Diary of a Demented Store Owner

Friday 15 June 2012

The List Just Keeps Growing

The retail stained glass (and fusing) market continues to suffer greatly and I place the blame squarely at the poor supply situation we currently suffer. 
As a retailer, we procure our supplies at wholesale, then resell them with a fair markup added to be able to provide the services, selection and knowledge that we do. It only makes sense that if there are no supplies to be had, then the retailer can't survive and grow the market. 
We had a very healthy industry for many years, and while we continue to see a strong interest from the public, it can be trying at times. Our classes are full, and run several days and nights each week. But what can you do if you have a new class starting and there are no glass cutters? What if you run out of a certain glass colour and then have to wait months for it to come in? Or find out too late that  our supplier has delisted a glass colour you needed? 
We've lost a couple of very good competitors in the past few months- Glowing Panes and Celestial Glass. You might think that this is a good thing for Mikey and Fantasy In Glass, but really, it's not. 
Competition grows our industry- people take classes elsewhere and visit other stores. We all benefit. It also stops the good retailers from becoming complacent. It keeps us on our toes- quick to keep abreast of what's new, to figure out new seminars, etc.
We are sorry to hear that Hues in Glass adds their name to the list- they are closing their retail outlet this month and no longer will be selling supplies. They are planning to still offer custom work. 
Plug below:
"For the remaining time at Brookdale Plaza, 825 Chemong Road, Brookdale Plaza, Peterborough we will be offering you GREAT SALE PRICES starting Tuesday, June 12th.
ALL glass, supplies, tools, books, as well as some work-tables, etc will be on sale. In fact everything that we aren't going to be using at our Ennismore studio will be available for sale at great prices.

Obviously, the sooner you get here, the better the selection will be."  

4 comments:

Daniel said...

I hate to suggest it, but perhaps it is time to start importing from the states? It'll likely drive prices up but at least you'd have cutters available.

Mikey Figgy said...

You are absolutely right, and that is something we have been doing increasingly more since the new ownership of this wholesaler.
But... Not all retailers can afford to do so. You need to pool your buying to minimize costs which means a larger financial outlay.and customers will have to wait longer.
Mikey

Anonymous said...

Right you are Mikey...I've ordered many things from the states not related to glass at all, but just couldn't get here in Canada. It can be very expensive. I won't mention the carrier, but I ordered a book in which the brokerage fee cost the same as the book itself. To bypass those types of fees you basically have to become a broker yourself and order somewhat large quantities. All takes more time and money to set yourself up that way.

Yours Truly, Captcha Impaired

Anonymous said...

Mike, you are a real class act for helping out that closing shop. Now if only ONE AND ONLY would help the remaining open shops.........