Sales Reps & Market Week
12 Oct
“The hardest part is getting the lines you want. Sales reps are really snobby; some didn’t even answer my emails at all!”
That’s what another poster on TheFashionSpot.com told me, in a nutshell. She too is launching an online boutique, and she answered a whole lot of questions for me.
Actually, let me back things up here. For anyone who’s wondering how you get clothes for your store, here’s a basic overview:
- All sales are handled through the designer’s showroom (unless they’re indie). Most designers are present in a showroom in LA (in the garment district downtown) AND in NY, although some are located in San Francisco, Atlanta, etc, as well.
- This wholesale business directory is the best, and quickest, way I’ve found to find who represents what designer.
- In LA there are four main buildings where showrooms are located: The California Market Center, Cooper Design Space, Gerry Building and the New Mart. You can also find the showroom websites and contact information here.
- Trade shows are a good way to see lines you like and find new ones. The biggest is Magic in Las Vegas, probably followed by Intermezzo and Coterie in NY, and several others in LA.
- If you want to see the lines ahead of time, contact the showrooms and ask for a line sheet. A line sheet shows all the designs for the up coming season along with whole sale prices, color ways, prints, fabric information, etc. Or at least, it should.
Planning My Merchandise
So the last step I mentioned is where I am now. I started contacting showrooms three or four weeks ago. Were they snobby? No, not really. Did they answer my emails? Yes, the first batch that I contacted did, however the second batch hasn’t. And I mean they REALLY haven’t….as in about 95% of them. I understand that they’re busy but sometimes I have to ask my self, do these people actually WANT business?
I’m not that worried though because I contacted the lines I’m most interested in first.
But for me, not getting all the line sheets is frustrating because I like to plan in advance. I want to know what I’m going to buy when I go in. I want to see my own stores line sheet (if that’s even what it’s called) and make sure that the pieces from different brands compliment each other. And sometimes I really need to sleep on a piece before making a final decision, I mean, a girl can change her mind! This all makes sense right? Le sigh.
I just emailed a really hip up and coming designer; she’s a FIDM alum too. Wish me luck.
Hi Kim,
I’m a new fashion designer and have named my brand Kiel James Patrick after… well… myself lol. I’ve been reading your blogs and find them quite interesting because I’ve been going through similar experiences except from the other end of things. Alot of boutiques and specialty shops won’t return my emails or even give me a chance to show my product. My products are limited to accesories at this point but are so unique that I have a patent on the idea. I would love to swap advice with you back and forth via Email or phone and send you pictures of my product. Also you can take a look at my product and info on:
http://www.modelmayhem.com/member.php?id=493431
My website is almost finished http://www.kieljamespatrick.com and once launched will be listing boutiques and shops that carry my products. The products will never be available online to promote in store sales.
Hope you can get back to me in your busy life, Kiel
Hi Kiel! Thanks for commenting. Im certainly not busy at the moment, lol, although I wish I were!
Your site looks great! And your product certainly is unique. I’ll be sending you an email soon.
Hey there Kym,
Thanks for the blog it’s really fun. I am starting a boutique myself and have put alot of leg work in, and it is exhausting but I keep perserving! Anyway, I wanted to ask you how you dealt with the Snobby Sales Reps. I have been lucky up until today. I know the Reps are leary as they should be but the dude I talked to today- mind you this was a continued conversation. from last Thursday to get online acess to shop wholesale, and he ask question after question and I answered all of them satisfactorily because I have ALL of my legal documents in place. So today I called to follow-up and he acted like we never spoke. I was P/O, and then he said he would submit it again for approval- last week he was the approving person. I said it had already been a week, forget it and hung up in his face! But it wasn’t a line that I had to have or really love, I have bought some things from them as a consumer. But never again. This was a NY showroom, and I just purchased from another NY line last week- he was leary but gave in and placed an order for me. Gee wiz, what feedback do you have for me? I need consoling
And I read your other blog are you buying 20 items in total to begin with for your store? Thanks, looking forward to blogging with you.
P.
Hey Priscilla! Snobby sales reps are something I heard more about than experienced, fortunately! A bit fickle, yes, but I met with three or four of them to buy my lines and they were all super friendly and accommodating. All of my lines are smaller though; I’ve heard it’s worse when you’re dealing with well known or very high end/exclusive lines.
I’m really curious as to what line you were dealing with! That’s a pretty annoying situation to be in. I really think things happen for a reason though; there were a few lines that i looked into but didnt get a reply via email back from the sales reps (annoying!). There was one line I probably would’ve carried but communication with the sales rep was horrible! I might give it another shot for the summer. But I’m 110% happy with the lines I got.
I’m not sure how many items I bought total but there will be less than that for the first delivery, most likely.
What kind of stuff do you plan on carrying in your boutique? Keep me posted about how it goes and best of luck!
Interesting to read your comments on sales reps. We have a few reps and are continuing to hire more. The ones we have hired so far are very nice and interested in opening new accounts. I’ll keep in mind your comments as I hire new reps. In the meantime, please take a look at our accessories at Thanks! Michelle
Hey! Just wanted to let you know my website is launched and I have decided o sell items online. Tell me what you think ; ) http://www.KielJamesPatrick.com
Hey people I have also set up a new site and I am interested in as much feedback as possible I am also interested in networking.
http://www.carlouspalmerdesignteam.com
http://www.etsy.com/carlouspalmerdesign
http://www.myspace.com/carlous64
feel free to e-mail me carlouspalmer@yahoo.com
I am interested in you and what you have to say in reguards to my work
I am also interested in growing as a fashion artist.