Are you looking for a mid-season boost to get into a few more stores? A great way to break into stores is to offer your products on consignment. I did this when I first started my handbag line, and again when I launched Simply Sarah. I wanted to be in Jennifer Kaufman, Lisa Klein and Fred Segal (hip stores in Los Angeles) so badly that I offered them consignment and it worked! They were totally on board since they didn’t have to lay out the cash for my bags, and when they started to sell like hotcakes, they became lifelong paying clients. When launching my Handy Hold All ®, I had a lot of explaining to do about the product so sometimes it was just easier to send 6 units and let them see what their customers had to say – it worked every time.
If you are willing to stand behind your product, and really believe in it, so will the buyers.
Here are a few things to be aware of to be sure you get paid when doing consignment:
All in all, I see it as a win win – if they do sell, you have a lifelong customer, and if they don’t you, you probably got new eyes on your stuff anyhow…….which will pay off eventually!
Homework: Call 5 stores this week that you want to be in and get them to take a few items on consignment.
I’ve only done consignment once with a small local retailer – not a large out of town one like Fred Segal (which I would LOVE to be in). How do you really keep accurate tabs on them at the 30-day interval? Did you send someone in to do a physical inventory? Did you follow up with them by phone? If I’m 1000 miles away, how do I avoid being taken advantage of.
Great question……you need to send an invoice with the goods and follow up regularly to check in. You’ll have to go with your instincts (gut) in the store quality……to avoid being taken advantage of.
I have a line of essential oils for dogs. I am hoping to get into small pet stores and even health food stores. What should I ask the store owner or discuss as far as how much I should make? How do you determine this-example:
If I sell an item for $10, how much will the store keep?
The store will make it up around 2.3% from your wholesale price.
Thank you for sharing Sarah. Some blogs say don’t do consignment but I think a mix of consignment and wholesale could be a good balance.
I think it is a good balance personally…..until you don’t have to do it any more :O)
What is an appropriate amount of time to allow a store to have your products before you pick them up if the store is not the right fit and items are not selling?
Thanks,
Anna
A salon I was trying to get into for the past couple of months agreed to sell my product on consignment. The owner said she’d sell it at my retail price ($135) and just take 10% when a unit sold, then cutting me a check for the units sold minus the 10%. I’m confused about how to include an invoice because in my mind I always associate an invoice with an item someone has purchased – and she hasn’t purchased my product wholesale, she’s selling them on consignment. How should a consignment invoice be worded differently then a regular purchase invoice? Also, is the owner’s proposal for payment good or should I suggest something else? Thanks!
Wow that is the best deal of the century. Usually stores pay you wholesale. For consignment, just make a full price invoice less 10% and give her that with the goods. When she sells an item, cross it off and have her pay you. Good luck!!
Want to express your opinion?
Leave a reply!
Your program is already helping me sooo much.. and I finally feel like there is a light at the end o… Read more
I’ve worked with Sarah for about 3 months now and my line has been picked up in 2 new stores with … Read more
I wanted to share the importance of persistence, as you always say! I pitched another item to this w… Read more
I’m already getting orders from the email with the updated pricing that I just sent to my current st… Read more
Sarah Shaw is like Google, the entire How To section of Barnes and Nobles, Consumer Report and Yoda … Read more
Sarah is exactly what I have been looking for to take my business to the next level. She brings a to… Read more
Everything’s coming together. I am so excited. Thank you"20px" /> the website looks great. I am so… Read more
I LOVE working with Sarah! The best business decision I’ve made recently is joining Sarah’s Retail R… Read more
Sarah has always been so knowledgeable and has helped me so much in growing my business and getting … Read more
We enrolled in Sarah Shaw’s program because we needed someone to kick us into shape! She did just … Read more
2 days ago
3 days ago
5 days ago
7 days ago
1 week ago
© 2009-2023 Entreprenette LLC. Entreprenette® is a registered Trademark of Sarah Shaw
Cookie | Duration | Description |
---|---|---|
cookielawinfo-checkbox-analytics | 11 months | This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". |
cookielawinfo-checkbox-functional | 11 months | The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". |
cookielawinfo-checkbox-necessary | 11 months | This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". |
cookielawinfo-checkbox-others | 11 months | This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other. |
cookielawinfo-checkbox-performance | 11 months | This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". |
viewed_cookie_policy | 11 months | The cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. It does not store any personal data. |