NDK
Cave Dweller 
Member since January 2009
Posts: 9,440
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Post by NDK on Mar 3, 2011 22:45:12 GMT -5
I have been tossing the idea around in my head - I'm thinking of selling some wraps. I'd like to discuss the idea, and pick everyone's brain about it. If anyone else is considering doing the same and you have questions, please ask. There may be things I haven't thought about.
I feel I've gotten "good enough" to have a presentable product. This was not my goal when starting this hobby, but let's face it - every little bit helps. Even a few extra dollars to buy supplies would be nice. My concern is that I don't want to "have to" make wraps. The last thing I want this to become is work. I think you all probably can understand what I mean. So this would leave out doing the craft show type venue, because I don't want to have to showcase a whole table's worth of pieces.
I stopped at a local "shabby chic" type of shop after work today to see if they sell jewelry. They had a few cases of silver smithed pieces, and some bead work pieces. Nothing was wire wrapped.
I spoke to the lady working there, which happened to be one of the owners. It was a wonderful experience. She welcomed the idea of selling my pieces, and encouraged me to bring in some samples. The shop is next to a karate center, so there's plenty of foot traffic. She said she has customers looking at jewelry for everything from every day/casual pieces to wedding jewelry. There's not any specific age group that visits the shop. They've been open since July, so less than a year, but I didn't get the feeling they were going anywhere.
A few questions I have...
The lady told me they usually get a 50% commission on sales. Is this a normal rate? I don't know, that's why I ask. I'm wondering if I'd make much profit with that added cost.
She also told me they'd prefer I didn't sell anywhere else locally if I sold there. Is this at all unusual? I suppose if something they sold became very popular, being the exclusive dealer would be a + for them.
I know some of you sell pieces other than at shows. Is there other things I need to know or ask? Are there other places I could consider for selling?
Thanks for hanging in there if you got all the way to the end of this lol.
Thanks in advance for any help or advise,
Nate
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Post by christopherl1234 on Mar 3, 2011 23:04:01 GMT -5
50% is pretty standard out here where I am at. The exclusive thing is not though. It seems to me that they should cut you a better deal if they want to be the only ones to handle your one of a kind designer pendants. You might consider increasing your prices since you are in a retail setting.
I have also placed some of my work in th local art galleries.
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Post by gr on Mar 3, 2011 23:11:43 GMT -5
Nate, 50% comm seems a little high to me. That means to get what you want for the piece she would have to sell it for half again as much to make you both happy. Example: you want $30. + her $15. Will it sell for $45.? there are so manys to go with this. You know what Nate, Try it with a couple of your pieces with her for a set period of time and see how it works out and see if she will consider say 35% Work it Nate, work it
gary
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nuevomundo
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since March 2010
Posts: 222
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Post by nuevomundo on Mar 3, 2011 23:13:32 GMT -5
50% commission is pretty standard for these kinds of deals.
As far as not selling your items elsewhere, this seems like wishful thinking on her part. Especially if she is taking these on commission (i.e. not giving you any $$ up front). That just doesn't really seem reasonable. As long as you are not selling your product out of 2 or 3 boutiques on the same block, I think you are safe. People don't really comparison-shop so much for unique, handmade items.
You might want to say things to her like 'at the moment, you would be the only one carrying my product' but I would not want to preclude myself from putting stuff in other galleries. Unless she wants to buy all of it from you up front. That would be another story...
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nuevomundo
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since March 2010
Posts: 222
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Post by nuevomundo on Mar 3, 2011 23:16:46 GMT -5
Example: you want $30. + her $15. Will it sell for $45.? it is more usually 50% of the total. So if you want $30, it needs to retail at $60. Sad but true. If your products are selling well, you might be able to haggle a bit of a better deal, but 50-50 is the starting point for most of these artsy-type galleries. |
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amyk
fully equipped rock polisher
I'm a slabber, I'm a cabber, I'm a midnight wrapper.
Member since January 2010
Posts: 1,331
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Post by amyk on Mar 3, 2011 23:53:56 GMT -5
Some galleries will sell them onconsignment. 50% is normal. Others will buy them outright. I will sell it for less to them if they buy them outright, that way i don't have to wait and see if they sell. I sell mine to a gallery for $25 to $35.00 depending on the stone and how much silver is in it. That doesn't seem like much and I hate to let them go for that, but I need to get some of the money back that I have put into my equipment. And it is still a small profit.
