Wholesale Craft Supplies

A Wholesale Club for Craft Supplies

Hi, my name is Tanya and I first want to say how much I enjoy your site. I have found it very informational, motivating and helpful in my crafting business ventures.

I am writing because I have endeavored to start an online store primarily for knit and crochet supplies but hoping to branch out to other crafts soon.

I devised a wholesale membership for small business crafters like those you help.

I basically charge monthly membership for access to my wholesale accounts. I do not mark up the wholesale cost, and do not require minimum orders. I just charge the fee every month.

You have done so much research on wholesaling; I just wanted your opinion and advice on this business model and whether for-profit crafters may actually find this wholesale resource helpful.

Thank you for your time and advice!

Tanya

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I think it is an excellent idea! It is similar to the Sam's Club/Costco business model. Look at how well they have done.

On the other hand, others have tried the concept and failed. You already have a successful retail site established - as Sam's first had Wal-Mart. That's a definite plus.

You have little to lose trying your concept because you don't have to invest in additional brick and mortar stores like Wal-Mart Corp. did.

I would market it as a frequent buyer club. Your copy starts, "If you knit or crochet for profit, or if you resell knit and crochet supplies, you need an alternative to purchasing at retail or just discounted prices."

I would add something like, "Join the SofThreads Frequent Buyer Club and gain access to our wholesale prices. If you choose, you will also receive our monthly e-mail featuring special offers, craft tips, projects and discount coupons." A newsletter helps to bring people back to see what's new.

I would have made the fee annual rather than monthly. That way you would attract people who really want to be part of a club and who will visit frequently.

The incentive that a monthly fee gives is for the member to do the math first and plan an order large enough to more than offset the monthly fee. Then they won't rejoin until they can place another large order.

For-profit crafters are typically very frugal. They are trying to maximize their bottom lines. Invite them into a club that will help them do that and you might just be the next club business mogul.

Your site is very nice. I can see that you have plans to put up patterns and lots of other goodies.

The free shipping membership sounds great. One of the things that annoys me most about shopping on-line is the outrageous S&H some sites charge. I wonder how you priced your fee out. You've probably shipped enough (lightweight) yarn to have a good idea of the average costs. But you didn't ask my advice on that, did you?

We had a letter from a reader just a month ago requesting more articles on "thread" crafts. Isn't it interesting how things happen sometimes? Some people call them coincidences. I call them little miracles.

By the way I like your company name and spelling. Very clever.