Why sell on consignment?
 |
| Biscuit Factory, Newcastle |
Benefits
Consignment arrangements can add income additional to
your other strategies of online, direct sales, craft fairs, pop-up shops,
etc.
It can develop new customers, and develop growth in both
commercial and artistic terms.
It exposes your work to new and different customers.
It can provide opportunities to partner with another
small business (the shop) and benefit from mutual promotion.
Craft fairs are not a long term means to sell your
work. Fairs are concentrated at certain
times of the year. You cannot attend all
of them anyway.
Consignment spreads the income over the seasons.
Down sides
Your stock is tied up in the shop.
Your craft fair and online prices need to be similar to
the retail prices at the shop(s) to which you consign work.
Further Action
Consignment can be beneficial to your sales, but it does
require preparation and effort.
You need to investigate shops and prepare for a meeting
with the owners. You need to have a written contract even with friends and it
should include all the elements and assumptions for the arrangements.
If you decide to pursue consignment arrangements, there
are several things you need to consider and prepare.
- Finding suitable shops and stores and assessing them.
- Preparation for meeting the owner.
- Knowing your terms
- Placing and promotion of your work.
- Maintaining the relationship.
- Wholesaling
These aspects of consignment are the subject of postings
to come.
Selection of a gallery or shop in which to place your
work is a complex interaction of commission levels; the value you place on your
time in preparing for and attending craft fairs or putting your work online;
the perceived prestige of the shop/gallery; the potential relationship between
you and the outlet; and the relationship of the consignment, wholesale and
retail prices.
No comments:
Post a Comment