View Full Version : Head Shop Owners Suck !
How many times have you all heard this:
1 It's been slow.
2 Call me in a week.
3 Oh I get those for 10 bucks.
4 Can you make them a little bigger.
5 People around here don't care about the quality if they break they will by another.
6 I'll call you right back. Never to here from them!
7 Oh I like your work but my customer won't pay $65. For a piece your only asking 20 for.
8 I just placed an order. But not with you who has been supplying you for 8 years.
9 I'll by everything if ya come down a couple bucks. Only to pick out a few pieces and want the same price.
10 I don't have any of your glass left call me in a month.
and the list goes on.
I am officially out of the wholesale business all you shop owners can suck it!
J Howard
11-19-2008, 12:37 PM
that's why i stopped making pipes!
byron3
11-19-2008, 01:05 PM
Buzz,
Sorry to hear life sucks for you right now, I can empathize with you. I own a smoke shop, have been in the business for many years. The economy is tough all over, the shop owners have to be able to sell inventory to be able to re-up. Our sells are down over 60% from this time last year (or previous years). You have done nothing wrong, things just are not going as you wish. We all wish there was more money being spent in the glass smoking supplies.
Do not burn your bridges behind you as things may change in the future. Every shop owner you cuss out or go off on will be one less customer you will ever have, no matter how good or inexpensive your pipes are.
As a shop owner I have inventory I need to sell, the less I sell the less I am willing to buy to replace inventory with. Its a vicious cycle, I am willing to carry less and less of an inventory as I do not want to have all that money just sitting in my display cases.
A shop owner that tells you to call later or even ask if you can make a piece a little bigger is trying to work with you. He is giving you some place to go rather than just slamming the door in your face. Right now money is tight and we get repeated calls from large AMERICAN MADE GLASS SHOPS that are sitting on piles of inventory and looking to dump pieces for cheap. They have sells rep that do nothing but work a phone 8 hrs. a day. They have blowers (your fellow Americans) that need to be paid, because they buy supplies (color, glass, gas, whatever) in bulk, they can decimate the small independent blowers prices.
I doubt anything I have said is what you want to hear, but we are all in this boat together. If it sinks, we all sink. I did not create this economy, the politicians are responsible and both you the blower and me the shop owner are suffering at this point and time. Let us not turn on one another, but learn to work together to beat both the foreign companies that wish to undermine us and the politicians who want to line their pockets at our expense. The shop owners are not your enemies, just American folks trying to make a living just like you.
garrick
11-19-2008, 01:17 PM
if you have a hard time selling stuff come up with a new design and they will usually jump on it in my experience.
man if you think head shop owners suck.... Try cold calling or just walking into any other type of business and try to get them to order handblown non pipe glass. They look at you like" uhh what..???!!! This is not a tradshow dear."
If your getting the run around try something different. There are not very many types of businesses where you can just call or walk into and try to sell to a person. Headshops are a truly unique sales environment. bedazzle them. I'm going to take a little of my own advice and go work on that in my shop right now.
that's why i stopped making pipes!
I am trying to do the same. I remember when you stopped. I was at a marble show and someone pulled out one of your hollow marbles. It brought up a whole discussion.
Buzz,
Do not burn your bridges behind you as things may change in the future. Every shop owner you cuss out or go off on will be one less customer you will ever have, no matter how good or inexpensive your pipes are.
A shop owner that tells you to call later or even ask if you can make a piece a little bigger is trying to work with you. He is giving you some place to go rather than just slamming the door in your face. Right now money is tight and we get repeated calls from large AMERICAN MADE GLASS SHOPS that are sitting on piles of inventory and looking to dump pieces for cheap. They have sells rep that do nothing but work a phone 8 hrs. a day. They have blowers (your fellow Americans) that need to be paid, because they buy supplies (color, glass, gas, whatever) in bulk, they can decimate the small independent blowers prices.
