Product Design, Manufacture and Wholesale

CLIENT: ANTHROPOLOGIE US & EUROPE

DATE: JUNE 2013 - AUGUST 2015

PROJECT DETAILS

In June 2013, I received an inquiry from Anthropologie US to create a new line of stationery and gifts for their New Year’s and Valentine’s Day capsules.

SCALING UP PRODUCTION

I worked with a local manufacturing partner, Working Strategy, to scale up production and turn my craft-based business into a larger-scale production/manufacturing business with lower costs. The product range was sold in 99 Anthropologie stores across the US for a total exceeding $50,000 and Working Strategy helped with assembling and shipping the product, handling export regulations, US customs and duties.

URBAN OUTFITTERS HEAD OFFICE, BRITISH CONSULATE, UKTI

With the help of the UK Trade and Export and my production partner were able to travel to the US to further our knowledge of exporting to the US. We visited several Anthropologie stores around Chelsea Market and Rockefeller to learn more about the allocation, stocking, and merchandising process, and to view my line of products on sale in the stores. We also visited my buyer at the Anthropologie Headquarters to discuss the next line of products, which subsequently sold online and in both US and UK stores. Lastly, we visited trade a advisor at the British Consulate in New York who gave me active encouragement and support in my goals as a small business owner exporting to the US.

ETSY HEAD OFFICES BROOKLYN

As I was able to secure large wholesale orders from Anthropologie for my business, Etsy was curious about the process. They were establishing an Etsy Wholesale platform, and I was able to share with them the knowledge and insight I had gained from my experience with successful wholesale management. The key points I learned and relayed to them were:

1. Reach out to potential suppliers and customers to build relationships.

2. Negotiate costs and prices.

3. Understand shipping and export regulations to ensure products are delivered on time.

4. Hire the right team/production partner to manage the wholesale process.

5. Forecast orders to ensure there is enough stock to meet customer demand.

6. Set prices for wholesale orders that are profitable for both parties.