Old timers, remove your hands from your ears. You'll want to hear this.

 I know the term Professional Crafter or Pro Crafter has a lot of negative connotations. So let me coin a new term for those folks who make craft products for resale- designer/manufacturers.

I met alot of savvy folks at National Stationery Show who were looking for bulk sources for their businesses. These folks make greeting cards, do events and make favors.  These were not folks who sell at flea markets (although we love those people too!) these are folks who charge $4-10 PER invitation. These are folks looking for quality supplies that would make their work distinctive from the mass produced stationery items. They are not buying their fill-in supplies from discounters.

Now of course I have no problem with folks looking to get the best possible wholesale prices for supplies but I think there is a role the local retailer can play here if she is willing to work with this customer and do special orders. After all, wouldn't you rather that bulk order go through you to your distributor?

Why should you reach out to these papercraft designer/manufacturers:

1. They buy in quantity- 50- 100  paper and envelope sets times three: invitation, reply card and thank you note.

2. They customize so they really don't need 1000 of anything but they need a large enough number of any one item to merit a bit of a discount.

3. The will bring you business all year round, even when crafters aren't scrapbooking- people will still need wedding invitations and birth announcements.

4. Their special order tagged onto yours may save you shipping or help you reach the minimum for reorder.

5. Their order may allow you to test a new product in the store without making a new commitment- order for them and add a few for you.

Can these people go around you direct to manufacturers? You bet, it's easier than ever for them to go direct. But most would rather support local businesses if you work with them.

There will always be times when they can't get the product they need because the vendor will only sell to retailers. Or maybe they just need 1000 yards of a particular color and width of a ribbon rather than an array of colors.

You have nothing to lose by reaching out to these folks. They may already be buying from you. Check out the local Yellow Pages, visit local wedding websites and bridal shows. Find these folks and invite them in. Tell them you'll work with them and reap the rewards of the relationship! Why sell onesies and twosies if you can sell fiftysies....oh, you know what I mean!--Beth