Comments on: Think Like the Buyer http://whipup.net/2006/05/20/think-like-the-buyer/ handcraft in a hectic world Fri, 09 Jan 2009 20:49:38 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.5 By: CLOUD9 DESIGN http://whipup.net/2006/05/20/think-like-the-buyer/#comment-419927 CLOUD9 DESIGN Thu, 27 Nov 2008 04:32:27 +0000 http://whipup.net/2006/05/20/think-like-the-buyer/#comment-419927 GREAT post! Thanks for the fabulous info! GREAT post! Thanks for the fabulous info!

]]> By: Beth McRorie http://whipup.net/2006/05/20/think-like-the-buyer/#comment-4124 Beth McRorie Sat, 27 May 2006 22:08:09 +0000 http://whipup.net/2006/05/20/think-like-the-buyer/#comment-4124 Thank you so much for this post. It really helps to see things from the other side of the fence. You are so right that artists don't have a sales personality :) I so wish I had some! My husband has to nudge me just to get me to hand someone a business card. I am thinking about trying whole sale with my prints and note cards at one of our local "bird" stores. I have several related prints that I think would work well. Would it be appropriate to send a sample and other information? Would an email be appriate with a link to my website? I would love to know, along with some of your other readers, what a typical minimum would be. Now, I just have to get my courage up and approach someone lol Thank you so much for this post. It really helps to see things from the other side of the fence. You are so right that artists don’t have a sales personality :) I so wish I had some! My husband has to nudge me just to get me to hand someone a business card. I am thinking about trying whole sale with my prints and note cards at one of our local “bird” stores. I have several related prints that I think would work well. Would it be appropriate to send a sample and other information? Would an email be appriate with a link to my website? I would love to know, along with some of your other readers, what a typical minimum would be. Now, I just have to get my courage up and approach someone lol

]]> By: Sharon http://whipup.net/2006/05/20/think-like-the-buyer/#comment-3928 Sharon Thu, 25 May 2006 15:44:13 +0000 http://whipup.net/2006/05/20/think-like-the-buyer/#comment-3928 Thank you, thank you and thank you. Being an owner and the buyer for a children's shop, this article hits the nail on the head. I have had so many people walk in and want me to drop everything so that I will carry their items. This is a give and take industry. Many (and I mean many) of these people did not know what my store was all about. Whether it be traditional, funky or trendy. And as they are talking, I am thinking in my head "Have you ever stepped foot in my store before this very moment?" I know for myself, leave information, pictures, prices and let me think about it. Sometimes I will even ask my regular customers what they think of this item and if they would buy it. Thank you, thank you and thank you. Being an owner and the buyer for a children’s shop, this article hits the nail on the head. I have had so many people walk in and want me to drop everything so that I will carry their items. This is a give and take industry. Many (and I mean many) of these people did not know what my store was all about. Whether it be traditional, funky or trendy. And as they are talking, I am thinking in my head “Have you ever stepped foot in my store before this very moment?” I know for myself, leave information, pictures, prices and let me think about it. Sometimes I will even ask my regular customers what they think of this item and if they would buy it.

]]> By: melissa http://whipup.net/2006/05/20/think-like-the-buyer/#comment-3927 melissa Thu, 25 May 2006 15:38:09 +0000 http://whipup.net/2006/05/20/think-like-the-buyer/#comment-3927 UNCANNY!!!! I was just thinking yesterday afternoon how I wish I could find some advice on independent selling of my goods!!!! I know bookmarking whipup for my daily reads was a great idea! This is great advice, and really enlightened me. So now what? Now that I know what NOT to do, what IS the appropriate manner in which to approach a buyer. Say, if I go and do my "spy research" on a shop, when may I go in and request an appointment to show the buyer my products? I know what it's like to be solicited, and it is my utmost pet peeve. I would never want anyone to get that impression from me. Thanks so much for this article. Looking forward to reading more! UNCANNY!!!! I was just thinking yesterday afternoon how I wish I could find some advice on independent selling of my goods!!!! I know bookmarking whipup for my daily reads was a great idea!
This is great advice, and really enlightened me.
So now what? Now that I know what NOT to do, what IS the appropriate manner in which to approach a buyer.
Say, if I go and do my “spy research” on a shop, when may I go in and request an appointment to show the buyer my products? I know what it’s like to be solicited, and it is my utmost pet peeve. I would never want anyone to get that impression from me.
Thanks so much for this article.
Looking forward to reading more!

]]> By: beth http://whipup.net/2006/05/20/think-like-the-buyer/#comment-3770 beth Tue, 23 May 2006 16:44:42 +0000 http://whipup.net/2006/05/20/think-like-the-buyer/#comment-3770 This was a great post to read. Will there be a follow-up? As someone who would be on the selling end of this transaction, I'd love to know what typical numbers are for the things you mentioned (order amounts, etc - what does a store expect? I know that of course the specifics will vary), as well as the things Aurora was asking. This was a great post to read. Will there be a follow-up? As someone who would be on the selling end of this transaction, I’d love to know what typical numbers are for the things you mentioned (order amounts, etc - what does a store expect? I know that of course the specifics will vary), as well as the things Aurora was asking.

