Approaching a Store Owner

Some designers have great stories of store owners running into them in grocery stores or parking lots and seeing their child dressed in boutique items and begging the designer to sell items in their store. If you are like me, you haven`t been lucky enough to have this happen. (At least not yet!) So, how do you approach a store to get your product carried? The first list details items that you should have ready before approaching any store owners.

1) Have enough products ready to go (or supplies and time on hand) so that if the store owner wants to carry your products, you can immediately bring them in.

2) Have proper labels, packaging, and business cards available. (TIP: Get FREE business cards at through Vistaprint.com. Be sure to carefully read all terms and all buttons that are already checked. It is easy to accidentially order upgrades that cost extra.)

3) Be prepared with sample products. Consider mounting smaller items on foam board so that they are displayed attractively.

4) Bring a portfolio of your work.

5) Decide whether you will consign or wholesale your items to the store.

Research the store that you are interested in. What type of customers shop there? What products are already in the store? Are you current prices comparable to products in the store? Once you find a suitable store and have done the research, start with either a phone call or visit to arrange a meeting with the store owner. (TIP: If you are personally visiting stores, remember that the owner may not be there or they may be busy. Consider bringing a "leave behind.")

Once you have the meeting scheduled, refer to this next set of suggestions to help it go as smoothly as possible:

1) If you have younger children that will require active supervision, leave them at home. It is better to give your full attention to the store owner.

2) Arrive on time!

3) Dress appropriately. You are representing your business and should dress the part.

4) Bring all of the items you prepared in the first part of this article. When bringing samples, choose your best items and present them well.

5) Discuss the highlights of your products, the benefits to the owner for carrying your products, and why their customers would buy your products.

6) If the store owner is interested in selling your items, schedule a follow up appointment to bring your items in and draw up a contract if you will be leaving them on consignment.

7) Before leaving, even if the result is not what you had hoped for, always thank the owner and leave a stack of business cards.

Can`t think of places to sell your items?

Have you tried: Children`s boutiques, consignment and resale stores, hair salons, gift shops, novelty ultrasound imaging places, day spas, hospital gift shops, arts and craft malls, local department stores, pet grooming, boarding, or day cares?

Copyright, 2007, Inch By Inch Designs 

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