Help! Is this a good idea? (Wholesale question!)

[GrowingUpHerbal]

I recently got a BIG wholesale order on a one-of-a-kind item with a serious interest in placing another order soon. It's come time for the business to place the next big order, but they wanted to know if I would replace my tags with tags for their business and only say Design by Meagan... no link to my product name, shop, or shop address.

Is that a good idea or no?

If that's a normal wholesale practice, is there anything I should know about how to go about it?

Thanks, Meagan

[Former_Member]

I'm still working on my first wholesale account, but that sounds "rude" to me. I can definitely see where they might be coming from, but it's your creation, not theirs. You know what I mean? It saddens me that they asked you to take your info off your own item. I feel they should want everyone to know YOU are the creator because they obviously support you. Personally, if you think it's okay, then I would charge double. Good luck!

[lippybrand]

Hm... If they are selling them for the same price you sell them for, theres really no reason they couldnt have your company name/ link on the packaging. If they are trying to sell them for more I can see the reasoning. They arent going to be able to sell them if people can buy them cheaper through you.

I would ask them what the reason is behind the request, very sweetly of course. And suggest using their lable but on the back or something add a link to your shop saying created by GrowingUpHerbal: then link. But just use your own judgement of course and dont do anything to jeopardize the sale if you need the money! :)

[GrowingUpHerbal]

See I thought it was a little strange too. It is my product and I'd like for it to be associated with my name and shop, but it's not something that I've had patented or even trademarked so at any time someone could decide they were gonna make them too. Even if I went through the trouble to patent the design all someone has to do is change one little thing about it and that makes it a different design.

This is actually a product in a different shop, one that I don't make a lot of. I do like the idea of having a client that buys a lot often, but I'm not sure it's worth compromising my product... if that's even compromising.

I haven't asked them how much they're selling them for. I figured that was too bold. I suppose I should ask them more about their company before I decide anything.

[threestonebirds]

That's a tough one and I hope you get some input from some more experienced wholesale sellers. I've only had one order and not only did she let me put my shop name on the pieces but she asked me to include business cards so go along with everything.

I can see why your buyer might want to do that but I'd ask their reasons, see if they're willing to give any, and maybe suggest a revised label, something that'll include your information but be more discreet about it.

Money and wholesale orders are definitely nice but if you don't get to have your work acknowledge, it kind of takes away from it, you know?

[Former_Member]

I think it seems a bit off if you ask me. I can understand them not wanting to have your URL available, just in case they are worried about your shop being competition. But your creations are a product of your BUSINESS, so your business name should be allowed.

Do you know anything about where this person is reselling your product? Not to suggest anything shady, but I have seen posts on the forums about people buying from Etsy shops and reselling on Etsy in their own shop. I'd hate for you to lose a sale, but you deserve credit for your work.

[CopperLeafStudios]

not strange at all. Why should they allow you to market your shop to their customers? They've worked hard to establish their clientele.

Once you get more accustomed to wholesale, you'll find that this is the norm rather than the exception. I'd accommodate their request :) Sounds like they'll likely become a regular customer!



If they're asking you to remove your business name as well as your contact info, it's called "Private Label". It's common in certain industries.

[GrowingUpHerbal]

Yeah, see I have a few other wholesale orders for my Growing Up Herbal products and I've never been asked to take my name off it.

This product is my Washcloth Bib from my shop Baby Swank. You can see them here: http://BabySwank.etsy.com

They want custom bibs made and she said they wanted that product to be exclusive.

I'm just curious what others think about that too. I don't have any experience with it and I wanted to get some advice.

[CopperLeafStudios]

"Exclusivity" is something they may also stipulate -- it's something that you both agree upon. It means that you agree to only sell through their venue, and not any others within a 5 mile radius (or whatever you agree on).

[GrowingUpHerbal]

Really Chris? You're definitely right... I don't have a ton of wholesale orders.

Most times my clients want my info and my business cards.

Would it be better to say, "Design by Baby Swank" instead of "Design by Meagan"?

It would be nice to have it ordered consistently I suppose.

The design is a personalized bib of sorts. It's an international business, but they have an office in the US because that's where I ship to. They want their countries flag colors as the bib and they want it embroidered with their saying.

[aLilBiteOfCute]

I agree with what most said here. Besides wouldn't it kind of be like a store selling Gerber brand (for instance), but not wanting the Gerber label, tags, or info being on any of the Gerber products? Like they want to take credit for it or something.

[CopperLeafStudios]

one of the trade-offs with wholesale is that you are allowing the shop to do all the marketing. You won't have contact with those customers. What they want to avoid is having their customers circumvent them. It's pretty understandable, since they're making a sizable investment in their business.

"Exclusivity" is usually more of a contract type of thing... a trade between you not selling your items to other stores near them, and they in turn agreeing to purchase a certain amount, or so often from you. With wholesale, it can be as simple as them just requesting it and you agreeing; with consignment it can be spelled out legally. It sounds like they may only want one of your items to be exclusive? so you can be polite and not market that particular item to other stores near them, but you're free to sell your other pieces.

[CopperLeafStudios]

Heather -- the difference is that Gerber has strong brand recognition. For the shop in question, they are trying to develop *their* brand -- and don't want to compete with the OP's.

A better example is, say, Starbucks. They make their own coffee, but they may also sell baked goods that they don't make themselves. They don't tell you who makes them because they want to promote their brand, not the baker's. When you want a piece of lemon pound cake, they want you to come in and buy it along with your coffee.

[aLilBiteOfCute]

Yes that makes sense.

[GrowingUpHerbal]

Okay, this is exactly what she said in her email....

`Also I would like to know if possible to customize the bibs to put our logo in the tag but says design by Meagan, without the link of your page and other things as we want our bibs to be exclusive here were we sell them. We can discuss this , let me know your thoughts.

That sounds like she wants her business to be the only one selling my bibs where she's located.

So if I go with a contract sort of thing, what should I ask for or think about? Periodic orders, increase the cost per item, what?

[CopperLeafStudios]

look up "Private Label"... there are good forum threads in Business Topics, probably also info on Google... I haven't done much of that personally, as it doesn't work with my type of work (artwork).

Best of luck!!

[GrowingUpHerbal]

Thanks so much! I'll do that.