ArtMind: To wholesale or not to wholesale?

Sunday, August 22, 2010

To wholesale or not to wholesale?

The text below is taken from my profile on Etsy:

WHOLESALE
I love to have the time to create.
I make things with my hands in order to maintain a happy heart in a crazy world.
Etsy gives me the opportunity to let out creative things in my mind.
I need time to make new creatures once in a while and if I would be doing wholesale, I wouldn’t have time for that ‘cause I only have two hands…
However, the wholesale questions I have had in the past have made me *glow*
It can never harm to ask, as long as you’re prepared to have ‘no’ for an answer - I’m always open to discuss it and you might even persuade me… ;)
Now that’s a challenge…

Have you ever been thinking about seeing your work in 'real' shops?
I have and I think I would glow with pride but somehow I'm not ready to compromise my small handmade business with the demands of wholesale or consignment.

I love being able to work at my own pace, try out different ideas and experiment with whatever crosses my mind. If I would wholesale or do consignment, I would have to double my prices in order to give a 50% discount to the retailer. I considered wholesaling when pricing my work but decided against it as I can't mass produce my work and keep the unique character it has.
And I really enjoy making mini-art-feelings but I can't see myself day in day out in the feeling factory. That would make my heart bleed and take the soul out of my work.
That goes for all the work that I make really...
It would put pressure on me and I've learned over the past few years that living without pressure is so much more fulfilling...

How do you feel about wholesaling or consigment?
I'd love to hear your thoughts!

Comments (33)

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Rosina · 763 weeks ago

I agree. I tried out a wholesale account once and it completely takes all the fun out of crafting. Instead of taking joy in sewing at my own pace I was on a strict time schedule and found that even though it generated a good income it sucked *grin*. I've done consignment in the past which is okay but a good thing to check into is what their policy is if anything you leave with them gets shoplifted. Some stores won't cover your loss if something is stolen and you lose then if anything goes missing.

I really like your little shop note on wholesale questions. That is so cute! It really is flattering to be asked but I love that I have the freedom to say no *grin*.

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zsazsazsu · 763 weeks ago

I agree for a 200 % with you ! I hate to have the pressure to produce a lot and all the same things, this takes away my creativity. In 'real work life' we have more then pressure and stress enough. Creating should be fun. And let your work be unique with love and a soul.

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Walden · 763 weeks ago

I don't bead, but I knit. I was approached with an offer to sell knitted garments in a local shop. I understand that this would bring in obvious much needed revenue, but for now I craft for the joy and adventure of it. I don't necessarily think I would care to have the pressure where someone is ALWAYS expecting a certain quantity by a certain date.

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Kreativlink · 763 weeks ago

I have exactly the same problem with wholesale as you described Mitsy. Could not have said it better. :)

And I don't know but somehow ... isn't wholesale taking out the point of handmade? It's more or less mass-producing. With hands. And not SO big masses. Still ... :D
But what disturbs me the most is the prices. Why should my customers have to pay double the price, just so a reseller can make a profit?

It may work for some things. Where not much time is needed for production maybe. But for me, it simply doesn't. Though I now, some people are reselling my work. But well, they pay my usual price. Whatever they do afterwards is up to them ...

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Martice · 763 weeks ago

I was asked to do wholesale as well and decided not to do it for some of the same reasons.

BUT

I visited Edinburgh a few weeks ago and in one of the little shops I saw things that looked like ETSY things.. so I went a bit closer an I saw that they sold things from gorjuss.etsy.com ! :) Which made me very happy :) to see something that I only knew online in a real shop. Also gorjuss has bought one of my early sleeves, so it was even nicer :)

So if I would have more time I would maybe try wholesale. I've worked for a museumshop and I know that there are different rates for these things. They earned 40% on books, but sometimes only 20% on other store items :)

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Yael · 763 weeks ago

I did this for years with a certain gallery and it was always heart breaking for me how much I had to lower my price in order to give the reseller her profit and still have the item reasonable priced so it would not be almost impossible to sell.
I sold, but I did not get paid what I deserved - and the compliments and shoulder pats and all the positive feedback from the customers, in the end have not been enough for me anymore because I felt that I was not awarded financially.
So now I sell my bags by myself and the fun and PRIDE in creating is back.

