Hello!
I was hoping to get some advise. I'm new to doing consignment, I have done a few craft shows and have had some success, but I'm basically just dipping my toes in the pools to see what works for me. I have had my candles in a new shop for a month now. It's my first experiance with consigning. The shop is about 45 min away from me, charges $50 a month "space fee" and 15% of the sales. it seemed like a good deal when I found the shop.
When I first delivered my items I took everything I had, tying up my inventory and requiring me to remove them from my etsy shop. The owner set them up on a shelf and made them look very pretty. They pay twice a month, halfway through the month I received a check that was basically braking even. I decided to take them a lot more merchandise, many of my best sellers, about $600 worth. When I arrived at the store, I found my candle scattered around the store mixed around groupings of other vendors items. I don't really know what to think of that, as I'm not a merchandising expert nor do I know their store like they do. My instincts don't like it though, as I feel they look more like decoration and don't show my range of scents.
At the end of the month I received a bill for the next month as they had only sold 2 candles and that didn't cover the "rent". This leads me to believe that they either have no incentive to sell my candles as their $50 is guaranteed, and / or the merchandising isn't working. I feel like its the former and I should pull out ASAP to avoid loosing more money, but part of me thinks I should stick it out until who knows when. I don't want to offend them by pulling out so soon, they are opening a second shop in a highly trafficked mall in a month and I would like an oppertunity to try there, though, the "space fee" is even higher and I risk loosing more money.
What should I do? If I have my items in both shops it will be very difficult for me to have enough to stock my own etsy shop and do craft shows for the holiday season. I'm hoping to turn this into a business so holiday profit, if there is any, would be used toward business expenses. I'm worried that since their money is guaranteed, they wont sell anything at the mall either, and I will have just dug myself into an even larger hole. I'm considering pulling out of the original store and just having them at the mall, which is much closer to me. Is it too soon to pull out? I feel if I wait too long I will miss all of my opportunities to sign up for holiday craft shows.
Thank you!
Ashlie
