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The Sew What’s New Archive
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From: MonicaMcElroy
Date: 12-31-2003, 11:25 AM (1 of 16)
| Hi. I have a question. I'm getting my sewing business underway; i'm specializing in children's clothing. Anyway, there are a few consignment shops in the area that I would like to see about putting my clothing in. What should I look for? What questions need answering? What % or fees are reasonable? Any advise would be GREATLY appreciated. Thanks, MM |
User: MonicaMcElroy
Member since: 12-28-2003 Total posts: 13 |
From: Linda in Colorado
Date: 12-31-2003, 11:42 AM (2 of 16)
|
Are you sure you want to go with consignment shops? Wouldn't selling (wholesaling) to the various shops be better? Or having a sample in these shops for you to do custom sewing? If you do choose consignment shops, the usual rate that is added on is from 35% to 50% above what you want out of the product. This markup can price you right out of the market. I'm not saying it will, only that it might. You will want to find a shop that has high visibility, and/or high walk in trade. Those little out of the way shops may look nice, but do they really sell as much as you might be wanting? I used to make and sell craft items. When I used consignment shops, the results were less than expected. After beating my head against the proverbial wall, I switched to alterations and custom sewing with a MUCH higher rate of return. Just my thoughts. |
User: Linda in Colorado
Member since: 03-27-2000 Total posts: 102 |
From: MaryW
Date: 12-31-2003, 03:23 PM (3 of 16)
I put things in a consignment shop once. The things that didn't sell came back looking dirty and worn. Not a good idea as far as i was concerned, just my two cents worth. MaryW
owner/editor of Sew Whats New |
User: MaryW
Member since: 06-23-2005 Total posts: 2542 
|
From: Linda in Colorado
Date: 01-01-2004, 02:46 PM (4 of 16)
| Oh, Mary, I hadn't thought of that (or remembered it.) As I now recall, my things that didn't sell also came back dirty and worn. |
User: Linda in Colorado
Member since: 03-27-2000 Total posts: 102 |
From: MonicaMcElroy
Date: 01-01-2004, 04:09 PM (5 of 16)
| Thank you Ms. Linda and Ms. Mary for your advise. I hadn't thought about that. I think I will take Ms. Linda's advise and look into selling direct to the shops. Thanks. Now I just have to decide on how to price my items. That pretty tricky huh? |
User: MonicaMcElroy
Member since: 12-28-2003 Total posts: 13 |
From: Linda in Colorado
Date: 01-02-2004, 12:20 PM (6 of 16)
|
Oh, yes, pricing can be REAL tricky. The "rule of thumb" used to be figure how much each unit of your product costs you to make it. Then multiply that amount by two or by three, depending on how much labor went into it. When you arrive at a price, throw that out and simply charge whatever the market will bear. Many times that's exactly what has to happen. Many times there is no rhyme or reason behind what you will charge for your product. Sometimes that price can be easily figured, but more times than not, it's a roll of the dice, so to speak. Another way to look at it is to make as much money as possible from your product. If it doesn't sell at a really high price, then you can always offer a discount or a sale. Sorry I can't be more "up" about this. Figuring prices was one of many reasons I got out of the crafts business and into alterations and custom sewing. MUCH easier to figure -- this said after 14 years in the biz and many, many trials and errors. |
User: Linda in Colorado
Member since: 03-27-2000 Total posts: 102 |
From: MonicaMcElroy
Date: 01-02-2004, 12:44 PM (7 of 16)
|
Thanks again for the advise. The children's clothing I sew is custom and unique. You're not going to find what I do in a Wal-mart (don't get me wrong, i love my Wal-mart). I went to the Strasburg Children website at www.strasburgchildren.com and looked at the quality and style of clothing and then the price. WOW! We have a Strasbourg Children outlet here and I love going in there to touch and feel the fabrics and check out the detail work. The garments I sew are along the same style. The smocked christening gown that they have for $184.00 I can do the same (with, of course some smocking variations and I can embroider the initials onto the gown). But do I charge $200.00? $100.00? They sell their infant layette sets for $78.00. I did one for a friend (similar in style) and charged $40.00. I guess I just don't want to get ripped-off. It is alot of work that I do. I love detail. I want the people I do work for to feel that they are getting something that is top quality and personal and alot of times, one of a kind. I'm not competing with Strasburg Children so how do I still use the same pricing system? |
User: MonicaMcElroy
Member since: 12-28-2003 Total posts: 13 |
From: Linda in Colorado
Date: 01-02-2004, 01:29 PM (8 of 16)
|
AHA! Now I understand what you are doing! In this case, I think I would decide what my hourly rate would be to sew the christening gowns. Say it is $25.00 per hour, although up to $50.00 per hour would not be out of line. Then add to that the amount spent on the fabrics, trims, and notions used in each gown. That should come pretty close to what you should be charging. For example, let's say it costs you $50.00 for the fabrics, etc. to make the christening gown. It takes you four hours to cut it out and sew and embellish it. That would add up to $150.00 for that gown (four hours at $25.00 per hour plus $50.00 for fabrics and notions). And $200.00 does not sound out of line for a christening gown, especially one that had initials embroidered on it. You should charge extra for that service. Oooohhh, this is getting exciting! |
User: Linda in Colorado
Member since: 03-27-2000 Total posts: 102 |
From: MaryW
Date: 01-02-2004, 03:32 PM (9 of 16)
|
Beautiful things indeed. Just don't price yourself right out of the market. Another thing to consider is your clients and their income level. If you are selling to high end clientele, you shouldn't have a problem. If your customer base is blue collar, you may have to adjust. There are so many things to consider. $200.00 is not out of line for a christening gown with personalized embroidery. However, there are many who just cannot afford that luxury. 
