Whether you own a small store and wish to include greeting cards in your inventory or happen to be a small, independent designer of these products, you have to know how to effectively compare greeting card distributors before choosing one to work with. There are a number of different factors that must be reviewed before any hiring decisions or official commitments are made. Keep reading to learn how to choose the perfect distribution service or platform for your unique needs.
Choosing A Distributor As A Manufacturer
If you make your own cards and want to find the perfect platforms for sharing these with the world, think about the different markets that you would like to connect with and the type of stores that you want your products to be featured in. Then, you can look for businesses that are capable of getting your brand the type of exposure you seek. Moreover, you can make sure that your cards will be put in front of consumers who will actually have an interest in them. This part of the screening process is especially important if your cards have a very niche-specific focus.
Learn More About Product And Order Minimums
Another important factor to go over is the required minimums for products and orders. This is a consideration that small and micro-sized companies need to make so that they aren’t pursuing relationships with companies that will require them to work on a nearly impossible scale. If you have just a handful of designs that you would like to share, look for distributors that are quite lenient in this respect.
Consider The Costs Of Working With These Companies
No reputable distribution service is going to help you market your wares for free. These entities have to have a way of generating their own profits. More often than not, this means taking a small percentage of each and every sale. As a card maker, you want to find out exactly what this charge is. You also want to see whether or not there are any other distribution fees that you will be responsible for paying.
Return Costs
Some companies charge card manufacturers high return and exchange fees. This means that if a dissatisfied buyer wishes to return one or more of your cards, your out-of-pocket costs could be steep. It also means that you will have a much harder time maintaining or supporting reasonable return and exchange policies across the various sales platforms that you wind up using.
Searching For Distributors As A Store Owner
If you own a store, you want to look for reasonable delivery rates, affordable service charges, acceptable delivery schedules, and a vast range of card designs. Larger stores should align themselves with distribution services that can supply products for every niche interest that they support. With the right distributor, you can maintain a diverse card aisle and enjoy a truly superior level of customer support.
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