Getting Started with MakeFlow: A Studio Management Guide

MakeFlow Team — Wed, 15 Jan 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Welcome to MakeFlow!

If you're a ceramic artist, woodworker, or maker juggling custom orders, inventory, and production schedules, you're in the right place. MakeFlow is designed to help you spend less time on admin and more time creating.

What You'll Learn

How to set up your studio profile
Managing your material inventory
Creating your first custom order
Tracking production through workflow stages

Step 1: Studio Setup

First, navigate to your Studio Settings and fill in your basic information:

Studio name
Work hours per day (for order scheduling)
Currency (EUR, GBP, USD, etc.)

This information helps MakeFlow calculate accurate timelines and pricing for your projects.

Step 2: Add Your Materials

Building a materials inventory is crucial for:

Tracking what you have in stock
Calculating material costs for orders
Knowing when to reorder supplies

To add a material:

Go to Materials in the sidebar
Click Add Material
Fill in the details: name, quantity, unit, cost per unit
Save and repeat for all your materials

Pro tip: Use the expense receipt scanner to quickly add materials from your supplier invoices!

Step 3: Create Products

Products are the items you make and sell. Each product should include:

Name and description
Estimated build time (hours)
Materials required with quantities
Labour cost (calculated from build time × hourly rate)

MakeFlow uses this information to:

Calculate total costs automatically
Track order health (are you on schedule?)
Reserve materials when orders are added to the build queue

Step 4: Your First Order

Ready to create your first order? Here's the workflow:

Click Orders → New Order
Select or create a customer
Add products to the order
Set a due date
MakeFlow calculates costs and timelines automatically

Once saved, you can add the order to your build queue to start production!

Step 5: Using the Build Queue

The build queue is your visual production board. Think of it as a Kanban board specifically designed for makers:

Drag orders through workflow stages
See material availability at a glance
Track order health (healthy, at-risk, overdue)
View estimated completion dates

Next Steps

Now that you've set up the basics, explore:

Workflow Stages: Customize stages to match your process
Chippy (AI Assistant): Ask Chippy to help manage your studio
Analytics: Track revenue, profit margins, and production efficiency

Need help? Visit our documentation or reach out to support@makeflow.so.

Happy making! 🎨✨

How to Price Your Handmade Products: A Complete Guide

Sophie Martinez — Mon, 20 Jan 2025 00:00:00 GMT

The Pricing Challenge

One of the biggest challenges for makers is pricing products correctly. Price too high and you'll struggle to make sales. Price too low and you won't be profitable. Finding the sweet spot requires understanding your true costs and the value you provide.

The Cost-Plus Pricing Formula

The most common approach for handmade products is cost-plus pricing:

Price = (Material Cost + Labour Cost) × (1 + Markup %)

Let's break down each component:

1. Material Costs

Material costs include everything that goes into making your product:

Raw materials (clay, wood, fabric, etc.)
Packaging materials
Consumables (glaze, varnish, thread, etc.)

Pro tip: Use package pricing for bulk materials. For example, if you buy a 5kg bag of clay for €25 and use 500g per item, your material cost is €2.50 per item (not €25!).

MakeFlow automatically handles package pricing calculations when you add materials with the "package" pricing type.

2. Labour Costs

Labour is often undervalued by makers. Calculate your hourly rate based on:

Your skill level and experience
Market rates in your area
Business overhead (rent, utilities, insurance)

Minimum recommended: €15-20/hour for beginners, €25-40/hour for experienced makers, €50+/hour for master craftspeople.

Then multiply your hourly rate by the estimated build time:

Labour Cost = Hourly Rate × Build Time (hours)

3. Markup for Profit

Your markup covers:

Business overhead not included in labour
Profit for reinvestment and growth
Market positioning

Typical markups:

50-100%: Entry-level, competitive pricing
100-200%: Mid-range, sustainable pricing
200-300%: Premium, luxury positioning

Example: Ceramic Mug Pricing

Let's price a handmade ceramic mug:

Materials:

Clay: 500g @ €5/kg = €2.50
Glaze: 50ml @ €12/500ml = €1.20
Total Materials: €3.70

Labour:

Build time: 1.5 hours
Hourly rate: €30
Total Labour: €45.00

Total Cost: €48.70

With 100% Markup: €97.40 (round to €95)

Adjusting for Market Reality

Cost-plus gives you a baseline, but you also need to consider:

Competition

Research similar products in your niche:

What are others charging?
How does your quality compare?
What unique value do you offer?

###Value Perception

Customers pay for more than materials and time:

Unique design and artistry
Story and brand
Quality and durability
Made-to-order or customization

Don't be afraid to charge for your expertise and artistic vision!

Wholesale vs. Retail

If selling wholesale to shops:

Wholesale = 50% of retail price
This means your retail price needs 4× markup (200%) to be profitable
Or sell direct-to-consumer through your website/studio

Testing Your Prices

Start with your calculated price and:

Test the market: List a few products and monitor sales
Gather feedback: Ask trusted customers about perceived value
Track profitability: Use MakeFlow's analytics to see actual profit margins
Adjust gradually: Increase prices 10-15% at a time if needed

Using MakeFlow for Pricing

MakeFlow helps you price accurately by:

Automatically calculating material costs (including package pricing)
Tracking actual build times vs. estimates
Computing labour costs from build time × hourly rate
Showing profit margins on each order
Suggesting prices based on target profit margins

Common Pricing Mistakes

❌ Forgetting overhead: Rent, utilities, tools, and equipment aren't free ❌ Undervaluing time: Your time is worth money, even if you love what you do ❌ Racing to the bottom: Competing only on price attracts price-sensitive customers ❌ Never raising prices: Costs increase over time - your prices should too

Final Thoughts

Pricing is part art, part science. Start with solid cost calculations, understand your market, and don't be afraid to charge what you're worth. Remember: profitable pricing is sustainable pricing. You can't create beautiful work if your business isn't viable.

Need help calculating costs? Try MakeFlow's built-in pricing calculator to find your optimal price point!

What pricing challenges have you faced? Share your experiences in our community forum!

MakeFlow Blog