Thread: wholesaling and some thoughts

One of the gals who buys wholesale from me on a pretty regular basis revealed to me the price she sells them for..she makes almost double what I do. It doesn't really bother me, I like that wholesalers make money but I'm considering raising the wholesale prices a smidge so that I'm compensated more.

I've noticed many of the costume vendors have raised their prices due to a rise in the cost of materials and such. My costs have gone up as well.

Am very grateful for the number of wholesalers that I have who have purchased lots from me since the beginning and I hate to raise prices on valuable customers. But there is a LOT of work involved in wholesale orders so please anticipate there to be a bump in price.

Also, wholesale purchasing should really be for assorted lots of veils. I don't try to stick poor sellers to wholesalers, obviously I want fast sales and quick turnover so they come back for more. In the past I required that wholesale lots were ASSORTED colors that I chose, NOT the choice of the wholesale buyer. I wouldn't mind general requests like 'include more blues, or only do simple two tones" as I understand that regionally and globally, dancers have different tastes and prefer different colors. But lately I've been allowing requests to become entire custom orders and I need to stop doing that. There should be certain color designs that are ONLY available for retail.

Am probably going to rework the colors page and include info on there for wholesalers about which veils will be available for wholesale and which are retail only. I may also cut out the choices so that a wholesaler can have heavy silk since that is what is in stock or unhemmed or what not. It's very expensive to offer so many choices.

I'm sure there are other vendors who will offer exactly what wholesalers want and be able to completely customize a wholesalers request but right now, for AKai it's not cost or time effective. Plus , usually after trying out another vendor, wholesalers return to AKai because AKai sell very well at events.

Are there other wholesalers here who have done something similar? Do you have a certain product line that is not available for wholesale?

Oh man, for some reason I thought you had stopped or slowed down your Wholesale orders. I am actually interested in that. I'll have to go check out your site again.

From a business viewpoint, it's understandable to offer an assorted variety of veils. I don't think that's too much to ask of your customers. Plus, like you said, they can say "throw in more of X than Y" and still be happy with what they get with colors. I think they should be able to get lighter ones though and not just heavy. Just my opinion though ..g.:

Jes, I think it's only fair that you raise your prices to meet your costs of materials. No one can expect you to eat that for long or you would be out of business and no one wants that.

In my opinion, no one can expect you to do specifics in a wholesale order either. You are a small business and it's not like you have a warehouse loaded with veils and all someone has to do is walk through and pull items. You are selling the lot as assorted not pick your own or then it would be custom orders.

I meant the heavy veils figuratively, not that it's the only thing offered..what I try to do is jump on sales on silk so I may have a large stock of heavy for a while then light silk again :)

a warehouse of silk..that would be soooo cool.

Wholesalers have been awesome and I really enjoy doing the work. Am just going to have to try to re-do the prices and make a list of colors that are wholesale only . Hours on production will be cut back a bit if I work pt as a nurse again ..strangely I'm craving drama with doctors and running ass with no bathroom break for 12 hours..crazy ..but I miss patient care

Does this mean that veils won't be available as often?,f::

That's great that you want to get back into patient care. Nurses always made doctor's visits and hospital so much more tolerable.

Jess

What about having a flat rate (adjusted to your current costs) for as is lots with no requests

And then having additional costs for requested colors, weights, shapes, etc.

Eshe did you receive the emails I sent you? I had two returned messages today, nothing urgent
xx

Hip scarves are often sold in wholesale lots on e-bay -- 6 or a dozen or 25 at a time, pics of the lot but no choices. I think most people are pretty happy with buying that way IF you provide a picture of the lot. That might work (on etsy or your site, I know you're off e-bay) if you're willing to dye first, then sell the lots.

Buying an assorted lot that I haven't seen with no pics would make me very nervous. I get frustrated with sellers who want me to hand over my cash but aren't willing to take a minute and a half to photograph the item(s) they want me to buy!

Originally Posted by jesennia

Eshe did you receive the emails I sent you? I had two returned messages today, nothing urgent
xx

No :(

Can you send to eshebellydancer @hotmail.com
xo

if your costs go up, raise the price!!!

dont forget to invoice me (though they havent arrived yet, aargh!, oh well!!)