Saving Money on Craft Show Supplies
July 29, 2009
Saving Money on Craft Show Supplies
by: Natalie Goyette
Supplies are what make a craft. Unless you are making something
where you can use regular household items, or that don’t need
anything but the buyer to complete the sale, then supplies are
going to be a major part of your crafts.
Finding a supplier that isn’t going to cost you an arm and a
leg, and still have good quality might be a challenge at first.
But, in my experience, it is always better to pay just a little
bit more for good quality, than it is to buy bargain basement
materials and have your customers be disappointed when the
overall quality of your craft is poor.
Once you combine your experience with the supplies and the
experience of making the craft, you will soon realize where you
might be able to save a few pennies on supplies, and where you
should just pay for good quality.
You’ll need to have several excellent sources for supplies that
are readily available in order to be a successful crafter.
Initial research, then time and experience will be necessary for
you to find your best suppliers in terms of cost, quality and
promptness of delivery. Here are a few tips on getting the best
supplies for the lowest prices:
Comparison shop with several vendors, and even after using one
or two, keep an eye out for better deals. With a little bit of
extra effort, you might be able to find the materials you want
on sale, or at a lower price at a different vendor.
Ask other craftspeople for recommendations. Word of mouth is
one of the best ways to find deals. If you belong to a craft
group or if you know other people who craft, talk to them about
where they are getting their supplies. They may give you a
great lead on fantastic prices.
Always buy wholesale—all you need is your resale certificate to
qualify. Wholesale eliminates the middle man in many cases.
You should be able to save a great deal of money on craft
supplies if you have a craft supplies wholesaler in your area.
Buy in quantity for greater discounts, maybe even by partnering
with another crafter. It’s the same is if you go to the grocery
store - usually, the more you buy, the better overall deal you
are getting. It may cost a little more out of pocket, but your
cost per piece goes down significantly.
Use recycled materials and recycle what you can from your past
inventory. You never know when scraps of other supplies will
make great pieces elsewhere on your craft. This is a great way
to save money on your supply cost.
Keep track of your supply inventory so you can order in advance
at better prices for busier seasons rather than waiting until
the last minute. If you wait until the last minute you usually
don’t have time to find a deal - you just need the supplies
fast! This could end up costing you a lot of money.
Do your best to get 30-day terms, so you can pay suppliers after
you’ve sold some product. You will probably have to pay with
cash or credit the first few times that you go into a store, but
after they recognize your patronage and you qualify with their
accounting department, you can get terms that allow you to pay
30 days after you purchase the supplies.
Supply costs are one of the biggest costs when you are setting
up your craft show business. As mentioned earlier, most crafts
rely on materials of some sort or another. In order to ensure a
tidy profit at the end of the day, you need to control the
material expense so your prices stay competitive and you sell
more product!
About The Author
Natalie Goyette is the best selling author of Craft Show Success. Her e-book shows you how you can finally make money at craft shows. www.craftshowsuccess.com