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Anne Lodewijks · 763 weeks ago

Voor mij geen verkoop op grote schaal.... sterker nog, ik werk ook niet in opdracht.
Alles (bijna alles) wat ik maak is voor de verkoop, maar als ik een bepaald beeld MOET maken, dan komt het niet uit mijn handen.
Als er iemand vraagt wil je voor mij een beeld maken in bijvoorbeeld een bepaalde kleurstelling, dan kan ik wel iets mee... als ik er voor de rest de vrije hand in heb. Dat is ook nodig, want ik weet van te voren niet wat voor beeld ik ga maken. Ik werk erg vanuit mijn gevoel.

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Ama - Miss Minoes · 763 weeks ago

I came to the same conclusions. The idea sounds attractive, but for handmade items it is very difficult. Most artists are already unpaying themselves in hourly wages, to cut 40 or 50% of that amount leaves nearly nothing.
I don't mind bigger orders every now and then, if it is not all that I am doing.
Usually I can make them quicker because I do not have to make design decisions on each item. And I do make a special price then (usually free shipping, or 5 or 10% discount or so). But not at a wholesale rate.

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Planet Fur · 763 weeks ago

Dit onderwerp spreekt me erg aan: ik zit er eigenlijk in zoals jij. Ik heb het een keer gedaan en ondanks dat het een enorme kick geeft om je spullen elders te zien liggen, is de lol van het maken van een serie van hetzelfde binnen een bepaalde tijd voor een kleiner bedrag gewoon minder (tot eigenlijk niet ;-)) leuk. Mij lukt het al amper om een grote bestelling te maken naast het draaien van mijn Etsy winkel. Het moet leuk blijven om dingen te creëren, juist de creatieve flow maakt het zo leuk als het is...juist niet de druk! Een verzoek om wholesale streelt mijn ego, maar zolang ik geen zielige Chinese kinderen in wil zetten om massa te produceren, word ik het gelukkigst van het maken in mijn eigen tempo en gevoel. Volgens mij is dat juist ook hetgene wat handgemaakt zo bijzonder maakt: de ziel en zaligheid die erin gestopt zijn. Veel succes!

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Beate · 763 weeks ago

What you says sounds familiar for me!
however, let me ask you this question: what are you doing for living?

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ArtMind 51p · 763 weeks ago

Thanks so much for your thoughts everyone!
Beate, I work part-time as I can't support myself solely on my handmade business. I've chosen very consiously for doing it this way as I do want to feel that I actually have a life beside a 'real' job. There have been too many years that it didn't feel that way...
Of course it is possible to wholesale as a handmade artists, especially if your work is easily reproducable like prints for example. That is certainly not the case with lots of other handmade products as lots of you point out.
Having to reproduce in large is a bit of a mindkiller and who are you doing it for? When you wholesale you don't even know as someone else is selling your products.
I love the contact with my customers: be it via an Etsy conversation, e-mail or in real life when they come to my home to pick up their order or meeting them on a market.
'Knowing' and 'meeting' whoever purchases my work is another aspect that I highly value. Some of the transactions I have had in the past have resulted in wonderful friendships that would never have happened if my work was not sold by myself...

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Liesbeth · 763 weeks ago

Aaaah, we are at that point at the moment. People are asking us for wholesale and were gonne do it, but there is indeed that metter of pricing, since two people have to make some money now instead of one. But 50% is not the standard. Unless they buy huge quantities from you. I've heard of 15% even. Depends on how, where, how much.

Another thing is, do you need/want to make a living with your work?
I realy want that, so I need to sell a lot more than I do on Etsy, that's why wholesale might be interesting for us.

Maybe more people have advice on the wholesale prices one should/could ask!!??!!
It's a very interesting topic!!

Cheerio and good Sunday all:)

Liesbeth

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Rach · 763 weeks ago

I'm still undecided I guess. Being on Etsy, I felt like I had to do wholesale. I dunno why. So, I signed up to Trunkt. I'm only offering certain lines for wholesale, but I must agree. I don't really enjoy making the same thing over and over and over again.
I much prefer working on OOAKs.

