Product idea for those that do reproductions. - Page 2

Azure Wings · #16 08-07-2012, 03:44 PM

Does anyone here have any experience with using Lazertran transfers on objects like tiles?

I've read a book on it recently - and you can bake them onto tiles, so they are baked into the surface. I'm not sure how it would compare - and am curious if anyone else has tried it.

Wondering,
Karen

painterswife · #17 08-07-2012, 03:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Azure Wings

Does anyone here have any experience with using Lazertran transfers on objects like tiles?

I've read a book on it recently - and you can bake them onto tiles, so they are baked into the surface. I'm not sure how it would compare - and am curious if anyone else has tried it.

Wondering,
Karen

I tried it! I investigate everything. Takes too much time and effort for the product you get in the end. I believe it is a good product but for specialty items that you enhance through the process.

Azure Wings · #18 08-07-2012, 04:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by painterswife

I tried it! I investigate everything. Takes too much time and effort for the product you get in the end. I believe it is a good product but for specialty items that you enhance through the process.

That is very good to know - thank you, Jill!

Appreciatively,
Karen

painterswife · #19 08-30-2012, 08:25 AM

A little update.

8x10 Tiles are selling briskly. We have added some new products. Tile murals, coasters, architectural tiles for back splashes and showers. We are also looking into combining forces with a small specialty furniture maker. He is going over the numbers on making us frames for the murals, coat racks that we would inlay the tiles in and he is considering a few furniture designs that he would inlay our tiles in.

I also am going to do tiles for a couple of a few of the artists in the gallery that got me going on this.

The best news for last. We are about to try a trial period in a location that we never thought we would get into. I can't divulge the name for a couple of months while they sales test our products but this could be a huge step up for us. I am very excited and scared about it all at the same time.

We have also found that canvas or paper prints are not selling well. The customer wants them framed and ready to hang. The want to be able to just take it home and hang it. We may just phase them out and just offer the finished framed prints.

Azure Wings · #20 09-01-2012, 10:06 PM

Thank you for the update - this is really good to hear!

Are you getting the glossy tiles or the ones with the matte finish? Do you - or do buyers - have a preference?

I do well with photo prints (I print them on my Canon photo printer) that are matted to a standard size. That way people can pop them into a frame of their own choosing.

Glad to hear this is going so well for you,
Karen

**EyeSpy** · #21 09-02-2012, 02:15 AM

Quote:

Wendy, what kind of price ranges do you see people going for, when it comes to buying pillows (yours or other people's)? Looking at these, it is definitely not inexpensive to have them printed - you'd have to price them fairly high....

Quote:

Thanks Wendy! Yes, that's my issue also. You happy with the quality at zazzle?

Karen and Robin, so sorry I missed your earlier questions.

I ended up doing two sets of the 20" square pillows. The base price on this item is $59.95; the selling price has to be hefty, to turn even a modest profit.

Luckily, throw pillows are crazy expensive in the real world (designer labels can be in the high 3 figures), so anyone shopping for them is pretty much beyond the 'sticker shock' phase. As a sometime-decorator, I've purchased more than a few $300 throw pillows.

The pillow prices I'm seeing on Zazzle are mostly from $59.95 to 80+.

I haven't seen the pillows (can't afford it!), but the buyer came back for more and is satisfied. The online reviews (quite a few on various mommy blogs) are mostly positive. Hopefully, most buyers realize that an image printed on cloth is inherently different from a paper print.

I'm still getting around to actually adding them to my Zazzle stores.

As for the tiles and tile-topped boxes, they're very high-quality, and the ones I've actually seen are beautiful.

I really have to get busy on Zazzle -- Christmas is here (almost)!

it'sALLart · #22 09-02-2012, 07:52 AM

Tiles are really a great idea, I produced a few for my last show and while they didn't sell that well here, a ton of people picked them up and looked them over very carefully - which is interesting. I think the fact that they are smaller and somewhat a useable "object" rather than a painting is appealing to many buyers. I showed them on mini-easels, so it would be easy for customers to pick up and examine:

TILES

Perhaps I priced mine too high for this midwest market ($110), but Jill I think you could easily raise your prices on them a notch and still sell.

