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I've always wondered this and have never gotten a good answer -- why do demos charge for SU catalogs? I assume SU makes you do this -- seems counterproductive to you selling.
Just a question, not trying to start anything.
__________________ Outside of a dog, a book is man's best friend. Inside of a dog it's too dark to read.
Su! Doesn't make you charge for them, that is a choice. A lot of Demos give them to people that join their cardswap groups and they give a free copy to a hostess. They can also choose for various reason to give free copies to costumers, I would consider giving a free copy to any customer that orders somewhat regular. But keep in mind this cuts into your demos profits, so if they give you a free copy be very thankful. And they are totally worth the money, cause they are huge and full of so much, information, inspiration, and a great resource.
Catalogs cost demos about $4.00 each. Since many, if not most demos are just looking to break even, they charge for catalogs. Usually not the full price, but usually just enough to cover their costs. The only time I'd charge full price for a catalog would be if it's ordered at a workshop, and the person ordering it is aware that the hostess will earn benefits on that sale.
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My old SU demo would give us a free copy for being in her monthly stamp club!!! I have NEVER paid for my SU catty in 11 years, except this year I moved out of state!! So, I paid for this one..:( But I would have paid for one every year because it's a really great Idea book as stated on the cover.
WE pay for them, giving them away for free costs us
$3.95 + tax + 10% shipping! Alot of demos will give a free catty if you host a workshop with min. orders or sell one with the price deducted from a min. order of $50.00 which is 10% off if she charges $5.00 or 20% off if she charges $10.00! There are lots of ways it's done. But considering we only get 20% of sales we are still giving them away for free if we don't just charge because it cuts into our income.
To be honest I don't mind paying for a cattie but what does bother me is that it is perceived to be a profit item. I can understand that a demo might not be able to afford to give them away for free (and neither can SU, they are pretty nice/glossy etc). But why is it that it has over 100% mark up? It seems to me that the more catties that are sold, the more a demo would get orders? Why try to make a profit on basic marketing material?
My demo makes people pay full price. After paying full price last year it does bother me a bit that she was going to charge full price again this year, especially after placing enough orders last year to have qualified for hostess benefits IF they had been placed at the same time (and it would have been free).
After paying full price last time, this time I placed a hostess order so I could get one free.
I've always wondered this and have never gotten a good answer -- why do demos charge for SU catalogs? I assume SU makes you do this -- seems counterproductive to you selling.
Just a question, not trying to start anything.
Selling Catalog also generates extra income for the Demo's
But most Demo's also give their customer's something along with the Catalog.
Like a coupon or money off on their first order.
i think if su wants to go to the european or german market they would have a very hard time selling this catalog for 12 euros!!!!!!!
nobody i could think of would pay that much for the catalog. when i once sent a catalog along with a stampset to a friend she wouldnt believe me. over there it is more like: if you want to sell me something you must provide some informations material i can take home look at it and than decide.
but this is not something demos can change this is su or all the companies i have heared. a friend sells cm and she even pays for the plastic bags she gives the order out. well... i take my stuff home and the bag goes from there straight into the garbage. thats why i dont even want such a bag anymore.
but things are the way they are if i wouldnt get the catalog with a party or even i would never pay 10 dollars for it. specially since i can look at it online
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This is a tough one for me...When I first started, I did not preorder a box of 8 cattys...if I had, the cattys would have cost me only about $5 each. (My bad...) SU has a price of 9.95 on them (if done as a customer order). So if a customer wanted a catty, I ordered one for them and SU charged me 9.95 + SH + tax, so that is what I charged my customer. Then I got a few customers and I bought cattys in bulk...(costing me $5 each). I started selling them for $5 or giving one free to any hostess (which is suggested as part of the hostess benefits) or to anyone who ordered regularly. Eventually, every one of my customers got free ones and I never charged anyone. I got a web site and on the demo locator and then people started contacting me to get a free catty. Sure...it would lead to a new customer and potential sales right??? Wrong....I gave out over 20 cattys free (that cost me over $100) and not one person ordered a thing. Whoa!!! Was it me? Did they not like me when I personally drove over and delivered the catty with a wish list, some inspiration sheets, and a small thank you incentive stamp? Was I just a bad demo? NOPE, I eventually learned that another demo in the area charged for cattys and her customers did not want to pay...they found me (can you say sucker?) and the word got out that I gave away free cattys. So HER customers came to me for the free catty and then went to her to buy stuff. So...long story...sorry...eventually I could not afford to give away my cattys.
