[Jewelry making - Article 00829] - [Orchid] Re: [orchid] Sales Rep or Trade Shows?

[Richeydes]

========[ Invite a Friend - http://www.ganoksin.com/invite.htm  ]========

    I think it would be wonderful to have a sales rep who only showed my
    line and had the complete attention of the buyer and staff. 
    However, in reality, most small designers have to share a sales rep
    with 4-8 other designers and sometimes they are lucky to get their
    line shown at all.  Most buyers won't sit through looking at 4+
    lines, so reps have to make a decision as to which line/s they are
    going to show and it is usually the one they sell the best.  Which
    is only natural - I would do the exact same thing.  But that will
    leave a bunch of work not shown at all.  

    Also there are a few good reps out there (and they are in great
    demand) and a whole herd of not so great reps, people who don't
    really understand or care about "designer" or "handmade" jewelry, who
    want to carry lines that have a great marketing program, generous
    terms, name recognition - branding, established territories, and
    designs that are not too edgy. I don't blame them, if I was a sales
    rep, I would want exactly the same thing. 

    If as a small designer you are looking for a rep, I would be very
    cautious about handing over alot of jewelry to someone you don't know
    that well. You are trusting them with your reputation as well as your
    line. I have rarely seen it work well, most of the time it has been
    less than a positive situation. 

    Look around - how many designers in the JCK Design Center have sales
    reps? How many designers at the Rosen show or ACC have reps? Most of
    them don't. 

Marlene Richey
Richey Jewelry Gallery
15 Wharf . Portland . ME . 04101
207.772.5252

____________________________________________________________________
T h e   O r c h i d   L i s t
Open Electronic Forum for Jewelry Manufacturing Methods and Procedures
____________________________________________________________________
Orchid FAQ:
~ http://www.ganoksin.com/orchid/faq.htm
Orchid Archives:
~ http://www.ganoksin.com/orchid/archive
Orchid Galleries:
~ http://www.ganoksin.com/orchid/gallery.htm
Invite a Friend:
~ http://www.ganoksin.com/invite.htm
____________________________________________________________________
Tips From The Jeweler's Bench - Article Archive
~ http://www.ganoksin.com/borisat/tip_sear.htm
The Jeweler's Selected Bibliography List
~ http://www.ganoksin.com/jewelry-books
Buy Orchid Jewelry:
~ http://www.ganoksin.com/shop
____________________________________________________________________
-Unsubscribe:
-Email: orchid-request AT ganoksin.com Body=unsubscribe subject=blank
____________________________________________________________________