I'm New - Need Help Wholesaling!

Mary S

Hi Everybody,

I have just received my first inquiry about someone who wants to buy my art work wholesale, to sell in their shop (on mugs, cards, prints, etc.)
I am an artist with art work in SmugMug (not photos) and have never done this.
Any tips on how to set wholesale prices?
Should I require a minimum order?
Anything I should know about, but don't know that I should know?
If they say, order 20 mugs -- how does the shipping price work for that!
Do they charge per mug, per the order, per weight, etc ???

Thanks ever so much!

Mary S

SamirD

What's important in wholesaling is how much the retailer is going to be selling it for. Typical markup in most industries is 100%, so for example if they're planning on selling the mugs for $20, then you'd charge $10. But you'll need to look at your overall cost on these items if you're covering shipping. And shipping will probably be like any other purchase--pretty expensive for just one item, and gets only gradually more with the addition of each item, thereby decreasing the per item shipping cost.

Mary S

Another question...
Thanks!
Looks like a mug costs me $9.95. (Unless we can get a discount?? )
I'd have to sell each at at least $1.50 higher to make it worth it.
And there's postage they pay.
Then they have their mark up.
So they'd have to sell a mug for over $20? Who pays that much for a mug?
Is there any way they can do this cheaper?
Do they get a price break if they order, say, 10 mugs at a time?

Mary S

Andy

Mary S wrote: »

So they'd have to sell a mug for over $20? Who pays that much for a mug?

These are gorgeous and she's been selling them
http://delave.smugmug.com/OTHER-ITEMS-1/Art-that-Keep-you-warm/4077526_9S3GD/232388993_pFwFc#232388993_pFwFc

SamirD

Mary S wrote: »

Thanks!
Looks like a mug costs me $9.95. (Unless we can get a discount?? )
I'd have to sell each at at least $1.50 higher to make it worth it.
And there's postage they pay.
Then they have their mark up.
So they'd have to sell a mug for over $20? Who pays that much for a mug?
Is there any way they can do this cheaper?
Do they get a price break if they order, say, 10 mugs at a time?

Mary S

A mug is just a mug if that's all they're buying. But your mugs are art and that's the way the retailer would be pitching them to customers. And I can see them selling that at $25 or more depending on the artwork and appeal to that customer.

Mary S

Thanks so much for your insight on that!
...Mary S

scribahawk

To Mary or anyone,

How can you see an image of the mug with your actual photography/art on it without buying it myself? I'd like to use these images like I can do with art on Redbubble, but I seem to be missing this option somewhere in the cart.

SamirD

I don't think you can. :cry

scribahawk

Cafepress can figure out how to do this but smugmug can't? I find that amazing. I hope this gets developed soon.

SamirD

scribahawk wrote: »

Cafepress can figure out how to do this but smugmug can't? I find that amazing. I hope this gets developed soon.

I don't. It's not SM's primary product. I think they focus on prints for a reason.

Mary S

I also really, really hope they come up with the option of our being able to put our images on mugs, boxes, etc. Prints may be the primary reason for being, but some of us do want to sell other merchandise too. Like me. I have had to go into Zazzle, create a white mug, for instance, with my image on it in that program, and then Save it. And then I'm able to use it as an example in SmugMug. It is a real hassle. Otherwise, I have bought a black mug with one of my images on it through SmugMug, and then had to go into PhotoShop and superimpose yet a different image over that, to get what I want. I certainly hope this can be made easier.
....Mary S

Mesenko

I've done zazzle mugs, however the images didn't survive the dishwasher... ):

Mary S wrote: »

I also really, really hope they come up with the option of our being able to put our images on mugs, boxes, etc. Prints may be the primary reason for being, but some of us do want to sell other merchandise too. Like me. I have had to go into Zazzle, create a white mug, for instance, with my image on it in that program, and then Save it. And then I'm able to use it as an example in SmugMug. It is a real hassle. Otherwise, I have bought a black mug with one of my images on it through SmugMug, and then had to go into PhotoShop and superimpose yet a different image over that, to get what I want. I certainly hope this can be made easier.
....Mary S

Mary S

Wow - I had no idea about no dishwasher for zazzle. Thanks very much for letting us know about that!

Mary S

Mesenko wrote: »

I've done zazzle mugs, however the images didn't survive the dishwasher... ):

StrobeNBurn

Those mugs are beautiful! I'm curious about the image sizing you used, as I would like to try a mug wrap of my own. If I use a more square sized image will it wrap and crop or shrink to fit on the mug?
Thanks!
-Patrick