Now what I do is charge $10 (no sh or tax) but give the buyer a $5 gift certificate for product from me. That way they are getting this GREAT idea book and I can (usually) count on them buying from me. (I still give away a free catty to anyone who hostes or joins my stamp clubs.) My customers understand and appreciate all that I do for them. They don't think $5 is too much for the catty...and if they do, most join a club or host a workshop.
Well, that is why I charge for the catty. Hope that helps.
Colleen
__________________ Colleen Schaan - Education Specialist at Imagination International Inc.,/Copic Marker
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Selling Catalog also generates extra income for the Demo's
Actually, what charging the full price does for me is pay for all of the correspondence I send to my customers -- mini catalogs, newsletters, flyers for class schedules, etc. I would not call it "extra income," I would say it helps defray the costs of doing business.
I get my catalog for free because I sign up for a club, and a free catalog is usually a benefit for being a hostess. I think my demonstrator would give me one for free even if I didn't sign up, because I spend so much with her! I would never pay for it! I just don't think the ideas in it are ever that inspiring. I just use it for ordering, never for ideas.....I have enough of my own!
I do think demonstrators should sell it at cost to their customers, because people are more likely to place orders on a regular basis if they have the catalog in hand!
__________________ "Life is much too important to be taken seriously." Oscar Wilde Proud to be a member of Mo's Digital Pencil Challenge DT! My BlogMy Gallery
I get my catalog for free because I sign up for a club, and a free catalog is usually a benefit for being a hostess. I think my demonstrator would give me one for free even if I didn't sign up, because I spend so much with her! I would never pay for it! I just don't think the ideas in it are ever that inspiring. I just use it for ordering, never for ideas.....I have enough of my own!
I do think demonstrators should sell it at cost to their customers, because people are more likely to place orders on a regular basis if they have the catalog in hand!
ITA! It kinda reminds me of this weekend when my DH and I were up in Door County...we tried a new winery we had never been to before and the CHARGED for a wine tasting!! I was horrified that anyone would PAY to taste wine...why should I pay to taste it and then pay again for the whole bottle!! No way, no how! Needless to say, if I have to BUY the information just to look at the goods, forget it. I have never had to buy a catty and if I did, I would do without it that year, and no one would get any business, b/c I wouldn't have the means to order.
And of course lets all remember that you can view the catalog online at www.stampinup.com so you don't HAVE TO BUY anything if you want to order! Gotta love the techno age we live in!
Good story Colleen - I've had that happen too (although not to that extent.) If someone contacts me for the first time (not as part of a workshop or anything), I'll sell them for $10 but with a $5 off their first order coupon. If they end up being a good customer (ordering maybe $100-worth during the year) I'll give them another $5 in merchandise free, so they have essentially gotten the catalog for free.
Demos aren't responsible for the price that's on the back of a catalog - SU decides that. If someone orders one as part of a workshop, that's the price SU is going to charge us (less the 20% income) so we have to charge the $9.95 and give the hostess credit for that (unless the hostess knows ahead of time that the demo sells them "off the truck", so to speak, and is okay with that.)
I think SU looks at the number of ideas and production value of the catalog, compared to, say, an issue of Paper Crafts or Stamp It, which is like $5.99, and feels $9.95 is a good value.
In short, I think most people can agree that demos can just give away a catty "in hopes" that someone will place an order. Demos value their good customers and will make sure they receive good value in return.
Sassy, the wine that you swallow as part of the tasting costs the winery money. If the winery KNEW for sure you would definitely buy a bottle (not necessarily that one) I'm sure they would let you test until you found one you were happy with. But the winery has to guard against people who are just there for the free wine and then leave with no intention of buying anything. Does that make sense?
