What's it worth fire pit

[fergy]

Hi guys and girls
I have made a fire pit or 2 at work manly because I made myself one years ago and it never seems to be at the workshop with every one borrowing it
I'm at a loss as to what to charge the average joe blow for one
I can work favours and the like for mates but not sere about the average punter
This is the offending article and they take about a day to make if you add in processing the scrap in the first place rather than chucking bigger sheets


Measures 1600 across ana about 600 deep
All suggestions welcome
Fergy

[Moxley]

Hi guys and girls
I have made a fire pit or 2 at work manly because I made myself one years ago and it never seems to be at the workshop with every one borrowing it
I'm at a loss as to what to charge the average joe blow for one
I can work favours and the like for mates but not sere about the average punter
This is the offending article and they take about a day to make if you add in processing the scrap in the first place rather than chucking bigger sheets


Measures 1600 across ana about 600 deep
All suggestions welcome
Fergy

Too big for my joint, but it'd be nice in a farm.

No idea on price though. I imagine some people would be willing to pay lots, closer to $1000.  But then a lot of people wouldn't have that sort of money so they'd probably be more interested in $300-400.  Hard to say.

[tryagain]

At that size, I think you would be looking more a commercial clients/venues and I would think about $1000 would be reasonable, could probably get $1500, I think if you wanted to push for a more residential market about 1/4 of the size (say 800mm diameter) and about $250-350 would be reasonable. You would need to sell on a form over function, if people wanted just something to put a fire in, there are plenty of other cheaper options. People who would buy these would do so as much if not more for their unique sculptural design and you would need to sell them as a functional sculpture, otherwise, it wouldn't be worth your time.

If you were just making them for a bit of fun then just charge for your time plus materials.

[speewa158]

Great work there ,l love to see things like this . lts a gift to be able to see a bunch of scrap/crap & make it into something useful .                           

[BaseCamp]

Maybe go the ebay route .. as an auction sale   ... this just may snag* the right type of buyer, (and a great price) - that your creativity and skill deserve....

There is also another web based marketplace - specially dedicated to bespoke and artisan type products. ...    (I think it goes under the name etsy.com ... or something like that)...        I believe this is where the most appreciative punters would be looking for a design like yours...

I think you will have to mention in your ad that "we can ship this"  .  etc...

Yes, that would be a tad nightmarish to have to organise - but you'll loose a lot of potential customers'  "top dollar" - without that service. ...    Maybe just bat the problem though to a total shipping solutions company such as "Pack & Send"...  and just on- charge whatever the cost....

* and yes, pun intended LOL re: the snag....

 

Sent from my SM-N910G using Tapatalk

[fergy]

thanks tryagain
we make small ones from time to time but the have nowhere near the impact im hoping a winery brewery will pick this up

not sure about Ebay base   have enough tyre kickers selling the camper

cheers speewa  amazing what you can do with a weeks scrap and the work experience kid

believe it or not that one has a bigger brother

[slydar]

my cast iron one about that size was about $500 a couple of years ago - I have seen some that are little more than three pieces of sheet welded together going for $800+ so the estimates of over $1000 wouldn't be at all unreasonable considering the effort and the final effect

[tryagain]

The big brother is even nicer. I don't know if you have a high-end garden centre near you as some of those places will sell items like it on consignment. If you were going down that route the price would probably need to be closer to $2000 to allow for moving it, consignment costs etc. Is it just something you have and are trying to sell or are you hoping to make more to sell them?

[fergy]

a bit of both really first one was just an idea that needed doing and the larger one was something that I thought of when I cut out all the pieces
ideally would like to sell them to fund some toys

[Pete79]

One tip, try and keep them in pellet size (1200 cube). It will help with shipping, especially if using road freight to the eastern states.

I love them by the way.
One of those would fit perfectly in our place. If you where in QLD I'd most likely grab one off you.

Good luck with it, there's a market for everything if you look hard enough.

