Study to Assess the Feasibility of Establishing a Six-State Wholesale Marketing and Warehouse System for the Northern-Appalachian Crafts Industry

摘要

After studying craft wholesalers, retailers, producers and consumers, the authors decided it would be very difficult to establish a profitable wholesale distribution center supplied solely by Appalachian craftspeople. Craftspeople are unwilling to forego part of their profits and product control and wholesalers cannot find cooperative reliable craftspeople producing saleable merchandise. Craft fairs will continue to be a major distribution channel and mail order catalogs are having some success at marketing crafts. The study includes a profile of the customer at the Rhinebeck Crafts Fair, an analysis of crafts store buyers, best selling crafts by category, and a discussion of wholesale distributors.