I am looking for a new supplier. Mine has messed up my last three orders for the current job I am working on. All orders were over nighted and they sent the wrong product every time. for a ton of money and very little in the way of helping me out. the first orders I did via e-mail so I would have a copy of the order, still screwed the orders up so then I called it in and really messed it up. I would like to find a REAL wholesaler!!!!!!!!!!!!
I have used these guys for years and the owners used to run the routes themselves... What Happened Albany!!!
Chris:
This isn't Miami I hope.......
Chris
Sounds like it might be Albany Supply.
I like Manart, but you can't order online.
I use:
1.) Bainbridge International (on-line catalogue is so-so; but the guys are very helpful and knowledgeable).
2.) Tri-Vantage (on-line catalogue is very slow, but on-line ordering is pretty easy; a little too "corpy" for me. though)
3.) Rowley (good on-line set up; don't use them too much generally)
4.) D&M Distributors (very convenient for me and they're always so helpful)
5.) Challenge (very occasionally)
I try not to get too terribly passionate about any supplier in particular. They're all only as good as their last order. If I were to give one of them a ringing endorsement to you guys, they would screw up your first order right out of the gate.
We're all small-timers here. None of the suppliers is going to lose any sleep over losing any of our business. I'm sure that if asked, they would vehemently assert that they cherish each and every one of us. But I kinda doubt it.
I've voiced my displeasure with a few places. I'm sure the person that I chewed out over the phone just went home that evening, and vented to their family about "the A-hole they had to deal with today".
I miss the old days when a salesman called on you monthly. It was tougher to fake sincerity face-to-face.
I don't disagree with any of that, Sofa.. And I'm really glad I'm "small enough" that none of the reps. have ever just showed up, unannounced, at my shop! (None of the reps. I've ever met have ever bothered to tell you when they'd be in the area, they've always just presumed you be in your shop and "showed up", never once thinking that an app't. might be more productive!).
My father was a salesman (plumbing and heating supplies) and he had a regular schedule. He visited his customers once weekly in person and was always available by 'phone during the week. He believed in schedules and would never have dreampt of "showing up unannounced", because doing so interrupted people and was, in his way of thinking, insulting. And presumptuous!
Quote from: bobbin on August 16, 2014, 09:27:20 am
I use:
4.) D&M Distributors (very convenient for me and they're always so helpful)
bobbin if you talk to peter Morrison at d&m tell him mike said hello great guy. I used to use them allot in NH in fact in the mid 90s UPS went on strike for a few weeks and peter personaly drove deleveries to me strapped bimini tubing to his roof.
I guess I'm lucky seeing that my main supply house is in the same building as the shop. No delivery charges :)
Albany foam and supply has sale rep that calls when he is going to be in your area and if you are in their own delivery zone will deliver your supplies free of delivery charges in their truck. Also Vincent Manufacturing in Little Falls, NY will also call on you when they are coming to your area.mi highly recommend both of these companies. Every company has their quirks. I just wish wholesale was really wholesale.
Two different supply trucks that have delivered free to my shop for over 20 years have both crapped out on me at the same time. Both have unceremoniously parted ways with their driver, and neither has any intentions of replacing them any time soon.
I still have one supplier who comes twice a year. He leaves me enough supplies to last 6 months. I don't have to pay him until I'm ready to. But he doesn't carry foam and batting.
I have several out-of-state foam/batting suppliers. But they shrink the batting down for shipping, and the wrinkles never fully come out.
So as far as batting goes right now, I find myself "between a rock and a hard place".
Without a doubt the smaller suppliers, maybe all, are finding it tough in business. I don't buy near the amount of supplies as did in the past. Gosh, all the retail outlets and their sales (in spite of much of their fabrics are not my favorite), so many buy on price and become Com customers to me. It isn't usually my favorite business but, heck I go ahead and do it, can't educate customers easily.
Few years ago, we had probably three sizable wholesalers locally but not even one now. Actually wholesale isn't wholesale anymore is one way to put it.
The freight has become a factor, put it all together and easier to understand why consumers buy cheap foreign made junk. What I mean by junk is usually it doesn't last.