I won't burn any bridges that's a good point . I may need to sell them pendants or something in the future. American made glass shops I am one I know exactly what it takes. As for beating my prices I challenge any one to beat my prices! I went to champs and age as a buyer and no one could even come close to my prices. That is with american product I have catalogs and even placed orders with my buddy even at volume discounts they still could not touch my prices. Except with the shitty imports they all had and some of them would not even tell you they where imports. It was a joke even some of the heady distributors had imports there so they could compete.
if you have a hard time selling stuff come up with a new design and they will usually jump on it in my experience.
Yeah they usually do for 10 bucks I am always making something different but still have my prodo line which is consistent. Believe me they have no problems selling my glass its when they take there business elsewhere and get screwed with imports or just plain garbage from a distributor who raped them with a smooth talking sales rep. Then they expect me to lower my price to make up for it. I am sick of the industry ran by a bunch of stoners that can't even keep themselves straight let alone a business.
Cosmo
11-19-2008, 06:28 PM
I quit making pipes for some of those exact reasons. There is only one shop in this area, and they used to buy a lot. But, there is a new buyer, and she will only buy imported stuff. Says the customers like that the glass is "hand blown and imported" better than "if some guy makes it in his back yard"...
Gibsons Glassworks
11-19-2008, 06:57 PM
deffinitly heard all those lines, but we have to keep pushing...
tell me this tho do u have assloads of quality stock sitting there that u cant sell?
i know i dont.. wish i could stock up but i cant seem to make it fast enough.
my problem is deciding WHAT to make.
push locally made, push quality and make new designs.
all we can do.. lets just hope we can keep doing it.
Ben Burton Glass
11-19-2008, 07:11 PM
That's also the reason I don't make many pipes anymore either... I can't compete with Mainland prices, let alone import prices... So I make my living selling small sculptural art and pendants mostly... And Marbles and a little bit of other stuff... Diversify your product line so you can reach a broader spectrum of clientele...
Aloha
$$$$$$$
11-19-2008, 07:12 PM
sling crack homie.. that's how the big bucks are made.. just got my whip lifted and some twennyfo's on der... baby momma got a whole fridge full of grub.. one
Mr. Whale dick
11-19-2008, 07:32 PM
^^^^^
they are actually 22's
Udai Hussien
11-19-2008, 07:42 PM
Adam is slinging $22 dollar rocks? INGENIOUS!!!!!!!!
says the customers like that the glass is "hand blown and imported" better than "if some guy makes it in his back yard"...
Oh she sounds like a sweet lady! Bitch! I'm about ready to get the doc martins on and have a boot party on peps like her.
That's also the reason I don't make many pipes anymore either... I can't compete with Mainland prices, let alone import prices... So I make my living selling small sculptural art and pendants mostly... And Marbles and a little bit of other stuff... Diversify your product line so you can reach a broader spectrum of clientele...
Aloha
Hey Ben I like your new Mibs they are tight! I'm working on a product line and other things. I May even have to get a job at Mc Donalds to fund my glass addiction.
sling crack homie.. that's how the big bucks are made.. just got my whip lifted and some twennyfo's on der... baby momma got a whole fridge full of grub.. one
Watch out Cupcake Don't be letting out your secrets for success. I'm moving to Michigan in June. I may take over your corner.
deffinitly heard all those lines, but we have to keep pushing...
tell me this tho do u have assloads of quality stock sitting there that u cant sell?
i know i dont.. wish i could stock up but i cant seem to make it fast enough.
my problem is deciding WHAT to make.
push locally made, push quality and make new designs.
all we can do.. lets just hope we can keep doing it.
Those are all good points. I don't have assloads of stock but I do have more glass then cash and more bills then that. Every time I get an inventory it seems like I have to dump it for more gas or glass whatever. I just need some consistency on the orders I have shops that will spend thousands on the right day but to get them to buy 500 a month consistently is like taking their BMW away.
4 Can you make them a little bigger.
This absolutely drives me nuts, especially if they are " a little bigger" than last time.
