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anyone sell on consignment?

updated fri 18 mar 05

 

pdp1@EARTHLINK.NET on mon 14 mar 05


Hi BJ,


Make and save for further refinements (in MS-word or
something) and print out two-copies, of
a simple written agreement, stating particulars such as the
price you get per mug...how lost, strayed or stolen is the
same-as "sold", and whatever else IS important to the
integrity of the agreement as for terms.

Which should include of course, the how-pay ( Cash,
check, having a 'tab' there,) and when you will get paid,
(or how often - as,
periodic? once a month? for however many, if any, have sold?
Or, just, as they
sell?) which whoever is going to pay you, signs and
dates...and you sign and date, and you each keep a copy, and
shake hands, and
keep it in as simple and plain of English as can be.

A seperate simple one-page form may easily be made which
serves as a record of delivery and receipt for when you
deliver to them whatever mugs they are going to have on
consignment for you.

So that, someone ( ideally, whoever is
going to pay you, or whoever the boss is, or whoever your
deal is with, or someone the assign to recieve in their
absense ) signs and dates the acknowledgement of recieveing
them,
which form includes a description of the Mugs, or, even a
printed out j-peg of them, made for the occasion.

Which simple forms, with a sheet
of Carbon Paper between them, on a clipboard, with a
Ball-Point-Pen on a String, allows you to instantly give
them a convenient copy, while you of course, keep the
top-copy.

Allways dress nicely whenever making a delivery, and use a
new, fresh, Cardboard Box with no brand names or anything on
it, unless you wish to put your own brand name on it with a
stencil or something...


That's my off the cuff..on that...


Phil
el ve

----- Original Message -----
From: "BJ Clark"


> I have a new coffee shop in town that would like to sell
my mugs and
> related items, but only wants to do it on consignment
because they are
> brand new and don't have the money to buy the inventory.
Does anyone
> sell like this? Do you have a contract with the store? Of
course they
> will be liable for all product in the store, but do I need
to get
> something in writing? Anyone have any other suggestions?
> Thanks,
>
> BJ Clark

BJ Clark on mon 14 mar 05


I have a new coffee shop in town that would like to sell my mugs and
related items, but only wants to do it on consignment because they are
brand new and don't have the money to buy the inventory. Does anyone
sell like this? Do you have a contract with the store? Of course they
will be liable for all product in the store, but do I need to get
something in writing? Anyone have any other suggestions?
Thanks,

BJ Clark
bjclark@stinkingdesert.com

In lovely Western Colorado where he is quitting his "day job" tomorrow
to focus on school and his clay.

L. P. Skeen on mon 14 mar 05


BJ, you definitely should have a contract that spells out how much you will
be paid, that they DO have insurance, and when they will pay you after items
are sold. There is MUCHO info on consignment in the archives.

L
----- Original Message -----
From: "BJ Clark"
>I have a new coffee shop in town that would like to sell my mugs and
>related items, but only wants to do it on consignment because they are
>brand new

Kathi LeSueur on tue 15 mar 05


L. P. Skeen wrote:

> BJ, you definitely should have a contract that spells out how much you
> will
> be paid, that they DO have insurance, and when they will pay you after
> items
> are sold. There is MUCHO info on consignment in the archives.
>
> L
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "BJ Clark"
>
>> I have a new coffee shop in town that would like to sell my mugs and
>> related items, but only wants to do it on consignment because they are
>> brand new
>
>
> And make sure that contract states that the workon site remains your
> property until you are paid. Otherwises, if the shop goes belly up
> your work is considered part of their assets.


Kathi

> ______________________________________________________________________________
>

Judi Buchanan on tue 15 mar 05


My usual answer to this is "only if you know the people well enough to =
lend
them money".=20
If you are making more pots than you can sell and they are sitting =
around
cluttering up the studio and it is a local place that you can keep an =
eye on
maybe it can be a good way to introduce your pottery locally. But do get =
at
least a signed inventory with prices and commission and know you are =
taking
a gamble. As if choosing this way of life isn't already the best gamble =
a
person can take. Congratulations !


I have a new coffee shop in town that would like to sell my mugs and
related items, but only wants to do it on consignment because they are
brand new and don't have the money to buy the inventory. Does anyone
sell like this? Do you have a contract with the store? Of course they
will be liable for all product in the store, but do I need to get
something in writing? Anyone have any other suggestions?
Thanks,

katetiler on tue 15 mar 05


Through my three experiences of selling this way - make sure that you
regularly visit the place that your work is for sale!

All three venues that I had work in went bust or sold up!
The first one I got a 'come and collect your stuff the recievers are
closing us tomorrow' phone call. The restaurant & shop was then locked
shut for 6 months and finally emptied into a skip.

The second - a hippy arts & crafts shop, I took a friend to town to
proudly show him my work for sale/display only to find a locked shop
and a notice saying 'closed for business' - lots of empty shelves,
empty boxes etc. Finally got hold of a personal number for the owner &
met & collected my work & a cheque for stuff she couldn't find but
didn't know if she'd sold it!

The third - a very well respected 20 year established arts & crafts
gallery, I saw a notice in the national crafts magazine that the
owners were moving & selling up, dropped by & collected my stuff by
co-incidence the week they were moving - they hadn't contacted me & my
work wasn't in the stock they sold to the new owner.

I had contracts with all 3 venues, all sale or return, other than the
first venue which was owned by a friend, none of them were bothered
about me getting my work back - the only answer is to keep in regular
contact.

Maybe you won't have such a problem with selling mugs which may have a
faster turnover, but as a brand new venue they are highly at risk of
going bust within a year - if they do and your work is on the
premises, you will be way behind all the other creditors and your work
may be sold to pay their debts! Place a small, regular stock deliverly
frequently and often rather than consigning a large quantity all at
once, limit the damage and think of the worse case senario rather than
being positive! Then at least you'll be prepared if the worse happens.

Kate Tiler - now experienced at selling in shops on sale or return!

Cindy in SD on thu 17 mar 05


I haven't had a lot of good experiences selling on consignment. The only
shop I will sell consignment to is one of my regular wholesale
customers. I sometimes give them a large piece on consignment if they're
hesitant to make the investment. I think having a large piece in the
display helps to draw attention to the rest of the pottery (which they
purchase outright). They have always been honest and efficient in these
occasional consignment transactions.

I have sold consignment to several other venues. One to a local shop. I
had to practically commit harassment to get the owner to talk to me, and
in the end I had to settle for what he admitted he owed me rather than
for what my records indicated he owed me. It was better than nothing.

Second incidence was with a friend. His shop manager took care of the
transactions, so we are still on friendly terms, but it was a mess. I
did collect all my money due to an inventory sheet we had both signed on
delivery, but it was a hassle I didn't need, especially since I had
regular customers wanting more stock and ready to pay for the stuff on
delivery.

Third time was with a new shop in my town. I was talked into renting a
booth, but by the time I paid the booth rent and the commissions, I made
less than the wholesale price. It was a good venue to test-market new
products that my usual wholesale outlets were hesitant to try, but
ultimately it wasn't worth the money. They kept very good books and paid
on time.

If you can sell wholesale, I absolutely would not consign--especially to
a friend.

Best of luck with your biz,
Cindy in SD

BJ Clark on fri 18 mar 05


Thanks to everyone for the excellent information.
The merchandise was dropped off today.

Hopefully they'll call me in a few days and tell me it's all gone and
they need more!

_____
BJ Clark
Stinking Desert Ceramics