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General => General Discussion and ??? => Topic started by: Dottonedan on December 09, 2013, 11:35:15 PM
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We've all asked the question at some point, " what defines contract". In a similar vein, I want to ask what defines everything else?
When a customer comes in to buy 12 or so shirts with a customer print, what do you call that?
Some call that retail (because is not contract). I believe they call it retail due to the cost being close to a retail price in a retail store.
I've also heard it called wholesale.
Wholesale to me says "less than retail, sold by the manufacturer (to retail stores).
Retail to me is selling (not in bulk), but an individual item or unit.
Custom orders seem to justify the cost more accurately.
What do you all call what you do?
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When a customer comes in to buy 12 or so shirts with a customer print, what do you call that?
I call that a pain in the a$$ :D
If we have someone walk in or ask for a quote via website/email, I consider that retail.
Someone that has a embroidery/promotional product/T-Shirt business that is going to re sell the items, that would be contract.
Someone that is placing larger orders on a consistent basis like maybe a clothing line, or a retail store with pre print designs, we would tweak the pricing a bit and consider that wholesale.
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Dan making things more complicated than necessary ;D
Seriously tho here we do not use the tern Whole sale. It is either a reseller or simply retail. If you are a broker of any size or just someone subbing to us they are a reseller and they pay no tax. If we have to charge you tax then its retail.
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If retail is defined based on what percentage of customers pay tax, then we are basically a none retail shop.
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We don't have tax on clothes here in MN, so it is a bit different for us.
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When you google retail:
http://www.thefreedictionary.com/retail (http://www.thefreedictionary.com/retail) or even SGIA. http://www.sgia.org/training_and_education/glossary/Cc.cfm (http://www.sgia.org/training_and_education/glossary/Cc.cfm)
WHOLEsale
http://www.thefreedictionary.com/wholesale (http://www.thefreedictionary.com/wholesale)
It seems to be clear, that any sale (with tax) is to the END user and is considered 'RETAIL'.
Custom orders can be either retail or wholesale or contract.
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Here in CT even a sock is taxed if they are the end user. So its easy for us if you have to pay tax you are retail. If they are tax exempt because they are the middleman they are to us a reseller.
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In Mass., clothing is tax exempt. If I sell it to someone who is going to resell it, then it's wholesale (when they resell it's retail). If I sell to a walk in, online, phone, email whatever customer, and they are the end user, then it's retail. I don't care much either, as long as we get paid for what we do.
Steve
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I'm really looking to not confuse people when I tell them what I do or who I focus selling to. When I'm talking to (some customers), it's kind of important to know what lingo to use, otherwise, I may look to them as less than seasoned in my industry (to some). For example, I once had a buyer of a large corporation (that I used to work for) ;) often tell me what he thought was wrong with a sample. It was always the same answer. (Needs more flash). Didn't matter what was wrong with it, "It needs more flash". He wanted to speak the lingo as if he knew what was needed (maybe to seem knowledgeable so as to not be snookered as maybe some past printers have done) or maybe it was to justify his position...but in the end, he actually seemed less educated as a result. For some reason, I kind of put an emphasis on knowing what I am saying or at least I try to. It's cute to watch my wife as she tells people about technical things in the print process as I stand by and listen to her, she calls things different names etc. It's cute.
I sell custom printing at wholesale and retail (I have a store front). As I am seeing it, if you don't sell single item shirts like an online store or retail store front, selling a single item, then you are a wholesale printer, wether you charge tax or not. Make no difference. You can do a custom order for 144 shirts and need to charge a tax on it, but it's still (at a wholesale price) due to it being "custom" for bulk or mass quantity orders.
Retail (by definition) is defined by single or a few items (to the person who will be using/owning that item) It's not defined by wether you get charges tax or not.
I've seen a few printers use this in advertising. "Why go to other printers when you can by at wholesale prices".
Technically tho, you can call a hygrometer a densitometer as long as you use it for the right purpose. ;)
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Dan seriously you are making it to complicated. Wholesale pricing and quantity discount pricing is two totally different things. If we sell to a jo blow shop 200 pcs they get a quantity discount not a wholesale discount. If we sell to a broker that is going to resell to their client they get wholesale pricing or as is typically used in our business "Contract" pricing. All these terms are ambiguous and i highly doubt anyone would think you have no idea what you are talking about when working with your clients.
