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When it comes to bugging stores to carry windstones, what sort of stores have you had the most success with? Book stores? Gift shops? Gaming shops? Boutiques? Other? Just curious.. I’m getting ready to start bothing shops in my area, but can’t seem to find any places that look worth bothering! I have emailed a few places but have gotten virtually no response. I think I’m going to start calling now, that way they can’t ignore me! 😈
I haven’t had any luck, but, I’ve seen them in jewelry stores, gift boutiques, new age stores and a smoke shop.
I’ve bugged two metaphysical stores around here. One keeps saying they are going to start carrying windstones but to this day she still hasn’t ordered any.
They can ignore you over the phone… go in person… then they can’t ignore you. I had to do that to get things done with my moms curio cabinets… They were putting it off on getting the glass shielves replaced… I went in there and OH, they are getting replaced! lol
One thing you should do, if you can manage it, would be to take in a few current production pieces. Windstones are so much more impressive in person than they are in photographs. Some one else mentioned taking Windstones to a shop they were trying to get to carry them and several of the other customers who walked in while they were there expressed a lot of interest. I’d recommend at least three of varying sizes – a dragon, a hoofer/griffin and a stone-finished piece.
Also maybe have a printout with the company contact information to make things easier on them.
Well my grand master plan is the next time I go to the shop for one of the crafting shin digs they have I’m going to bring a pyo to paint. Once everyone sees it they will ooooh and ahhhhh and the owner will finally cave in. Yeah thats it, thats what I’m going to do 💡
Unfortunately the shop can’t buy the PYOs for a reduced price to make any money on them. So unless there is an artist there who would paint the ones they buy so they can resell them for a profit, the PYOs are not that enticing to retailers. It would be better to bring in some of the current product, especially candlelamps (they are less expensive and sell faster, at least for me).
I know they can’t buy the pyo’s but if I bring one in they will see how great of sculptures they are. I think I will pack an ow or my scratcher in the car incase anyone oohs and ahhs over them. I’ll be like “oh I just picked this one up before I got here” and bring him in for everyone to see.
I was pestering an antique and curio store in the area, which seemed like the perfect place to carry them (they had sold them way back when). Despite the fact that they took and order from me and then never bothered to actually contact Windstone, I think curio shops are another good one to bug 😈
I’ve seen Windstones in new age shops (lots), smoke shops, shops carrying Native American stuff (I have no idea what the connection is but I like it 😉 ), candle shops, jewelry and porcelain shops, curio shops, a rural general store, and even a flower shop. If they’ve got figurines for sale, it’s worth a try; if they’ve got a little fantasy material already, even better. But I’d avoid a shop that presented its stock poorly (crammed shelves, chipped pieces) or had loads of cheap items with very few decent pieces. It’s better if customers come in primed to look for nicer items (not necessarily fine Wedgwood, but better than that cheapo garbage that goes for 99 cents on eBay). That way the staff aren’t bombarded with gripes regarding the cost of Windstones . . . namely, the cost of producing something of high quality with great attention to detail. We all know this. It’s the new customers that may not understand why a $129 Windstone is sitting next to a row of $5.99 ugly, badly-painted dragons from Taiwan, and may not be able to see the difference in production value! 🙄
Best of luck! It’s great to see an increase in the number of stores carrying Windstones! 🙂
I have tried one store about two weeks ago. I went back in yesterday and the lady said she had to sign some paperwork and she had sent it back in. Like an application and agreeing to all the terms. She can’t wait to order. Look for stores that carry Amy Brown Fairies. Maybe a store in a strip mall. Look for stores that have lots of different unique things that you don’t see everywhere. Those stores seem to love Windstone.
this is the store that hope to have them before xmas
http://www.blackdragongifts.com/
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