Question for Vintage Dealers

Vlk94

Vlk94

Registered Guest
Hi everyone,

I hope this is the appropriate place to ask for advice on this subject. Lately, I've been buying vintage from wonderful older women who held on to their dresses for decades, and decades. I feel like I'm underpaying them, though.
Just recently I'm buying dresses from a woman who asked "$10 a dress.. does that sound right?" Honestly, I have no idea, but her dresses are absolutely wonderful and in fabulous condition. Is paying her 10% of what I'll make fair? I am buying several dresses from her. What do you guys think? Is it too little? Do you have a set percentage you'll pay?

If you're comfortable sharing, please do.
 
There are many ways to determine your mark up and it's often not straight forward in vintage land - you'll win on some things but other things, you'll lose. Maybe a customer rips it when they try it on (if you have a B&M like I do), or it doesn't survive the dry cleaning. Maybe it fell apart in the wash or you didn't see all those moth-holes when you paid good money for it.

Then you have to factor in your costs to bring it to market: the cleaning, mending, storing, business costs. Tax, rent, wages, utilities. Maybe you know the perfect person for it, or maybe it sits in your stock for years until the right one comes along.

I used to work in (contemporary) fashion and it's so much easier - the supplier charges you X and you generally add a flat percentage but for us, it's much more complicated. You can sell an item for one price in one venue, and a lot more (or less) in a different place.

I work on a certain idea of how much I think I can sell it for, but often it's much less (or more) so everything is only an estimate -you try to find a happy point between what you think is fair and what they're happy with too. It's an art, rather than science.

If your lady is happy with a price, and happy to send them to a good home, and you're happy with the price too, you've done well.
 
Thanks Bonnie!

Vik94 has asked the hardest question of all, and one we're all constantly working on - to find that mid way point where you tick the boxes is hard and we're constantly having to evaluate our pricing policies to keep up with market changes. I'm glad she asked it, it's hard for professionals and harder still for those starting out or moving from one venue to another.

N
 
Yes, absolutely true, Nicole. I have run into so many people lately that want to sell just to get rid of things and are almost willing to give items to me.....and, some I wouldn't take if they did!!! But, I try to be fair, but I do remind people that I do hope to make a profit and I can't pay them retail(after they've looked at my shop and see the prices.....that's what some want me to pay them) and do that. And, most people are oblivious to wear on items, too, because they are not in the business and just think a dress looks wonderful, despite the fact that their are massive perspiration stains in the underarm! Some people don't really know all the work that we put into those items after we make the purchase! It's a dilemna we all face at one time or another.
 
Thank you both! This helps put purchasing into perspective, and I really appreciate it!

Paige
 
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