If you could, please post some pictures of the pens that sold for $20.00 to the consignment shop.
Selling whole sale and selling consignment are 2 differnet things.
Normally a retail does a 100% mark up or more but you get paid up front.
Consignment is a little bit trickier, it depends on the traffic in the store.
COnsignment can go from around 25% to 50% and more.
I realize it is great to have someone pay for your work,and I don't want to diminsh your success , but after subtracting the cost of the kits, materials, utlities and your time, it sounds like they got a bargain(which is why they wanted you to supply them more.
If I read your post right, I Am wondering if this is still a consignment deal or are they paying you up front for the pens you restock?
Eagle, I was waiting for you to chime in on this issue. I really wish that the owner could check out sites like the IPA to get a better handle on pen quality.
This is a basic example of what I have sold -
Primarily burl and figured wood chrome cigars, with a few segmented SL and cigars thrown in also.
The biggest problem is in the fact that they carry another turners pen stock...24K gold SL and cigars in standard cabinet shop scrap Cherry, Walnut and Mahogany with a friction polish finish, and they are retailing for $27.50. I told her that my pens should sell for at least $45-50 each, which is what they are retailing for now. She didn't understand the difference in platings, wood quality and finish quality (mine's CA).
I sold one pen on consignment for $32, and then the others were bought up front for $20 each, I also include a box with the pens.
I am doing better than breaking even on the sales, but wish it was better. I turn pens for the fun of it, and I had accumulated a stock of around 30 pens that I didn't have any noticable screw ups on them (I've only been pen turning since last Nov.) Many of those went as gifts, and the remainder have gone to the store. I look at it like this, they could be sitting in my house collecting dust (and being misplaced by my 3 yr. old daughter :eusa_doh: ) or I could sell them for a small profit, to fund my hobby.
I would much rather find the opportunity to be the retailer of the pens, but I haven't yet found that outlet.
My next batch of pens will be something different than Cigars, Euro and modified SLs, so that I won't have a direct compairisons between mine and the other turner's. I also will request a higher price as the kits will cost me more. I would expect to have the pens purchased by the store for my wholesale asking price.
Anyone one in the Wilmington area drop by the Barouke store on Water St. (in the Old City Market), and let her know what nice pens she is selling...and how she should pay me more :-D :-D :-D
Dave
