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Entrepreneurship:  selling quilts  |
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Thistlewoodmanor
True Blue Farmgirl
51 Posts
Deb
Geneva
IA
USA
51 Posts |
 Posted - Aug 17 2005 : 5:01:47 PM
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I make baby, wall and mini quilts as well as patchwork totes, and I'd like to expand my market. I'd like to find a shop to sell them in, not sure how to go about that. Or, would a website be better? It doesn't seem like they sell for what they're worth on ebay. Any suggestions?
http://www.home.earthlink.net/~annavon431/ |
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bubblesnz
True Blue Farmgirl
291 Posts
helen
New Zealand
291 Posts |
Posted - Aug 17 2005 : 5:54:00 PM
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Ok, here is what I would do. Decide what sort of store you wish your product to be in, upmarket or craft type store.
Upmarket will place an order or buy direct off you. They will be wanting the wholesale price so they they can then add their markup for retail sale. Craft stores often sell on behalf and commission. Make sure you know what their presentage is that they take.
Make sure you have a label on your product, so you can be contacted, for reorders, by customers.
Once you have decided what sort of business you want your work in, take a few items plus a folder with pictures of other items and prices. Make sure your presentation of everything is of the highest standard.(If you or the folder etc look sloppy, they will think your work is the same.
Just rememeber, even thoughh is it exciting for a shop to choose your work, you need to also feel that this is the right shop to have your work in.
On your label I would have a webaddress where they can contact you and see other and new products. This catches shoppers and browsers and people who wish to purchase again. Add your webpage to others of similar products who allow links. SqrlI am pretty sure has that.
Labels can be made on your computer and printed off onto high quality card or recyled paper etc.
If you are looking at going into it as a job for yourself, check into buying fabric etc thru a wholesaler.
Look around at what is selling online and in stores and chat with others who sell similar products .
Hope this helps a little. GoodLuck |
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JoyIowa
True Blue Farmgirl
273 Posts
Joy
273 Posts |
Posted - Aug 18 2005 : 4:40:09 PM
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You might want to be cautious about selling ANYTHING that could/would/should be used by babies and toddlers without consulting a lawyer about what kind of liability insurance to buy. Most consignment places I'm aware of do not carry appraised value insurance on the pieces they consign, so if the piece is damaged or stolen in any way, the best you would get is the cost of the materials used, and then only if you had the receipts. I agree quilts don't sell for what they're worth on e-bay. Deb, have you thought about putting together some kind of guild/church group/civic group etc program? I used to generate a decent amount of income just charging $50-$200 plus mileage to do a 45 minute program with a 15 minute question and answer period. One of my best received is "Oh Me Oh My, What's that I spy?" that was nothing more than two dozen quilts being held up and speculating about why the mistakes were what they were.
Good Luck!
Joy
If it's not illegal, unsafe, or immoral, why not try anything once? Who knows? You may come back for a second helping! |
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Thistlewoodmanor
True Blue Farmgirl
51 Posts
Deb
Geneva
IA
USA
51 Posts |
Posted - Aug 18 2005 : 8:36:48 PM
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Joy, how did you go about letting people know you did the program and getting bookings? I used to teach quilting classes for adult ed a long time ago, but here the adult ed program charges so much that I was never able to get enough people to sign up. I would really enjoy doing something like giving programs.
http://www.home.earthlink.net/~annavon431/ |
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Jana
True Blue Farmgirl
482 Posts
Jana
Eau Claire
Wisconsin
USA
482 Posts |
Posted - Sep 02 2005 : 10:41:04 PM
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I'm a big fan of craft shows. The upscale ones you have to pay a fee to enter and people often have to pay a fee to get in. I sew and always look at what the other seamstresses are selling, and it seems like the good ones always do very well. (And I wonder why I'm not doing this! )
Jana |
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JoyIowa
True Blue Farmgirl
273 Posts
Joy
273 Posts |
Posted - Sep 08 2005 : 7:42:51 PM
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Deb, Initially I sent to quilt groups/guilds/clubs outside of a 50 mile radius, but still driving distance. I offered the first five organizations to contact me a program at no cost to them, except mileage. I also sent to every quilt guild within driving distance, and signed up on a lot of websites under the teacher headings. I agree with you that the adult ed way is a losing way for the most part. Iowa requires so much paperwork ahead of time, that if you figure your hours, you come out with about a dollar an hour-I've told them no thanks!
If it's not illegal, unsafe, or immoral, why not try anything once? Who knows? You may come back for a second helping! |
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Entrepreneurship: selling quilts |
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selling quilts
