Questions on bulk quantities costs....

[Kelly Thorson]

I'm working on a quote for a large quantity of decorative glass items.
I'm just wondering what mirroring in large batches prices out to per square foot. Up until now I have just been using Sarah's small kits, but this would involve about 1600 items at aprox. 1 square foot. Is $.75/sq ft close? I'm assuming spraying would be the way to go here and so I will need to figure the cost of spraying equipment in as well. at what.....$1000 - $2000.....?
What about the cost of beveled glass blanks. I found some at $4.00 for 3/16 - 10x12 rectangles. That's for a quantity of 10. Any idea of what kind of pricing I woud be looking at for a quantity of 1600.
I really don't need concrete prices, just ballpark ones, so I can work out my costs. I've been given a budget to work within and I need to figure out if my ideas are feasable. Any leads to good sources for materials would be appreciated as well.
Thanks as always,
Kelly

[Danny Baronian]

What is the budget? For a ballpark figure, it would be easier for some to compare with past jobs and know whether the price is feasable.

However, the best way to quote a job as this is to get firm bids in writting from all vendors, including the time period the prices are good for. Most are only for 30 days. Your quote should also specify how long the price is good for, what the lead time is, and terms of payment made clear.

A new spray gun for silver is in the area of 400 - 600, not including hoses or solution containers. I'd imagine 1000 - 1500 set up for spay equiptment, not including solutions, construction of sinks, spray table or a drying rack.

I wouldn't price out mirroring at the cost of materials, but at a figure you need to charge and make a profit, or how much you're willing to mark it down to meet the budget.

For glass, I would hope to get a wholesale price per piece at or under 2.00, and that they could supply that quantity within your time frame.

Make sure to allow additonal time when they ask for a delivery date. You can write it all down, have it mentally figured out, but all it takes is a late delivery and your schedule is shot.

Last but not least, I would assume the job will involve screen printing or vinyl masks. At any rate, plan on the cost of a helper.

This may include known information. Having completed jobs that include large amounts of product, you can either do well, or get in trouble real fast. Two things you will get.... bored and thankful to be finished with the project.

Danny

[Mike Jackson]

Kelly,
Personally, I would not try to do this kind of project. IF you mis-price this one, you will be mis-pricing it by 1600. Assuming you want to be involved in the project, maybe you can middleman the job and let a shop do it that does that kind of work and that kind of volume on a regular basis. On the other side of the coin, IF you priced it right, you might make a bit of money. This is a case where you will be expected to give a rock bottom price, then be faced with developing all the new techniques and facilities, hoping everything goes smoothly. I get bored after about 10 of anything, so the thought of handling 1600 pieces sounds like a job for someone else!

Good luck if you decide to tackle it.

Mike Jackson

[Kelly Thorson]

I guess I'm sort of misleading when I say I am preparing a quote. I have been given a budget of $30-$35 each or a total budget of $48,000-$56,000. I'm just trying to figure out where in that range to land. The person in charge has specifically asked that I submit something in reverse glass or fine art. Last year I was approached for the same thing and declined because I didn't feel I could pull it off. I spent the past year kicking myself for being so chicken.
I have a trusted screenprinter on board with me...he is willing to take that portion of it on. I plan on sourcing out a backup for the mirroring in case I run into difficulties. It is very possible it may be cheaper for me to have it done out of house than get set up for it. Even if I just design it and source the entire project out I think there is some good money to be had.
In addition they are looking for 100-150 sponsor gifts at $50-$100.
I'm looking at submitting a mirrored clock with the team logo, a fancier reverse glass piece with some of the team history on (still using mostly screenprinted methods) and a Limited Edition Plate. For each of these items, I am planning on adding gold to a sponsor version. It's still a bidding process in the sense that others will be submitting ideas in the same price range and a close tie may come down to the price.
The fact that they have approached me twice and followed through reminding me, suggests to me that they are leaning my direction. I don't want to mess this one up!
The function will be in September, the project will be placed by the end of January. It is going to be a really busy year for me with planning the Moose Jaw meet, but at the same time this may be the ticket that frees me up for the summer if I get them all done by June which would be my goal.
So now with more information...does anything change? Is it doable?

