Comments on: I make handmade furniture-having trouble selling, need to know what people want in furniture design?

By: justcurious

justcurious — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 10:22:50 +0000

offer made to order furniture. That way you aren’t investing in something that may not sell. Collect half the money upon the order and the other half upon completion.

By: Grandma of 2

Grandma of 2 — Sat, 06 Sep 2008 22:58:59 +0000

You’ve answered your questions exactly. No one wants to pay the price for REAL wood and the time it takes to make the item. My father found the same thing when he made quality items. People are prone to buy the cheap pressed wood, laminate furniture at the bargain prices and then replace it after it falls apart after a few years. You are trying to change people that have become a creature of habit. Unless they can learn to understand that REAL wood items can become family heirlooms and will last for more than a few years, you can’t do much to change the way they buy things.

By: Sebastian Rothwyn

Sebastian Rothwyn — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 19:27:38 +0000

Contrary to what you may think, people will pay for REAL wood. You would get more sales that way. However, if you want to do large volume sales, then you can’t do handmade. You should specialize in real quality wood if you want to make quality handmade products. The kind of wood is as important as the fact you made it by hand. You should charge more too.

By: hushnowjustplayit

hushnowjustplayit — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 15:43:32 +0000

You answered you own question. No one wants to pay for handcrafted furniture.

I suggest if you are making the furniture totally from scratch and it’s well-built, that you start making it for over-weight or bariatric people. There is a need for that type of furniture, and with the obesity epidemic in America, the need will just get larger (you should pardon the pun), as the obese kids of today become the sedentary obese adults of tomorrow.

Obese people need higher chairs like the elderly or the arthritic to make sitting and rising easier. They need firmer seating, yet still comfortable. Larger arms on a wider base. They need larger computer chairs and desks. Higher beds. Sturdier tables and chairs. Chairs that can go into a shower and be left there without rotting or mildew.

Currently most bariatric furniture is made for people between 200 and 300 pounds when I’ve seen the need for furnture that will hold adults up to 600 to 700 pounds.

If you decide to go that route, keep it the same as regular furniture – stylish – but just on a scale for someone who weighs more than 150 pounds.

You will be surprised how well you would do if you keep your prices reasonable.

By: The ReDesign Diva

The ReDesign Diva — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 10:43:51 +0000

Sell to people that are willing to pay high end furniture. Consider making a beautiful brochure and sending it to high-end homes.

Contact designers. Lots of us use furniture designers in our designs. When we find one we like, we run with them!

Go to specialty stores, such as reupholsterers. They may be willing to showcase your furniture, for a small % of the money you make.

Search out tradeshows. Show your work there. Furniture companies go to these shows to find new furniture designers to hire for their stores.

Good luck… keep with it and don’t give up… If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again!

By: angel-18

angel-18 — Sun, 31 Aug 2008 05:36:40 +0000

A lot of furniture stores will sell them for you on commission. We have a store that sells hand made furniture and he sells for people on commission. I have very solid coffee table i would like new top put on if you are in Qld.

By: guitar_player

guitar_player — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 09:32:59 +0000

I’m guessing that people would want a more modern style of furniture. Especially all the young newlyweds that are moving into new houses together. It definately depends on which age-range you’re trying to sell to.

By: D C

D C — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 15:41:16 +0000

Take some pictures to some high end boutiques in the area, or in a touristy part of your area, see if they’d take the items on consignment. Who knows… My sister is a jewelry maker and started that way, now she can’t keep the supply up for the demand.

By: fran j

fran j — Sat, 23 Aug 2008 09:45:11 +0000

Go to furniture stores and see what is popular