Sassy, the wine that you swallow as part of the tasting costs the winery money. If the winery KNEW for sure you would definitely buy a bottle (not necessarily that one) I'm sure they would let you test until you found one you were happy with. But the winery has to guard against people who are just there for the free wine and then leave with no intention of buying anything. Does that make sense?
It does, but we've been to every other winery in Door County (and there are plenty! LOL) and no one else charges for their tastings...not one person walked out of the winery that day with a bag of something they purchased...everyone we saw left empty-handed, where the places that offered free tastings had two registers open and there was still a line!
As a non SU customer who just went to a party- I was astonished at the price they wanted for the catalog. Since I didn't want to pay $10 to buy a catalog for stamping (and who stamps anyway, people don't really make there own cards) I just found the cheapest set I could and made the obligatory "I hate you for inviting me to your home party" purchase, and was gone- if I had taken the catalog home with me, I probably would have had more time to think about the really cool stuff in it. The demo did 2 really neat make and takes- enough that I went to Michaels and got an embossing gun/powder and chalks to use in my general crafting. But without the catalog at home I didn't give stamping another thought... and for someone who isn't a stamper $10 is a lot of money.
A year later I decided stamping seemed kind of fun. I found a demo on SUs locator because I didn't remember who the last one was. She invited me to a stamp camp and gave me a free catalog. I ordered enough then to make my own hostess order.
This year she sold me the catalog at cost. I think that's fair. She knows I'm hooked already and need my goods- but if I had never gotten the first one free, I don't think I would ever have gotten into stamps.
As for wine tastings- I've paid for all my formal wine tastings. Informal ones where a winery will give you sips of up to 3 have come free. I can't imagine not expecting to pay for a tasting if it was an "event" and not just shopping. If you are just shopping and ask for a taste of one or two that's like being at the ice cream shop and needing a sample.
Actually, what charging the full price does for me is pay for all of the correspondence I send to my customers -- mini catalogs, newsletters, flyers for class schedules, etc. I would not call it "extra income," I would say it helps defray the costs of doing business.
JMHO
Ditto - this - mini catalogs cost money as well...I make sure everyone who buys a catty also gets mini catalogs sent to thier house - this costs me money to do this...I charge $7 for my catties and DON'T make any sort of profit off of them by the end of the year after paying for mini catalogs and other assorted things like Inspiration sheets to give them.
Just because someone buys a catty doesn't mean orders are guarenteed - I sold about 6-7 cattys (on top of ones my hostesses recieved for free) 2 of the people never placed an order with me...had I given them away for free I would have been out money.
Don't forget any catty (SU, TAC, CTMH) is also a great resource book...think about magazines like Take Ten or Stampers Sampler - how much do you pay for those vs how much it costs them to print it.
__________________ Jenni -Happy SU Demo - MY GALLERY & MY CHAOTIC LIFE One kid makes you a Parent - Two makes you a Referee
You know what guys, the catalog costs each demo some amount of money. It is up to each individual demo what to do with those catties and how to sell or give them away. If SU! only had 100 demos, there would 100 different ways or viewpoints on how to get the catalog into a customer's hands. Some demos think of it as a necessary business cost and give them all for free and some only give them for free with a workshop and some do a combination of the two. My point here is that everyone is going to do it differently, there is no set rule on how to approach it. Luckily for all of us, SU now provides the catty online for free which is a great option.
__________________ Julia Gluten free on 9/15/2008. I am a Celiac. 1 in 133 Americans is a Celiac and 97% of those who have Celiac Disease are still undiagnosed. Are you one?
Actually, what charging the full price does for me is pay for all of the correspondence I send to my customers -- mini catalogs, newsletters, flyers for class schedules, etc. I would not call it "extra income," I would say it helps defray the costs of doing business.
JMHO
Last year I charged full price for all of my catalogs.
I still send out my either email or snail mail SOTM and Limited Edition information. Which was a saving for me......
This is I Pre-order Catalogs and sold them for under $8.00 I did charge for shipping.
There were a few that I charged full price for as I ran out of Catalog and I had to get them from TAC directly.
