
Affordable
The context
I was inspired to write this quote after several encounters with clients who thought that, as my prices were above their budget or too expensive, I was supposed to lower them, just like that! ๐
People really need to understand that we (designers, entrepreneurs, …) *are only responsible for our price, not their budget. I couldn’t understand why someone would even think it possible.
When I’m shopping and I see something I like but the price is too high for me, I LET IT GO. I don’t ask the shop manager to “give me a discount so their product(s) becomes more affordable!”
The thinking
The more I thought of it and the more I was puzzled. Especially with the speed at which some people would say: “It’s too expensive”. Too expensive compared to what my dear?
Do you know the market prices?
Did you take the time to collect quotes from several designers and noticed that I was the most expensive (or less affordable) of the lot?
Do you usually request these type of services and it’s the first time you were given a price this high?
Of course, the answer is no to all of the above.
The understanding
After a few months of analysis, I finally managed to understand.
I asked questions, took time to listen to conversations between my relatives and the following was a real eye opener:
A: We need … to decorate the tables. Do you know where we can find it?
B: Yeah, you can find it at …
A: Okay. It must certainly cost 3โฌ
Woah, wait! Stop right there. What do you mean by “It must certainly cost 3โฌ“? How do you know? Did you actually check?
B: For sure, it cannot be more expensive than that.
What?!?!?
A: I’ll go to the shop tomorrow.
...
B: So? Did you find it?
A: OMG, I didn’t take it because the price was 6โฌ; it’s too expensive!!!
Here we are.
People in my community have an idea in their head of how much the product / service they need should cost. With that idea in mind, they set out to find a service provider, asking around if someone knows a … (designer/photographer/stylist/decorator/shop). They find one (yeah, only one), ask for a quote and SURPRISE! The price is higher than what they “imagined” (I use this word on purpose). So yes, if you follow that schema, it IS too expensive.
In conclusion: I don’t have to make myself affordable
My work has ๐ฏ๐๐ฅ๐ฎ๐, my craft is ๐ฎ๐ง๐ข๐ช๐ฎ๐. โฃThe price of my services reflect the time and effort I put into giving them life, the years of study, all the things I sacrificed to learn how to do #DoItWell.
Either you can pay my price and we will work together or you can’t pay my price and we won’t. And it’s okay if we don’t.
*Quote by @gigichroniclesnyc