Selling Taxidermy Vs. Commissions-based

I'm looking for some input here. I know most taxidermy businesses run either mostly or solely on commissions and working with clients, hunters. I'm wondering how viable or successful it would be to run a business mostly making and selling pieces (like 75% of the time), and doing commissions only 25% of the time. I know that most mounts in general tend to sell for less compared to what people will pay to have "their" specimen mounted custom. But I think I've identified a “need” that clients will pay good money for, and that is, legal birds, exotic/novelty birds. I only do birds, that's my specialty. Most bird species are protected here in the United States and the few species that can be owned/bought/sold freely are mainly exotics, domestics, zoo and pen-raised birds. It seems to me that these are highly sought after by collectors and they will pay very good money for such specimens, especially for artistic pieces of good composition and quality, which I believe I can offer. I've had loads of interest, and since opening for part-time business this year, I have mainly been selling. Or, I offer out my specimens for custom commission, so I get money upfront that way. I've been doing both this and hunter commissions 50/50. But I really enjoy working on exotics as well as having the freedom to compose pieces the way I think best. I'm questioning how successful that could be if I were to do that long-term and full time, making and selling 75% of the time. I would of course need consistent suppliers so I'm thinking I’d have to be partnered with many more aviaries, zoos, etc. I've been thinking that I could come up with contracts so that once I finish mounting the birds and sell them, the aviary or place the birds came from will get a percentage of the profit. I’ve already done this with a couple small farms/places and it has been working out well. Just brainstorming here! I’d like to know what some of you in the industry think of this concept, thanks.

 

I'm also curious if anyone has done that before with aviaries/farms/breeders? Contracts where they get a percentage of your profit? Instead of purchasing upfront.

 

I am thinking most would be non-native or non-protected. Not ESA or MBTA listed, etc. Mainly birds that died of natural causes and hunters wouldn't be my main target. Birds like domestic parrots, finches, softbills, pheasants, emu/ostrich, etc. Not so much game birds. Then maybe pen raised waterfowl or other birds here and there which would require some paperwork and could only be sold in some states.