Gold would be more. No one has asked for gold yet.
Yes it is 50% of the total. One gallery here does 60 ,40. 40 being for the gallery. but most do it at 50%.
As far as her being exclusive, some art galleries around here ask for that, but they will give you a distance which you will not sell to other galleries. Say for example 10 miles. I think more than 10 miles would be excessive. Out of courtesy, you sould take those pieces off your web site if you have one, while it is in the gallery. She may insist on that also.
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Post by Bikerrandy on Mar 4, 2011 13:16:42 GMT -5
I can't see paying anyone 50% for my skills and hard work. Is she paying you 50% of the cost of the materials? If not, you're putting more into this than you're thinking. To be honest, I sell enough of this stuff on my own fairly easy. If you add up the time it takes to cab and wrap, plus materials, you should be getting more than $30 per wrap in my opinion, unless you can cab and wrap a pendant in less than 45 minutes.
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Post by Donnie's Rocky Treasures on Mar 4, 2011 13:31:12 GMT -5
I'm with Randy on this one! I checked out a couple of places down here. One is an art gallery & they want my pieces in there, as soon as they have a spot for me. I would pay $40.00 a month for a 3 shelf glass case. What I sell for is what I get, straight & simple. The other place is a little boutique. My stuff would be out in the open, probably on a table or something like that. They want to do commission & didn't want my wraps to be in any other store because people travel up & down the keys shopping. I don't much care for that & I haven't called them back to set up an appointment with both owners. I would much rather pay the monthly fee, have my pieces enclosed & make what I price it for!
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blr2449
has rocks in the head
Can I retire now?
Member since January 2011
Posts: 554
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Post by blr2449 on Mar 4, 2011 14:15:24 GMT -5
I totally agree with Donnie to have a monthly fee, a dedicated "enclosed" area. You don't want your creations to grow legs and run away.  |
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NDK
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2009
Posts: 9,440
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Post by NDK on Mar 4, 2011 16:18:15 GMT -5
Thanks for all the replies everyone! It really helps a lot.
I thought the idea of not selling anywhere else seemed a bit arrogant on their part, but wanted to hear other thoughts on it before voicing my opinion.
So 50% sounds like it's not outrageous for a commission. They would be doing all the work except my time making the pieces, so I guess there's some value in that. That's more time I can be cabbing and wrapping instead of keeping a display, or maintaining a website.
But I agree with you too, Randy. I figured after the commission, I'd be just about giving them away...
I like Donnie's idea of renting a space. There is more time involved in it, but a much better profit margin.
Barb, I agree with you too. I would hate for something to get stolen. Or even dropped and broken or twisted up.
One thing too, is I haven't gone to any other places to inquire about selling. I stopped at another shop today, but they had no jewelry. It was a flower shop with other interior design pieces. I'm thinking this may be a good option for a rental space, just to have a small display on their counter for a few pieces.
Another idea I had was to try to sell some at work. There's nearly 1000 people there including management. We have a computer bulletin board on outlook (works basically like craigslist). One problem with this though, is being a machine operator, I am unable to post pictures and have no internet access. If I could get someone to post pix for me, this may be a better option. I'd have to set up a website to showcase my work, but I think Abigail would enjoy helping me with that.
I'm going to look around locally and see what other places are out there where I may be able to sell. This will give me some time to make some pieces up and have a display to bring along if I want to inquire at a shop.
I have another question. What do you do if someone inquires about a piece you can't make? Do you try to sway them to something you can do, or point them somewhere else?
Thanks for all the help so far!
Nate
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blr2449
has rocks in the head
Can I retire now?
Member since January 2011
Posts: 554
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Post by blr2449 on Mar 4, 2011 19:16:23 GMT -5
I have another question. What do you do if someone inquires about a piece you can't make? Do you try to sway them to something you can do, or point them somewhere else? This is a constant topic among lampworkers. Most do not do custom orders because too many times the customer doesn't like what you've done - OR - they buy and then want to return it and have you make them something else. Of course, if you are selling to folks right there where you work this might not be a problem. I would definitely NOT steer them somewhere else. You might explain that it's not a technique you've not had a chance to try yet, but you're hoping to in the future and then ask them if there isn't something else in your inventory they might like. In the meantime, make note of what they asked for and take some time to learn and practice it. ;D |
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NDK
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2009
Posts: 9,440
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Post by NDK on Mar 4, 2011 19:22:50 GMT -5
Thanks Barb. I think this may be a time where a non refundable deposit would be needed. Then if they don't like it, you still get something for your time.
