A reader asked, "Am I getting the cart before the horse if I am still experimenting with various "lines" and techniques, and don't have much in the way of "inventory", yet I have a couple of shops that take my work as I make it? ....How much inventory does one ideally need before approaching a shop owner?"
You just answered one of your own questions.
No, you haven't put the cart before the horse. You have stores that are interested in the work, and eager to see what you'll come up with next. That's working for you AND for the store, and that's a GOOD thing.
The answer to your second question, "How much is enough?", is, "It depends."
Sometimes "less inventory" is not a bad thing at all.
I would say what is most important is you have enough pieces for a little grouping and that the work is sound--good finishing techniques, durable enough for its use, priced attractively.
So how much stuff is enough? Whatever is enough to get you in the door and talking to a store owner about your work. Even if you only have one thing (baby booties?? dog hats??), if it's very cool and of interest to their customers, and you come across as willing and eager to make more if they want more, that's enough to start the conversation.
What DOESN'T work with stores is when someone comes in with a poorly-made sample or two ("Yeah, that glue didn't work out very well, look at all the blobs!"), an outrageous price ("It took me 3 days to knit these baby booties, I need to get $87 for them") or demands the owner's time and opinion on what to do next ("Do you think the store across the street will want them, too?") This shows a total lack of seriousness, lack of professionalism and lack of consideration on the artist's part.
IN A PERFECT WORLD.... To make a store owner's life easier, you should have tons and tons of items to choose from. Ideally you would have something to fit every need (men, women, teens, grads, brides, office, etc.) And something to fit every price range. Something that turns over quickly and makes a great profit for the store. Something the owner knows is tried and true, perfectly thought out and presented. Your packaging/display is self-inclusive, you already have a following of customers to redirect to the store, and you already promote the heck out of yourself.
Now, here's the reality.
Many store owners understand that new craftspeople have to start somewhere. They know you may not be sure your work is ready to sell, even when it is. They know you may be unsure about pricing, and that you need some feedback. Sometimes, you don't need to have very many pieces for them to take a chance on your work.
Also, some store owners are more sympathetic than others. They may have been (or still are!) craftspeople themselves. They may remember very well how hard it is to take your work into a store and have someone pass judgment on it.
Sometimes, the fact that you are quickly moving forward and evolving creates urgency. That can be a selling point. For example, a customer admires a piece and the store owner says, "Yes, I LOVE them and these have been really popular, but she's not making anymore. She's already moved on to a different style. These are the last six pieces I have! Aren't they wonderful?!"
Or, "Yes, this is a brand new artist, and we're really excited about her work! She can only make a few pieces at a time, and we are the only store in the country that's carrying her work."
Having only a few styles is also good for exploring what will sell well and what won't. The store owner and customers can be a good source of feedback for your NEXT designs. I used a few different style of earwires before I found one or two that are strong sellers. The others were not as popular with customers, and I'm glad I didn't build a huge inventory with them.
Remember this: IN GENERAL, store owners like to see new work and new artists. They always keep an eye out for "the next cool thing" that crosses their doorstep. A store owner who encourages you to do this is a person to treasure.
Because in the end, store owners are just people with stores. Some of them will welcome new artists and new work, and some will put you through the wringer.
Even the "treasures" would LIKE you to have an idea that's well thought out and well made. They would LIKE you to have a good idea of what you should sell it for. They would LIKE you to have enough pieces to make a good display in their store. (Whether that's six pieces or a few dozen pieces is up to them AND you.)
If a store owner DOES give you a hard time about your work, I've found there can be many possible reasons--not all having anything to do with you or the work. I actually have a list of reasons why store owners may not be interested in your work. Hey, maybe that would be good for tomorrow's entry!
