I work a couple of days a week waitressing in a popular local restaurant. Some days I groan about having to go there but it is a nice way to get out of the house and interact with people who speak in full sentences (although that can sometimes be debateable too!) The other bonus is that I work with a lot of women who are very supportive of my handmade endeavours. Recently one of my friends at the restaurant asked if she could take a few of my things and sell them for me. I thought sure, why not? She did an AMAZING job and a couple of other girls have asked if they could do the same. Now I admit, this does take A) alot of trust in the girls that I will have doing this since they are taking finished products as opposed to a catalogue but I suppose you could do it either way AND B) it takes a bit of organization to keep track of who has what and who has sold what. In total I currently have 3 ladies who want to participate and we are going to try this starting in June-December. I will make each of them a "bucket" which is a pretty little box filled with finished products all packaged and priced, business cards and an item of the month. The item of the month they will get to keep for themselves and this item will be order only for their customers. They will get the box on the first of the month and have 2 weeks to sell whatever they can at which time I will collect their boxes, money and any orders for the item of the month (which must be paid in advance). All of the girls have decided to take a credit for 20% of their sales to be used towards merchandise whenever they choose. One of the girls is getting married next spring and I know she wants to save her credit up to have me do the bridal parties jewelry. At the beginning of the following month they will receive a new box, new item of the month AND any order of the previous month's item for them to deliver. Kind of like a portable home party!
I'll report in once our first month is done and let you know how things turned out! Any suggestions? Anyone else have any experience with "sales reps"?
That is terrific. I'm not allowed to do anything at work except put out fliers.
ReplyDeleteLet us know how it goes.
The girls can't actually sell anything to the customers at the restaurant, just to their friends and family but its a great way to get my name out there to some new people. It's still great that they let you hand out flyers at work. You never know who might find you!
ReplyDeleteWow! What a fantastic new approach! I would love to try this, it would give me more time to create! Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteThats a great idea for another selling avenue..
ReplyDeleteThere is not as much as a problem about trust, when the 3 girls know that each other has made the same promises. The idea is that if they do not fulfill their promises to return the goods/ money, the other girls 'might' talk and spread the word around, ruining their reputation.. :0