In a dilemma about the Lampworking Industry?

[Riversideartglass]

I have been working for a Lampworking company for several months and I have a questions a bout the Industry? I’m doing production work for this company, and I’m getting paid about 10% of the whole sale price? Is this the standard for the industry? B

[Kool]

It would be hard to give a good answer to that question without more details. For instance, are you making these items on a sub-contract basis in your own shop, using your own torch, tools, glass, and gases? Or are you working in their shop, or some combination of the above? Are you paid by the piece or by the hour? Does the item in question have any abnormally high material costs?

[masterglaster]

I have been working for a Lampworking company for several months and I have a questions a bout the Industry? I’m doing production work for this company, and I’m getting paid about 10% of the whole sale price? Is this the standard for the industry? B

If you think you're getting an unfairly low part of the selling price, why not make stuff on your own and sell it?

[Riversideartglass]

I'm using my torch (delta E), working out of their studio about 80% of the time with their gas, and about 20% of the time out of my studio with my gas, all of the raw glass is there. I'm getting paid by the pcs. and I make 3-4 pcs a hr.

[seadal]

The last studio I worked in I was paid 50% of wholesale, which made me happy. All I need to bring was myself and skills, everything else was provided.

[S2]

I'm guessing that you are a contract worker and not an employee. If so, 10% of the wholesale price is pretty low depending upon your skill level. I agree with masterglaster in that you should do it on your own if you have the skills and outlets to compete. Are you making complete pieces or components?

[Riversideartglass]

I have been doing glass for about 5 years, skill wise I was able to start make their production pcs. In about 6 days after I started, and I have won some nice awards in glass. (Note: I’m not saying I’m the shiz nit by any means but I'm not some toed making one hitters!)

[Kool]

So it sounds like there are no abnormalities that would make this that much different than standard.

Obviously, the more you work out of their space, the less you would get, but it still sounds out of wack.

Is the "wholesale" amount you are using the actual amount they take in, a catalog price, or a number you are calculating based on what others have said they charge for similar items?

[marcel]

Isn't it more important how much you are taking home?

If you're getting 20 an hour or thereabouts I'd be happy no matter what they are making.

-Marcel

[mer]

i agree that your take home is more important than your cut, but damn, i couldn't feed my family and pay my bills on $20/hr if i tried.

as for what you're getting paid i think it depends on how easily they could replace you. if the work takes a high skill level then you should make your demands and walk if they don't meet them. if they could easily get somebody else to do the same thing then they call the shots and you should just consider the job as a means to an end.

[Cosmo]

i agree that your take home is more important than your cut, but damn, i couldn't feed my family and pay my bills on $20/hr if i tried.


Hell, if I could get $20 an hour, I'd be living large. I'm getting by on half that as it is...

[somewhere]

Marcel said it right. What does it matter what they sell it for your not selling them are you? I would ask the question Am I making a fair wage for what I'm making that really is the bottom line.

And Seadal I'm going to guess that's what put them out of business. LOL
Seriously stop and think. If your paying for all the over head Gas Oxygen Raw glass color RENT etc... Then paying the artist 50% of wholsesale your not very smart and on the way to bankruptcy. I guess they could be charging more then anyone else wholesale but otherwise sounds like a dead end road.

[masterglaster]

Hell, if I could get $20 an hour, I'd be living large. I'm getting by on half that as it is...

$20/hr is $160/day is $800/week is $40K per year.
Most glassworkers make a lot less then that and would think it's a terrific gig.

I expect many will jump up to insist they can earn a lot more then $20/hr but there are rare few that can add it up to $40K per year. There's already an excess of glassworkers. If the word spread that you could make $40K per year at it, that excess would multiply by 10.

[colonel4bin]

You may make a good bit more than $20/hour but after you really break it down taking ALL costs (Gases, travel, raw glass, marketing...) out of that wage I'm willing to bet it isn't near $20/hour. I'd say closer to 25%-50% of wholesale is fair in your situation, 10% is kinda low.

[masterglaster]

You may make a good bit more than $20/hour but after you really break it down taking ALL costs (Gases, travel, raw glass, marketing...) out of that wage I'm willing to bet it isn't near $20/hour. I'd say closer to 25%-50% of wholesale is fair in your situation, 10% is kinda low.

I expect most calculate their hourly wage by just subtracting materials cost from the value of the product they make in an hour. That will tell them how much they make while actively making product but will not accurately tell them their total earnings. I know glassworkers that insist they make $50/hr but I also know they live on less then $20K per year. If they were making $50/hr their income should be $100K per year.

