Mail Order CraftsMail Order Crafts!... This is still a popular way of selling your arts and crafts!
Many people still like to have a catalog that they can flip thru and check out in their own time, especially for mail order crafts.. rather than on the internet... You could offer a catalogue on your internet site and a second way of generating cash for your crafts (if you have one)..
Try requesting a catalog to learn as much as you can about the company offering the catalog for mail order crafts, see if what you make or create would compliment their catalog. If you feel it does, then contact their sales department and ask who you would send information to and what they need to see from you to make a decision Usually they will want photographs, prices and descriptions, and how many you can make in what period of time. Buyers (from the catalog) will be looking for quality and your ability to supply them with the quantities needed, and what type of money you will be looking for.. so they can see if adding on their fee will still make your craft marketable.
If you make a craft that can be repeated, or produced in a quantity but still have quality, and be pleasing to a potential customer, this may work for you. There are questions you need to ask yourself before you carry on with this form of selling: Do you need to hire help? Can you get enough supplies from your supplier if there was a large order needed in a short period of time? Can you afford to make ahead and store? Can you afford to give them the wholesale price they are looking for? The last point is VERY IMPORTANT.. do not agree to a price with them, unless you know EXACTLY what you need to make, as you will become very bitter, if you agree and sign a contract, and end up not making money, or even worse... losing money..but still need to finish a contract. This particular way of selling involves more of a business plan.. it can be a very profitable way, especially if your craft does not involve a lot of money for supplies and there is a lot of room for profit.. just be careful here.. Remember the catalog will make sure they are making money... so you must too!.. check out my other pages below:
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