Great video! I'm a potter starting to focus on wholesale. There's a lot of gatekeeping in the pottery world. Not many willing to be open and honest as you are. I'm so grateful for you sharing your experiences. I have a few local boutiques carrying my work and I'm also on faire.My business is starting to gain momentum after 7 years lol! I would love for you to do a video on the online wholesale sites. It's tough for sure!
I love content like this. Thank you for sharing! I also love your reason for not sharing how much your business earned. Most videos with such content is just asking for views, judgements, and not much analysis.
Wholesale can be easier to handle, but I make so many connections when attending markets and in-person events. Not sure I'd be willing to give that up. Like you, I tell my story best in person, and that's hard to convey in wholesale relationships.
I love wholesale. It works better for me as a working parent. Easier to batch my time and tasks and make $$ without having to pop up somewhere. I can do my thing at the hours that it works best for my schedule
@@UpsideGoodsCo so I’m on faire which keeps me busy but I also talk to customers where I’m located (NYC). And any one I meet I put them in faires platform so I can avoid fees. And they like it because of the payment terms whereas if I didn’t use faire they would have to pay me up front
@@ceemariejaye5453 Ive been on Faire since November with 8 scents in 2 sizes and to date I've only received 1 wholesale order... so I'm not sure how you get more faire customers, it's seems almost identical to etsy... so many of the same thing competing for sales, just lower price points.
I was always wholesale with my soaps, but my gosh it has eaten into my profit. I started attending markets now and have realised where the cream really is. It's not wholesale.. wholesale is good to have but a small percentage I think.. we live and learn..
The balance is the perfect mix for me and it sounds like it is for you too! Especially with items with long cure times, the margins and time can eat you up with WS.
Like you in person sales were a good chunk of my sales last year, more than wholesale and equal to online. I love hearing your tips for markets, wholesale, online sales!
Ashley, this couldn't have been more timely. I am packing for a market this weekend while watching your video. This year I am doing more markets to gain more insight and make decisions in the future. I have just two wholesale accounts, and they are good, but I have yet to put effort into growing that area. Something I definitely want to do. Loving markets so far! Love, love, love the interaction with customers, seeing their expressions while smelling our candles. I pray it pays off in revenues. Thank you for sharing all your insights. They are wise + valuable! Cheers to a good second quarter!
I have only done wholesale in the way I have only done big others for either events or business Xmas client list I have been blessed to not have spent any money and the work that keeps me busy has come knocking to my doors. I do feel I need to have my own virtual store front because after those gigs are done I end up with nothing aside from the money. I guess this is great money wise but it is not long term like the reputation of a brand that will let you create more of
I know I'm biased when I say this is the way to go because this is the path that I have been on but I can't imagine it any other way right now. I think it's a very sustainable balance for the age of my business right now and it sounds like it will be for you too! I hope your market was a huge success and will continue to be!
Honestly, each conversation is different and it's truly just relationship building. Yes I am there to sell my product but first and foremost I want to learn about their business because after all it's there turf that I am trying to be a part of and from there the conversation just goes. In the end, I'm the candle expert but they are their stores expert and I allow both of us to speak intelligently about each topic and listening is KEY to what their needs are!
So good! I’ve always focused on point of sales because that’s where we thrive 😊 each year I say yes to more and more events. I can’t wait to go back to all of the ones I felt worked for us next year! Our online is very low and I’m just now hitting the research stage of wholesale in terms legalities etc
I’m having trouble keeping up with my inventory due to selling through markets, DTC online and wholesale. I’m wondering if I should keep two separate inventories.
I’ve been using Shopify for online sales and Square for markets. My problem is my wholesale. I don’t know how much inventory to keep because I’m selling at multiple outlets.
Oh no! Download Shopify POS. Replace square with that. It links to your Shopify website and inventory at no extra cost you just have to buy a card reader and there’s step one. The rest can be managed through inventora. They keep track of WS sales and update your inventory again in Shopify. You will have to manage invoicing your accounts but the time saver of inventory will change your life! Go get Shopify POS. Super easy to add and use on your app!
@@UpsideGoodsCo this good to know! I am in the process of moving my site from WIX to Shopify. I currently have the same issue as Bernard, and try to keep two inventories.🤦🏻♀️ It's a royal pain!! Thanks Ashley!! Thank you Bernard for posing the question!
Great info! I do both wholesale and D2C. I also white label to several businesses making their products with distinct and exclusive scent blends. I find the white label more profitable and reliable than the wholesale right now. I also live for my popups! It's so much fun meeting my customers in person! I think it makes them feel connected to me and my products. Looking forward to the next video!!
Great video! I'm a potter starting to focus on wholesale. There's a lot of gatekeeping in the pottery world. Not many willing to be open and honest as you are. I'm so grateful for you sharing your experiences. I have a few local boutiques carrying my work and I'm also on faire.My business is starting to gain momentum after 7 years lol! I would love for you to do a video on the online wholesale sites. It's tough for sure!
There’s a few on my channel but I can always add more!
I love content like this. Thank you for sharing! I also love your reason for not sharing how much your business earned. Most videos with such content is just asking for views, judgements, and not much analysis.