Wholesale pricing (contract pricing) is also effected by the quantity discount. The difference is the end user does not get a "contract print" discount.
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I've seen a few printers use this in advertising. "Why go to other printers when you can by at wholesale prices".
Sales gimmick . Plain and simple. Just like the word Guarantee it has no meaning any more, just used as a sales gimmick to get people to believe they are getting a good deal or making the right decision. Add that to a long list of words that used to mean something- Warranty, Made In The USA, Quality, 100% satisfaction, Best in Class, Voted Best, the list goes on....
Sales gimmicks Dan, plain and simple. Make up your own! ;D
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It's 1000's of shops throwing around "terms" that are not standard within the industry. What is "contract" to some would be "wholesale" to another or even "retail" to some others. Who knows.
It's like being a Republicant or a Demicunt. LOL
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Contract - they supply the garments, they usually provide the photo-ready art (if not completed seps), all they are asking for is the printing - they know and understand and handle the rest. Often repeat, often nice and bulky orders. They are not the end buyer (they aren't wearing the shirt, it's for someone further down the line) and are licensed as such, hence no sales tax.
Retail -everything that isn't that.
Wholesale - in my mind, not really a descriptive word for anything distinctive about screen printing. SanMar is a wholesaler. They buy bulk and sell in lesser bulk. Unmolested. We molest the garments, that's a different turkey.
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Reading back through I think I better understand what you're asking.
We distinguish the terms Retail and Wholesale INSIDE THE SHOP only.
Retail is confined to describe sales such as a customer buying a blank off the rack. We allow it. We discourage it as much as possible. We don't do one-offs and have a 12 shirt minimum. Dan, I know you guys offer one-offs and that is what INTERNALLY we would consider to be part of the retail operation and all bulk screen-printing is for us on the "wholesale" side.
But those aren't words for customers, just for staff and taxes.
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So Dan what's your point what you trying to do huh! you selling or smelling or whole selling or retailing lol , I with Steve long as I get paid call it what you want, long as it's out the door.
Darryl
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Dan if you are losing jobs to a place advertising "wholesale printing to the public" then you just need to do them one better. You can be "The Wholesalers Wholesaler" or maybe you are "The Actual Source" with a small description that your shirts are made IN HOUSE from spider webs knitted in the basement.... "You can not get close to the source" can be a slogan. Obviously I am joking, but stupid sales gimmicks usually attract one type of customer in general, I'll give you a hint, pick one word from the following- Stupid Sales Tactics.
I used to pull some crazy things back in the day just to get attention, did it work? Ya, but it was for things like softball teams and pub crawls.
Just my opinion, but I GUARANTEE it is right! ;)
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Reading back through I think I better understand what you're asking.
We distinguish the terms Retail and Wholesale INSIDE THE SHOP only.
Retail is confined to describe sales such as a customer buying a blank off the rack. We allow it. We discourage it as much as possible. We don't do one-offs and have a 12 shirt minimum. Dan, I know you guys offer one-offs and that is what INTERNALLY we would consider to be part of the retail operation and all bulk screen-printing is for us on the "wholesale" side.
But those aren't words for customers, just for staff and taxes.
Stink: Not necessarily. We sell retail, $15.00-20.00 tees with our "retail designs that we have already mass produced. For one offs, we offer (one offs) of custom vinyl and digital transfers for $35-45.00 per item. Thats (above retail) due to the customization.
TCT:
We are not losing any jobs over naming what we do. Just seeing feedback on what others are calling what they do. From what I can see, It's as consistent as pricing. :) You all have some different thing you call it and feel (thats what it is) and thats ok. I'm ok with saying, (it's called different things) by different shops.
You all can't argue with Webster and his dictionary tho. He's always right.
Darryl: No point really. Just checking.
Inkman: I think it's complicated only (because nobody has addressed it or asked the questions really). If we went straight by the definitions, their would be on question, but we all seem to have our own take on it (based on our own habits of what someone said it was (that we were around alot and thats what it is now. Thats your shops definition (and thats ok). It looks like many have their own understanding of what "IS is. :) I'm ok with it. Just asking.