jims Adirondack
Mar 31, 2009, 11:41 AM
I have a small shop at home. I build Adirondack furniture and would like to find someone to sell it for me. All furniture is made of 1" western red cedar with stainless steel screws.
Fr_Chuck
Mar 31, 2009, 12:21 PM
Web sites, furniture shows that is for stores buyers, hire sales people to call on furniture stores ( assuming you can sell wholesale )
kp2171
Mar 31, 2009, 12:30 PM
what is the wholesale and retail cost of your items, just to get a feel for what price ranges we are talking about...
it's a completely different area, but I've run a small candle shop with my wife, off and on for the last ten years. While we've done "one on one" selling, the easiest way is to get people to sell for you... which you are seeking, per your post.
look around for small, locally owned stores, especially those that sell handcrafted items... one of our best arrangements was with a woman who had a craft shop and would display items she thought would sell. Shed sell on consignment and it was a nice arrangement. We'd keep her with a small supply in stock and shed tell us when to make more candles. Sometimes shed sell only what was in stock. Sometimes shed take orders when we had a "scent palatte" available for people to smell.
also, one of our BEST ways to sell was through local churches, schools, organizations. Nothing like a couple dozen cheeleaders looking to raise money working for you.
now... I know your product isn't the conventional fundraising item... but consider it. Especially if you can find other crafters in your area who might be willing to also help with fundraising.
our products were likely much lower in price per item, but then again... if a person has a choice of paying for some fundraising item that they really don't want versus paying a little more for an item of lasting value, you might get some sales.
don't know what your profit margin is. For us, in private sales we would get about 40% of sales as pure profit. With fundraising we would give 20-25% of sales... and we never, ever felt bad about that.
any local farmer's markets? Look for historical district small shops, businesses that are locally owned.