You are so welcome! I'm really glad you appreciate you and can see my POV for not sharing all the things :)
Wholesale can be easier to handle, but I make so many connections when attending markets and in-person events. Not sure I'd be willing to give that up. Like you, I tell my story best in person, and that's hard to convey in wholesale relationships.
Very true! I LOVE markets when they are rocking and rolling!
I really enjoyed this video Ashley. Made alot of sense
I'm so glad!
Any recommendations on how to position direct to wholesaler’s?
Face to face has been the best for me. Faire and email have been very lackluster!
I love wholesale. It works better for me as a working parent. Easier to batch my time and tasks and make $$ without having to pop up somewhere. I can do my thing at the hours that it works best for my schedule
How are you growing with new accounts? Or are you at a good level right now and maintaining?
@@UpsideGoodsCo so I’m on faire which keeps me busy but I also talk to customers where I’m located (NYC). And any one I meet I put them in faires platform so I can avoid fees. And they like it because of the payment terms whereas if I didn’t use faire they would have to pay me up front
@@ceemariejaye5453 Ive been on Faire since November with 8 scents in 2 sizes and to date I've only received 1 wholesale order... so I'm not sure how you get more faire customers, it's seems almost identical to etsy... so many of the same thing competing for sales, just lower price points.
I was always wholesale with my soaps, but my gosh it has eaten into my profit. I started attending markets now and have realised where the cream really is. It's not wholesale.. wholesale is good to have but a small percentage I think.. we live and learn..
The balance is the perfect mix for me and it sounds like it is for you too! Especially with items with long cure times, the margins and time can eat you up with WS.
Like you in person sales were a good chunk of my sales last year, more than wholesale and equal to online. I love hearing your tips for markets, wholesale, online sales!
I'm really glad this one was helpful!
Ashley, this couldn't have been more timely. I am packing for a market this weekend while watching your video. This year I am doing more markets to gain more insight and make decisions in the future. I have just two wholesale accounts, and they are good, but I have yet to put effort into growing that area. Something I definitely want to do. Loving markets so far! Love, love, love the interaction with customers, seeing their expressions while smelling our candles. I pray it pays off in revenues. Thank you for sharing all your insights. They are wise + valuable! Cheers to a good second quarter!
I have only done wholesale in the way I have only done big others for either events or business Xmas client list I have been blessed to not have spent any money and the work that keeps me busy has come knocking to my doors. I do feel I need to have my own virtual store front because after those gigs are done I end up with nothing aside from the money. I guess this is great money wise but it is not long term like the reputation of a brand that will let you create more of
I know I'm biased when I say this is the way to go because this is the path that I have been on but I can't imagine it any other way right now. I think it's a very sustainable balance for the age of my business right now and it sounds like it will be for you too! I hope your market was a huge success and will continue to be!
It's such a toss up! Good luck with your next steps Danny!
Thank you so much for this information, this is something I have been struggling with tremendously.
Glad it was helpful!
How do you pitch local stores and what do you say? I don’t sell candles, but am in home decor. Do you leave a product behind or just a sell catalog..?
Honestly, each conversation is different and it's truly just relationship building. Yes I am there to sell my product but first and foremost I want to learn about their business because after all it's there turf that I am trying to be a part of and from there the conversation just goes. In the end, I'm the candle expert but they are their stores expert and I allow both of us to speak intelligently about each topic and listening is KEY to what their needs are!
I was just talking about this last night, definitely think wholesale has been a challenge for me.
It's a great way to get reach but damn it's an uphill battle to acquire and keep consistent!
So good! I’ve always focused on point of sales because that’s where we thrive 😊 each year I say yes to more and more events. I can’t wait to go back to all of the ones I felt worked for us next year! Our online is very low and I’m just now hitting the research stage of wholesale in terms legalities etc
Love that! I do love a good market when things are rocking and rolling, there is nothing that can replace that feeling!
I’m having trouble keeping up with my inventory due to selling through markets, DTC online and wholesale. I’m wondering if I should keep two separate inventories.
What e-commerce site do you use?
Shopify.
I’ve been using Shopify for online sales and Square for markets. My problem is my wholesale. I don’t know how much inventory to keep because I’m selling at multiple outlets.
Oh no! Download Shopify POS. Replace square with that. It links to your Shopify website and inventory at no extra cost you just have to buy a card reader and there’s step one. The rest can be managed through inventora. They keep track of WS sales and update your inventory again in Shopify. You will have to manage invoicing your accounts but the time saver of inventory will change your life! Go get Shopify POS. Super easy to add and use on your app!
@@UpsideGoodsCo this good to know! I am in the process of moving my site from WIX to Shopify. I currently have the same issue as Bernard, and try to keep two inventories.🤦🏻♀️ It's a royal pain!! Thanks Ashley!! Thank you Bernard for posing the question!
Great info! I do both wholesale and D2C. I also white label to several businesses making their products with distinct and exclusive scent blends. I find the white label more profitable and reliable than the wholesale right now. I also live for my popups! It's so much fun meeting my customers in person! I think it makes them feel connected to me and my products.
Looking forward to the next video!!
Thanks for sharing! I need to be more open to doing PL but for some reason I’ve been saying no left and right 😬