I'm tempted to make more in the future, really like this idea too:

GIFT BOXES

painterswife · #23 09-02-2012, 08:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by it'sALLart

Tiles are really a great idea, I produced a few for my last show and while they didn't sell that well here, a ton of people picked them up and looked them over very carefully - which is interesting. I think the fact that they are smaller and somewhat a useable "object" rather than a painting is appealing to many buyers. I showed them on mini-easels, so it would be easy for customers to pick up and examine:

TILES

Perhaps I priced mine too high for this midwest market ($110), but Jill I think you could easily raise your prices on them a notch and still sell.

I'm tempted to make more in the future, really like this idea too:

GIFT BOXES

I thought ours were too high at 60.00! Your tiles are beautiful.

painterswife · #24 09-02-2012, 08:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Azure Wings

Thank you for the update - this is really good to hear!

Are you getting the glossy tiles or the ones with the matte finish? Do you - or do buyers - have a preference?

I do well with photo prints (I print them on my Canon photo printer) that are matted to a standard size. That way people can pop them into a frame of their own choosing.

Glad to hear this is going so well for you,
Karen

I have both matte and gloss. The gloss cost less but are really not well suited for trivets or where they need to be cleaned a lot. I just got a shipment of the matte. They will be used for trivets and backsplashes. ( and cost more)

painterswife · #25 09-02-2012, 08:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by it'sALLart

Tiles are really a great idea, I produced a few for my last show and while they didn't sell that well here, a ton of people picked them up and looked them over very carefully - which is interesting. I think the fact that they are smaller and somewhat a useable "object" rather than a painting is appealing to many buyers. I showed them on mini-easels, so it would be easy for customers to pick up and examine:

TILES

Perhaps I priced mine too high for this midwest market ($110), but Jill I think you could easily raise your prices on them a notch and still sell.

I'm tempted to make more in the future, really like this idea too:

GIFT BOXES

I am going to try some of the boxes if I get this new account. The price point I will need to charge fits in with their clientle.

painterswife · #26 09-02-2012, 08:45 AM

Eyespy

I am going to try some pillows as well. I have one location that sells decorator pillows for 70.00-80.00 a pop and does well. I need to see the quality of the pillows first but I think it could work.

Azure Wings · #27 09-02-2012, 10:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by painterswife

I have both matte and gloss. The gloss cost less but are really not well suited for trivets or where they need to be cleaned a lot. I just got a shipment of the matte. They will be used for trivets and backsplashes. ( and cost more)

I was thinking the matte ones would be easier to care for and more durable - but might not look as pretty. Do you like the look of the matte ones?

I've been so busy I haven't ordered any yet - but I think I'll try some, just to see how they turn out.

Very appreciatively - and so glad to hear they're working well for you!,
Karen

Azure Wings · #28 09-02-2012, 10:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by it'sALLart

Perhaps I priced mine too high for this midwest market ($110), but Jill I think you could easily raise your prices on them a notch and still sell.

I'm tempted to make more in the future, really like this idea too:

GIFT BOXES

These are beautiful, Keith! I'm guessing the only reason sales weren't higher would be the price. (That might be too high out here, too, depending on the venue.)

Wishing you much good luck with it,
Karen

michaelvs · #29 01-17-2013, 12:38 PM

Hi there! I am curious how do you manufacture and print on these tiles?

painterswife · #30 01-17-2013, 02:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by michaelvs

Hi there! I am curious how do you manufacture and print on these tiles?

I print the image with special inks on special paper. Then I use a heat press to vaporize the ink into the special coated surface of the tile. I do a lot more products now.

I can do fleece Beanies, towels, wine boxes, puzzles, pillows, coasters and lots more.

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