I can have the mousepads done for you. Actually, you could, too, if you wanted to. I signed up with an organization called Kaeser & Blair Specialties, Inc. They are a "Dealer Service" for Advertising Specialty dealers. I actually started in Specialties before I started signwork and such. It's a great add-on to signwork. You can basically get the client absolutely anything they need. Through K&B, you can do business with tons of companies (many of them very big, such as BIC). They send you a complete start-up package for $75.00. After you sell $1,500.00 in specialties, they return the $75.00 to you. And it's not a scam, I've been with them for 2 years now.
In their Best Buys catalog for instance, I can get 100 mousepads with a one color imprint for $1.83 each. A one-time screen charge of $40.00 also applies. The only thing to take into consideration is artwork clean up, sales tax, and shipping. This, as you know, can vary. I usually do the artwork myself and charge my customer accordingly. So could you.
I'm not trying to sell the K&B story to anyone, just trying to provide you with some info. I find it very profitable. And, no, I do not receive anything if you sign-up.
Anyways, if you don't want to bother signing up for anything and you need mouse pads, I would be glad to help in any way I can.
Have a good one. Randy
------------------ Randy Graphic Details Fort Edward, NY
Posts: 381 | From: South Glens Falls, NY USA | Registered: Mar 2001
| IP: Logged |
posted
Randy, I just got a request last Friday for mouse pads and coffee cups. I wondered how much you make on an order; for example, the mousepads you quoted for $1.83 each for 100. Also, do you have any experience with other ad specialties sources?
Thanks for the help!
------------------ Alan Dearborn Dearborn Graphics Rye, NH USA alan@dearborngraphics.com
Your commission is based on the industry standard "Alphabet" coding system. The $1.83 mousepads are on a code "C", which is 20%. There is a 100 minimum. So for the 100 mousepads, you would get $36.60. The set-up charge of $40.00 gets you 10%, or $4.00. Total commission of $40.60. Not bad for just writing the order on a piece of paper. And if you have to get their artwork camera-ready, you can just add on a one-time "Art Preparation" charge based on your own hourly rate. It's not a huge profit, but 100 mousepads is not a huge order, either. I've had some orders where my profit was over $800.00.
I find that it adds income when the income might otherwise be slow. Anywhere I go I have my business cards on me, and if they don't need any types of signs, almost every organization or business can use some sort of marketing product.
As far as other specialty organizations, I originally had started out with a company called BASCO out of California, and that was a nightmare (they have since closed their doors). I've been with K&B for a little over a year now. They seem to be the best out there.
Have a great day.
------------------ Randy Graphic Details Fort Edward, NY
Posts: 381 | From: South Glens Falls, NY USA | Registered: Mar 2001
| IP: Logged |
(I found it just by typing the company name into the address bar at the top of my Explorer window which is like using a search engine. If the company has a site it usually is one of the first listings.)
------------------ Alan Dearborn Dearborn Graphics Rye, NH USA alan@dearborngraphics.com
If Mayor Shortreed will let us, we could get mouse pads with the Letterville artwork printed on it.
Everyone that wanted a "Letterville" mouse pad....and I'm sure about 250 of us would...would know a few bucks could go to back to the web site for community improvments!
What da ya think? A mouse pad like that would sure brighten my desk area!
------------------ Draper The Signmaker Bloomington Illinois USA
Get To A Letterhead Meet This Summer! See you there! 309-828-7110 drapersigns@hotmail.com Draper_Dave on mIRC chat
Posts: 2883 | From: Bloomington Illinois USA | Registered: Nov 1998
| IP: Logged |
A mouse pad like that would sure brighten my desk area!
Printer-friendly view of this topic