| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| GaiasRose |
Posted - Jan 30 2007 : 08:38:16 AM
There is a new store in town, they have consignment shelves, like in an antique store, I was in there yesterday because I only JUST found out about it.
While I was in there, one of the Women wanted to know if I had made my clothes, and since I did, I answered yes, as well as what both of the girls were wearing. THEEEEEN she recognized me from the Farmer's Market and the Sustainability Fair. She asked me if I wouldn't like to stitch up a few aprons (WOULD I!?!?) and bring in some of my home and bath and body products to stick on a shelf.
We got to talking business. THey don't take a cut of your retail price, they only charge you the shelf space, which is CHEAP-a 1/4 of a space is $12 per month, 1/2 space is $24 and a whole space is $48. CHEAP!!
they want me to be in by Friday as their grand opening is then. I am just not sure that it is going to be a good thing long term though. Maybe the first few months while they are getting known they will be busy, but after that....the store that was there prior was only open for a year-granted, she sold stuff that didn't really appeal around here- these are somewhat simple people around here and she was attempting to sell them high end clothing. I think I almost always saw the same stuff in her store each time I went in there-some of it was cute and I bought a couple of things from her, but see how fast she went under and was replaced!? I am just not sure it is worth the time and effort of stocking a shelf there...
what do you think?
~*~Brightest Blessings~*~
Tasha-Rose
Blogs: http://gaiarose.wordpress.com
http://frugalwitch.wordpress.com
http://tasharose365.wordpress.com/
Homepage: http://mysticwoodsfarm.com |
| 25 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| abbasgurl |
Posted - Feb 09 2007 : 4:51:29 PM
I think you should give it a try Tasha! As long as you can go month by month there really is very little commitment. Sounds like great advertising and just plain FUN too! Go for it!
Rhonda
I'm a one girl revolution. |
| momtoeight |
Posted - Feb 09 2007 : 1:35:17 PM
If you think that the shop is worth a try, I'd decide what I could afford, then budget it for three months. Generally, with any kind of marketing, 3-4 months will tell you if it is going to work or not, and with this one, you'd get a good feel for it in that time. If it works well, you can always get more space. Track it month by month though, and watch the trends. If it starts to lose profitability, then decide what you'll do, and at what point it won't justify the time anymore. Set a goal for sales and figure out how much you'll have to sell for it to be worth it, so when you assess each month, you'll know very quickly whether you earned enough to justify it or not.
You also need to look into her policies. Find out who takes the hit if there is shoplifting of your items, find out how she tracks sales and credits your account, etc. Because consignment shops have a wide variety of policies, and she should have a written contract and terms for you to view.
Hope it works well if you do it!
Laura
Mom to Eight
Owner and designer, Firelight Web Studio - http://www.firelightwebstudio.com - Small Business Website Services with a Difference - Personal, Flexible, and Friendly |
| MustangSuzie |
Posted - Feb 05 2007 : 5:01:07 PM
Yikes!! THat is freezin cold!!! And I thought we had it cold here. Wow. I hope it all goes well for you. Fill those shelves!! 
Blessings....
Sarah
Something I borrowed...
"In our every deliberation, we must consider the impact of our decisions on the next seven generations." -From The Great Law Of The Iroquois Confederacy.
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| GaiasRose |
Posted - Feb 05 2007 : 4:41:02 PM
They have been closed for a couple of days because of the extreme cold. They are suppoe to be open tomorrow and have pushed their grand opening back to this coming weekend instead of last weekend...soooooo i ahve not stocked the shelf yet, but tomorrow is suppose to be the day, provided we dont have an ambient temp of -36 in the morning again...
~*~Brightest Blessings~*~
Tasha-Rose
Blogs: http://gaiarose.wordpress.com
http://frugalwitch.wordpress.com
http://tasharose365.wordpress.com/
Homepage: http://mysticwoodsfarm.com
Birth is safe, interferrance is risky; TRUST BIRTH |
| MustangSuzie |
Posted - Feb 05 2007 : 3:56:16 PM
Tasha...did you take things down to that store? How is it going?
Blessings....
Sarah
Something I borrowed...
