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loopmi
New Pal
5 Posts |
 Posted - 12/08/2005 : 06:46:34 AM
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We opened our lovely store in November, and the first few weeks have been encouraging, but we're finding the freight costs are really going to gnaw at our margin. Of course the retail prices recommeded by manufacturers and distributors don't take shipping into account.
How do you experienced LYS owners cope with high (and rising) freight costs? |
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umbaba
Seriously Hooked
USA
693 Posts |
Posted - 12/08/2005 : 6:37:24 PM
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We make orders large enough to have shipping for free (sometimes this is negotiable) or take the cost of shipping into account when retail pricing.
...as soon as I finish this row
www.abundantyarn.com |
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loopmi
New Pal
5 Posts |
Posted - 12/09/2005 : 11:17:59 AM
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It's good to know that some companies may offer free shipping for large enough orders. I wish I had known to ask suppliers for that extra consideration when I was placing our initial inventory orders.
Now we're in that crunchy time when we're still paying for renovations and fixturing, so no very large orders are imminent.
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The Irish Ewe
Permanent Resident
USA
1052 Posts |
Posted - 12/11/2005 : 07:51:29 AM
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Loopmi, I second the large orders. Call your reps up, and tell them that you just opened, and ask them what they have for models or free yarn for new shops. Turns out a lot of times you can get something in the way of a "thank you for your opening order/opening a new store" if you just ask. Also ask about trunk shows, and reimbursement for shop samples. Squeeky wheel, and all that :)
As far as the shipping costs - you can do two things.
1. Add them to the yarn costs.
2. Write it off as a business expense.
We've choosen 2, although a lot of shop raise the price and then will advertise "10% off all yarns, all the time" to bring the price back down to suggested retail.
Give yourself a few months off from ordering, work with what you already have, and do some hard number crunching in one and three months - what is selling? What isn't? Keep your books, magazines, and needles in stock, but let the yarn reorders wait until you have at least $500 worth of yarn to buy from that company. (not easy to do, as some companies are horridly slow shippers, others are backorders. It's a learn-as-you-go job in that way, but it does get easier!)
The Irish Ewe
Norway, Maine
http://www.TheIrishEwe.com |
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