A while back a lady from Blue Ridge Parkway contacted me about my gourds and wondered if I had a wholesale list because she had a small gift shop. I thought wow what a perfect thing.
I had absolutely no clue how to come up with a wholesale plan. And apparently what I submitted to her was not what she was looking for.

Does anyone have any suggestions as to where to start? Should I just take a set dollar amount off the cost? A percent for how many? Should I give a shipping discount of some sorts? I just don't have a clue.

I don't make a lot of money and don't really want to be losing anything. I just don't have a clue how to come up with any kind of plan.

I would like to approach some gift shops in the area or flower shops and see about wholesaling some of my work or even consigning it.

Speaking of consigment. Any ideas on that either?

Any ideas would be very helpful.

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Gourds By Lori

I *THINK* I heard somewhere that to determine your wholesale costs, you take your initial costs and double them. Then to determine retail, you double it again. I knew someone who used to sell baby slings and I think I remember that the formula she told me one time.

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~Missy~Mommy
Meghan9.Samantha7,Cameron5

New England Mommysavers Social Group, Join us!http://mommysavers.com/boards/group.php?groupid=10

I'm not sure this would work for me because gourds only cost a $1 or $2 and then I can buy a jar of stain for $3 and I can probably do 100 gourds with it. I guess I could decide how much I want to make an hour and factor that in. But I really have little out of pocket per gourd (especiallly since I am growing them in my backyard now).
Now there is more cost involved in the big picture with the initial purchase of all the tools and such. So I am not real sure how to factor that in. Any suggestions. This is a great way to start.

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Gourds By Lori

Right you need to make sure you factor in every piece of equiptment no matter how small or cheap. Every paint brush, every thing. Figure out how many gourds you can do with one can of stain, and divide that by the cost of the can.

And YES you can factor in your time too. Each one that you do is YOUR time, and that is worth something too. When I was doing bows and dabbling in sewing that was some advice given to me. Every needle, every button, every stitch was worth SOMETHING, you have to figure out that cost.

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~Missy~Mommy
Meghan9.Samantha7,Cameron5

New England Mommysavers Social Group, Join us!http://mommysavers.com/boards/group.php?groupid=10

Thank you for your help.
Just curious but about how much do you figure your time at? Like $10/hr? More? Less?

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Gourds By Lori

That I'm not sure of. I would probably go less. Thats just me. LOL Have you check out ebay for something similar to see what others are getting? Maybe you could email someone from there to ask thier opinion?

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~Missy~Mommy
Meghan9.Samantha7,Cameron5

New England Mommysavers Social Group, Join us!http://mommysavers.com/boards/group.php?groupid=10

I don't know how you would factor in costs as an artist. Did you ask the woman for more information? It has to be worth your time. I have an artist friend that I run into every now and then ... I'll try to ask him.

With that formula, I should price my baby blankets at $80 each! (retail)

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I found this Pricing Your Craft Worksheet - Part 1

I may give this a try and see what kind of price my stuff brings. I also found that to determine wholesale price you should take 10 to 20% off your retail price.

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Gourds By Lori

I checked out a book at my library about selling your arts and crafts, and it had this info in it. I can't remember what the book was called, but it was something as easy as, "Selling Your Arts and Crafts". I'm sure it's not the only one like it.

I know this is an old post--how did you do? Did you get anywhere with it?