Foam in particular is usually something harder to find in quality.
Doyle
2 main suppliers I work with both have a terminal in Miami and when my office didn't have a item they shipped it from there Miami branch well ups saw port ( charlotte) I the and sent it to Carolina . well my next order was from the other company and the same thing happened it went out of Miami and ups sent it to Carolina
The supply sector for most of us type is and has changed to a degree. We used to have three or four salesmen come by periodically but that is almost a thing of the past. There is one company we deal with that when they can come in the truck will deliver - freight free (they say) and do carry some stock items that can be bought off the truck. Sure comes in handy when they do come and have what is needed. But, don't know how long that can be continued.
Several factors rolled up in our traditional supply channels, less upholstery is being done, custom is my point. More internet sales which frames us custom people using more COM. It is almost a surprise to consumers that shops can provide materials or they are in a frame of mind that if they don't buy off the internet, they pay too much. As a point, that applies to a lot of items. we did three or four motor cycle seats this past week and every one of the customers bought the seat upholstery off the internet. Interesting thing about it too - is real cheap with freight included. Most were of decent quality and they fit fine - Off shore stuff, it was assured. One question in my mind is when they stamp or use a vendor's logo, for example Honda, do they have approval and pay the logo owner a fee (the foreign companies the question relates to)? Just wondering if they work around that somehow? If we try to use a company trademark on something we fabricate without their approval, it could lead to trouble fast.
Back to the issue of suppliers, well little operators are using fewer and it is getting harder to compete with the bigger suppliers. Is there much of anything we buy that is actually "wholesale"? Perhaps small business no longer buys sufficient quantity to justify wholesale?? Too bad if so. Oh well, just make sure your labor rates cover the situation, it does take time to sell.
Doyle
If wholesale suppliers don't want to cater to small businesses, then what is their target customer base? Is there really enough large scale manufacturing left in the USA to accommodate all of them? Not a rhetorical question; I'm genuinely curious.
Quote from: Dede on October 13, 2014, 05:37:36 am
If wholesale suppliers don't want to cater to small businesses, then what is their target customer base? Is there really enough large scale manufacturing left in the USA to accommodate all of them? Not a rhetorical question; I'm genuinely curious.
I think that most of them just sell to the general public now through 3rd party online retailers.
There isn't one single item I buy from my wholesale suppliers that my customers can't find on their own for the same price or very close.
Who do wholesalers want to sell to?
They want to sell! But, the buying culture wants price above anything, the internet has facilated the price force in place today. Consumer, by large, is of the mind if it isn't bought off the net, you pay too much. This scenario applies to more than upholstery supplies.
Therefore, in perspective, suppliers to any industry have been forced to change the way they market, I.E., sample books, salespeople on the road isn't easy profit anymore.
Target customer base is any place to gain a sale, again the internet and bigger discounting retailers. (JoAnn's, etc.)
Manufacturing (in our industry and related) for years has been moved to "off shore". Same reason -- price! Factory workers there are in the payscale of about $3.00 a day! That is why they have grown into big factories (and all that goes with it - pollution we read about).
Bottom line -- on shore we have to work for peanuts or try to make robots work? That takes time. Meanwhile world economies (look at Europe) are in a slow down mode.
Change!! Something that will continue.
Doyle
The funny thing about the $3.00 a day pay scale. Paraphrasing from the book Factory Man. The author did extensive research including traveling to foreign countries. She said because of the low pay it's wasn't unusual to see 5 people working on the same piece at the same time. The factories in china are not stream lined like in the states. Because of the super low wages they don't have to be.
Quote from: kodydog on October 14, 2014, 08:35:08 am
The factories in china are not stream lined like in the states. Because of the super low wages they don't have to be.
Reminds me of a History Channel program. Mechanical earth moving equipment was developed over a thousand years ago. But the technology simply vanished for centuries because they had slave labor.