How much earned in one hour is meaningless. The only thing that counts is the total each year.

[S2]

Most people forget to add in the time and money they spend selling their work as well, bringing the per hour take down considerably.

[mer]

i try not to think of this stuff (networking, volunteerism) as hourly work but seriously, if you're living on less than $20/hour i'm guessing you're not supporting a family (wife in college, daughter about to be). i'm not claiming that i make a ton more than that but after taxes we just scrape by. can't wait to be a dual income family again.

ah, to be young and tax free...

[masterglaster]

Most people forget to add in the time and money they spend selling their work as well, bringing the per hour take down considerably.


That's why so many make the mistake of thinking they'll make more money selling retail then wholesale. Retail gets a higher price but eats more time. Wholesale is only half the price but allows a lot more time in producing product.

[Riversideartglass]

It works out to about $5.77 hr + 45 min. there & back.

[S2]

Hate to be Captain Obvious here, but that's not even minimum wage. Either you are horribly slow or grossly underpaid. You'll have to figure that one out on your own. You might want to really dissect your process and see where you can shave off some time. Also, give yourself an honest evaluation of the amount of real torch time that you are spending. If that doesn't work, you may want to consider a different gig where you can be a little more efficient with your earning power.

[J Howard]

u really been workin 5 years?

[Kool]

I'm getting paid by the pcs. and I make 3-4 pcs a hr.


It works out to about $5.77 hr + 45 min. there & back.

$5.77 per hour divided by 3.5 pieces per hour equals....$1.65 per piece for something that takes over 17 minutes to make. Definitely not standard for the industry.

[Jimi The Don]

could you post some pics of your work? if it's good enough dude then sell it yourself and make a lot more..

[bzglass]

If you have been blowing glass for five years, then why are you still pumping prodo for someone else? You should be pumping prodo for yourself at the very least. All I am sayin is you should be starting to figure out the glass game somewhat by now, like what it takes to make the kind of money you believe your time is worth.

You're peep's are probably very comfortable with only having to pay you 10%!
(how would you even know you're getting 10% they may be cutting more than that.)

If you want glass to be your thing then you are probably gonna have to get your own set-up and start workin it.

It's a lot of hard work and very expensive to do it all on your own, but the reward of werking for yourself is priceless.

[SteppingRazor]

do you work in India?

After counting in all the time I spend selling prodo. Retooling the shop, paying my shopmate, cleaning the shop, fixing equipment, upgrading electricity, buying raw glass... ect ect

i think i make less than min wage, but i own a flameworking shop!
~joe

[bc]

I can't believe that your asking this ? when you've already done the math. What kind of answers are you looking for? Did you post this in hopes that someone reading this would offer you a job? Get to the real point. Unless your retarded you deserve to be taken advantage of for agreeing to something like this so outta wack, you went to the school of hard knocks, huh? Time to step up in life an speak up for yourself an start telling folks what you want, not the other way around.....unless your happy with that.

[jedi glassworks]

Why don't you ask for a raise? And if not, then I agree with the other people, make prodo for yourself. Just don't make the same thing you've made for the people you're working for and sell it to the same shops. That would be lame.

Bryan

[Know Ego]

What a sticky subject... Bottom line, everyone's gotta eat. If the worker doesn't get fed, the job doesn't get done and the business will die.

Kind of a give and take thing. You give up certain responsibilities when you work for someone. Those responsibilities cost money and should be a business expense. The convenience of simply walking into a studio with all necessary materials at hand is a major bonus.

Just ask yourself two things:
Am I paying my bills?
Am i happy?

That's it. If you answered no to either question, somethings wrong.

[goldmanglass]

I would also really like to see some pictures of these pieces. bet theyre sweet.

[ITIS]

i don't know if this helps but when i started i worked in a shop that had a retail front and i got 50% of retail but the sales where not high so i did not make much since i have my own gig now over head historically runs me between 50% and 60% of my income and i sell at wholesale. so if i hired you i only have 40% left to pay you and me both what's fair in your book?

[somewhere]

work faster! Make more money. Maybe pay someone to do your prep.

Ask your boss to show you how to make it? I have paid piece work before in the past and some make 3 pieces an hour while I'm making twice that after some time they made them faster then I could and ended up making close to 40 bucks an hour. Didn't matter to me I just new it was worth x amount per piece. Maybe cut some corners prep one day finish the next.
I'm just speculating but if this is your scenario there could still be room to make decent money. If not and you keep at you'll have nothing in no time.