selling crafts in a retail store

17 years ago

I make scarves for dogs and would like to place them in various pet places around town (groomers, vets, etc.)

I am only charging $5 - $7 for regular scarves, fancy ones are higher. But how much do I offer the store owner? A percentage of each sale (how much), $1 per scarf? Help???

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Comments (5)

toomuchglass
17 years ago
If you are wholesaling - they pay you up front for "x" amount of product - usually you charge half... and then they have to worry about the selling.If you sell on commission - you have to trust them to keep track of your product and wait till they sell. Around here - commissions run from 20% - 25% . Hope that helps !!!
janet_ks
17 years ago
Can't help you with your selling question, but I'm curious about the scarves. I'd love to make something like this...are they knitted/crocheted or made from fabric? Do you have a pattern source you could share? What do you do to make them fancy? Thanks!!

Janet (who comes from a long line of dog lovers)
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janet_ks
17 years ago
to the top for Dana to see
danaoh
Original Author
17 years ago
Janet, I didn't have a pattern. But it is easy (don't tell anyone, I am trying to sell them, remember?)

Check online for ideas. I do mine 2 sided fabric, sometimes the same material, sometimes coordinating. I then handsew velcro on the ends. The handsewing insures that the stitches don't show on the other side. I cut them out using my rotary cutter, so all lines are just straight. I curve the neck for a better fit. I just mark the center, and eyeball a curve as I am sewing.

When my gd was 10, this was how she learned to sew. She thought turning it right side out after sewing was really neat. I made her sew the velcro on, too. She wasn't as thrilled with that part of it. I do the turning and velcro while watching TV.

I also make scrunchies for her, but my husband says they look like clown collars - I think they are cute. Use 2 or 3 times the length of the neck size, sew a tube. Turn it right side out. Put elastic in it, a little longer than neck size for comfort. I handsew the elastic together because I am usually in front of the tv for the rest of this. (sounds like I watch a lot of tv, doesn't it?) I then turn the ends by hand, and handsew the ends together to make a circle. It bunches up and you really can't see your stitiches. I make hers about 4 inches wide, after sewing, it is about 2 inches wide. For bigger dogs, make it wider. Just experiment.

My Asta (4 year old, 10 lb maltese/poodle(?) rescue) has way too many, but she looks so cute.

Quality varies on the scarves online. Some are one sided with serged or hemmed sides. Some tie, some use buckles, some are collar covers.
Hope this helps - have fun!
janet_ks
17 years ago
Thank you Dana!!

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selling crafts in a retail store

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selling crafts in a retail store

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