How much is too much?

[seim.ge]

My friend wants to start an Etsy shop and plans to sell crocheted produce. She was asking me today if I thought she should use all natural, organic materials, or if that would drive the price too high to make it worthwhile. I'm not sure what to tell her; personally I would feel comfortable paying twice as much for handmade fruit made out of organic yarn using natural dyes, stuffed with organic cotton or wool...but I have the full income from my part-time job devoted to my one kid, so I'm probably not a good representative of the "average" mother who buys handmade toys for her children.

What do you guys think? Would you rather pay $20 for a basket of handmade fruits and veggies made with synthetic fibers, or $40 for a basket of organic, natural items? Would you not buy the synthetic fibers even though they were cheap, or not buy the natural ones because they are too expensive? What if she just listed the option to upgrade to natural materials on her shop site? What do nice, normal mothers do about the organic/conventional debate when it comes to toys?

Thanks!

[pianojazzgirl]

What about appealing to both markets and making sets of toy fruits and veg made of both organic and non-organic (I guess that could mean acrylic or just not organic cotton etc.) yarns.

[berry987]

I'd go with the organic version if I were her, because, generally speaking, homemade crocheted produce probably appeals to mom's who choose organic stuff anyway. A lot of people would prefer to go to the toy store and get the plastic version.

[tinuviel_k]

I would figure out what a fair price was for the time and effort spent making the crafts she will be selling. Then add in the cost of materials. Then offer BOTH options.

So say she figures that a fruit set is worth about $20 of her time. The non-organic materials cost $6, the organic natural materials cost $12. She could then price the non-organic craft at $26 and the organic at $32. Either way she still gets "paid" the same amount.

If I were her I would offer BOTH organic/natural, and non-organic/synthetic. Many of us mamas would love to buy 100% organic toys and handmade for our children. But the reality is that not everyone can shell out the extra money, no matter how crunchy they might be. For instance, the other day I was looking at some beautiful wool gnome dolls. The were made of natural fibers and organic wool, and were about ten inches tall. They cost $80. Gulp! While i can admire the craftsmanship I could NEVER afford the doll. If they offered a different version made of less expensive materials as well I might have gotten one. I'd rather have the option of supporting a local craftsperson and getting a non-organic doll than just buying a mass=produced non-organic doll at whatever store.

[happysmileylady]

I would suggest selling both.

One thing to consider is that her market might not be just moms looking for toys like that. If she is making what I am visualizing when you say "crocheted produce" then I can certainly see a bunch of it in a basket on a table as a decor item. My MIL's entire kitchen is done with apples, and a basket with three or four crocheted apples in various colors would fit right in there. And my MIL wouldn't care if it was organic or not.

[MissMaegie'sMama]

[QUOTE=seim.ge;15478523] What if she just listed the option to upgrade to natural materials on her shop site? QUOTE]

I personally like when Etsy sellers offer this option.

[paintedfire]

Originally Posted by seim.ge

What if she just listed the option to upgrade to natural materials on her shop site?

I, too, like it when etsy sellers do this.