[Bird]

you people must shop at another store from me...

looks like an old pile of scrap that someone threw together... a grand? not ****in likely! you can keep your shop...

[fergy]

you people must shop at another store from me...

looks like an old pile of scrap that someone threw together... a grand? not ****in likely! you can keep your shop...

Shall I put you down for one bird

[Cruiser 105Tvan]

Just one Fergy?
Didn't Bruce offer to be the travelling sales-person for this product?

[tryagain]

you people must shop at another store from me...

looks like an old pile of scrap that someone threw together... a grand? not ****in likely! you can keep your shop...

I wouldn't personally pay $1000 (although I've added one to my list of DIY projects, might get to it in 3-5yrs) but there those that would, I had a client who paid almost 20 times that for a feature tree now the new owners have flagged the idea of cutting it out but can't yet bring myself to do it. The majority of my clients wouldn't even blink at $2500 for one if they wanted one. The issue for Fergy is that while not everyone wants one, some would and getting visibility to those who would is easier said than done.

ideally would like to sell them to fund some toys

I would get some reasonable photo's (don't need to be professional but not full of stuff in the background) of the three you have, get a very quick intro down pat, set aside a few hours and call as many landscape architects or larger architect firms that would have a landscape architect as you can to see if you can email them through some pictures. Something like
 
"Hi I'm John from Johns fabrication, we have just started producing some bespoke sculptural/focal piece fire pits and were wondering if I could send you through just a one-off email with some examples of what we have already done.

Whilst I think the concept of the first one you posted is good, the execution isn't quite 100%, probably needs to be a bit more homogeneous with the layout of the scrap so for that one I'd make sure to get it from it's best side, or maybe take a pic of it with a fire in it.

[speewa158]

Well said & emphasize the recycle angle from rusting steel to thing of beauty .

                            Put me down for 15% for the advise           

[Moggy]

Offer one to better homes & gardens or the block to auction off with profits to go to a kids charity. The exposure would have offers coming in for months

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[jimc1]

Convince a garden sculpture place to stock one and take photos of the other options you have available. Make sure the description is custom piece where no 2 are ever the same. Price them $2000+ with a couple of hundred in price for nursery. People with too much money will fall over themselves to get one or more for their homes.


Maybe approach some high end garden designers as well.



They look fantastic!

[Bird]

Shall I put you down for one bird

I'm busy that weekend

[Fizzie]

Maybe approach some high end garden designers as well.

Especially people who build display gardens at top shows eg Floriade in Canberra, Chelsea Flower Show in London, stuff like that.

TV is often run specials on the top entries, especially if an Aussie does well in the UK. Get that sort of exposure & you could probably call them $5k each!  (& I'm not greedy, I'll settle for $500 on each one!  )

[Nomad]

Its a shame your in WA because I know a couple of exterior design places here would love to be on selling them. I reckon a couple of grand each.

Try your high end nurseries and design centres to see if you can get someone to sell them for a commission.

Cheers

[GGV8Cruza]

Maybe send a few photos to a few landscape or architect magazines, they may publish something. Landscape architects would also be interested as they are looking for a one off bespoke piece. Find. Busy nursery and get one in as a display next to the cafe in winter, once you find the right place I am sure sales will take off

Now to go and visit my steel supplier for his offcuts 

GG

[slydar]

I would get some reasonable photo's (don't need to be professional but not full of stuff in the background) of the three you have, get a very quick intro down pat, set aside a few hours and call as many landscape architects or larger architect firms that would have a landscape architect as you can to see if you can email them through some pictures.

best idea yet - have a look at web sites of places like unique firepits in Sydney, see how they showpiece theirs

[fergy]

Thanks for the replies  guys and bird
Will look at the garden centre route and the local agg store may be interested at this stage

[loanrangie]

Thanks for the replies  guys and bird
Will look at the garden centre route and the local agg store may be interested at this stage

Or Restaurant, winery, boutique BnB, reception centre etc.

[Swannie]

It's worth nothing but send it down to me and I'll find a use for it>