To wholesale or not to wholesale?

...that is the million dollar question.

Well, I'm still designing for a local store. My designing gig recently turned into production work. Not my favorite kind of work but a necessary evil nonetheless.

As the supplies began dwindling down a few weeks ago, I was asked about these earrings and the other pieces I presented when I applied for the job. Turns out the boss really liked them and wants to carry them. I will admit the idea of selling my work and not consigning it for a change appeals to me... a lot. She wasn't talking about one or two pieces. She wanted a "strong production" of these pieces. I thought to myself... "chi-ching!". We started talking quantities, then pricing. It had the potential to be very lucrative. Had being the operative word. You see, my boss is accustomed to dealing with Sterling Silver manufacturers in Mexico .. who incidentally still take advantage of independant artisans and often don't pay fairly for their work or materials. The others she deals with regularly are Asian manufacturers....yeppers... you guessed it! China!! As an independant artist/designer I can't compete. To get down to the pricing and quantities for her to be able to offer them at wholesale shows would mean one of two things. Either I work myself into the ground for nothing, or hire a couple of people to do the production work and pay them next to nothing. So I had to politely decline the offer.

Then, about a week later, it happened again. I was helping out a friend at a tradeshow a vendor saw a bracelet I'd made, and the question arose once more. Now the piece in question is a chunky sterling silver and crystal charm bracelet. This bracelet is not for the timid. Would I wholesale? I said yes. And again, understandably, she wanted it for much less. I had to decline the request once more, because selling at a loss is not an option.

You see... I genuinely love what I do, and I hope to be able to make a living at this someday. I am flattered that people want my designs for their stores. Will the question come up again? I sure hope so.