| Saving time and money most likely rank within | | | | those two yards cost you just $12. When you |
| the top 10 items of your permanent to-do list | | | | sell your produce for $32, your profit is |
| as a Work at Home Mom or Dad. You created | | | | $20. You have more than doubled your profit |
| your own site design -- or found a low-cost | | | | for that item! |
| designer to do it for you. You also filed | | | | |
| your own sole proprietor paper work, and | | | | Another way to look at this is, with the |
| possibly even requested your own tax-ID | | | | retail fabric, you are making $4 of profit |
| number. And working at home has saved you | | | | per yard. You purchased 25 yards, so your |
| tons of money in rental fees, utilities and | | | | profit for that fabric purchase is $100. With |
| more. | | | | the wholesale fabric, you are making a profit |
| | | | of $10 per yard. For the 100 yards of fabric |
| Despite the low overhead, you still have | | | | you purchased, your total profit is $1,000. |
| expenses each month. As a manufacturer of | | | | Wow! |
| baby slings, cloth diapers, quilts or other | | | | |
| crafts, one of your main expenses is fabric. | | | | Now, that's no so much of a downside when you |
| | | | look at it. |
| With Profit Margins Already Slim, You Need | | | | |
| All The Savings You Can Get | | | | Finding Fabric Wholesalers Is Tough Work |
| | | | |
| Wouldn't it be great if you could save some | | | | 2. Where in the world do you buy fabric at |
| money on fabric as well? Profit margins are | | | | wholesale? I've seen this question asked over |
| already razor-thin in the WAHM world, so even | | | | and over again at WAHM message boards. The |
| the smallest increase could give you some | | | | most common answer is the call the |
| breathing room. | | | | manufacturers of the fabrics you are |
| | | | interested in purchasing. |
| If you are currently buying your fabric at | | | | |
| retail prices, purchasing at wholesale can | | | | Typically, the retailers you purchase the |
| save you a bundle in the long run. | | | | fabric from are very protective of their |
| | | | wholesale sources, so you may not have any |
| Sounds great! | | | | luck asking. Often though, you can look at |
| | | | the ends of the fabric bolt itself to see the |
| However, there are a couple of downsides. | | | | name. Some fabrics have the information |
| | | | printed onto an unfinished edge of the |
| Don't Let Minimum Order Requirements Deter | | | | fabric. On solid color fabric, denim and |
| You | | | | others, the manufacturer information may be |
| | | | hard to find. |
| 1. Many wholesalers require you to order a | | | | |
| minimum amount up front. While this will make | | | | You can also use a search engine in order to |
| your initial costs higher, you will save in | | | | find wholesale fabric lists. However, be |
| the long run. For example, let's say that you | | | | careful to research the company to find out |
| normally buy 25 yards of your favorite fabric | | | | about the fabric quality, turnaround time |
| for $252. Your wholesaler requires you to | | | | from the time you place the order until it is |
| purchase 100 yards, which will cost $600. | | | | shipped and the level of customer service |
| Ouch, right? | | | | they provide. Research can include using |
| | | | search engines to find reviews or forum |
| Think of it this way though: At retail value, | | | | discussions about the company, asking fellow |
| the fabric is $12 per yard. When you sew your | | | | work at home moms and searching messages |
| sling, you use 2 yards of fabric. So, you're | | | | boards or resource websites that you are a |
| spending $24 per sling, which you then sale | | | | member of for comments on the company. |
| for $32. Your profit, not counting the thread | | | | |
| used or other business expenses: $8. | | | | Finding wholesale fabric for your business |
| | | | maybe a tough job -- but in terms of saving |
| Now, let's say you went out and purchased the | | | | money, it will be well worth it in the long |
| wholesale fabric for $600. You make your | | | | run. |
| sling, using 2 yards of fabric. Only now, | | | | |