How to get your items in a shop/boutique?

[Former_Member]

Hi Everyone,
Now that my wire trees are selling here on Etsy and away from Etsy I was thinking about taking the next step for myself and my shop...asking a couple boutiques in my town to promote my wire trees as decorations, jewelry displays, jewelry holders, etc...

But how do you do this? Do you email them with pictures? Go to them in person? Do you just let them have it or do you "lease" it to them? Do you have them put your shop name on it so if customers ask, they know where to go?

Obviously if I were wanting them to sell them in their shop then they would keep them, but these boutiques have tons of jewelry and I would love to see one of my wire trees displaying it for them in a "window" :)

Any input on this would be greatly appreciated.

[Former_Member]

anyone :) ?

[StuckOnSilver]

I would definitely take some trees to the boutiques so managers can see the quality, size, color, etc. If nothing sells, the shop should give the items back to you. Good luck!

[Former_Member]

thanks! I am really nervous about putting myself out there like that but it's a step towards something that I have been dreaming about :)

[Former_Member]

this is a little bit different than what you are asking but it works for us . We don't make a killing but from time to time it gives us a little extra money and helps get the word out about you and your other shops and work you do .
We have a booth in a antique shop here in town and from time to time we set up at a local flea market and give out business cards there as we sale . Then by that we tell everyone about our shop on etsy and beyond ...

[Former_Member]

Great idea! I was thinking about setting up at a flea market here in our town but I don't think my inventory is quite there yet. Once it is I hope to do something like that.
We also have a farmer's market I could look in to. It's crazy to me that my trees are selling because I thought for sure everyone would be interested in the headbands, but that is not the case. :)
Hopefully soon enough I can get some trees in my inventory so I can do things like that !!

[PrairiePrimitives]

Decide if you want to do consignment or wholesale.

Consignment is where you leave your things at a store and get paid when they sell. The store takes a commission, which could be anywhere from 10% to 40% (find out what this is before you leave your work there!).

Wholesale is where you discount your items when you sell to the store. The store will then mark the price up to sell it to their customers. You might want to consider having a minimum order requirement ($50? $100?) and/or a minimum number of items (3? 6?) that the store must buy from you in order to receive your wholesale price.

There are pro's and con's to both. My personal preference is for wholesale.

[Former_Member]

I agree with what Tana said.

[Former_Member]

My advice is that you type a nice letter asking what you want, give details of how your item moves (it sells well on craft shows, on Etsy, etc.), why you think it's appropriate for their store and WHAT'S IN IT FOR THEM. Drop off the letter with pictures of your product to the manager or owner and state in your letter that you would like to follow up at their convenience to discuss further. Then after a few days call or email them. You just don't want to drop off in their store unannounced because they may be busy, but if you give them that and follow up most likely they'll talk to you. The worst thing they can do is say no.

[Plektra]

When I first started considering wholesale, I used to just walk in shops with some of my products and speak to people in person. Then the shopkeepers/managers will tell me how to proceed.

If my items are a bit expensive, like bridal shops, I would first send a professional and polite email and let them decide. The one time I tried that, I was asked to go in with a sample which I ended up selling on the spot and got paid for it on the spot.

Or if shops were far away, I would call first.

Also check their websites to see if there is any relevant info.