Here is an excellent introduction and overview of selling crafts for profit, from PDX Super Crafty - a group of four Portland based crafters and authors of Super Crafty. I especially enjoyed the information about finding a sales rep, something I'd heard about before but never found much substantial info on:
Finding a Rep
Finding a rep can be time-consuming, but the more time you put into the process, the better your chances are of finding a rep that will be a great fit for you and your business. The Internet can be a good place to begin your search. Try putting "gift manufacturer rep" or "apparel manufacturer rep" into a search engine; it can yield lists of reps all over the country. Another way to search for a rep is at online sites for gift marts around the country. The California Gift Mart hosts a great site chock full of information on reps and lines that they represent in their showrooms.
A more guerilla tactic is to think about cool jewelry, clothing, or gift items that you have seen in stores that you would like to sell into as a manufacturer. You can look up the websites of many of these companies, and sometimes you luck out by finding a list of their reps around the country. If you already sell into local stores, there is a good chance that store owners will also have recommendations for reps that they like to work with who may want to represent your line.
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