MaryW
owner/editor of Sew Whats New |
User: MaryW
Member since: 06-23-2005 Total posts: 2542
|
From: MonicaMcElroy
Date: 01-06-2004, 07:47 AM (10 of 16)
I hear what you're saying Ms. Mary. I would love to be able to open my own shop and sell these items. But being that my items are "custom" they may be highter in price than what you can get from an actual specialty clothing store. Maybe for now I should just stick with 'word of mouth' and the clientel that I have. I was offered to sew a "wardrobe" for one of our local photography businesses. The owner told me that you'd be surprised at the number of people that come in and ask if he has dresses for the little girls to pose in. So anyway, i'm in the process of sewing up a few dresses and i'm going to present my portfolio and see what he wants. The catch is, he's going to give me a "special deal" on the pictures that i'm having done for my brochure and so my price to him for the dresses will be cut as well. Is this good business?
|
User: MonicaMcElroy
Member since: 12-28-2003 Total posts: 13 |
From: Magot
Date: 01-06-2004, 10:27 AM (11 of 16)
|
I would look at it as a way to buy publicity - get name tags in those dresses and leave your business cards in his shop. Have you got small people you would like photos of? why not go for it?
love and kisses, Jan
Guts-R-Us Cells a Speciality DNA to order. |
User: Magot
Member since: 12-22-2002 Total posts: 3626 
|
From: MonicaMcElroy
Date: 01-06-2004, 10:34 AM (12 of 16)
|
I've got 5 models. 3 little girls in varying age and size and 2 boys. One toddler and the other an infant (my son and nephew). I've got at least 2 outfits a piece for them to wear and I can get some pics of them. Hey, I need to send you their pics. I can at least send you pics of my son (17 months) in his togs. I'll work on getting that. I've got a digital camera, but I don't know how to use all the features yet, so....... Thanks for the advise though. And, where can I get labels made for the garments? Is there a website you can recommend for ordering? -Mm |
User: MonicaMcElroy
Member since: 12-28-2003 Total posts: 13 |
From: rica
Date: 01-29-2004, 12:34 AM (13 of 16)
|
Your Woven Labels Fast - Free Samples. Great Low Prices! Very High Quality. Fast Delivery. http://www.clothinglabels.com/wovenlabels1 Charm Woven Labels - Personalized woven labels Order as few as 20 labels http://www.charmwoven.com here are a couple of label addresses. I am not affiliated!! however,I have purchased from charm woven labels and have been very pleased. they have been around a long time and give good service. if you do a google search for sewing labels,there are many other sites. 'hope this helps "sew to live-live to sew"
|
User: rica
Member since: 07-02-2000 Total posts: 2 |
From: jennifer007
Date: 01-29-2004, 07:18 PM (14 of 16)
|
Oh Wow! That is just what I was hoping to find! Someone else with the same love for the details in Heirloom Sewing! I have been learning Heirloom for a few years now and am still learning all the harder stuff. I love to smock little bishop gowns, and dresses for my daughter... I am learning to stack and excited about that! Please post some pics of your work. I got into the heirloom sewing because of the website you listed, I loved all their dresses and couldn't afford it so I learned it myself! Good luck with your business, it is an item people are willing to pay for, seems they really like the hand work involved with it. Jennifer |
User: jennifer007
Member since: 05-22-2003 Total posts: 29 
|
From: lou-dezynz
Date: 02-06-2004, 04:55 PM (15 of 16)
|
Linda, I just enterred a post under sewing as business/ pricing. I located a source online with price lists for Construction, Base Garment Construction, & Alterations. You can read my post, or go to the site, at: http://msucares.com/pubs/publications/pub.1667.htm There is also some good info on Sewing/ Business throughout the entire article: start-up, type of bus, ad-promotion, regs & licensing issues, teaching sewing. The price lists are Appendices to the overall article, and appear at it's end. can be printed as a 4-pg guideline for info only. Their pricing is low, but following these guidelines can be very useful. Sew On! Lou-Dezynz <<email address removed for privacy>> Take life as it comes; there's always someone in a worse situation!
**I have A GREAT DEAL OF sew-quilt-craft FABRIC, PATTERNS, BOOKS, TOOLS for sale, along w/ vintage machines. Must sell off much of the contents of my sewing room due to lost home in divorce, need to downsize re relocating..** CHECK MY PHOTOS OF ITEMS FOR SALE at <http://photos.yahoo.com/<email address removed for privacy>> PAYPAL PREFERRED <<email address removed for privacy>> |
User: lou-dezynz
Member since: 02-02-2002 Total posts: 61 |
From: lou-dezynz
Date: 02-06-2004, 04:56 PM (16 of 16)
|
I forgot to mention that this article ALSO notes those type of sewing items which are taxable and subject to sate sales tax regs. Lou-Dezynz Take life as it comes; there's always someone in a worse situation!
**I have A GREAT DEAL OF sew-quilt-craft FABRIC, PATTERNS, BOOKS, TOOLS for sale, along w/ vintage machines. Must sell off much of the contents of my sewing room due to lost home in divorce, need to downsize re relocating..** CHECK MY PHOTOS OF ITEMS FOR SALE at <http://photos.yahoo.com/<email address removed for privacy>> PAYPAL PREFERRED <<email address removed for privacy>> |
User: lou-dezynz
Member since: 02-02-2002 Total posts: 61 |
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