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July 22, 2011
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Ok, pricing again, I know, I know, no one wants to hear this again. But Iim going to throw some numbers at you that are very simple to understand, and then I would like for anyone who charges less than $500 for a deer head to tell me why you can’t go up $100 per head.
I think everyone knows I work a full time job, and only do taxidermy part time, so my numbers are low and simple, but at the same time this will work for anyone’s numbers.
2011 season I took in 22 shoulder mounts @ $500
2012 season I took in 16 shoulder mounts @ $600
I figure my expenses for one W/T shoulder mount @ $250
2011
22
x500
11000
22
x 250
5500
11000
– 5500
5500
2012
16
x600
9600
16
x250
4000
9600
-4000
5600
2011 I did 22 and had $5500 left for wages/profit
2012 I have 16 deer heads to do and will have $5600 for wages/profit. If I take in any more from this season it adds to my wages/profit totals.
@ 10 hours per deer 2011 I made $25 per hour for 220 hours.
@ 10 hours per deer 2012 I’ll make $35 per hour for 160 hours.
Again I know these #’s are small compared to some of you guys, but it will work the same way no matter what the totals are.
But to me, after 40 + hours a week at CFD/HQ $35 an hour sounds better than $25……and 160 hours sounds a hell of a lot better than 220.
November 28, 2012
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Sounds good. My mother is a great taxidermist!!! But she only charges 425 a head. If she went up to 525 she would lose a ton off business. In our area people can’t really afford to pay 525 let alone half down. My mom has been accepting payments from most of her clients just to pay for there heads. I’d love to see her get 525 a head she deserves it!! Just not realistic around here. There are 4 other taxidermist’s all within 30 miles in any direction.
November 28, 2012
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This season she took in 8 turkeys, 4 bears, 4 ducks, 1 black squirrel and 27 deer heads.
D. I agree with ya, but some aint going to listen…DC
Dee, I also agree but think about this… Some folks would love to make some extra money working in the comfort of their own garage especially at $17-20 per hour tax free. Not refering at all to the previous poster. Some folks only put half as much time in their work as you or I & they might feel they are only worth a certain amount. Some taxidermy operations that do 2-300 deer heads per year have it figured out as follows: Deer Head Price $400, materials approx $75, Labor they pay by the head at $125. Shop owner makes $200 per head while he does the african or other more complex work. So the jest of my post is that the Taxidermy World is not cookie cutter. And don’t forget the new guys doing some “learning pieces” at “cost of materials” for their friends. There’s as many ways to look at it as are folks doing it. But I surely appreciate you for sharing with others that what we’re doing is Special Enough to reward ourselves as best as the market will allow & you will all be surprised what the market will allow…
Sounds good, but it doesn’t work. Many of the expenses are fixed cost expenses, such as rent, utilities, insurance, tools, licenses, etc. This means your expenses on 16 deer is going to be more than your expenses on 22. (per deer) That is why you have to figure a shop rate.
BBK, I’m not sure you or your mother get it. You reply “sounds good”, then continue by basically contradicting everything posted. While his numbers are off, D is right in principal. If you charge more, you can afford to lose some customers. I will say this too however, most shops I see are charging what they are worth. I have several $300 guys around here, and they aren’t worth a penny more. In fact most of them should lower their price because $300 for “that” is a rip off.
If a man or lady can mount a deer as good as you D. or Vincent or some of the others out there, then I see where yes $600.00 is a fair price. If a man or lady cannot produce a top notch product then he or she has no chance of staying in business. Its like anything else in my opinion. A person can choose to pay $35,000.00 for a new truck and really have something to be proud of and show off. Some people will never be able to do that, and this creates a need for a used 1994 truck for $3000.00. Not everyone has the budget for top notch products,(products of any kind) though my feeling is that if you are producing first class work then charge for it. Some folks are satisfied with poor craftsmanship and poor quality. I personally would rather mount 16 deer at $600.00 than fifty at $300, but that’s just me. I always try to educate my customers on why I am charging more than the other guy and show them things to look for for when looking at other mounts. My hope is that once I show them the little things that set a good mount apart from a poor mount, then they will want that high end mount. Oh, and FYI, I have just gotten a credit card device for my IPHONE that only cost 2% per transaction. I hope this will help get a little more business through the door this year……just my 2 cents…….
Alex
Pappacannon wrote: If a man or lady cannot produce a top notch product then he or she has no chance of staying in business.
Alex
Not true at all. Archie Phillips has been pumping out pure crap for years and has been very successful doing it. He is one of many.
The spin on charging more and backing it up with quality work is the different customers you get . The 395.00 guys and lower have loaded shops full of deer . Half of their customers will be truly happy . It’s the higher expectations of the other half who find me . Or are referred to me by an existing customer who shows them the difference . My area is mainly low to middle class . I raised my prices again this year . I took in new clients . Not worried about what I charge . They were very happy with their mounts . I’m still getting new customers off of my new customers from this year . The price increase will get more people that pay upfront . Or pay as you ask . 200.00 down . 300.00 when completed . Quality work sells itself .
July 22, 2011
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Pappacannon wrote: If a man or lady can mount a deer as good as you D. or Vincent or some of the others out there, then I see where yes $600.00 is a fair price.
Alex I’m not saying everyone should charge $600. I said if everyone went up a $100. So if you are at $250 go to $350, if you are at $400 go to $500 ect. Hunters are still going to get their trophies mounted, so you might as well make the money.
Bottom line is, you have to have a formula to figuring prices…..and not $25 less than your closest competitors, that formula does not work.
I had a guy bring me a deer last Sunday afternoon, when he called he asked turn around time and price. I told him 8 to 12 months and $600. When he arrived I started filling out the work order, he said I don’t mind paying for quality but I really don’t want to wait 8 months or more to get it back. He said if I pay you extra can you get it back to me quicker? I asked how quick?……….I would like to have it for the Dixie Deer Classic(March 1-3), 5 weeks, he said. I replied that will run you an extra 50% to jump it ahead that far. He said $900, no problem thats what I want.
So there are folks out there that will pay the money.
Oh, Cole that extra $300 will help to offset those fixed prices you were referring to, so in reality my numbers are pretty close to being right for my situation.;)
But you are correct, but I think you got my point.
What I meant was people that cannot produce a top quality mount, have to charge less or go out of business. I know Archie had made a good living, but he is not charging $20 an inch either…he is cheap and fast, and there is a market for that. As I continue to improve my work my prices will reflect that. I have invested time and money into improving my work and I plan to charge more as a result. I am at $400.00 for a shoulder mount, and next year I will be higher than that. I have all the work I can handle this year, and I would be happy to cut my numbers down and increase my prices. ….which I will probably do. As far as I know, I am one of the most expensive people in my area at $400.00 for a shoulder mount…..and as I said I am still taking in deer. This is a good topic as we all work so hard to make our customers happy and put out our best work. I am open for further discussion and value the advice from you folks that have been in the business awhile.
hey D if you are old, then what catagory do i fall into? didn’t want to get into this race again but if you don’t take pride in your work then don’t worry about what the man or woman down the road is doing. i have raised my prices and my work load has gone up. everyday i go to the shop with a big grin and i don’t care what the other guy is doing because i know what i’m doing. you can turn out cheap work all day long and the general public will beat your door down and drive you to the edge of insanity. or you can limit your work load and produce a high quality mount that people will pay the extra dollars for. i’m not to the level of vincent, d, tuggy or page and will never be able to hold a candle to the work that chris did (rip) but i not going to work for free. well i have said enough. time for my third cup of coffee and then off to the shop.
