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Saving Money on Craft Show Supplies
by Natalie Goyette
Supplies are what make a craft. Unless you are making something where you can
use regular household items, or that don't need anything but the buyer to
complete the sale, then supplies are going to be a major part of your crafts.
Finding a supplier that isn't going to cost you an arm and a leg, and still have
good quality might be a challenge at first. But, in my experience, it is always
better to pay just a little bit more for good quality, than it is to buy bargain
basement materials and have your customers be disappointed when the overall
quality of your craft is poor.
Once you combine your experience with the supplies and the experience of making
the craft, you will soon realize where you might be able to save a few pennies
on supplies, and where you should just pay for good quality.
You'll need to have several excellent sources for supplies that are readily
available in order to be a successful crafter. Initial research, then time and
experience will be necessary for you to find your best suppliers in terms of
cost, quality and promptness of delivery. Here are a few tips on getting the
best supplies for the lowest prices:
Comparison shop with several vendors, and even after using one or two, keep an
eye out for better deals. With a little bit of extra effort, you might be able
to find the materials you want on sale, or at a lower price at a different vendor.
Ask other craftspeople for recommendations. Word of mouth is one of the best
ways to find deals. If you belong to a craft group or if you know other people
who craft, talk to them about where they are getting their supplies. They may
give you a great lead on fantastic prices.
Always buy wholesale - all you need is your resale certificate to qualify. Wholesale
eliminates the middle man in many cases. You should be able to save a great deal of
money on craft supplies if you have a craft supplies wholesaler in your area.
Buy in quantity for greater discounts, maybe even by partnering with another
crafter. It's the same is if you go to the grocery store - usually, the more you
buy, the better overall deal you are getting. It may cost a little more out of
pocket, but your cost per piece goes down significantly.
Use recycled materials and recycle what you can from your past inventory. You
never know when scraps of other supplies will make great pieces elsewhere on
your craft. This is a great way to save money on your supply cost.
Keep track of your supply inventory so you can order in advance at better prices
for busier seasons rather than waiting until the last minute. If you wait until
the last minute you usually don't have time to find a deal - you just need the
supplies fast! This could end up costing you a lot of money.
Do your best to get 30-day terms, so you can pay suppliers after you've sold
some product. You will probably have to pay with cash or credit the first few
times that you go into a store, but after they recognize your patronage and you
qualify with their accounting department, you can get terms that allow you to
pay 30 days after you purchase the supplies.
Supply costs are one of the biggest costs when you are setting up your craft
show business. As mentioned earlier, most crafts rely on materials of some sort
or another. In order to ensure a tidy profit at the end of the day, you need to
control the material expense so your prices stay competitive and you sell more product!
Natalie Goyette shows you how to make your craft show business profitable in
her best selling ebook: Craft Show Success Secrets. Visit her site:
www.craftshowsuccess.com
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