"In our every deliberation, we must consider the impact of our decisions on the next seven generations." -From The Great Law Of The Iroquois Confederacy.
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| Nancy Gartenman |
Posted - Feb 05 2007 : 11:31:49 AM
OH BOY, HUH TASHA??
NANCY JO
www.Nancy-Jo.blogspot.com |
| blueroses |
Posted - Feb 05 2007 : 10:51:44 AM
Tasha,
This is so exciting. Very happy for you and I look forward to hearing how things go. The ladies here have given you very good tips.
Debbie
"You cannot find peace...by avoiding life."
Virginia Woolfe |
| Forrester Farm |
Posted - Feb 02 2007 : 04:33:45 AM
Tasha, The nice thing is that you can mention the store to your customers at the Farmer's Market. A sample of your work with a note that say's "Available at _____ - name of store". Little chalk boards are charming for notes at the farmer's market.
Good luck, it sounds like a great outlet.
Ann
http://annforrester.tohe.com |
| Aunt George |
Posted - Feb 02 2007 : 02:19:16 AM
Go girl!! I think it is a great idea and your clothing is FAB!!! If you have internet sales generated off of this stock in the store, do you have to give them a cut? If not, put your internet site URL on the tag you make up for your items! Just a thought. I'm so excited for you......I know your 1/4 booth will be the most interesting one there! And good score on the corduroy fabric, and I too would go back for the rest of that today!!
G
http://auntgeorgeshouse.blogspot.com/index.html
Thanks for checking out my apron and sewing musings! |
| daffodil dreamer |
Posted - Feb 02 2007 : 02:05:04 AM
I agree, Rachel - shoot for the moon, even if you miss you'll still hit the stars!
Go for it, Tasha, and all the best of luck!
Best wishes,
Jayne |
| oceanfarmgirl |
Posted - Feb 01 2007 : 6:02:32 PM
What a great idea to put out business cards! I say shoot for the moon!
rachel
See what I'm up to on my blog... http://minetothine.blogspot.com |
| bramble |
Posted - Feb 01 2007 : 5:52:27 PM
Yay Tasha! May you sell out in your first week! Wishing you much success!
with a happy heart |
| GaiasRose |
Posted - Feb 01 2007 : 5:42:43 PM
SO I am going in tomorrow with just about $500 worth of stock between the sewn items and the home and bath items. We will give it a couple of months and see what happens. If a half spot opens up, I might take that over the quarter spot they are giving me immediately.
I am very excited!!
~*~Brightest Blessings~*~
Tasha-Rose
Blogs: http://gaiarose.wordpress.com
http://frugalwitch.wordpress.com
http://tasharose365.wordpress.com/
Homepage: http://mysticwoodsfarm.com |
| MustangSuzie |
Posted - Feb 01 2007 : 5:29:26 PM
Sounds like a great idea Tasha. Even if it only lasts a year or so, you are getting your name and your work out there. Advertising and publicity are good things. And who could possible resist if you hang up a lil clothesline with pics of your two best models!! They are adorable!
Blessings....
Sarah
Something I borrowed...
"In our every deliberation, we must consider the impact of our decisions on the next seven generations." -From The Great Law Of The Iroquois Confederacy.
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| daffodil dreamer |
Posted - Jan 31 2007 : 5:00:58 PM
Go for it, Tasha! As others have said, you seem to make the stuff anyway for fun, and having a small space isn't too big a committment. I'd only be worried about ending up spending all your time making things to sell and never doing what you want for your own family, but as it is only a small space and you can make what you like, I think it sounds perfect!
Best wishes,
Jayne |
| FarmGirl~K |
Posted - Jan 30 2007 : 12:04:35 PM
I would also make up some business cards to place in your space so customers can go to your web page. If it turns out to be short term, you'll still have your name out there for customers that will end up missing you if the store has to close shop.
"Work as if you were to live a hundred years, pray as if you were to die tomorrow." ~Benjamin Franklin~
http://wandascountryhome.com/forsale/index.html |
| Tina Michelle |
Posted - Jan 30 2007 : 11:28:06 AM
I think it is a good idea. I did something similar a while back and made a little bit on the side. It was a nice accomplishment and something that I could say"I did it".Go for it!
