Pricing new wood type

I am nearly ready to start offering new wood type for sale.

I have figured out how to make the type high blanks and have several sets of patterns ready to reproduce. In total I am in possession of nearly 100 vintage patterns and I am trying to add at least 1 face each week (it’s a lot of work).

I am still trying to nail down wood prices and some of the larger sizes are not too easy to get out of standard rough wood sizes available.

So, I have taken the 1961 prices from the American Wood Type catalog and multiplied the old prices by 5 (basically) to arrive at a starting point for pricing new fonts. According to the internet, $1 in 1961 is equal to $7.40 now so I fudged a bit.

I am open to any advice that the group can offer on this.

Bill
virginwoodtype.com

image: Type Prices.jpg

Type Prices.jpg

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OK, after some study, I think I kind of understand… I’d begin by simplifying the presentation.

Might begin by explaining that you have five classes of font, ranging from simple to complex, and they’re priced accordingly.

Don’t mention points. I’d choose either picas or lines; not both. If you use lines, keep the conversion to inches.

You have 2 different prices for figure fonts. I guess the normal price is 10% higher and the price for a few is 15% higher. Or is it 50% higher?

I don’t understand what a font of, say, 50 characters would cost (more than 26 but less than 65).

If I were doing it myself, I’d use your table alone and leave out all of the per-character penalties for small orders. Instead, charge something like $10 for handling per order. That’ll encourage reasonably sized orders.

As it stands, I find your scheme pretty off putting. So much so that i might not order. Certainly I’d attempt to order by phone; no way I’d trust myself to figure the complexities.

Preston

Preston

Thanks for your comments.

I am trying to figure out how to present prices in a way that is easy to understand and is fair to you and me.

After reading what I published, and your comment, the figure fonts language is no good and needs fixing.

Things have changed since 1961. The pricing that I am working from is the exact language from the ‘61 AWT catalog. They were dealing with a different market.

I agree with the observation that getting rid of the fine print is the way to go.

I want to get a few more reactions over the next day or 2 and then I will make another attempt at pricing.

On a macro level, do you think this pricing scheme works today? It seems to me that the entire 1961 scheme is based on selling 65 characters (to infinity) of one face, one size. Anything under 65 characters seems to get up-charged.

It’s not good if it is confusing.

I would suggest you not publish your scheme. Instead, I would give a set price for 65 characters and 91 characters, or another set number. Then, mention that any character may be purchased individually and give a range of prices instead of a set price. Customers could contact you for custom orders.

As a potential customer, I want to buy complete sets for stated prices. If you are going to use a table for pricing, and then list a letter by your product like skyline does, please list the prices for complete sets in several, or all, of the sizes you intend to offer. If I have to figure out the per piece pricing, I will be slower to commit my money.

Again, I applaud you for the work you are doing. Best of luck.

I would echo the Boundstaff Press comments. I’m used to buying metal type in job fonts which are #A#a for $XX based on size, etc…

Given that, if you published a spreadsheet that had the face in the column on the left, and the size of the type (lines) followed by the size of the font (character count) followed by the price for the job font plus a price for “additional glyphs” at say $1.40 ea. I could buy the base font, and maybe augment the B’s which tend to be short of you’re running Bob’s Bed and Breakfast. Maybe take a look at the Skyline Foundry matrix list and fonting scheme spreadsheets for general concepts. The matrix list would be a great base if you added font size and price to each cell and put size across the top.

I think your prices are reasonable for the type, based on the info above, but I’d want an easier buying option rather than trying to font my own set.

I’m pretty excited about your project and plan to buy some faces.

Alan

I have revised the pricing presentation and here is a screen shot. I tried to simplify. The url is http://virginwoodtype.com/blog/fonts-for-sale/rugged

image: RuggedScreen.jpg

RuggedScreen.jpg

That is so much more clear.

I guess there are folks who would want it, but I don’t see much utility in a 1A font—though I guess that would be a way to get people’s feet wet with buying wood type.

Prices are most reasonable. Look forward to your formal offerings!

The printing and book arts center that I am associated with has a pottery studio. The potters like numbers for house number tiles and that sort of thing.

Bill, I am so happy that your efforts are making progress. I hope to one day, be able to buy a font of your making.