Thread: almost 13 years of online business, no big price jumps!

"Over the years I have had polite encouragement from people to raise prices. If I make something really special or one of a kind, yes I’ll compensate for that. But the price level of $34 to $44 on average remains in effect. Yes, price of silk went up, but not enough for me to justify raising prices considerably. I’d rather have volumes of veils in the hands of dancers than something overpriced sitting in a store. It’s always been my mission and always will be. I am not devaluing my time or work, I am VALUE-ING the steady stream of dancers who have brought me endless joy with photos and videos of something I have made and something that is danced with. That outweighs any profit. I’m no longer dancing professionally but I feel a bit of me is dancing every time a dancer uses an A’Kai Silks veil. "

minimal price increases in 13 years! « The Morning Bleat

Before silk veils became so easy to obtain, there was a fair degree of price gouging going on.

Its not just silk veils. I remember a store in late 90's that was selling ugly drab silk veils for $80. The same place was selling ill-fitting fringe-monster low end Egyptian costumes for about $400. Middle Eastern music albums that can be purchased as CDs for $12 now or mp3's for less than that were $25.

Not to mention hip scarves and synthetic veils. Between Internet shopping and the Chinese and Indian imports, those prices have really come down, too.

As a minor, minor player in the silk veil biz, I have HAD to raise prices due to the jump in silk cost. Perhaps if you are a large enough operation to buy silk, dye, etc. in bulk you can avoid it, but I certainly can't and can no longer sell a veil for under $40 and make any money on it at all.

Unfortunately this means I pretty much can't compete with the high-volume artists. That's fine by me, as I really only sell locally anyway. But it would be nice if people didn't say in my hearing, "I'm sure I can get one cheaper online." It's depressing, even if it's true.

A'Kai can't compete with high volume importers either. I buy silk in bolts from dharma or other sources on the mainland, the only kind of silk I import in right now are the pre-sewn half circles because my supplier DID raise the prices a notch but not enough for me to raise prices on the veils. They are still $89 a pair unless one of a kinds which have been selling quickly and reliably at $109 which I feel is very fair considering the time put into them and the extreme giddiness I get from making them. They are fun.
Those overseas manufacturers might have screwed up the market price of an ombre but they can't duplicate a one of a kind :)


Yup I remember the days my first pair of ISIS wings (the pleated kind) were close to $200 with shipping, now you can find them as cheap as $30

Yup, those of us with day jobs can afford to price our hobbies low. I admit though, I won't price any class or performance lower than dance friends - I still price a class or workshop lower than perhaps I should, but I figure I would rather share some of the knowledge I have at a price those who want it can afford, than price myself out of the market entirely. I won't knowingly undercut. I no longer perform professionally at all so performances tend to be for donations or freebies at friends' events. Having a day job - in my case a night job! - means I can pretty much absorb the full cost of my dancing. But I am aware that there are people out there who *need* the money who are good at what they do and ethical about it, and to be honest, I will often direct people to them ahead of me because I do this for fun, whereas they do it for a living.

The price of bellydance has barely changed in the years I have been doing it, where I live, and I know people dance in restaurants etc for far far less than I was told to charge 10 years ago (I charged more)! So what people are prepared to pay is less than it should be, and we have to work out a compromise. I must admit I look askance at cheap products. Veils, costumes, you can buy them cheap online but they are either badly or unethically made, usually both. And you can't tell whether the product is truly crap till you get it. So I stick to trusted vendors - those with impeccable references, because I am not spending US$ or pounds on rubbish or manufacturers that come with multiple caveats - or make it myself.

Originally Posted by ~~A'Kai Silks~~~

A'Kai can't compete with high volume importers either. I buy silk in bolts from dharma or other sources on the mainland, the only kind of silk I import in right now are the pre-sewn half circles because my supplier DID raise the prices a notch but not enough for me to raise prices on the veils.

But do you do your own hemming on your rectangles? I bet your seamstress doesn't charge the same as a decade ago!

Originally Posted by tigerb

But do you do your own hemming on your rectangles? I bet your seamstress doesn't charge the same as a decade ago!

The half circles are hemmed. Most of the time the rectangles aren't. Except for a few here and there the rectangles have never been hemmed and don't unravel. I have a 55 inch merkaba veil from 13 years ago that is still perfect on the edges. It doesn't get caught on costumes or look sloppy .

Those with a day job often have to make sacrifices to take care of their children and provide a good insurance policy and a solid house over the head. Especially single moms that don't have the financial support from a husband or partner. The work is no less. With crafty time management , for example, a dancer can keep a full time job, teach classes and perform. Then she knows her kids (or cats, etc) will be fed and insured (kids get hurt) not only does she / he have a 'secure' way of taking care of them (secure is rather relative) but can feed the creative side as well.

This also provides a well balanced parent that is happy to juggle two tasks. And..it's always nice to have a bit of fun cash to take the kids out on the boat to see dolphins.

apparently if you order in bulk you can get akai veils for as low as $12 (I pity the person that orders from
this manufacturer thinking the veil will really look like that, it's my own photo taken in San
Francisco at a local jr high auditorium we were allowed to use for photos in 2005)

Charming belly dancing,belly dance,belly dance silk veil - Detailed info for Charming belly dancing,belly dance,belly dance silk veil,belly dance silk veil,Charming belly dancing,belly dance,belly dance silk veil,www.panpaliya.com on Alibaba.com

Although not conclusive to all online venues here's a recent link to veils made by various artists it appears A'Kai falls right in the middle or current market price for simple marbled and ombré styles silk veil belly dance on Etsy, a global handmade and vintage marketplace.

I love silken's veils she uses a crepe fabric and does salt effects that pink is really pretty !