Big Jay
11-19-2008, 09:10 PM
the could you do it like this or come back next week are awesome. I think there is a book for glass shop owners.
I understand the blow off. I had sales people in my business every day trying to sell me there products and I had to give them the blow off. But what sucks is there is no loyalty.
the could you do it like this or come back next week are awesome. I think there is a book for glass shop owners.
I understand the blow off. I had sales people in my business every day trying to sell me there products and I had to give them the blow off. But what sucks is there is no loyalty.
Yeah heard that a lot! I also love when they pull out someone elses glass and ask me to duplicate it. Man just call the guy who made it. Their response is I can't get a hold of them. Maybe they shouldn't have beat the guys prices down and he probably would of called or stopped in.
chayes
11-20-2008, 12:23 AM
Oh she sounds like a sweet lady! Bitch! I'm about ready to get the doc martins on and have a boot party on peps like her.
I hope their the kevlar toed docs.
We should all keep telling the prodo companies how to do our jobs right :D :bangHead:.
Well, you got a couple of problems, all that can be fixed. I looked at your glasspipes page, your last post seemed to be early this year, January? I bet you have been taking the same pipes all the time to these shops an frankly, they got sick of that same prodo line. I notice that you seems to put in a lot of work into a simple spoon. I would also recommend taking some lessons, it will help you create new lines an improve your skills. You also have to build relationships. I talk to owners on the phone an it's not about setting up appointments all the time, learn some good salesmanship skills. Read a book, dont learn these skills by what you think is a good salesman, chances are your off on lots of topics. An finally take responsibility for yourself, it's not always someone else's fault. This shop owner might be an asshole, but hate to tell ya, there not all assholes, so you might want to look into the mirror for a problem an fix it so it can't come back again, just like making a pipe. Lots of people say they want to get out of making pipes cause of owners, when in actuality some folks could never master the skills to make pipes that consistently sell.................better(quicker) than pipes already in the shop/made by other blowers.
i hope you don't think I'm insulting you or attaching, just trying to help ya out an see a different point of view than yours. PC
b
boxfan willy
11-20-2008, 06:42 AM
For the most part, shop owners do not suck. They are in a more difficult situation than ours. They have more overhead, diverse inventory to keep up with and employees. We can switch product lines without switching over our shop. Not to much hassle. Work with them and they will work with you. Remember, it is hard to make it without them, but they can surely make it without us. We need to make ourselves indispensable to their business model. USA handblown glass for sure!
1. Be professional.
2. Always integrate new designs.
3. Keep your appointments(Relevant to number 1)
4. Bring in at least 4 times the glass you want to sale.
My situation is different cause I never got out of the biz and now I have good relations with the shops. Persevere and stay strong. Those that weather the storm over the next 2 or 3 years will be ready to go when new opportunities arrive.
Respect,
boxfan
2 things...
find a good dist that goes to MANY stores..
and find a good unique product that few or no others are doing...they will make you so busy you cant do anything else..
shop owners ROCK
Racer X
11-20-2008, 06:48 AM
I so want to comment, but I'm going to not.
Well, you got a couple of problems, all that can be fixed. I looked at your glasspipes page, your last post seemed to be early this year, January? I bet you have been taking the same pipes all the time to these shops an frankly, they got sick of that same prodo line. I notice that you seems to put in a lot of work into a simple spoon. I would also recommend taking some lessons, it will help you create new lines an improve your skills. You also have to build relationships. I talk to owners on the phone an it's not about setting up appointments all the time, learn some good salesmanship skills. Read a book, dont learn these skills by what you think is a good salesman, chances are your off on lots of topics. An finally take responsibility for yourself, it's not always someone else's fault. This shop owner might be an asshole, but hate to tell ya, there not all assholes, so you might want to look into the mirror for a problem an fix it so it can't come back again, just like making a pipe. Lots of people say they want to get out of making pipes cause of owners, when in actuality some folks could never master the skills to make pipes that consistently sell.................better(quicker) than pipes already in the shop/made by other blowers.
