| Buying Wholesale The Right Way | | | | (though of course knowledge IS power) so read all |
| By now, if you've been on the Internet for just a little | | | | you can, but persistence. There are some good |
| while (and I was a late-bloomer), starting in 1997, you | | | | wholesalers out there. I sell from my a little shop that I |
| know the land mines. | | | | set up on the net. My products show the suggested |
| Not everything that is advertised is what it claims to | | | | retail price on them but then inside,after clicking on the |
| be. That can be from products to services. | | | | product is another hyperlink that says pricing and |
| I didn't start out to be in wholesale, in fact, I didn't start | | | | shows the wholesale table. |
| out to have anything to do with the Internet at all. I was | | | | I set up a real business plan and went to work. I |
| a cartoonist (still am), and founder of Londons Times | | | | consulted with my business professors and other |
| Cartoons. That launch was in 1997 in a small Mississippi | | | | wholesalers who I knew had been in the business a |
| warehouse that I used as my studio as I could not | | | | long time. |
| afford much more and launch the cartoons without a | | | | Rick Londonwear was born, the first line of designer |
| full time job. I took odd jobs as I continued this creative | | | | cartoon clothing for men, women and children. We also |
| venture. | | | | make other cartoon products such as mousepads, |
| A Google of Londons Times Cartoons has hundreds | | | | coasters, cutting boards, tote bags, and all sorts of |
| of articles, reviews, etc. and even the real story of | | | | other funny items bearing our copyrighted cartoon |
| how we got started We've been at it a long time and | | | | image. |
| are top-rated (bragging rights here) on and | | | | Things worked out perfectly, the service is great, I was |
| It was not until 1995 that I realized I also had a business | | | | able to keep the prices way below the competition, |
| as I was getting emails from webmasters, newsletter | | | | and my cartoon team ten years later still creates the |
| publishers, etc. asking to buy the rights to my images. | | | | best cartoons on the Internet (so say the critics) which |
| That was my start. | | | | appear on the merchandise. |
| Then I was approached by a manufacturer wanting to | | | | I have a staff of twenty three, I sell to Ebay |
| create my merchadise from tee shirts towall clocks. | | | | merchants, brick and mortar store owners, e-store |
| We struck a deal for both retail and wholesale. My | | | | owners, and traveling salespersons. Whomever wants |
| attorney, a very precise man who dots every I and | | | | to turn a very good profit on very hot items, they |
| crosses every T made sure it was written out to | | | | come to me. I love the business. |
| where we both benefited equally. | | | | I make it very easy for the buyer. I accept all major |
| Then the manufacturer revealed he really didn't | | | | credit cards, Paypal, checks and money orders. We |
| understand the wholesale business. Being a | | | | drop-ship on any pre-paid order or directly to you. We |
| back-to-college adult student at a very good university, | | | | don't gauge on shipping, what it costs is what we |
| and having worked in wholesale many years growing | | | | charge; same cost to Canada and ship worldwide. |
| up, I volunteered to teach him. He had no interest. | | | | Generally 2-3 day USPS Priority. Everything works out. |
| Then started my hunt. Who could manufacture and | | | | I don't know how but it does. |
| wholesale my now top-rated cartoons onto products | | | | We made our mistakes. That is how we learned and |
| and do so meticulously, at affordable prices, and keep | | | | became established. We still make a few, but they are |
| the word of a contract? It took another year and I | | | | few and far between and when we do, we make it |
| found a company in Denver that was well-funded. I | | | | right immediately. |
| asked to see samples and they were expedited two | | | | That is the kind of company you want to deal with. I |
| day delivery. They were perfect. They were not | | | | hate to brag but it is. Someone who has "seen it all" on |
| silk-screened but directly digitally transferred which | | | | the Internet and knows the land mines and will help you |
| makes them look like part of the product, not an iron | | | | through them. It doesn't have to be us, we might not |
| on decal. Perfect! Now to find out about customer | | | | even offer the niche product that excites you. But |
| service, guarantees, etc. All there. I signed up. A year | | | | whomever it is, make sure they have experience, are |
| has gone by and thingsworked out very well. | | | | established, have references, and can make it happen |
| The secret to this business is not so much knowledge | | | | for you. If you make money (they/we) do too! |