genek
03-17-2015, 11:49 AM
With all of the shows that we have done since November, picking up several huge accounts (beer manufacturing and a Catalog company) and getting ready for our 3rd wholesale show this year. I have been so busy I have not had much time to post anything.
Some ask my secret on how I get so much work. it is simple, I get out and find customers that need my product. I do shows, High quality shows. Shows that you have to Jury to be able to do that show. We just finished our 2nd show for this year. The Kentucky Craft Market. We sold over $4,000.00 in 3 days. We may have picked up the eastern part of the National Park system.
What I am seeing is a trend to go American made. One of the shows that we did so far this year. It was a requirement that our parts and wood had to come from America. We Had to provide proof of where our wood, screws, nails etc came from for each product.
1st round new wholesale sales are always a test of ones product. They will buy just a few of each item to test in their store. If Ones product goes over good. They will re-order in larger numbers.
One of the things That I teach to Local artist and Crafters is that You need to develop product that will have re-orders every 4 to 5 weeks. This way You have steady orders coming in and less slow times. Another thing that I teach is that You need to hit all three price ranges with Your product. You have a low end item, a mid range item and then a High end Item. Your low end and Mid range priced items will be your bread and butter, Your high end Item (when it sales) will be just Icing on a cake.
Having good product is not all that is needed to get customers, You can have a building full of product, but if you are not moving that product it is nothing more than fire wood.
You have to develop your market. You have to gain, Keep and Keep adding new customers. You have to add 30% new product each year. I have customers the second I tell them I have a new product and that it will be out for re-view at a show, they come to that show. I have customers that come in from Washington State to see this years new Products that we added.
You have to develop good customers, good products and maintain both.
I will be offering classes this coming year on booth design, layout, what one needs to do and not do at shows, How to get customers to buy your product. How to sale yourself and your product to customers.
I have already booked one class for a school that has been following my success for several years and they called this week asking me to teach a two day class on sales and marketing.
Some ask my secret on how I get so much work. it is simple, I get out and find customers that need my product. I do shows, High quality shows. Shows that you have to Jury to be able to do that show. We just finished our 2nd show for this year. The Kentucky Craft Market. We sold over $4,000.00 in 3 days. We may have picked up the eastern part of the National Park system.
What I am seeing is a trend to go American made. One of the shows that we did so far this year. It was a requirement that our parts and wood had to come from America. We Had to provide proof of where our wood, screws, nails etc came from for each product.
1st round new wholesale sales are always a test of ones product. They will buy just a few of each item to test in their store. If Ones product goes over good. They will re-order in larger numbers.
One of the things That I teach to Local artist and Crafters is that You need to develop product that will have re-orders every 4 to 5 weeks. This way You have steady orders coming in and less slow times. Another thing that I teach is that You need to hit all three price ranges with Your product. You have a low end item, a mid range item and then a High end Item. Your low end and Mid range priced items will be your bread and butter, Your high end Item (when it sales) will be just Icing on a cake.
Having good product is not all that is needed to get customers, You can have a building full of product, but if you are not moving that product it is nothing more than fire wood.
You have to develop your market. You have to gain, Keep and Keep adding new customers. You have to add 30% new product each year. I have customers the second I tell them I have a new product and that it will be out for re-view at a show, they come to that show. I have customers that come in from Washington State to see this years new Products that we added.
You have to develop good customers, good products and maintain both.
I will be offering classes this coming year on booth design, layout, what one needs to do and not do at shows, How to get customers to buy your product. How to sale yourself and your product to customers.
I have already booked one class for a school that has been following my success for several years and they called this week asking me to teach a two day class on sales and marketing.