During the past year (approx), US furniture - Furniture Brands - went bankrupt - no longer exist. Their, perhaps largest stock holder - don't know that but they owned a bit over 10% of he bankrupt company and at this time got what was left out of the bankruptcy. Based on reading BTW, this stock holder turns out to be an off shore factory which obviously made furniture for the well known us brands (like Henredon/Drexel/ and on and on. Their strategy - that included getting as much as they could that was left from Furniture Brands is to make the american brands off shore and try to sell through as many of the existing FB dealers possible. I suppose there is success in that endeavor, you can still buy some of those FB popular lines.
American furniture manufacturing has been hit hard in general, hard to compete with the off shore manufacturers. Much has been developed in the robotic world that is already in progress to change the world of US manufacturing. I have read some on these developments and manufacturing with robots will be different. This effort has been declared a "do or die" for our furniture manufacturing. It is all about higher technology that possibly can compete with foreign labor.
This is presented as it is part of the climate that our material suppliers are weathering.
Doyle
C&S in Savannah Ga . delivers ever month and call me when they are coming save a ton on glue and foam . they do charge a drop fee of $15.00 . glad to pay that
Hello, My name is Matt and I am from Midwest Fabrics. We are a 3rd generation small family owned supplier. We still take a truck and trailer and go on the road every month but we are in the Midwest. Our shop is Based out of S St. Paul, Minnesota. Feel free to check us out or give us a call if you still need help finding supplies or material. www.midwestfabrics.com
I am currently paying 83.29 for a sheet 4X24x108 2.6 Density, 35 Compression. This price is cost, so I charge my customers $85 per cushion on a sofa. I always have the first cushion pay for the cost of the sheet of foam, the other cushions pay shipping, labor to wrap with Dacron and fill into the cover. I had a customer who looked up this company and saw what I pay and would not pay me the mark up, now they can not get the foam from the supplier but their prices should not be available to the public. I lost the customer which is fine, I don't think they would have been happy with any price I gave them. The job was just replacing the foam. I definitely get my supplies for much less then JoAnns and the quality blows them away. Most if not all foam is made here in the states and the high end tools but I can get cotton and tools from Renovators Supply for less and that is just not right!!! I am here to make a living not give it away.
Quote from: chrisberry12 on November 23, 2014, 09:24:37 pm
I am currently paying 83.29 for a sheet 4X24x108 2.6 Density, 35 Compression.
That comes to .77 per running inch. I've been getting 2.7 35 lbs. 4 X 24 X 82 for $51.60, or .63 per inch.
I get mine from US Foam in Cincinnati. Free shipping on orders over $100.
Here's what I do to assess the price I give to the customer:
A is the cost of the sheet.
B is the length of the sheet.
C is the cost/length. (This is what SofaD did on his reply.)
D is the finished length of the foam insert.
E is (C x D). This is my cost for the finished piece of foam per running inch.
F is my index. This is what I choose to mark up the foam to include my labor, shipping if any, poly batting wrap, etc.
G is ExF, the price I give to my customer.
So, with your example chrisberry,
A is the cost of sheet: 83.39
B is the length of sheet: 108"
C is the cost/length: 83.39/108=.77 (SofaD got it correct.)
D is the finished length of the foam insert, let's say 25" for this example.
E is .77x25= 19.25
F is what ever you want your index to be. Let's say 1.75 for this example.
G is 19.25x1.75=33.69 or round up to $34.00
The thickness of the foam is accounted for in the cost of the sheet. I can recoup the cost of foam for any partial sheet of foam that I have laying around, as well as for pieces of foam that I glue together to make the finished foam piece.
If the finished foam piece is wider than the sheet and requires gluing additional foam, or is shaped, etc., I will increase my index to include these additional costs.
It also makes my foam prices consistent.
I hope this helps and I welcome any thoughts on improving this formula.
gene
Bingo!
I make money on everythin I stock and I keep careful track of what I use on every job that leaves my shop.
I work "stock and time". Labor+materials. It's been a long time since I had to "eat" a job.
I would never make it here with that pricing. I charge $100 per cushion 4" and more for 5" and 6". Just for the insert, so if I am doing just a cushion job $100 per cushion for the foam and then a minimum of $100 per cushion labor plus the fabric. The cost of living here is steep so I need to charge much more and luckily I have the clientele that can foot the bill. If I charge too little I will loose the customers.