How do I get the florists to buy my handmade greeting cards? I made calls to flower shops, but they all say they already have their own range ... My cards are selling very well in a store already so I'm ready to grow. Ideas?
Your advice would be greatly appreciated.
You need to create a riot of your cards. This means that you Wil have to invest in some small screens - Search the Internet under the display card. Then you go to each store personally so that you can present your screen and talk to the owner of 1-1. Try to go early in the am before going to work and certainly well before the holiday. See some cards and tell them they are selling well in stores XYZ and want to give them the opportunity to offer the cards as well.
REMEMBER-everyone wants to be unique. If you offer cards competetion even a block in the street, then this shop will not be interested. Offer to provide unique cards for them (sure there will be duplicates, but for the most part - they obtain unique cards). You can duplicate it in another city or on opposite sides of the city, but not in the same area - he succeed?
Next - Part $. You'll have much better chances to say yes if you put the map display in the store on consignment. In this way, the store did not spend $ or a risk to try your cards. Make sure you know exactly how many cards are there. Then go through on a weekly or monthly and to refresh the display (as needed). At this stage, the cost for what they have sold. This is a classic method of sale in a retail store and is very efficient for smaller suppliers. Most items in convenience stores are sold this way.
If they still say no or not sure seem to offer some free samples to try. The key is to provide the bank safe / down to try your product. If your cards are good, they sell themselves and the remaining issues will dissolve.
In addition, you should consider the event planners and those who use cards - gift shops, small shops, baby hospital gift shops, etc. Be creative! Good luck
send samples of the cards you identified the stores and ask them to try it for a week or two. if it does not sell you return to him. I am sure that by the end of the week the map will be sold.
Hello Liz. Times are tough, have you ever offered to allow a collection of greeting cards on consignment? Leave your cards at selected stores and then return periodically, the cards that are sold are paid for - You have a choice between leaving the remaining cards or take them back - you also need to replace cards sold with identical cards already sold. Leaving goods on consignment is a great idea because it avoids the initial investment on behalf of the owner of the store and can be honest your creations have a better chance of being sold if they are on the screen rather than if they are stored in a box somewhere waiting to be purchased. Good luck and I hope you sell sell sell!
Posted on March 13, 2010.