The Artists & Profit Makers Guide to Selling to Stores: Navigating the World of Wholesale and Trade Shows

As an independent artist, maker, crafter, or small business owner, trying to get your products into stores can be overwhelming. But not anymore. In this in-depth guide, artist and creative business coach Megan Auman walks you through everything you need to know to get your business wholesale ready – from designing a line sheet to taking orders to reaching out to stores to deciding if, when, and how to do a trade show. Drawing on her experience selling to hundreds of stores and exhibiting in over twenty-five trade shows, not to mention coaching and teaching artists and makers across multiple product categories on how to get wholesale ready, Auman masterfully guides you through every stage of the wholesale process. In this book, you’ll discover: The benefits of selling to stores How to get over your fears around wholesale How to evaluate your product line to determine if you’re ready to sell to stores How to price your art, craft, or handmade products so you’re profitable The essential policies you need to before you approach stores The keys to designing an effective line sheet The best ways to take wholesale orders and invoice stores Using online wholesale platforms How to find potential stores to carry your products How to present your line to stores Tips for preparing for your first trade show How to design your trade show booth Strategies for growing your wholesale business And so much more! This is the definitive guide for any artist, maker, designer, or crafter who wants to see their products on the shelves of their favorite local boutiques. Whether you’re considering your first trade show or freaking out because a local store approached you about carrying your products, you won’t want to take another step forward in your wholesale business without consulting this book. “The Artists & Profit Makers Guide to Selling to Stores is a must read for all artists and makers that want to sell their work. Reading this book would have saved me so much frustration and money as I ventured into trade shows. Do yourself a favor and read this book. Then share it with all of your artist and maker friends. Megan covers everything that you need to know to feel prepared to sell your work to stores and so much more.” – Amber Kane, artist and educator