Hi there! Firstly “congratulations” on taking your hobby to the next
level, and to a full time operation situation.
It should be a very successful venture. I would sell the samples to
the bridal shop then take it from there. In my experience of
Galleries and I’m not talking Bridal Galleries,usually in my
experience, your work is treated just like any other stock supplied
to that venue.
It is not fair to the maker, but usually its business as usual, the
retailer puts their mark up 100% or what ever on top. It doesn’t
matter if you’re making specially commissioned pieces or not.
I have not dealt with Bridal shops, but maybe you could try
this… Sell your regular sample styles with them, and allow
them the 100% mark-up,on any sales there after, then on your special
commissioned pieces do your pricing add their mark up, so`s the item
is selling at around the same price as the regular stock , but in
this case only give the retailer 50%. Customers may well just go for
regular styles most of the time, so at least when you put that extra
time and detail into the specially commissioned pieces you will have
an added incentive.
Its a matter of talking to each individual retailer, some may have a
set policy, but if your strong and make it clear to the retailer the
way “you” do business, and are business like in your approach, you
may very well get things running just the way you want them to.
Hope this was helpful,
Best wishes to you
Tina Ashmore
Dublin, Ireland