~Seize the Day! Live, Love, Laugh~ |
| GaiasRose |
Posted - Jan 30 2007 : 11:22:29 AM
OOOOoooooOOOOOOooooooOOOOOO Nance! I love that idea!!!! I love all of the ideas and this is making me very excited to do it! I have a little more hemming and hawing to do and tlaking to Rob about it, but I think I will do it....
~*~Brightest Blessings~*~
Tasha-Rose
Blogs: http://gaiarose.wordpress.com
http://frugalwitch.wordpress.com
http://tasharose365.wordpress.com/
Homepage: http://mysticwoodsfarm.com |
| Nance in France |
Posted - Jan 30 2007 : 11:14:36 AM
TEE-rrific with tons of possibilities. And definitely hang a cool skirt there so potential customers can see the real deal; and how about a cute little "clothesline" string or ribbon strung with tiny clothespins holding photos of your adorable kids in their mommy-made fashions, as well as photos of you in other creations? I am excited for you! Nance |
| FarmGirl~K |
Posted - Jan 30 2007 : 11:06:47 AM
Tasha... Go for it! Even if it is only for a year it will bring in extra $ while you work at home with the girls. Also if they don't have room for your clothes except for one outfit, you could have a binder there showing other examples of your work for them to order from. The cost of placing your things there is very reasonable... unless of course you spend your earnings in the store... 
"Work as if you were to live a hundred years, pray as if you were to die tomorrow." ~Benjamin Franklin~
http://wandascountryhome.com/forsale/index.html |
| bramble |
Posted - Jan 30 2007 : 10:32:46 AM
Tasha I think it's a great idea and certainly reasonable. I would say don't invest too heavily into overhead until you see how the traffic is through the store and for your merchandise. I belonged to an antique/craft cooperative for many years (we just had a monthly fee and required work hours) and there were definitely months that did not show how profittable the overall was. Just don't spend too much upfront to create "product" unless you know you will have a market for your merchandise at this shop or elsewhere. Word of mouth and getting flyers out to people will help this shoppe get people in. The trick is to get them to return.Good luck!
with a happy heart |
| faithymom |
Posted - Jan 30 2007 : 10:32:25 AM
This sounds great, Tasha! Finding somewhere to set your stuff up (on a small scale) that won't take a cut of the sale price is great.
They're opening a public market here and I'm looking into renting a booth. I heard that it is only $50 a month and I may be splitting it with a friend.
Go for it and Good Luck!
Faith
"All television is educational television. The only question is, what is it teaching?"-Fmr. FCC Commissioner Nicholas Johnson |
| GaiasRose |
Posted - Jan 30 2007 : 09:01:56 AM
Nancy, that is one thing the ladies said. they dont ahve room for many of my clothes, but they said to poick my best skirt and they could have a contact sheet or something if people are interested in custom work.
~*~Brightest Blessings~*~
Tasha-Rose
Blogs: http://gaiarose.wordpress.com
http://frugalwitch.wordpress.com
http://tasharose365.wordpress.com/
Homepage: http://mysticwoodsfarm.com |
| GaiasRose |
Posted - Jan 30 2007 : 09:00:01 AM
OOOO, I forgot to add, it IS a cute little store. They have Watkins stuff in there, there is a table of Avon, but we wont hold that against them....There is everything from craft fair bulk items-you know, the older people who buy all manner of junk things and sell them to unwiting flea market goers...to handmade kids clothes and fabric and yarn and and and....I bought a whole bunch of a fine wale courdoroy yesterday to make more Leg warmers with. I think I spent just over $7 and I got a TON of fabric....I may get the rest of the cord fabric thay have if I do go back to stock a shelf....
~*~Brightest Blessings~*~
Tasha-Rose
Blogs: http://gaiarose.wordpress.com
http://frugalwitch.wordpress.com
http://tasharose365.wordpress.com/
Homepage: http://mysticwoodsfarm.com |
| Nancy Gartenman |
Posted - Jan 30 2007 : 08:58:09 AM
I don't see as you have anything to lose by doing it. Also people in that area might ask you to do thinks for them on the side.
NANCY JO
www.Nancy-Jo.blogspot.com |
