Rita Vali on fri 16 jul 99
---------Help,
I'm just getting into wholesale w/ a gallery and could sure use some
advice on coming up w/ wholesale prices for my functional work. Should
the gallery price reflect the retail price I get at shows (in which
case wholesale would be half)? Or, do folks expect higher prices at
galleries? IF so, how much more? Any advice on making wholesale
price sheets straightforward, updateable, and very user friendly for
busy gallery buyers? I make pottery part-time, so I don't plan to
have huge inventory and orders, or a huge number of items available.
Thanks Clayarters,
Rita who's still intimidated by galleries
Rita Vali on fri 16 jul 99
----Hi Clayarters,
I've recently been asked to come up with a wholesale list for a
gallery. Having only done retail up to now, I need help coming up w/ a
wholesale sheet. My questions are: How do you determine your
wholesale prices? At 100% mark up, I'm not too keen on wholesaling at
half what I retail at, or is that just the nature of it? Do customers
expect to pay more in a gallery? If so how much? Any suggestions on
a format that is clear and easily updateable?
Thanks alot, any info will be a help.
RIta Vali email: valir@baxter.com
Kathi LeSueur on sat 17 jul 99
Most buyers expect your wholesale prices to be one half of what you normally
sell your work for at retail. They need to know that the price they put on
your product is one that the public will accept. The best way to know the
answer is to look at how well your work sells at the price you put on it.
I've known a number of people who raised their "retail" prices about 20% and
then gave 50% off of that price. The problem was that they had never tested
those "retail" prices in the market place. And so, a bowl that they had been
selling for $30 suddenly became a $36 item. Tack on shipping and it's about a
$40 bowl for the buyer. Can it be sold at that price?
I find that the best wholesale pricing is 50% off of my retail. The buyer
knows I can sell the work close to the price they will probably put on it.
You are not giving away 50%. You are eliminating the expense of selling your
work yourself. And if you run the numbers, including hours per man day and
travel time out of the studio, you'll probably find you are ahead wholesaling.
Kathi LeSueur
In Ann Arbor where I thrilled to death that I'm not doing the fair next week.
Philip Schroeder on sat 17 jul 99
In a message dated 99-07-16 11:22:00 EDT, you write:
<< I'm just getting into wholesale w/ a gallery and could sure use some
advice on coming up w/ wholesale prices for my functional work. Should
the gallery price reflect the retail price I get at shows (in which
case wholesale would be half)? Or, do folks expect higher prices at
galleries? IF so, how much more? Any advice on making wholesale
price sheets straightforward, updateable, and very user friendly for
busy gallery buyers? I make pottery part-time, so I don't plan to
have huge inventory and orders, or a huge number of items available. >>
First, let me state that pricing is my least favorite part of the whole
ceramic process. That said, I consider the gallery price 20% more than my
art fair price/stated another way, artfair price is 80% of retail. Wholesale
is 50 % of retail or gallery price. I also believe that much depends on
what one is selling and the "gallery" one deals with. I make a limited
production of fairly pricey, technically involved things and try to deal with
galleries that are really galleries ie. understand and appreciate artistic
process/developement verses glorified "gift shops" where little is known
about art; only "Wow, that's way cool, dude; can we put some in our groovey
gallery; do you bake those in an oven or something??" [Sorry for the rant;
just recently, I was appraoched like this.]
I would probably rethink this whole thing if I were putting functional ware
in a gallery . I think there is a limit to what one can get for a functional
teapot, for instance. Overpricing just slows sales to a snails pace. I do
make some functional things for art fairs but don't put them in galleries.
Phil Schroeder in Chicago
Tom Wirt on sat 17 jul 99
Subject: ---wholesale pricing
> ----------------------------Original message----------------------------
> ----Hi Clayarters,
> I've recently been asked to come up with a wholesale list for a
> gallery. Having only done retail up to now, I need help coming up w/
a
> wholesale sheet. My questions are: How do you determine your
> wholesale prices? At 100% mark up, I'm not too keen on wholesaling at
> half what I retail at, or is that just the nature of it? Do
customers
> expect to pay more in a gallery? If so how much? Any suggestions on
> a format that is clear and easily updateable?
>
> Thanks alot, any info will be a help.
>
> RIta Vali email: valir@baxter.com
Rita...first question, are the accounts you're talking to in the area where
you also sell retail? If so, then you're going to have to set the
"MSRP-Mfgr's Sugg Ret Price" where you sell and wholesale at 50% of that.
You must remember to add your packing and handling charges into that price.
Shipping will be added on.
As for setting prices, take a look at what's going on in galleries, or at
least large department stores. That'll give you some idea of what people
expect to pay in shops and galleries. My firm opinion is that, yes, people
expect to pay more in a retail store than they do at a street fair. How
much? Don't know....and it probably depend largely on the shop and the
shopping circumstances. People on vacation will pay more than someone at
home.
One problem you'll hit is that you'll sell for 50% off the MSRP, then it
will be marked up 210-220% to give the shop a 55-60% margin. Shipping will
be tacked on top of that....so no matter what, they'll probably be selling
at quite a bit more than you will at a street fair anyway.
As for materials, we use a black and white "catalog" 6 pages, small photos
and brief descriptions. This is accompanied by a color glaze sheet and a
price list. This gives us maximum flexibility if glazes, prices or products
change. Next year, we'll do it all on the computer and be able to update
anytime.
I'll send you a copy of the price list directly. If you want a copy of the
catalog, send me your landmail address off-list and I'll shoot one to you.
Good luck.
Tom Wirt
Clay Coyote Pottery
Knox Steinbrecher on sun 18 jul 99
Hi Rita,
My regular prices are not set up to take a 50% cut to wholesale. I offer 30%
of prices marked, and buyer pays shipping. It's a place to start.
knox in Atlanta
M. R. W. on sun 18 jul 99
Hi Rita-
We wholesale to at least 35 galleries and find it
best for both the gallery and us to keep things
quite simple. All but three of our outlets key-
stone (double) the wholesale price so in essence
our wholesale price is determined by what they can
retail the pieces for. For simplicity we settle
for a single price per item for every outlet. Also,
we do consign to two outlets but they are a pain
at our end and their end too. Hope this helps a
little. -Reg in Big Arm, MT
--- Rita Vali
wrote:
> ----------------------------Original
> message----------------------------
> ---------Help,
> I'm just getting into wholesale w/ a gallery
> and could sure use some
> advice on coming up w/ wholesale prices for my
> functional work. Should
> the gallery price reflect the retail price I
> get at shows (in which
> case wholesale would be half)? Or, do folks
> expect higher prices at
> galleries? IF so, how much more? Any advice
> on making wholesale
> price sheets straightforward, updateable, and
> very user friendly for
> busy gallery buyers? I make pottery part-time,
> so I don't plan to
> have huge inventory and orders, or a huge
> number of items available.
> Thanks Clayarters,
> Rita who's still intimidated by galleries
>
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