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