changing a keyword from veil to fabric

For years now I have created and sold hand made silk veils to dancers.  There is quite a difference between what American dancers find as a ‘fair’ price and what a dancer in Europe or Australia finds as a ‘fair’ price.  I’ve tried to compromise and keep it somewhat in the middle to appease all countries   98% of my resellers sell the silk  veils for $60 to $75 per rectangle veil.  Why would someone pay more for a veil than what I’m listing it for in my store?  Because they are able to SEE the veil in person,  play with it, and also save on SHIPPING cost.  I live in the lonesome little island of Hawaii..our closest big shopping area is five hour flight to San Fran for about $400 on a good day.  So I’m stuck buyinhg what is available here as imported OR paying the higher cost of shipping something in.  Same is to be applicable to online buying.  Expect that you will have to pay shipping, and CUSTOMS tax if needed.  That’s the price of buying something special online that they don’t carry at your local mall.  Paying for shipping kinda sucks but as the post man charged me six dollars to send something to South Africa yesterday..think about it..six dollar probably won’t even cover the cost of the pilot’s meal to fly that gas powered plane to South Africa.  The same could be said for fed ex.  Ordering a made to order top from me and then paying 8 bucks for fed ex..but it’s being expertly sewn and arriving fed ex which has a decent amount of protection on it. 

Now let’s talk about wholesale and prices..I’ll just copy this over from a recent facebook post, it’s not meant to be a rant of any type just a firm declaration that I would never ever ask a bellydancer to do a budget dance at the next birthday party ‘because I’m broke” so please follow the same lines of thinking when requesting a hand made item. 

I’ve had a few resellers ask me..since the price of silk is going up should they charge more for silks they are selling in person (akais)..my answer is YES. And that’s why I am not doing wholesale so much as just DISCOUNTS on bulk orders now. My resellers are making more money than I am, and I am doing the hard work. My suggestion is to order from me and anticipate A DISCOUNT on a bulk order ..if you make a few extra bucks, that’s great. If not, then you are helping your dancers get a discount on a silk.

 

I really have to remain firm on my prices. The market has become watered down and silk veils can be purchased on ebay for as little as twelve bucks now..which doesn’t even cover my cost of the silk. Especially half circle veils which are …a HUGE pain to arrange and import, and very costly. I keep the prices as low as I can because I LOVE doing the work and I understand dancers are on a budget. BUT with that said I ask dancers to do a bit of research, if you were to try to buy ombre or painted silk fabric, look at the cost per yard. (this is for various types of silk http://www.thaisilks.com/index.php?cPath=1_65 so it’s pretty amazing that a silk veil made by a human and not a machine or printing press thingie costs LESSSee More

Thai Silks – Fabric » Hand Painted Silk

www.thaisilks.com

  

I recently had an inquiry from a professional dress maker asking my prices for hand painted crepe de chine by the yard..she exclaimed WOW you’re really underselling yourself. I can’t buy it that cheap anywhere else..true that, and you won’…t get anything as authentic. I don’t consider what I do underselling myself because I get so much enjoyment from it ..yes it’s drastically underpriced considering what is available . I’ve also coddled and paid part of the shipping for people for 12 years. My point is ..my artistic stuff I LOVE to do and yes I do it for free for my own pleasure (but yes then ask for a price if someone wants it) but ORDERS and requests take special work .

 

i encourage dancers especially wholesalers who are mentioning that my wholesale prices are getting too high to research the market and price SILK BY THE YARD you will be pleased to see that i’m way below market especially my painted stuff. … I don’t ask dancers for a budget performance for $20 neither should anyone ask for wholesale prices that cost me more in time and effort than what they are profitting. Of course I COULD raise my retail prices but I’m not comfortable doing that with the ‘catalog’ best seller silks. Painted silk or something that takes a considerable amount of time to prepare..yes. Those are one of a kind. But since i’m now moving more into clothing and rayon and other fabrics silk veils are not my bread and butter anymore. So..my advice is to look at the current wholesale prices as A GREAT DISCOUNT off retail. Remember that wholesale is for an ASSORTED lot, NOT a list of veils by name that you are requesting. I don’t mind honoring a few color requests but if you are placing an order that is all specific request then that is a CUSTOM GROUP ORDER. and that should be retail prices with maybe a discount on shipping.

Maybe by changing a keyword..since veil these days equates to something cheaper, and using fabric would suggest something of more value?

 

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