i hope you don't think I'm insulting you or attaching, just trying to help ya out an see a different point of view than yours. PC
b
Hey Thanks for the constructive criticism. I have had lessons your right I need more! Those spoons where me trying to bite Ak style I love it but could not duplicate it's was just experimental. Props to AK! I'll Take your advise anytime your willing to give it. I'm going to update My GP.org now>
For the most part, shop owners do not suck. They are in a more difficult situation than ours. They have more overhead, diverse inventory to keep up with and employees. We can switch product lines without switching over our shop. Not to much hassle. Work with them and they will work with you. Remember, it is hard to make it without them, but they can surely make it without us. We need to make ourselves indispensable to their business model. USA handblown glass for sure!
1. Be professional.
2. Always integrate new designs.
3. Keep your appointments(Relevant to number 1)
4. Bring in at least 4 times the glass you want to sale.
My situation is different cause I never got out of the biz and now I have good relations with the shops. Persevere and stay strong. Those that weather the storm over the next 2 or 3 years will be ready to go when new opportunities arrive.
Respect,
boxfan
Thanks for the advice! I will never loose my roots once a piper always a piper! I just won't suck anymore ass. Tired of it they want me to drop my prices. I feel that this is the worst time to do this. I remember before operation pipe dreams. I would get 20 bucks for an inside out hitter and sell 50 now lucky to get 10. The ones I was getting 20 for most of them would not even function. Unless ya like eating ash! I am not saying they all suck but most in my 8 years of experience have no loyalty or consistency. I have been trying to get them to order over the phone but instead I drive 4 hours to a shop that usually buys a grand or so. Only to come out with 300 bucks. No profit there!
2 things...
find a good dist that goes to MANY stores..
and find a good unique product that few or no others are doing...they will make you so busy you cant do anything else..
shop owners ROCK
Lets start with your work. Man that shit is tight! Maybe I need a break. As for dist. I use to do that never found a good one. If you know of any hit me back I could really use it. I do make some unique prodo I will post it on Gp.org as soon as I get done here. I'm sure some owners do rock I know a few but they can only do what they can. I went to five stores last Friday trying to meet some new customers that was a mistake all of them tried to beat me down. The sixth one tried to beat on my prices on the phone with out even seeing it. Lets just say he never did see it X'd off my list.
I am updating my GP. org so if any one can help me in any way it would be appreciated.
Thanks for keeping it real!
Fred
K-Dog
11-20-2008, 07:39 AM
Open up your own store..
Open up your own store..
No thanks been there. Besides I am a single father with barely enough time to blow glass. The kids need lots of attention I am a father first then a glass blower.
My kids are feeling the impact enough as hard as I try to keep them out of the money situation. When they need money for school or sports. I have to say no! I think they Know whats going on and it is definitely affecting their lives. I'm trying to crawl out of this hole. I was sick all summer so that did not help the situation any.
I just updated my GP.org Let me know what you all think http://www.glasspipes.org/Gal32631_My_production_line.asp
Eric S
11-20-2008, 10:58 AM
i know someone who makes chillums very similar to that and sells them for 10-12$ each by the 100, all to stores and no dist. he makes like 400-500 worth of spoons and oneies a day 6 days a week and is always 2 months behind in orders. they sell his 15$ spoons for 50-60... its just about finding the right markets and doing the work. he spent weeks going on sales trips with 1000's of $ in glass and showed it to dozens of stores in many states, spending a lot of money on the way. its been a few years, but its paid off well. i should be doing the same thing myself right now...
Im not sure if you deal with this guy Paul, but I was at my buds shop one time when he came over with alot of your stuff. My friend (the shop owner) thought alot of the stuff was kinda small for the price. Although he likes the shapes on the hammers and claw ones. I think you just need to step it up a bit as far as size and quality goes.