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Evelyn · 763 weeks ago

I think about it every day
I would try make wholesale, but sometimes I think it could be stressful and become a job like any other ..... invest a lot of money to buy material and then earn the minimum, that you earn by selling themselves
customers could be scared too if you raise prices
plus the price is higher, must be greater than the quality in my opinion
and if a seller makes such jewelry in brass, may not sell at the price of real gold, just because he is forced to do 50%, to the shopkeepers
customers could not pay too high a price for cheaper materials

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florcita13 44p · 763 weeks ago

I think I would get bored out of my mind after the first week... and then, what's the point? I did give some of my work in consignment... a shop had it and I got a percentage when it got sold. Most stuff sold but a couple came back and really... after a few months of stuff being fingered and touched by everyone, they were ruined... so... no... it would have to be a very very good deal for me to accept and... more like...errrr... I make what I want, you sell it LOL For instace, even though I like the challenge of a custom order, I still feel like someone is imposing a certain creation on me. So imagine a large order of items!

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Liesbeth · 763 weeks ago

Beate, that's the right question realy!

What are you doing for a living?

When we first started out with our T-shirts, we just wanted to sell it ourselves online.
But I have to make a living out of it....
And letting people know that you exist doesn't happen overnight, it takes time and some luck maybe, but wholesale can be a big help to spread the word and make money:)

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ArtMind 51p · 763 weeks ago

Liesbeth, indeed it's a different story when you have to make a living out of it. Then I think there is little choice and you need to compromise as wholesale does help to spread the word about your work.
It's a very personal decision to sell wholesale or not. I'm sure it works perfect for some people but it just doesn't seem to fit my needs therefor my choice to combine it with a part-time job so I do have a steady income without having to worry about not being able to pay the bills at the end of the month. That makes that I have less worries and can focus more on what I'm doing creative wise.
I think that Rach's comment above seems like a good compromise: offer some lines that are easier to reproduce or fun to make in multiples.
I wish you all the best with figuring out the best way for you and your business. Your work is awesome so I'm sure you'll find a way to make it work! Good luck! :)

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Beate · 763 weeks ago

I understand so well what you says and I also do not like mass production and love very much to exchange myself with interested customers and to be creative - however, what do I live on? I do not have a day Job - I'm a freelancer. What I try to say is: we have find out a way to do what we love to do and a way to live from what we do.

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ArtMind 51p · 763 weeks ago

Jip Beate, that's very true, like I said to Liesbeth, sometimes you just have to compromise to reach what you love doing most. It's hard work and I admire people who can make it work.
Wishing you all the best! :)

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Pesky Cat Designs · 763 weeks ago

I completely agree Mitsy. I've been approached many times for wholesale work. My prices on Etsy are pretty much wholesale. Some people may think my prices are high but after all my material costs, sewing time, Pay Pal and Etsy fees I am left with a modest profit. I really enjoy creating my bags one at a time and it gives me much joy. I am afraid if I had to sew the same bag design over and over again then I would lose my desire to create.

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ikabags · 763 weeks ago

Yes Mitsy you are right !

For wholesale 50% is crazy !!! We are sewing alone , creating alone, we are choosing fabrics, material, etc etc

I dont like to sew same bags , really but I need for sale !
But I am giving time for me I am creating and sewing some bags for me, for my heart ! and then so happy !

Hi Elisa :)

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ikabags · 763 weeks ago

And for my second shop Arva material cost is crazy expensive , linens are around 80 euro for 1 mt !
Arva is for me !!! I am creating cool, sewing cool !

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ikabags · 763 weeks ago

They are asking price for wholesale , but they are not thinking quality of material, cost of material !
We are not factory !

Sorry mu poor english again, i hope you can understand me :))

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ikabags · 763 weeks ago

And know I am writing in my bag description
"All materials from France !
Handmade in France,Paris.

:)) what can I do, what can i say more ?

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Liesbeth · 763 weeks ago

Mitsy:)

Your right!

And there is so much more to say about wholesale;))
(but I know, you know)
It's almost like a bad word in the crafting world...... (reaction wise)
And I love to talk about all this, cause I'm so in the middle of it all and don't have many people around me to do it with....

But maybe one day face to face?
Would be great!

Cheerio

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