Consignment Sales for Crafts
Sunday July 15, 2007
A great way to increase your yearly sales is to put your products into several quality consignment locations. Remember that the same guidelines about attending shows that match your work also apply to consignment sales. Before placing your work into a consignment shop, make sure that your quality of work matches the other items on display. Also make sure your consignment locations always have a full inventory. Just as in craft shows: empty shelves do not sell crafts!
Comments
One thing most crafters know is that once you have your work in a shop and if the IRS come in and shut the doors — your work goes to the IRS as well. I don’t know it you can retrieve it after that.
Also: Always, Always have a signed and dated contract before leaving anything on consignment. The contract should contain such information as: lenghth items will be left in shop; commission on work; when your money will be sent to you for purchased materials; and termination conditions. Make sure both parties have copies, and also make sure you check on the merchandise occasionally. If the place you are consigning is too far away from home, see if there is someone close that you can trust just to go by and check on it - condition, if it is stilldisplayed, if it is being marketed, etc. And you should not only have a list of merchandise and inventory control numbers for each, you should also have a picture of each item left. The IRS can be persuaded with the above materials.
Please do not forget when the consignment store closes, 99% of the time you do NOT get your items back. I have lost items and money on several stores. Yes, I had an iron clad contract. But when the owner never returns your calls so you can get your things, it is hard. I have even begged to pay the shipping back to me. I do not do consignment at all. I went to wholesale and that works much better for me. I am sure there are good stores out there, but how do you know when you are in another state? Just beware. thanks. Kathy
with friends work better bicouse you know them, I made a lot of frinds going to festivals and you find people whom has stores good way to start whole sale distribuidor.
rina