I know that if I get comfortable with people buying everything I have I try to make the next bunch of pipes use a lil less glass to save me money and try to sell it for the same price, that always keeps me in check. Try to make your next batch better not cheaper.
Mr. Wonka
11-20-2008, 05:39 PM
If that’s what you hear all the time, then why not prepare for it by having a plan as to how you will respond to it. I’ll use the 10 examples you gave:
1- It's been slow.
“Yes, it’s been slow for me too. Hey, I’ve taken your advice from our last meeting and I have some new things to show you”.
2- Call me in a week.
*call him back in 4 days
3- Oh I get those for 10 bucks.
“How about trying a few of these at my price and see how they move. If they don’t sell, I’ll exchange them for some other work”.
4- Can you make them a little bigger.“Sure, I can make them a little bigger. I’ll stop in sometime and show you some improved designs”.
5- People around here don't care about the quality if they break they will by another.
“Well, that’s what keeps us in business, and the more variety you have the more likely you’ll be to make a sale”.
6- I'll call you right back. Never to here from them!
*Call them back again
7- Oh I like your work but my customer won't pay $65. For a piece your only asking 20 for.
“Exactly… that’s a very good profit margin for you”.
8- I just placed an order. But not with you who has been supplying you for 8 years.
“Okay, I understand. Hey, are your customers requesting any specific styles or colors? Perhaps I can fill in the gaps with things that you don’t have”.
*Also: Ask yourself if your work is getting “stale”… he might be seeking variety*
9- I'll by everything if ya come down a couple bucks. Only to pick out a few pieces and want the same price.
*Meet in the middle… “That was a ‘take it all’ price, but I can give you those for (X) if you take a few more”.
10- I don't have any of your glass left call me in a month.
“Okay thanks… I’ll talk to you soon”!
*Stop in next week with some fresh new designs*
-and the list goes on.
Yes, the list goes on, but there’s always a positive approach that can be taken without being pushy. As a matter of fact, if you listen to the reasons why your customers are not buying from you, and you adjust accordingly (within reason) you will build a stronger business relationship.
I hope that helps… Tom
i know someone who makes chillums very similar to that and sells them for 10-12$ each by the 100, all to stores and no dist. he makes like 400-500 worth of spoons and oneies a day 6 days a week and is always 2 months behind in orders. they sell his 15$ spoons for 50-60... its just about finding the right markets and doing the work. he spent weeks going on sales trips with 1000's of $ in glass and showed it to dozens of stores in many states, spending a lot of money on the way. its been a few years, but its paid off well. i should be doing the same thing myself right now...
Your friends sounds a lot like me I have made thousands of them still do that is what has kept me going this long. I use to drive thousands of miles when gas was cheap and I didn't have my kids I would go on week long sales trips. I still have relations with some of the customers I met. Up until this summer I could not make enough so I had to stay loyal to the few customers I could satisfy. Now it just seems they are not loyal to me.
Im not sure if you deal with this guy Paul, but I was at my buds shop one time when he came over with alot of your stuff. My friend (the shop owner) thought alot of the stuff was kinda small for the price. although he likes the shapes on the hammers and claw ones. I think you just need to step it up a bit as far as size and quality goes.
Yeah Paul great guy Its been a while since I sold to him but I need to get him some glass. I hear ya on the size and quality! I think that was at least 2 years ago. I don't know what Paul was selling them for but believe me I was giving them too him for a good price. The ones you saw was only 38.1 now I make them out of 50x5 much bigger and much better for 5 bucks more but yet they all seem to want the smaller ones. So I try to do both. Man I asked him if he ever heard of ya when that Homer shit went down. I must admit I was wrong and apologize to ya for that! That's when I first started to get sick and the shit was playing with my mind. I was loosing it!
If that’s what you hear all the time, then why not prepare for it by having a plan as to how you will respond to it. I’ll use the 10 examples you gave:
-and the list goes on.
