When it comes to growing my jewelry business, nothing has had a bigger impact than the decision to start wholesaling. Looking back, exhibiting at the New York International Gift Fair for the first time was one of the best things I’ve ever done for my business.
But at the time, I remember how scary it was. I remember showing up to New York with a friend (who also knew nothing about wholesale) and pretty much muddling our way through. While my booth lacked some basic necessities (like lights!), I did manage to have a good first show. But not without a lot of stress, yelling (mostly at my ever patient husband), and tears. If only I’d had someone that could have given me frank advice and feedback to make the whole process easier…
And it’s with that thought in mind that I created Wholesale Academy. Part e-course and part group coaching, Wholesale Academy is designed to help you improve every aspect of your wholesale business, from your product offerings and pricing, to your line sheets and booth design. But not only that, I want to serve as your guide to the inside world of wholesale. I want to save you as much of the stress and grief that I went through as possible. And, I want to share the inside secrets and details that I can’t share in a public forum like Designing an MBA.
Not only that, but I’ll also be sharing some inside secrets and details of my wholesale friends (I mean, industry experts!) as well!
I’ve designed Wholesale Academy to be the kind of program I WISH I had gone through when I first started wholesaling. (But let’s be clear, this program isn’t just for beginners! I’ve worked with designers in every stage of growing their wholesale business.)
Wholesale Academy is for you if…
- You’re looking to grow your wholesale business (regardless of where you’re at now).
- You’re planning on (or considering) exhibiting at a trade show in 2013.
- You want to hear behind the scenes dirt and details that can’t be shared in a more public forum.
You want to get your products in more stores and galleries.
You’ve read my Guide to Wholesale and Trade Shows but are ready for more personalized feedback and advice on your business.
Ready to get started?
Want to know when the next session of Wholesale Academy opens? Enter your name and email below:
Wholesale Academy with Megan was the right investment at the right time for us. Being part of the academy gave us the motivation to think about our short-term and long-term goals, our line and branding, our strategy as it relates to wholesale shows, and how to maintain revenue, and all the while being mindful of Megan’s constant reminder to think like a buyer.
– Karen Shryock | 1canoe2
Wholesale Academy is a five week program that kicks off on Monday, October 21, 2013 and lasts for five weeks.
Each week will feature a group coaching call where I’ll be sharing ideas and tips to help you grow your wholesale business. In addition, each call will give you plenty of time to ask ANYTHING you’ve been dying to know about wholesale. And each call will be recorded so you can listen in your studio later!
Wholesale Academy also includes…
- Weekly conference calls to discuss key aspects of building your wholesale business + the opportunity to ask ANYTHING you’ve ever wanted to know about wholesale, trade shows, marketing and more
- Weekly assignments and worksheets to help you grow your wholesale business
- Feedback on every aspect of your wholesale business, from your sales pitch to your line sheets to your trade show display
MP3 recordings of every call, in case you can’t make it, or want to listen again later
A private class site where you can ask questions, get feedback, and connect with your classmates
MP3 recordings of interviews with industry experts
About Your Teacher
Megan has exhibited at numerous trade shows around the US, including the New York International Gift Fair, the Buyers Market of American Craft, and the American Craft Council show. She is frequently asked to speak on topics such as pricing, wholesale marketing, and personal branding.
Ready to get started?
Want to know when the next session of Wholesale Academy opens? Enter your name and email below:
Megan’s class gave me the confidence to take the next steps for my business and to really focus on what is important for my business. Her class gave me the tools to decide to take on a regional road rep, design a new line in a different material, and to move on from some consignment relationships. Thanks Megan!
– Amanda Lockrow | Amanda Lockrow Jewelry
Want to know more about what you’ll get in Wholesale Academy?
Weekly conference calls:
The cornerstone of Wholesale Academy are the weekly conference calls. In each call, I’ll discuss key wholesale tactics, give you assignments to boost your business, and answer all your questions about wholesale and trade shows.
