STYLETHREAD -- LET'S TALK SHOP!

JMR · Dooney & Bourke

Very random business question

lsubatgirl · Gucci

I think the best thing is if you have places in mind to just go and talk to the owner or manager at the place about setting something up. Do you want your own workers/staff selling your stuff of the store's workers? I'm a little confused on the question.

Karina · Chanel

i would put an ad on craigslist.

Drew · Gucci

I think the best thing to do is bring your ass from one store to the next. Sorry, 'bout the cussing, but I have been doing it all damn day... Hee, hee.

Seriously, what I have found is that you are really selling yourself in most instances. It is really easy to say no over the phone or just pass by an ad, but someone in your face, and as sweet as you are, it would get harder to say no.

If I were you I would research online (like Google) for sales techniques. My SO and I have learned an awful lot about selling and how much it is connected to emotions in the past year (we wouldn't have thought so before but we now realized formalized training is a smart idea -and you don't have to pay for it. We did, but later I researched the net and found almost everything we paid to learn for free). Certain techniques, hands down, are better than others at getting the sale - or in your case the go-ahead to use their retail space. These people don't know you and don't owe you anything so your goal should be to involve them emotionally in any way (professionally, of course) you can so you can have your way.

HTH. PM me if you want.

JMR · Dooney & Bourke

Thanks ladies - all great advice.

I have been going store to store and a lot of boutiques carry my jewelry - what I want is more my own space that I can lease or rent from a spa or salon to set up my own little store in addition to selling to other places around the country - basically a little "store" without making a huge investment in a store front. They have a lot of places like these all over LI that do very well...I am just not sure how to find openings - but maybe I need to target certain stores I think I would do well in and convince them they need me! ;)

lsubatgirl · Gucci

Hey Jen I think targeting specific stores would be the best way. Think of it like you would a job interview. Figure out their target clientele and your target clientele and come up with a strategy on how you will help them out and such (maybe put them on your site somewhere).

honey · Gucci

i agree with lsubatgirl and drew. i think the best thing to do would be to go in person, though that might be more difficult in the coming months. i don't think craig's list is the best idea, b/c there are just too many crazies and it would be too time consuming to sort out the legitimate responses from the bs. i would try and make a list of local boutiques, etc. that you want to target, especially ones that are based in your area as opposed to ones just in nyc. i'm not sure if you want to trek out to jersey but there's this super cute boutique in my area that seems ideal for that sort of thing. if you want, i'll pm you with the info. when i get home. also i checked out the site and your spring collection is awesome (actually it's f***ing awesome, but the cursing probably isn't appropriate)

eta: i wrote this b/f i saw your response. how much does it cost to rent a kiosk at the mall? that might be an option, but i'm thinking you've probably looked into that already.

-- Edited by honey at 16:16, 2005-03-23

Andrea Julia · Coach

quote:
Originally posted by: JMR
"Thanks ladies - all great advice. I have been going store to store and a lot of boutiques carry my jewelry - what I want is more my own space that I can lease or rent from a spa or salon to set up my own little store in addition to selling to other places around the country - basically a little "store" without making a huge investment in a store front. They have a lot of places like these all over LI that do very well...I am just not sure how to find openings - but maybe I need to target certain stores I think I would do well in and convince them they need me! ;)"

You should go to one of the places where someone has successfully set up the kind of counter you want and ask them how they went about doing it. I'm sure they can give you some great advice based on their experience.

e_doli · Dooney & Bourke

quote:
Originally posted by: Andrea Julia
"You should go to one of the places where someone has successfully set up the kind of counter you want and ask them how they went about doing it. I'm sure they can give you some great advice based on their experience."

that is great advice --

if you are going to go in person from store to store, make sure you don't do it at a busy time (in particular, weekends). i work at a boutique/gallery on weekends and the owner will not see anyone who just shows up on weekends (sometimes she won't see anyone who just shows up at all) -- she will tell them they need to call and make an appointment b/c she cannot fairley dedicate her full attention to them while other stuff is going on. personally, i would call first and ask what the store's policy is -- it's more respectful.

JMR · Dooney & Bourke

I would love that stores info if you can Honey - thanks!!

And thanks for the compliment - it means SOOO much to me, you have no idea!

quote:

Originally posted by: honey
"i agree with lsubatgirl and drew. i think the best thing to do would be to go in person, though that might be more difficult in the coming months. i don't think craig's list is the best idea, b/c there are just too many crazies and it would be too time consuming to sort out the legitimate responses from the bs. i would try and make a list of local boutiques, etc. that you want to target, especially ones that are based in your area as opposed to ones just in nyc. i'm not sure if you want to trek out to jersey but there's this super cute boutique in my area that seems ideal for that sort of thing. if you want, i'll pm you with the info. when i get home. also i checked out the site and your spring collection is awesome (actually it's f***ing awesome, but the cursing probably isn't appropriate) eta: i wrote this b/f i saw your response. how much does it cost to rent a kiosk at the mall? that might be an option, but i'm thinking you've probably looked into that already.-- Edited by honey at 16:16, 2005-03-23"

Drew · Gucci

Just one thing about asking advise from someone who has done what you want to do. Keep in mind that they might not feel it is in their best interest to help a possible competitor get into business; they may deny you information or purposely mislead you. This is the East coast after all and people here can be a little self serving. But, who knows, maybe you'll meet a nice gal who is all set to be loose lipped.

"I am just not sure how to find openings - but maybe I need to target certain stores I think I would do well in and convince them they need me! ;)"

EXACTLY!!!!

JMR · Dooney & Bourke

quote:
Originally posted by: Drew
"Just one thing about asking advise from someone who has done what you want to do. Keep in mind that they might not feel it is in their best interest to help a possible competitor get into business; they may deny you information or purposely mislead you. This is the East coast after all and people here can be a little self serving. But, who knows, maybe you'll meet a nice gal who is all set to be loose lipped. "I am just not sure how to find openings - but maybe I need to target certain stores I think I would do well in and convince them they need me! ;)" EXACTLY!!!!"

Drew I agree completely which is why I am hesitant to ask....I am not sure I would give advice to someone who will compete with me!