But I do have a Special running for the Month of July for all my customers I take off x amount of dollars from their first order.
It also depends on how the Demo orders the catalog. If they add it to a workshop, it's full price. SU charges the demo just like it's regular merchandise. Demos order it this way when they want the sale to count for the hostess's workshop.
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Boy, after reading through this thread, I'm a little miffed with my demo. Not only have I belonged to her Stamper's 6 Club for over a year, I order a lot of product from her, and she charged me FULL price for the catalog. I didn't realize demos got them for only $4.00, and I know she ordered in bulk because she had a whole stack of them in her home.
If a customer has a Workshop then I give her a FREE Catalog. But you as a Demo can choose to do how you want.
This year if a customer orders from me during the year I am giving them extra off their orders. Which in turn they are really getting the catalog for FREE! And more. Our catalog's sell for $9.95 and you can charge for shipping if you too. This really up to the demo. Our catalog cost us Demo's $3.95 plus shipping and tax. Our Spring and Fall supplements we can pay for them or download them onto our computer and print them out. Every Demo does something different for their customers.
Boy, after reading through this thread, I'm a little miffed with my demo. Not only have I belonged to her Stamper's 6 Club for over a year, I order a lot of product from her, and she charged me FULL price for the catalog. I didn't realize demos got them for only $4.00, and I know she ordered in bulk because she had a whole stack of them in her home.
Your Demo pays $4.00 and buys them in bulk, but does she get them for a better price buying in bulk?
I didn't realize demos got them for only $4.00, and I know she ordered in bulk because she had a whole stack of them in her home.
Just FYI, it's not exactly $4. Your demo may pay more depending on taxes.
Is she a good demo otherwise? We all run out businesses differently. She may be heavy handed on the catalogs, but more generous with supplies at workshops or giveaways. It's different for every demo. She may make up for it in other ways.
Another demo might give away catalogs, but offer no other incentives, discounts or specials.
Boy, after reading through this thread, I'm a little miffed with my demo. Not only have I belonged to her Stamper's 6 Club for over a year, I order a lot of product from her, and she charged me FULL price for the catalog. I didn't realize demos got them for only $4.00, and I know she ordered in bulk because she had a whole stack of them in her home.
The only hard-fast rule about cattys is the free one for being a hostess of a workshop of $150 or more. It's entirely up to the demo otherwise. I dont see a reason to be miffed -- it's her choice how to run her business.
It does, but we've been to every other winery in Door County (and there are plenty! LOL) and no one else charges for their tastings...not one person walked out of the winery that day with a bag of something they purchased...everyone we saw left empty-handed, where the places that offered free tastings had two registers open and there was still a line!
Sorry for the hi-jack...back to the OP...
Hmmm...maybe if I let my customers taste some wine, then I could sell more stamps? :mrgreen:
In full flight, searching for flame-proof panties....:lol:
From a customer's standpoint, I can totally see why they charge. I fell in love with SU the first party I went to and bought over $100. My demo offered the catalog free if you purchased a certain amount. Well, I went beyond that and got my catalog free.
At the next party I went to an acquaintance of mine was overwhelmed with the choices and was trying to decide if she wanted to pay the $10 and take it home with her to decide. I asked my demo if she could have a free catalog since I was going to be ordering alot again that night.
Well, my friend took her free catalog home, did not order ANYTHING from the party and has never ordered anything to this day. Even if the catty only cost my demo $4, this girl also took home 3 beautiful cards AND the envelopes. So my demo gave away all this to a non-customer.
For alot of demos, I think this could happen alot. People who aren't into stamping just don't get it and many people would take the catty home and probably toss it in the trash! And even if my demo charged me, once a month I make 3 cards from her stamps, her ink, her paper, her embellishments, etc. So think of it not as buying a catalog but as getting a catalog free with a $10 membership fee for her "club".
I have no problem paying for the catty. I love looking through it. I guess the thing that is discouraging is the price, why would I want to pay $10 +s/h+ tax ($11.74) when it can be had for $5 from someone else.