Nate
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Post by Bikerrandy on Mar 4, 2011 19:33:13 GMT -5
I've done a good bit of custom orders, always got payed in full with no complaints. The customer needs to be familiar with your style of work. If they don't like your particular style, just tell them that you may not be the right person for the job.
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NDK
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2009
Posts: 9,440
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Post by NDK on Mar 4, 2011 19:47:22 GMT -5
That's a good point Randy. I would think they're already farmiliar with and would appreciate your style before inquiring about a custom piece.
Do you get any portion of the payment in advance?
Nate
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Post by rockmanken on Mar 4, 2011 20:02:15 GMT -5
Donna and I have tried most all venues to sell. Consignments are out. They suck.
Donna sells most all of them at work. She wears one and sells it off her neck. Also sells to a museum and sets a price and when it sells, they send the money. They mark it up and display it the way they want. Does 5 - 10 a month at times. It helps the museum out by having something to sell.
Ken
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NDK
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2009
Posts: 9,440
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Post by NDK on Mar 4, 2011 20:47:23 GMT -5
Thanks Ken. I'm guessing the commission is what you don't like for consigning?
For now I think the first thing I'll try is selling at work. I'm going to talk to someone and see if I'm able to post pictures, but just don't know how lol. I can work on a website later if there seems to be a need.
My wife just got a job at a doctor office connected to the hospital, and mentioned trying the hospital gift shop. I though that's a pretty good idea too.
Nate
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daisyd681
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since January 2011
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Post by daisyd681 on Mar 4, 2011 20:57:27 GMT -5
I preface by saying I have never sold jewelry. I have, however, sold handmade items locally. Here's what I found to be standard. Whatever I charge the store, they will double it when they sell it. That being said, they are buying these things outright, I don't have to worry about whether or not they sell it. (I did do consignment once at a second hand store NEVER again. It was probably more a matter of the place than the practice of consignment, but I ended up having to argue with them over how many slings I had brought in and how many they had sold.) I only ever had a store owner ask me to charge what she is charging in the shop if I sold direct to customer, that I way she wasn't getting under priced. These small shops do have quite a bit of overhead, maintaning a store front and employees costs money, whether or not they sell anything, so I've never somplained about the high markup. I certainly don't want to do all of that. On the other hand, I am considering simply selling my wraps on Etsy once I have enough to give people options. I think this will work especially well for me as I have many varying hobbies from rocks to weaving and everything in between. This way I don't have to update meta tags on a website every time I take up a new hobby, or try to find new stores to take my stuff.
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NDK
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2009
Posts: 9,440
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Post by NDK on Mar 4, 2011 22:07:11 GMT -5
I will have to ask the shop if they'd consider buying my pieces. I like that idea. Pay me xx amount, and sell it for whatever you want.
I will definitely keep a record of what I have for sale if I sell on consignment, and maybe have them sign it showing we're all aware of what's there. Good point Daisy, thank you.
Nate
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blr2449
has rocks in the head
Can I retire now?
Member since January 2011
Posts: 554
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Post by blr2449 on Mar 4, 2011 22:26:39 GMT -5
I sell most of my beads to my sister in PA, where she constructs pendants, bottle stoppers, earrings, etc for the many people who work with her at a large school. It helps that I make items and send them as gifts to her, which she wears to work.
She's a walking advertisement and the ladies go nuts. LOL In fact, I'm sitting here now making a bunch of earrings to go out to her.
Perhaps make an item or two for your wife to wear to work. That and the gift shop should bring you results.
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dbrealityrocks
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since February 2010
Posts: 1,084
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Post by dbrealityrocks on Mar 4, 2011 22:42:49 GMT -5
I don't do any consignments any more but when I did I took pics of the pieces printed a couple of copies and had them sign beside each pic. No doubt about what was brought in and what was sold. I've been going the juried show route, at least been accepted at a few, I'll see how that goes. I've tried regular shows and it's hard to compete w/people selling jewelry for $20/necklace. By the time I pay for a show, gas, and motel I've got to get a decent price. I have few wraps that sell for $35 and the avg is $60, all with sterling and think I might have to raise my prices since a lot of juried shows are $300 for a booth.
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