[Roderick Treece]

Kelly,
Happy new year.
Good luck on this one.I get alot of requists for the same kinds of things ,Large runs / very small budjets.Not knowing what your art looks like, I would say it's under priced per sqft.
Right now most silvering I know of is about 20 to 25 per sqft.
There are companies that do multi color/large runs.I received these prices for one company the other day.

" based on simple inexpensive black plastic or
extruded frame. Frame pack five per master carton. Due to the quantity
size
of 25 50 and 100 pcs our price would be 50.95 - 35.49 - 27.49."At 1600 you might make more by subing it out.

I've decided to sub out these types of projects and just do the small custom ones myself.Unless you are going to step up to do this type and voulome of work all the time I don't think it would be worth it.
Check out these guy's.Keep in mind they do your typical Cheap "Beer" mirror.The lady's name is Hiedi and she was really nice
http://www.popsigns.com/mirrors.htm

If you have anyother question call me.

Roderick

[Kelly Thorson]

I think I have pretty much decided to focus mainly on a couple of nice designs for limited edition plates for the large quantity. Let someone else do the work. If they are really set on the glass - I've got a promotional company looking into it. Let them do it offshore.
But you have to work things through to make an educated decision....not?
I think I will try and submit something along those lines for the sponsor gifts though. At 100 - 150 at $100 it will be a lot more manageable, and I'll learn to swim before attempting to cross an ocean. .
Just for the record, the art work required screening three colours, no surface alterations and no hand work. I had a screenprinter on board that I trust completely so the unknown factor was the silvering. Still is. How do they sell those bar mirrors at $12 each?
I'm not questioning your figures, just trying to get a better handle on things. I'm not at all familiar with spraying, but I would think when sprayed assembly fashion the price would be a lot lower? Still I was unable to find a quote, although I am still awaiting two call backs.
Thanks for the help.

[Roderick Treece]

Kelly,
If you sent Hiedi the art work to look at she would be able to give you a qoute.

I have been wrestling with this issue for a long time now.Most of the large quantity requests I get don't want to pay more that 50.00 a piece.While I have no intention of getting into the "Cheap" bar Mirror business I am finding it might be worth it to sub it out and make a commision.
I think your desision to do the specials ones is good .I would still question the amount of work you plan on puttting into those 100 to 150 at 100.00.

What 12.00 bar mirrors are you talking about?

To do large quantities of mirroring you would need an automated mirroring system which I would think is very expensive.

If your interested in spraying your silver look on the Paasche site.They sell one for 329.00.
http://www.paascheairbrush.com/cgi-bin/ ... Spray+Guns

Normally I have a 150.00 minmum to set up and spray.It takes me about 10 minutes to get everything thing ready.



Roderick

[Kelly Thorson]

Roderick,
I'll maybe touch base with Heidi some day just to find out what is and isn't feasable in terms of subbing out.
This was one of those things that just had to be worked out in my own mind and this is a great place to come when you need a reality check.
The $12 mirrors were something I ran into a local novelty store about 6 months ago and they definitely fit the categories of ugly and cheap. But ugly or not, the same techniques are used, albeit probably offshore. Here's another link I found in the past week http://www.barfly.com/product_info.php/ ... ar_Mirrors I think they work out to $13.50 including the frame. If you go looking there are more of these out there at similar prices.
So if this is what we are up against, then there doesn't look to be much chance of ever competing in the bulk market...which was never really my intention or my desire. In house production is obviously silly if you can sub out at these prices.
Maybe someday I'll have the opportunity to visit someone with a spraying set up. For the time being I'll keep pouring. Thanks for your help