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Roly · October 1st, 2009

My online sales are keeping my t-shirt biz profitable, but certainly not enough to live off. It basically feeds money back into itself and grows.

I'm at the point now where I MUST start approaching stores. Without approaching any stores I got emails from interested buyers and managed to get into 5 of them. So that's not bad for not even trying. Like many people on this forum I'd love to sit around and design shirts all day and have them magically sell themselves. Or instead of 15 shirts a week off my website, 100 shirts a week so I can live off it. But that's not happening right now. I realize I MUST go sell to retailers. I don't want to do it, but I must.

My concern is that I don't want to set up a meeting with a store that is totally appropriate for my shirts but not get the sale simply because I suck at sales. Do you think it would be worthwhile for me to schedule 2 or 3 appointments with stores that are NOT a great fit, just so I can get practice selling?? I have 2 local stores that I know would be a GREAT fit for my niche market T's. I'd hate to not be able to get in there just because of inexperience in making sales calls. ....But on the other hand maybe trial by fire is the way to go and I should stop b*thing and just do it?? What do you guys think? Is it a waste of time to "practice" on a store that probably won't carry my shirt? Or is it a brilliant idea and a great way to work the nerves out when it doesn't matter?

Pwear · October 1st, 2009

You never know - that store that you think is a lost bet might love the shirts and place an order. If not, you still get some good sales practice. There are NO sales calls that are worthless - but be prepared for alot of "no" coming your way. Don't get discouraged by it, just expect it because it will happen. It's the "yes" answers that are important, not the "no's"

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