How to Approach Wholesale this year

You must be exhausted. December was such a rush. Handmade shows, reorders, shipping products, all happening in a concentrated dose. After the high, comes the crash (followed by boozing up at the years Eve party).

Once you recover from the hangover, it’s time to forget about 2015. Because buyers are getting ready for the next season. As I write, all 11 therapy stores in the San Francisco Bay Area are having a 40% off sale. That’s only a 10% profit on all their goods.

Plan Your Timing Now
Focus on wholesale, NOW. January is when sourcing season is at it’s peak. Shops are clearing the retail floor to source from the buyer trade shows. Where they will find the same vendors again and come back with the same type of goods. This is your moment to swoop in.

January and August are the peak seasons for Wholesale.

So take these steps:

Get your collection together or at least get started

“You should have a solid line in January”, says Michael Levy of Paxton Gate. “And add a few pieces over the next few months until August, when the next peak buying season arrives in August.”

Some independent makers are able to do two lines a year which is a total boss move. For now look at what you have and organize, give it a name, group them differently, and print out a line sheet. Everything will start to look fresh again.

Start with a fresh mindset
Oh so you’re worried store owners don’t have time for you. Or you feel too awkward to approach them. “It feels like I’m selling them something.”

Ick.

Well guess what. They’re called buyers. They are used to selling and pitching. So why should you be shy?

No one is shopping in January, so the storeowners aren’t all that busy. They’re mind is set on looking for new products, not necessarily attending customers. Did I say you could just swoop in?

A typical store of about 500 Square Feet should do about $500–600K in sales per year. Which means they are buying 300K worth of inventory in wholesale every year. As an independent designer at a professional level, you are in a unique position to offer products they will not find anywhere else. Your low minimum orders are also an attractive proposition.

If you have your collection ready during this time, it’s time to get it in front of them. Print out a line sheet and walk in, they’ll receive you with open arms.

Try it. It’ll work.