Yes, the list goes on, but there’s always a positive approach that can be taken without being pushy. As a matter of fact, if you listen to the reasons why your customers are not buying from you, and you adjust accordingly (within reason) you will build a stronger business relationship.
I hope that helps… Tom
Well Tom that is some of the best advice I have been giving and I am going to print that out twice and tape it to the dash board of my car and computer to rehearse those lines!
I am going to work my way out of the production market slowly. I have decided I am going to divide my day into 1/3 pipes 1/3 art then the other third will be internet marketing! So look for good things to come from me in the near future!
The Cheese
11-21-2008, 12:58 AM
The first shop I sold to has been telling me that things are slow for the past couple of months. They go to a show in Vegas every year and order up a shitload of work. I caught them just after they got back and were waiting for their orders. Now their orders are in and I had to move on to a different shop. I still call them once every couple of weeks. Like everyone here said, it's about the relationship. There are a lot of people hurting right now too, so slow sales are inevitable. Don't take the slow sales excuse as a blow off. I was starting to get discouraged with that answer too, but had to look at reality. Went to another shop and didn't see anything like what I had and the guy bought it all right up and put in an order for more. He was happy, said he needed some fresh work in his case. He's got other shops too, so it opened up another door. Sales is about perseverance too, as I think I saw in here a couple times. No matter what it is, if you want to make it happen, it's up to you to do it. The idea of sales scares the shit out of me, but I just keep on plugging away because I want to build a business. Keep on hitting the pavement, you'll find an open door that might just be your next best thing, you never know.
Good luck man.
Udai Hussien
11-21-2008, 12:37 PM
This absolutely drives me nuts, especially if they are " a little bigger" than last time.
yeah its "can you make them a little bigger" translates to "can you make it twice as big, twice as thick, with twice as much work, for the same price as the other pieces?
The Cheese
11-21-2008, 09:00 PM
yeah its "can you make them a little bigger" translates to "can you make it twice as big, twice as thick, with twice as much work, for the same price as the other pieces?
We're in a recession you know - even the head shop guys want in on the bailout bonuses.
J Howard
11-23-2008, 10:18 PM
I am trying to do the same. I remember when you stopped. I was at a marble show and someone pulled out one of your hollow marbles. It brought up a whole discussion.
i had alot of fun making those. it really helped that they took off right after the big pipe bust. no one wanted to buy pipes for 6mos. but you know, i quit making marbles too. sometimes you just have to reinvent yourself to keep it fresh. fresh is what gets you places- invent something. DONT do what everyone else does- cause someone else will do it cheaper. you can always go back (i've been itchy to make marbles again!) you see the writing on the wall and you change. just have to keep reading. making the switch is tough. start by looking at how many hours you work a week. every time you make a pipe you're doing just that. if you really want to change, you either need to work more hours, or you need to change the workload. it'll probably take 2 years to make the switch, but realize that every pipe is just $$ and doesn't further your career (unless you want to be a top pipe maker). if $ are what you need, you could get a job (not really advice, some people forget though). but what i found was, that if i made pipes i got more orders for them. not the best thing if you don't want to make them. made ok money doing it, but it was going no where. start working on another product line. if you're selling ok and its your job, keep at it, but put the emphasis on change. work an xtra 15 hours a week only on developing new things. don't release them until you're ready. look into the wholesale shows, that's really the only way to move work outside of the craft show circuit (which you should definitely try- you can test the new work and get experience doing shows and developing your booth). when it starts to work, go wholesale, thats where the $ are (unless you make it really big). its a huge investment in time and money but if you're any good you'll make it. once you start doing this, you realize it's alot more liberating when you leave the headshop market and people behind. you can still make head pieces for fun! i still get an order or two from my old accounts. they're alot of fun if its been a year
Cosmo
11-24-2008, 06:42 AM
Yeah, it's nice to work on new styles and stuff like that, but if you live in a place like I do where there is only one shop and they just refuse to buy from anyone (aside from their "importers"), you really don't have an option.