Call schedule:
Wednesday, October 23 – 7 PM Eastern Time
Monday, October 28 – 1 PM Eastern Time
Tuesday, November 5 – 1 PM Eastern Time
Monday, November 11 – 7 PM Eastern Time
Wednesday, November 20 – 1 PM Eastern Time
Can’t make a call? You’ll be able to submit questions in advance and all calls will be recorded so you can listen to them at any time.
Wholesale Academy schedule:
Each week of wholesale academy will have a focus to help you grow your wholesale business. We’ll expand on topics as needed, but this schedule will serve as a guide.
Week 1 – Target markets + finding stores, product line, pricing, and line sheets
Week 2 – USP and sales pitch, building orders
Week 3 – Trade shows: choosing the right shows, show display, and sales pitches revisted
Week 4 – Trade shows: building momentum, evaluating show success, pre-show marketing, post-show follow up
Week 5 – Growing the wholesale business: process and production, hiring help, and maintaining relationships with stores
Interviews with industry experts:
I’ve got a lot of wholesale experience, and I’m happy to share it all with you in Wholesale Academy. But I’ve also got a number of industry contacts, and I’m excited to present a series of MP3 interviews with some of these contacts to help you get the most out of Wholesale Academy.
These include:
Sara Selepouchin – Owner of Girls Can Tell, a screen printing business that recently sold products to major retailer, Anthropologie.
Rob Fortier – Greeting card designer and expert on working with sales reps and exhibiting at trade shows.
Abby Kerr – Brand specialist and former store owner.
Christine Kloostra – Former show director for the Buyer’s Market of American Craft.
Rena Tom – Former store owner and retail consultant.
And more!
I’ll be sharing one to two audio interviews each week throughout the course so you can listen while you work in the studio!
Ready to get started?
Want to know when the next session of Wholesale Academy opens? Enter your name and email below:
While planning for my first trade show, I discovered I had a lot of questions I didn’t know how to get answers to. Wholesale Academy provided those answers plus answers to many more questions I didn’t even know I had!
– Tracy Arrington | Tracy Arrington Studios
FAQs:
When does the class start? Wholesale Academy starts on Monday, October 21 and ends on November 22. You’ll be able to download all content and access the course site after the program finishes.
Does it matter what part of the world I’m in? Absolutely not! Wholesale Academy is a virtual course, and you can participate from anywhere!
What if I can’t make one of the calls? Calls are an important part of the program, but I also understand that sometimes life gets in the way. If you must miss a call, you’ll have the opportunity to submit questions in advance and listen to the recording afterwards.
Is this course only for jewelers? Absolutely not! While my experience is as a jeweler (though I’ve also designed home decor and accessories for wholesale) this course is open to anyone, regardless of the type of products you make. I’ve worked with stationery designers, furniture makers, fiber artists, and of course, jewelers! And I’m happy to work with you no matter what product you design!
How is this course different than your wholesale e-book? My wholesale ebook was full of information to help you start selling your products wholesale. This class is a more in-depth look at running a wholesale business, and is designed so that you get maximum feedback on every aspect of your wholesale business.
Do I need to read your e-book before starting the course? If you’re completely new to wholesale, you’ll find it helpful to read the e-book before enrolling in Wholesale Academy.
How are payments handled? Payment is securely processed via PayPal and can be made using your PayPal balance or credit card. Please note that all course correspondence will be sent to the email address associated with your PayPal account. To use a different email address, please forward your PayPal invoice to megan@craftmba.com
How does the payment plan work? Payment is securely processed via PayPal and can be made using your PayPal balance. The first payment will be deducted immediately and the second payment will be deducted exactly a month after the first.
What happens after I register for the course? You’ll receive an email from me shortly to get you started. If you haven’t received an email by Sunday, October 21, forward your PayPal invoice to megan(at)craftmba(dot)com
How long will I have access to the course site? You’ll have access to all the content on the course site for at least six months after the course ends.
Other questions? Email megan@craftmba.com
Ready to get started?
Want to know when the next session of Wholesale Academy opens? Enter your name and email below: