Using a link provided by, I think June, to Silverton Fabrics and looked around and what caught my attention is or was: Limited yardage only available - black damask and camel print for $385.00 a yard. Obviously it was bought as a close out becaue yardage was limited to real low for $70 per yard.
Several thoughts which included - why would anyone pay 70 bucks a yard and all they can see is a picture and limited yardage, like I said three or four yards not in one piece but two.
It can't be felt and not really appreciated by the computer picture, therefore who on earth would buy it, especially at $70 a yard. The list of $385 didn't mean a thing to me, call it $499.99 a yard what difference does it make.
That is the background for the question: "What is the most expensive fabric you have ever worked with?"
Any of you ever jumped on something like this or had customers who did?
What does a $385 per yard fabric feel like?
Some of you who support ID or Decorators might have come across such an experience.
Gene, you come to mind. Any experience to share?
During the traditional days, expensive high quality tapestries was the medium I enjoyed working with, and at the time those fabrics could be bought for around $40 or so.
Let us hear your story.
Doyle
We have worked with some fabrics in the 500 600 a yard range. I don't remember "what they felt like" Probably like a 50 a yard piece. I tend to not think about the really high priced ones to much. I'm sure I drool all over it. LOL. Actually I try to not think about it much so I don't get to nervous working with it.
Most are from far lands not with a C in the beginning and an a at the end.
As for the piece your speaking of. It is common to see suck a thing online. It's called inventory. As it declines and companies realize no-one else will buy it they drop the price.
I distinctly recall a lady by the name of Gail, way back when I first found this forum - maybe 2005 or 2006 - who did upholstery in Palm Beach. She mentioned a job (don't recall the piece of furniture) where the fabric was $1200 a yard. As I recall it was hand-stitched crewel embroidery. I've done a lot of embroidery in my life and if I were to cover a 54 x 36 inch piece of fabric, I'd want $1200 for it as well.
June
People pay that kind of money without seeing the real deal, only a picture?
It isn't easy for me to evaluate fabrics at any cost from only a picture.
Perhaps buying bargains from a picture, but a $385 yard fabric for $70 bucks still requires seeing the real deal for me. Not too sure I would want to sell fabrics in that altitude to a customer without them seeing a sample.
Doyle
Hi All,
I work with $300-$600 a yard fabrics all the time. Some are really nice and some not. Most of them are high grade linens and silk from all over the world. Most of the people that use the discount sites go to the designers or are designers themselves and have the fabrics in their books so they can touch feel and smell, whatever. Then they go and buy at the discount sites because it is cheaper then cost. I have had fabric come in several pieces and you work with that. They usually tell you how big the pieces are, so you can let the designers know if it will work. The only thing I would worry about is flaws and dialot differences. That $70 fabric was $385 I bet, but is left over from a job or end of a bolt or even discontinued. Fabrics fabric and if you have enough what's the problem. Get out there and order some expensive discounted fabrics and play with them, pillows, ottomans, bags, pair of shorts... Have fun and gives you a feel for what the rich folk play with
QuoteMost of the people that use the discount sites go to the designers or are designers themselves and have the fabrics in their books so they can touch feel and smell, whatever
That is what I expected, so most designers or decorators or upholsterers expect sales from a computer screen.
I have furniure customers who order a yard of each fabric seriously being considered just for review. It is hard enough to visualize a project from a small book sample, customers I have dealt with, most anyway don't just jump in the water.
Fabrics can have a suggested retail price, the reality is what is actually paid? I have heard business people comment on this site that they sell but don't markup fabrics because the wholsale prices are expensive. Therefore that gives some clarity to understanding that the price paid often does not approach even normal whosale due to flaws and end pieces. To follow, flaws and ends, down low enough would attract sales from a picture, which supports the theory that Price sells.
Sounds like furniture prices, it is always on sale, never sells for list.
Doyle
Hey Doyle,
I always mark up the fabric. In the past I worked for a company servicing x-ray equipment and someone at some point decided not to mark up the x-ray machines so now that is the standard. So now you have to figure you are giving away either labor or mark up, so in the end you are not making any money.
None of my customers buy from online fabric pictures alone, every monitor is different so you can not trust what you are looking at. They might come to me or someone else, find out what the pattern and color is and then go online and find for less. I can't compete with that and I don't even try.
I actually had a customer that wanted new foam in his retro studio couch, he researched and found Albany Foam and Supply. This is my supplier. I mark up my foam same as fabric. I lost the sale because he saw my wholesale prices. That is just not right!!! Oh Well, moved on to the next customer. Not going to loose sleep over it. I think for the consumer the internet is a great resource but on the business side it can hurt us but it all works out in the end. Happy upholstering
Chris
I have no problem working on COM. I don't charge a cutting fee. I may rethink that in the future, but for now? I don't care that much. I tend to regard fabric sales as "frosting".
I have a Dixon book, 2 Sunbrella books, and a vinyl sample book. I have two 3 ring binders specific to vinyls and upholstery fabrics from a company I like very much for marine work; they contain very basic sample cards. They have been terrific about sending me useful samples upon request. I refer customers to their website because they don't publish retail prices. Whenever I receive samples (they're uniformly sized) I immediately grommet the upper left corner and have managed to accumulate a nice assortment of commonly used colors/textures/quiet prints that appeal to many customers. I have deliberately stained the lower corners of some samples to "test" the stated care instructions and see if they really work. I try very hard not to test the patience and time of the sample room and try to to keep any sample requests to a limited palette and specific to a particular job!
I've purchased hundreds (maybe thousands) of dollars worth of vinyl, ultraleather, ultrasuede and some woven prints from 3 or 4 online discount sites. In all cases, the vendor has been more than willing to send me a swatch in the mail at no cost. They are rewarded with repeat business and I get a great deal on fabrics. I don't see the issue...
June
I don't pay any attention to the price tag of the goods to be used. If I did, I'd likely throw up and never have the guts to pick up the shears. ;)
When I estimate a job I usually do a little schematic and play around with how to place the pcs. to be cut. It does take some time, but it also helps "put me in the zone" and I include that time in the final estimate. Over time, I've found that to be best option for me. And when the goods arrive I know precisely where to start the lay-out and the cutting. It's different with vinyls because "grain" isn't so narrowly defined (and I tend to over order yardage with vinyls more than with wovens).
Bobbin,
Great way to collect effective samples, get what you need and will sell.
Doyle
In my experience the person who would buy this fabric off the internet had already seen the sample in my showroom, or had a sample sent to them by me.They choked at the price and went on the internet to see if they could find it for less. Then the frosting on the cake is when they call me to gleefully inform me of their great find.
Most of my customers understand that how I stay in business is a markup on the fabric, but some of them just don't get it. I had one lady leave my showroom, go to Joanne Fabrics and call me to tell me that Joanne's was having a 40% off sale and that I should inform all of my customers..Yea that's what I'll do... . I have a 2500 s.f. showroom/
Years ago I had fabric that had real genuine gold threads in it. I don't know what it cost per yard but if I were to get that same fabric today I would certainly go through my garbage can and get down on the floor to pick out/up all the gold threads I could find.
I'd be like the bar owners during the California gold rush. Many of them got rich by sweeping up the gold dust on their floors.
I think when the gold rush ended in 1855 it was another 100 years before bar owners had the inclination, or even the thought, to sweep up their floors.
gene
I will add that I have a few IDs who are only interested in the latest and most expensive fabrics for their homes and their customer's homes. I'm sure there are many more like this in the big cities.
gene
Those $385 a yard fabric are for a very unique customer. The type person who thinks nothing of dropping $1000 for a designer dress or $500 for a purse. They love name brand products and most wouldn't dream of going behind there ID back. They love to entertain and show off there latest project.
I cannot blame the people who find a fabric in someones sample book then spend hours shopping around town or on the internet to find a better deal. I'd do the same thing. But these people are not in the same class.
We have had plenty of customers shop inline for fabric. Sometimes at our suggestion. And usually with great success. They also shop for names they recognize.
Here is another good site. Notice that all there pieces are brand labeled. Its an easy site to cruse through but all short ends.
http://www.fabricguru.com/?gclid=COzd0t-Zl70CFaVxOgodzioAAA
More and more people are going to sites like this because its so dang easy to shop at home. And like June said if your the touchy feely type you can order a sample.
There are still plenty of people who need help when it comes to color or print selection and if your a designer these are the people you need to attract.
We decided many years ago the sample books took up to much space, to much time and the prices were no longer competitive.
Quote from: kodydog on March 16, 2014, 07:22:17 am
We decided many years ago the sample books took up to much space, to much time and the prices were no longer competitive.
With each passing year, more and more small shops are coming around to that way of thinking. And I'm no exception.
I don't make much effort to sell fabric anymore. I don't want to spend a lot of time showing samples, or "holding their hand" while they go through the books. And I'm definitely not going to spend an hour or more in their home while they mind-numbingly go through every sample.
And since the suppliers are disguising their retail pricing as wholesale, it
IS very tough to compete with all the customer's other options for buying material.
I don't know why customers buy fabric from me. But a few of them every week still do. And as long as they make their selection without wasting my time, I'll keep selling it. I'm still averaging about 100 yards a month at full MSRP.
But it is a viable option for a shop to simply adjust their labor rates to compensate for loss of fabric sales, and proceed full speed ahead.
Like others have said, the customer who pays an ID $300 per yard is a customer of a different mindset. Take a rare stamp or coin for example. It's only worth a lot of money because someone is willing to pay a lot of money for it.
My favorite supplier does not post prices on their website. I can send customers to their site, with my own suggestions, and I encourage them to cruise around on their own. I order samples according to their responses. I know my margins and I know when there is "wiggle room" and adjust prices accordingly.
I am finding that most of my customers are "all about" on-line shopping. They're interested in winnowing down the choices to a select few and moving on from there . It took me awhile to "get" that, but now I like it!
QuoteI cannot blame the people who find a fabric in someones sample book then spend hours shopping around town or on the internet to find a better deal.
I occasionally hear how an ID spent a lot of time with a homeowner picking out fabrics and then the homeowner did just this.
If the homeowner knows that that particular ID makes her/his money off of selling the fabrics, would this constitute theft of services? Or does it just mean the homeowner is being thrifty?
On the other hand this is a risk the ID takes.
gene
This is a risk the designer takes. Is it fair? No. But the designer could spend hours working up an estimate and the customer may decide to go with another designer or after seeing the estimate forgets the whole thing. This happened to my wife occasionally. Until she started charging a consulting fee. I know designers who charge $50 an hour for the first visit whether they get the job or not. They make this clear before they arrive and if they don't get the job they send a bill.
I had a job a few years ago where the customer used an ID for layout. Then the lady went to a hole-in-the-wall furniture store (literally, they mostly sold high school logo kitsch, through what had been a storefront apartment), who ordered the piece(s) for her. Well, it came in a mess and no one was happy. The store had no idea what to do, the consumer was upset, and the ID was screwed for his/her time and effort. I ended up spending way too much time for what I got out of it.
Hello Group.............I don't post much as I use to but I thought my company would be recognized.
The link that DB referred to was this:http://www.silverstonefabrics.com/Baker_Furniture_Classic_Damask_Black_and_Cream_p/fx4.htm and my company is Silverstone Fabrics.
If he would have read a little more carefully, he would have noted this listing is for 3.5 yards of a fabric that come to us from Baker Furniture. The value of the 3.5 yard piece is $385 (Baker charges $110/yd) and we charge $70 for the 3.5 yard piece......or $20yard and we offer free samples. That way our customers can see and touch it prior to the purchase.
In June's post, she mentioned a 50% off sale that we had several weeks back. I believe she purchased some Ultrafabrics Brisa for $9/yard..........the same Ultrafabric product that sells for $62/yard (and up)
Even though I have been a contributing writer about upholstery (I owned one of the largest volume contract upholstery shops in the SE based in Charlotte, NC . My company reupholstered 6,700 stack chairs for the NASCAR Hall of Fame and we did it in only 2 weeks) and we were a advertiser to this site........I believe June is the only person from this site to make a purchase from my company.
My company is one of the leaders in the secondary fabric market. There are several "players" in this market like, Fabric Guru, New Toto, Winterbeach Modern, Modern Fabrics........etc) We all do similar things to acquire fabric, some buy mill closeouts, some buy furniture manufacturers close outs and COM left overs. The major difference between our companies is this, my company is the only one owned by an upholsterer. When I purchase and market fabric, I do so with the insight of being a 2nd generation upholsterer.
We buy and sell fabric all of the time that have wholesale values that exceed $100 to $800/yd........the only difference is we typically sell them for 1/3 of true wholesale.
Have you ever purchased 8 black Spinneybeck Sabrina hides for $3/ sq ft? probably not.....especially when the price from Spinneybeck is $14/ sq ft. Last month, we sold over $6,000 (440 sq ft) worth of black Sabrina for $1300 (with free UPS Ground Shipping)
Companies like mine only have short ends.............not so. I have several major wholesale houses (a few of them are mentioned in posts on this site) that I routinely sell their own goods back to them. When a major hotel or resort orders for furniture have been completed, there can be multiple rolls left over.
I know how hard it is to be competitive and profitable in today's economy but if I were a shop owner in "middle America", I would know every secondary fabric site on the internet.
Steve Terry, 2nd Generation Upholsterer, Fabric Purveyor and Owner of Silverstone Fabrics
The biggest problem that my customers have with secondary fabric sites, is that by the time the sample swatch arrives in the mail, the fabric is out of stock.
SD, We send out over 60 samples per week and according to our "follow up" emails, we only have about 2% of our customers report that the sample arrived after the fabric was sold.
We have about 2,000 unique items on our website and our eBay site. I would say that the size of the store influences the number of "disappointed" buyers. Steve
I haven't been disappointed by Silverstone, but have by a few others. The reason I trust Steve and the gang at Silverstone is simply because of his experience. Like Mojo likes MiamiMike to not mislead him on the awning fabrics, I know Steve and his gang know upholstery.
I bought some really nice looking fabric from FabricGuru to do my own dining room chairs and they came out great! I love the design and feel. However, they started to show wear after less than 3 months. The fabric was very inexpensive, but the labor was more than I expected and I've learned my lesson. I won't be buying any fabric from a website that doesn't rate the fabrics for use. Understand that I'm not as familiar with the fabric manufacturers as most of you are. I know marine vinyl, but that's about it.
A lot of eBay vendors list really pretty stuff, but unless someone who knows fabric tells me it's OK for sitting on, it won't be on my list of purchases. I have no problem telling Steve and his staff what I'm looking for and they'll send not only the samples I've requested, but similar products they have in stock. I've found that their recommendations are spot on. I'll definitely purchase again.
June
Quote from: Steve at Silverstone Fabrics on March 28, 2014, 09:40:31 am
SD, We send out over 60 samples per week and according to our "follow up" emails, we only have about 2% of our customers report that the sample arrived after the fabric was sold.
We have about 2,000 unique items on our website and our eBay site. I would say that the size of the store influences the number of "disappointed" buyers. Steve
Most of my COM customers have either already purchased their material, or at the very least already selected the material that they intend to purchase before they ever darken my door.
I haven't had any COM as of yet that came from Silverstone. Most of the "out of stock" problems that my customers have are with newtoto, or fabric guru.
In the future, when they complain about those places to me, I'll try to steer them in your direction.