That's why I don't make any pipes any more...
i've heard from multiple sources that at least four and as many as seven shipping containers full of pipes from china/india/thailand have been seized by us customs since the beginning of this summer. each time this happens it's a major hit to the foreign exporters that are trying to get this stuff in. it's supposedly hurt their bottom line to the point that they've had to cancel a few orders made for raw materials here in the states.
at the same time our domestic industry has taken the threat of being eaten alive by imports very seriously. american glass has gone up in quality and down in price. simultaneously the american companies are increasing their level of professionalism in dealing with the retail end of the network (from what i'm hearing). the threat of outside competition has already begun to draw us tighter together and raise standards throughout our industry.
i wish i could say more-- but take heart, it's getting harder for them to undercut us as dramatically as they used to.
if your local headshop has turned you down because of foreign competition it would behoove you to politely make them aware that you will remain available should they lose access to their supply of foreign glass. i would imagine that such an approach will give them pause to consider the safety of basing their business strategy on the availability of an unreliable foreign distribution network.
Gibsons Glassworks
11-24-2008, 10:17 AM
great advise tom,
relly hope that buisness picks up, for both you, and the head shops, from what ive seen, the ones around here are fully stocked, and the reason they would buy more glass is just to support local artists.
people just need to get out and buy more pipes, instead or more people buying torches.
bufbubba
11-24-2008, 01:15 PM
you need to sell to good shops....
theres a few out there
cowboy
11-24-2008, 06:15 PM
Not all of em suck, you just have to find the right people to work with. It's definately a give and take situation, I still throw in a freebie here and there just for good measure and to show poeple how much I appericate them taking the time to buy my glass when there are a million and one other people they could spend money on~
Izzy Spun
11-24-2008, 11:52 PM
i've always tried to make a good "friend" relationship with my steadies. I know that i cannot possibly compete with the prices of imports, so i go the extra mile so to speak. Chat with them about non glass stuff. listen to their stories about their kids/music/politics/whatever. let them know that you are more than a phone number that spits out pipes. make them want to buy from you, even when they can get a better price elsewhere.
The Lorax
04-13-2009, 11:02 AM
2 Call me in a week.
yep that one sucks. I was told to call this friday, so i did. Then told to call today, so i did. Now i've been told to call Wednesday and i don't have any money for oxygen and i'll have to wait for the check to clear after i go up anyways. :bangHead:
yep that one sucks. I was told to call this friday, so i did. Then told to call today, so i did. Now i've been told to call Wednesday and i don't have any money for oxygen and i'll have to wait for the check to clear after i go up anyways. :bangHead:
Get your ass in the store!! :D
Shatner
04-13-2009, 07:03 PM
No shit. No offense, but fuck calling. Bust ass for a week and fill a case or two with really nice prodo and a couple headies and go to the nicest store in town. I'd be surprised if you left without enough money to get oxy and pay a bill or two.
You have to get off your ass and go to the store with nice glass. And bathe firtst. :chilling:
The Lorax
04-13-2009, 07:50 PM
it's not like i haven't been there before. he said he was busy trying to catch up after taking a few days off, i dunno prob a lame excuse.
Goldsmithy
04-14-2009, 05:36 AM
Ok, I'm new here, but here's my .02. There is a difference between creative crafting and running a business. If you have items that are over a year old and have not sold, blow them out to your good customers at reduced prices. This raises your cash flow and builds good customer relationships. If no one has bought the item in a year, it is dead inventory.
When we put our heart and souls in a piece that we love, it does not mean that the shop owners will like it and buy it for the price you want. After a year, either put it in your private collection or blow it out to keep the cash flow going.
And learn how to price your items. Most crafters and small mfg's don't have the least idea about pricing. If you want this to be your business and to make a living at it, learn how to figure your price.
...Smithy
Adapt
04-14-2009, 09:41 AM
If you have items that are over a year old and have not sold, blow them out to your good customers at reduced prices. This raises your cash flow and builds good customer relationships. If no one has bought the item in a year, it is dead inventory.