I charge full price for the catty. However I've told all my customers that if they place an order over a certain amount the catty is free - same thing if they host a w/s. If they've already bought the catty from me I give them their $$ back when they place the min order or host a w/s.
I can't even begin to count how many free catty's I've given away - I thought it would benefit my business if I did. Wee *several* cases of catty later (and I do mean cases) - I have got 1 or maybe 2 orders from it. I am out a LOT of money - and I am lucky if I break even in the first place!
So that's why things changed this year. I now charge full price - but I want my good customers/hostesses to get them free that's why I'll credit them the purchase price at the time of order/w/s.
Anywho just my .02 Every demo does their business differently - that's the beauty of being in a Direct Sales business and working for yourself.
I have no problem paying for the catty. I love looking through it. I guess the thing that is discouraging is the price, why would I want to pay $10 +s/h+ tax ($11.74) when it can be had for $5 from someone else.
There are lots of Demos out there. You should find one that suits your needs/wants.
Boy, after reading through this thread, I'm a little miffed with my demo. Not only have I belonged to her Stamper's 6 Club for over a year, I order a lot of product from her, and she charged me FULL price for the catalog. I didn't realize demos got them for only $4.00, and I know she ordered in bulk because she had a whole stack of them in her home.
All that means is that she is able to earn something off of your purchase. Is that really so wrong? Are you also miffed about the 20% instant income she earns off of your merchandise orders? Please don't think I'm coming down on you. I'm not. I'm trying to understand why you're upset.
Honestly, I'd like to do more than just break even on this demo thing -- as it is I'm still not coming out in the black! Sure I signed up because I love stamping and SU! products, but I also hoped to earn a little extra cash doing it. My one-year anniversary is coming up in just a couple of weeks, and I think I'm gonna have to take a hard look at my mailing list. I hate to cut people off, so to speak, but I can't keep paying for minis, flyers, etc. to send to people who never buy anything! :(
As was said earlier, it's not just a catalog. If that were the case, there would be pictures of the stamp images and a price list and that would be it. Instead, we get a beautiful, 250-page book full of color images to spark our creativity. If anything the stamp images take a back seat to the samples of cards, gifts and scrapbook pages. I've seen publications in stores that show a similar quantity and assortment of ideas, and they cost twice as much as the IB&C. The price SU! has set is a bargain for what it gets you!
I do give hostesses a free copy. I had a past hostess purchase a copy of the new IB&C when it came out, and she wants to book another workshop. I told her that she'd get an equal amount of free merchandise when she has that workshop.
I have encountered people over the course of the last year who didn't realize that I have to pay for my supplies, catalogs, and order forms out of pocket. I wish I could just give things away all the time, but I can't afford to do that. When I was a customer my upline always gave me a free catalog every year, but she's been at this for 10 years and has built her business to the point that she contributes a significant amount of her family's monthly budget. Maybe one day I'll be able to give away as much as she does, when my business grows enough that I don't feel the pinch so much. Until then...
Wow, didn't mean for this to get so long! ;)
__________________ Rachel Proud SU! demo and Sci-Fi Geek!
My Stampin' Up! blog "I'm a time traveler -- I point and laugh at archaeologists." 10th Doctor, "Silence in the Library"
One thing that doesn't seem to be mentioned here is that many OTHER stamp companies also sell their catalogs. I know in the past I've bought catalog from Hero Arts and Stampendous. Thus selling vs giving away a catalog, in general, seems to be a bit of the norm in the stamping industry.
For all my customers who order from me on a regular basis, I give them a catalog and I also include them in the mini mailing list. Those that came this year and had never ordered from me before, I did charge full price for the catalog but offered to give them $10 off their first order.
For all my customers who order from me on a regular basis, I give them a catalog and I also include them in the mini mailing list. Those that came this year and had never ordered from me before, I did charge full price for the catalog but offered to give them $10 off their first order.
As a customer, I think this sounds awesome! The $10 credit is a great idea for a new customer. I refuse to pay for a catalog. As a customer who drops a lot of money on SU every year, I think it's owed to me! ;)
Looking at it online in a pinch is fine but it just is not the same.
why do they make you charge for catalogs?
