Thread: Merchandise for students

I've been thinking of offering a small line of merchandise to my students...mostly hip scarves, branded tank tops and dance bags. I haven't yet because the initial investment is so large.

How many of you do this? If you do offer merchandise have you found it to be profitable?

I think it's a really nice idea. I was in a larger troupe (14) before and we had tank tops, I still have mine! It is a great memory and means a lot. My main troupe now (I dance in three) is just me and my daughter- so that wouldn't be cost effective.

My mentor offered hip scarves to her students at the first couple classes - and I always think that is a great idea, as some students love having that convenience. I was always ebay saavy - so I got my first hip scarf easily, but I know many gals in classes aren't sure where to start looking - and a few excited one don't want to wait! :)

The dance bag is also a great idea, but I'd save those for your core troupe who are becoming costume harpies -lol!!!! They can be costly depending on the type of bag (ie - a large duffle w/compartments).

You could set up a store on cafepress where people who want items can order them. You can mark up the items by a dollar or two to help support your studio.

The cost per item is high, but there's no initial investment to set up the store and you can order as few as 1 item. There's not a lot of room for profit, but if your main goal is to make the items available then that's not really an issue.

We periodically did merchandise at the school where I used to teach, with limited success. I don't think much money was ever made. People are picky about what style of top they want, what colours, etc.

When my teacher first introduced it she produced crop tops which could be worn over a bra (this is VERY important!) with our school logos (there were two), name and place on the front, and on the back an inspiring dance quote. "Dance is music made visible" on one, "Dance is a spiritual activity in physical form" on the other. I still have mine from years ago and if they didn't advertise that school I'd still be wearing them today. Those tops are solid, look good and have good memories attached!

I think merchandising only works if your students have a reason to want to present as a unified group outside performance. I know I used to like to wear our branding when we went to festivals.

Originally Posted by Lauren_

You could set up a store on cafepress where people who want items can order them. You can mark up the items by a dollar or two to help support your studio.

The cost per item is high, but there's no initial investment to set up the store and you can order as few as 1 item. There's not a lot of room for profit, but if your main goal is to make the items available then that's not really an issue.

I have Cafe Press and Zazzle stores and no one buys from them. I feel like if I had something tangible it would make it a lot easier.

Originally Posted by andalee-oriental

I have Cafe Press and Zazzle stores and no one buys from them. I feel like if I had something tangible it would make it a lot easier.

You can order quantities of 15+ at wholesale prices from them to have on hand.

Again, the price for each individual item is higher, but the initial investment might still be less than paying a setup charge and having to order a hundred of something that might never sell.

I haven't done it. I feel like the same people who line up to buy the merchandise online (LOL) will snatch it up at the studio.

Actually, I'd probably sell an item or two, but I doubt it would be worth the hassle/expense/display space.

It's been my experience that even when people *beg* me to make something available in the studio, they won't actually buy it.

So far the *only* thing that has sold in my studio are hip scarves. This in spite of the fact that my students *say* they want access to music and DVDs. I sunk hundreds of dollars y into a selection of CDs and DVDs that sat gathering dust in the studio for probably 2 years. I'm now clearing them out on Bhuz (where they sell much faster) and *giving* them away as prizes at events.

Never mind the jewelry, skirts, and other items I've tried to stock. *sigh*

Not to mention the nuisance of filing and paying sales tax! Even though I sell less than $100 a month in merchandise, on average, I'm expected to file forms every single month!!!

Originally Posted by Lauren_

You can order quantities of 15+ at wholesale prices from them to have on hand.

Again, the price for each individual item is higher, but the initial investment might still be less than paying a setup charge and having to order a hundred of something that might never sell.

I haven't done it. I feel like the same people who line up to buy the merchandise online (LOL) will snatch it up at the studio.

Actually, I'd probably sell an item or two, but I doubt it would be worth the hassle/expense/display space.

It's been my experience that even when people *beg* me to make something available in the studio, they won't actually buy it.

So far the *only* thing that has sold in my studio are hip scarves. This in spite of the fact that my students *say* they want access to music and DVDs. I sunk hundreds of dollars y into a selection of CDs and DVDs that sat gathering dust in the studio for probably 2 years. I'm now clearing them out on Bhuz (where they sell much faster) and *giving* them away as prizes at events.

Never mind the jewelry, skirts, and other items I've tried to stock. *sigh*

Not to mention the nuisance of filing and paying sales tax! Even though I sell less than $100 a month in merchandise, on average, I'm expected to file forms every single month!!!

I have the same experience, hip scarves sell easily to students but not much else. Same with people begging me to stock items such as DVDs & CDs - I do the same exact thing, swap or give as prizes at shows & such now that I have too many thinking they would sell! ..l;,
Costuming - most folks specific about size & color, so I find that these also do not sell for me.
I did do consignment vending about 10 yrs ago for Ganesha Bazaar, (products mostly made from recycled saris and very pretty, very nice people to deal with) I got 20%. I did it so students would be able to try stuff on and have pretties available... what sold was their rayon fringed sequin hip scarves, ($35 - 50), 1/2 circle rayon veils (28 - 45); silk wrap 3/4 or long sleeved tops (42 or so) - because these were part of costume for class. I offered patterns, places to order, or the Ganesha items.
I might consider that again, but it is a lot of work.
I have said before, it sounds as though Lauren & I have similiar student pools/market area: small cities in mainly rural area. Also I think we are both quite tall..l;,

Originally Posted by LiesaB.

I have said before, it sounds as though Lauren & I have similiar student pools/market area: small cities in mainly rural area. Also I think we are both quite tall..l;,

LOL yup. Although, while my area is surrounded by cornfields on three sides, it's also a remote St. Louis suburb. In fact, I can get to downtown STL in 20 minutes from my house. So my studio is a satellite to a larger community, yet isolated.

And I"m 5'9!

Originally Posted by Lauren_

LOL yup. Although, while my area is surrounded by cornfields on three sides, it's also a remote St. Louis suburb. In fact, I can get to downtown STL in 20 minutes from my house. So my studio is a satellite to a larger community, yet isolated.

And I"m 5'9!

I am 60 mi from Montreal Quebec (with border crossing), & 35 from Burlington VT - small but osohip!- (with lake/ferry crossing) takes a bit to get there; we still consider them close, but not as a satellite, - tho a lots of folks do commute for work (and dance!). 5'10" in my bare feet!..l;,

The most notable result of selling items at our studio was the resulting frenzy among students and friends wanting to sell their items at the studio too. A respected teacher sent Ruric home from a lesson with a number of second-hand cabaret costumes which took us 18 months to move; a restaurant customer brought in a bunch of internet-bought hip scarves and dumped them in the middle of a table and called later to ask us to sell them; one student started making yarn belts, which inspired another student to go into a similar frenzy... my personal favorite is the airport special dropped off by the local fire chief during an open house.. he bought it for his girlfriend and she didn't want it. He sends emails every once in a while asking if we have sold it. We keep telling him no and he should come pick it up :)

Of course, only one of these eager entrepreneurs supplied a rack for their things. We found items with tags hanging among the coats on the coat rack and inside plastic bags left in the corners of the studio with a note 'Sell what you can and give away the rest.'

So, we now sell silk veils and tie hip scarves (made by me) and zills. Period. We also have loaner veils, hip scarves, canes and zills so that class never slows down because a student didn't get a round tuit.

One of my first teachers always brought hip scarves and zills for the first few classes to sell. She seemed to do well with that. If asked, she also had canes. She did become a little upset when I found alternative sources and shared them with the other students.

At Dance Garden, they have a small shop. Usually they have hip scarves, veils, zills, ballet slippers / hermes sandles, and some second hand costumes usually on consignment, along with some workout clothes. I have no idea how successful it is, but I have sold two costumes through them.

{{{HUGS}}}

{{{HUGS}}}

I am very lucky that I work with a nearby vendor who is also a friend and fellow dancer. She allows me to take a selection of hip scarves and veils, and pay her the wholesale cost when they sell. I sell maybe 1 or 2 things over a 6 week session, so I don't think I'd be willing to put that much money upfront into buying my own scarves and veils to sell since I probably wouldn't be able to mark them up that much.

I sell a small selection of Michelle Joyce's DVDs, because she offers an attractive wholesale price relative to what I can sell them for retail. I don't make a ton of money on them, but it's nice to be able to offer them to the students who are interested right then and there, and not have to take the time to write down recommended titles and what have you.

I keep a small supply of zills on hand to sell to any new Level 2 students of mine, since they are required for that class and 99% of the time they prefer to get them from me instead of seeking out their own source. I get them wholesale from Mid-East Music - Ethnic Musical Instruments - Mid-East Mfg.

we sell a few items (mostly t-shirts), but i dont make any money on them. the price i pay for them in the first place is too high. but we do have school t-shirts just for the fun of it.

i used to sell canes, zills, etc, also made virtually no profit on them, and now decided i dont want to bother with it. i ask a local shop to come in a few times a year, and students can buy directly from her.

By the way, for dance merchandise (not studio logo shirts and stuff obviously) Dahlal has a consignment program. She'll send you a box of whatever -- music, hip scarves, classwear, zills, etc -- and you can ship back what doesn't sell.

Originally Posted by Lauren_

By the way, for dance merchandise (not studio logo shirts and stuff obviously) Dahlal has a consignment program. She'll send you a box of whatever -- music, hip scarves, classwear, zills, etc -- and you can ship back what doesn't sell.

I tried to get into that program years ago and all I ever heard from them was that the program was full and they would contact me when they had an available slot. Never heard from them again. Has anyone else ever been able to do their consignment program?

Originally Posted by Viv

I tried to get into that program years ago and all I ever heard from them was that the program was full and they would contact me when they had an available slot. Never heard from them again.

Yes, same here. I've just assumed that they would only open the program up again if current participants dropped out and that few have.

oh, sorry about the dead end, I didn't know!

Originally Posted by Lauren_

So far the *only* thing that has sold in my studio are hip scarves. This in spite of the fact that my students *say* they want access to music and DVDs.

Yes, this is pretty much my experience too. I've sold a reasonable number of beginner instructional DVDs, but haven't bothered for a while because it's only a handful of business.

On the other hand, hip scarves move quite well, and I sell them at class for the first two weeks of each term. I buy in bulk online or at local markets and put a markup - this still enables me to sell at standard retail price, or sometimes even lower. The students like the convenience and it brings in a few extra dollars. I've found that having a range of cheap scarves in various colours goes well with beginners, and I try to keep a varied selection of more expensive ones for the advanced students.

It does mean having to pre-purchase and hold on to excess stock, sometimes for quite some time, but I've never made a loss. Tip: mark up high enough that you still leave room for discounting 'old' stock when you want to get rid of it.