I agree that you should get rid of really old inventory at lower prices. But, I would suggest that you pick certain stores to do this at that are not regular customers.
The reason for doing this is that if you start giving your regular customers the occasional good prices it will influence the way they buy from you. I usually go a couple of towns over and "liquidate" my older pieces at lower end stores. This way, an influx of cheap pieces does not affect my market.
naughty pirate wench
04-14-2009, 09:57 AM
This is a little different from what everyone else is posting, but I thought it would be appropriate to include it here, for what it's worth.
I stopped off at my local pipe shop last week, and was thrilled to see stickers all over the place - red circle with a line through it over "import glass," even on the front door! The owner is a glassblower himself, and his wife runs the store.
The guy behind the counter said they only buy local glass - so I asked, "how local?" (WA and OR) - then I asked how one would go about presenting one's work, and was told they do NOT want people coming in off the street with a box of glass - they want folks to call first for an appointment to bring in their stuff. The counter guy said if folks just bring in a box of glass, they (at the store) don't know where it came from - it might have come from overseas.
Hope this helps,
C
My experience has been that stores do not want blowers to stop in and sling glass.
They tell me it looks unprofessional, and just plain pisses them off.I'm in Oregon where the market is saturated with blowers.Having hundreds of blowers selling to a single store is not uncommon. That can be a lot of foot traffic and chaos for a store owner and their employees.
So, Stores like to make appointments for sales. The best way is to go into a store and introduce yourself. Don't come in with cases and don't ask for a sale right there. They may ask to see your work, probably not. Get the buyers name, phone number, and the best time to be reached. Call back and set up that appointment. Come in on time, look professional, and carry lots of glass.
Hauling cases into a store and asking for a sale probably works in areas with less competition, but on the west coast it can really rub some cats the wrong way.
byron3
04-14-2009, 12:01 PM
The title of this thread is a shame, talk about stereotypical and racist....... I have had a good laugh reading this thread and trying to put faces with post. Talk about cutting your nose off to spite your face...... Kurt had the ultimate solution -> "Open up your own store", then you can hate yourselves. As glass blowers we NEED shops to sell product to, most shop owners are good hard working folks. Instead of hating why not offer to buy the guy a beer and get to know him a little better, I would bet these folks are a lot nicer than some of you would have the rest of us believe. What gives any of you the right to bad mouth shop owners, and just as a side note here I run a "smoke shop" not a "head shop", it's illegal to sell head where we are at and I feel you are using a derogatory term for my business. That getting off on the right foot isn't it?
So lets think about a couple of more things here, I want to come into your shop and sell you product NO ONE ELSE is willing to buy and has been hanging around for the last year or so....... I want you to give me money for inferior product to sit on your shelves and get your business the reputation of having "ugly / inferior products / janky ass welded crap" but hey its "cheap". Man that is just the kind of things I need to line my shelves with to gather dust and tie my money up, and just the kind of rep I want my shop to have. Let me stop before I get in real trouble here.......
Another reason I do not like "cold calls" is I live and work in a collage town. At least one student every quarter is going to know someone who blows glass, and that industrious individual is going to get a case on the "cheap", now after cherry picking through this case and flooding the market with "cheap" pieces they are invariably going to come through my shop door and want to "unload" the remainder of their pieces so they can go re-up. Business's have some hard lessons and one of the first is you usually do not totally sell all of your inventory.
One last thought here, don't hate if you do not like my perspective. Take a moment to look at where I am coming from and use my views to aid you in your quest to succeed. Before you can beat any situation you must at least understand the different aspects involved in it. Anger will not solve this situation but only make it worse, diversity in thought will aid you to accomplish this if you are open minded enough to let it sink in.
Icarus
04-14-2009, 12:07 PM
The title of this thread is a shame, talk about stereotypical and racist.......
Racist?
Other than that, great post. I know some people don't like to hear what you're saying, but I truly appreciate you sharing your perspective.
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