Posted under Tsepe Tsepe Design
If you're new here, you may want to subscribe to my RSS feed. Thanks for visiting!
Sim and Goodman created the products in this post, made from beads and wire during a course that they participated in.
If 40% were deducted from the retail price at which these items got sold, and with material and labour the only components factored into the wholesale price, they would have received approximately R7.00 per hour for the effort expended! Their real labour rate will be far below this, probably as low as R2.00 if other “ghost” input costs are entered into the equation. If the starting salary is R17/hr, these products are already selling at a demoralizing loss.
I estimate that R112.50/hr will be a fair trade-of to lead a secure and contented lifestyle in SA, and this will be the net goal for this venture. They will not be empowered by the production and retailing of these creative products at present price levels.
The task at hand is to design and produce products outside the framework of reference of the consumer. The originality and quality will be of primary importance, and of absolute importance in so far as reaching price points of R1250 and above.
These intro products have to be enhanced and improved and I hope and know that they will rise to the occasion.
elza on 13 May 2008 at 1:08 pm #
Sim and Goodman, go for it!! Your creations are unique. With artists like you this project can only be a success - especially with the help of some of - in my view - the best ceramic artists in S A today. To all involved I would like to say : You have started something here that is unique and to my mind will become a great success!
Gerrit Oosthuizen on 13 May 2008 at 3:52 pm #
I met Sim for a quick brief an hour ago, and some of their ideas will be hits! They have the ability to take the ordinary out of it’s known context and by making these objects function outside our pictorial framework they present us with new fresh useful products that can enhance our daily existence. They capture a unknown spirit and energy in their work and I am sure that as they roll out some of these new concepts that it will become collectors items.
We plan to start with a coffee mug range, to generate some form of income and cash flow to fund this venture. The art objects, will be one of a kind, presented as an exhibition, possibly online, in 12 to 18 months time.
Some art pieces will be released sooner, creating a little excitement in the run-up to the exhibition!