]]> By: Simone http://whipup.net/2006/05/20/think-like-the-buyer/#comment-3741 Simone Mon, 22 May 2006 21:42:23 +0000 http://whipup.net/2006/05/20/think-like-the-buyer/#comment-3741 This is such a great post with good advice--I think another key thing for potential consignors/wholesalers to know is that small shoppe owners/managers are usually swamped. If we don't get back to you (via email, phone, whatever)--don't take it personally. And please don't think that it means that we think less of your merch! I couldn't agree more with the part about just waltzing in with merch--unless you've set up an appointment (which you can call ahead to find out about--after all your research), it's very difficult to just drop everything and give someone your undivided attention. There are so many factors that go into deciding what kind of merchandise to carry (i.e. past performance of similar merch, price point, other work too similar, etc.)--it takes a while to make those decisions. This is such a great post with good advice–I think another key thing for potential consignors/wholesalers to know is that small shoppe owners/managers are usually swamped. If we don’t get back to you (via email, phone, whatever)–don’t take it personally. And please don’t think that it means that we think less of your merch!

I couldn’t agree more with the part about just waltzing in with merch–unless you’ve set up an appointment (which you can call ahead to find out about–after all your research), it’s very difficult to just drop everything and give someone your undivided attention. There are so many factors that go into deciding what kind of merchandise to carry (i.e. past performance of similar merch, price point, other work too similar, etc.)–it takes a while to make those decisions.

]]> By: Alina http://whipup.net/2006/05/20/think-like-the-buyer/#comment-3731 Alina Mon, 22 May 2006 18:08:55 +0000 http://whipup.net/2006/05/20/think-like-the-buyer/#comment-3731 This is something I really needed to know, since it is what I am thinking about doing in this craftventur I am starting to pursue. Really great advice that I didn't have. With all the ins and outs when trying to sell what I make. This is something I really needed to know, since it is what I am thinking about doing in this craftventur I am starting to pursue. Really great advice that I didn’t have. With all the ins and outs when trying to sell what I make.

]]> By: Aurora http://whipup.net/2006/05/20/think-like-the-buyer/#comment-3730 Aurora Mon, 22 May 2006 18:04:32 +0000 http://whipup.net/2006/05/20/think-like-the-buyer/#comment-3730 OK, I've done the research, thoughtfully prepped myself, and I'm ready to go. Do I hand you my card and request an appointment? If the buyer is not there, do I ask the message to be passed along? Mail the information to the store with attn: manager? I'm wondering how best to proceed now. OK, I’ve done the research, thoughtfully prepped myself, and I’m ready to go. Do I hand you my card and request an appointment? If the buyer is not there, do I ask the message to be passed along? Mail the information to the store with attn: manager? I’m wondering how best to proceed now.

]]> By: Yael http://whipup.net/2006/05/20/think-like-the-buyer/#comment-3621 Yael Mon, 22 May 2006 00:42:31 +0000 http://whipup.net/2006/05/20/think-like-the-buyer/#comment-3621 This is such a well written article with such practical advice. I am bookmarking this page. Although I have a pretty good understanding of marketing, sometimes the subtle techniques to make sales are ignored, at the peril of losing out potential orders. This article really encapsulates what a retailer is looking for. And surprisingly, it seems so obvious, yet lots of well-meaning crafters get it wrong. Thank you for sharing your point of view. ~Yael This is such a well written article with such practical advice. I am bookmarking this page. Although I have a pretty good understanding of marketing, sometimes the subtle techniques to make sales are ignored, at the peril of losing out potential orders. This article really encapsulates what a retailer is looking for. And surprisingly, it seems so obvious, yet lots of well-meaning crafters get it wrong. Thank you for sharing your point of view. ~Yael

]]> By: tulip http://whipup.net/2006/05/20/think-like-the-buyer/#comment-3591 tulip Sun, 21 May 2006 03:20:35 +0000 http://whipup.net/2006/05/20/think-like-the-buyer/#comment-3591 Alicia, Thanks so much for this post. Once you read it (especially if you have been in the retail side of things) it all seems like such common sense! But if you (like I am sometimes) get blinded by the enthusiasm of trying to get your stuff out there it can fall by the wayside. Thanks for the reminders and also for the great idea of putting a little "press kit" together for saleable items. I managed bands for years and never thought to do this for my art!! *smacks forehead Alicia,
Thanks so much for this post. Once you read it (especially if you have been in the retail side of things) it all seems like such common sense! But if you (like I am sometimes) get blinded by the enthusiasm of trying to get your stuff out there it can fall by the wayside. Thanks for the reminders and also for the great idea of putting a little “press kit” together for saleable items. I managed bands for years and never thought to do this for my art!! *smacks forehead

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