make a pretty small profit.

In previous years, I've just ordered a handful and given them away as gifts each December, and they've been a big success. This year I'm going to attempt to sell a handful at a holiday art/craft fair -- they'll be a nice cheaper price for those who aren't wanting to spend the money on a painting or single photo print (could appeal to the more economical bunch who want something with local images but aren't wanting to empty their wallet - the art show version of impulse items, maybe, ha. In theory. We shall see.). Also I think they're a great way to bundle all of your best images, thus good for marketing.

Yeah, I imagine paper calendars aren't nearly what they used to be, but I think there are still plenty of people who prefer the tangible thing to write on (I know I do).

(I use Shutterfly for my calendars, though I only order them once, when I have enough discounts on the order, else they are too expensive. Took me less than 2 hours to put one together this afternoon, and I love how they turn out / design options)