I had been thinking of having a Black Friday sale of older stock. After chatting with a wise friend it was suggested that this was not the way to go, researched online under handcrafted and some very valid points.
Handmade sales can cheapen the product and your brand. The last thing we need is for customers to think we are cheap hence the product is not of quality. This then groups all crafters together that the prices are inflated and better to buy tat online.
This may sound harsh but I think the author is right and this was not the only one I found. To offer a discount in a new collection ie first come first served is acceptable or if closing down but to reduce for the sake of reducing is a NO! So I will be sticking with it but spending some money on Facebook advertising in November to supercharge for the Festive season.
Im in agreement with that. I do have one bag in my shop at a lower price, because it was a developmental prototype and ive realised ive made the zip opening too small. Dont devalue your own work. Sales in big shops happen yes, but they never go below what they paid for the item. Gives those 70% off tickets a new perspective!
I’ve never had a ‘sale’ on my items - the closest I get to ‘discount’ is selling at a special event like ‘beautiful bundles’ where savings are made on bulk purchases or slight seconds. I work on the basis of a fair price at all times so cutting prices across the board seems a bit ‘suspect’. Having said that I don’t sell much so perhaps I’m wrong - even so I would rather not get into the ‘cut price game’ and risk being identified as cheap or tatty - if someone really wants your work they will pay the higher ‘correct’ price.
Like you I do not think I overprice my products and some instances maybe do not charge enough. Happy with what I do but am starting to give loyalty discount to a certain Customer as she buys so much from me.
I very rarely put anything on sale because my pricing is cut to the bone already. If I have anything made as a sample or that isn’t perfect, I usually either offer it at a cut price or as a giveaway to my newsletter subscribers, being totally open about why I’m doing it.
For older stock that I want to move on, so far I’ve chosen to donate it to local charities to sell on their stalls at markets. Whenever I see anything being sold as handmade being on sale, I immediately suspect the maker’s usual price point and it immediately turns me off them, unless they clearly give a reason for a discount that makes sense, such as saying they’re selling off older pieces to make room for new creations I’m not sure if that makes me mean minded!
Definitely agree with @Fififoxi about bundling things with a discount as part of that type of selling older pieces sale, that gives everyone a warm feeling!
Totally agree with the comments. My postage price barely covers my boxes and bottle protectors, but I daren’t put prices up… the only time I reduce my prices is if someone places a specific order, then as a good will gesture, i’ll reduce the price or knock off the postage, but I don’t often have personalised orders. If I have too many items in stock, then I give them away to charity.
I have a ‘sale’ section in my shop, there are two items in it, one is on sale as I’ve discovered the frame is slightly dented, (barely noticeable but I know it’s there and absolutely wouldn’t send it out like that otherwise) the other is there because It’s old stock. I can’t see a problem discounting certain items if you want to make room or things are perhaps samples etc, I don’t really see a problem with shop wide discounts either even though it’s not something I would do, I’ve bought from shops who have done shop wide discounts for a certain time, like a bank holiday weekend for example, I’ve also bought from shops who have had a few sale items I’ve had my eye on, usually because I can’t afford the full price item and I’m delighted if it pops up in a sale.
I can see where you are coming from about it ‘cheapening’ hand made but if you can afford to send your beautiful one of a kind makes to a charity shop because you won’t have anything on sale, you may be missing out, but again each to their own.
I don’t charge anywhere near what I should for my work in the first place, I’ve seen prints on here more expensive than my own originals, but I’ve had to find a balance between what I’d like and what people are prepared to pay so you could say I’m already cheapening ‘handmade’
I think it should be up to each shop personally it’s their shop and their work at the end of the day.
I’m not sure if that makes me mean minded! 
