Full Version: Quality Gifts
From: LARRY (CENTURYBADGE) [#41]
28 Sep 2005
To: John (ICTJOHN) [#40] 28 Sep 2005
YES
LARRY
From: John (ICTJOHN) [#42]
28 Sep 2005
To: LARRY (CENTURYBADGE) [#41] 1 Oct 2005
Larry,
My point of the question was unwritten and I should have stated it.
So why are some not wanting to use this book, but use all of the ASI type of catalogs that have the same price structure?
From: Stunt Engraver (DGL) [#43]
28 Sep 2005
To: John (ICTJOHN) [#40] 28 Sep 2005
I haven't seen an Owens catalog for years. I'm sure, what you say now, is true.
The suggested retail prices Owens used to show in catalogs, were very high, from which retailers received a 70% discount.
EDITED: 28 Sep 2005 by DGL
From: John (ICTJOHN) [#44]
28 Sep 2005
To: Stunt Engraver (DGL) [#43] 28 Sep 2005
David,
Yes, I think they change a few years ago (maybe 3 or 4 years). The 2005 book has on the front cover ARA, ASI, PPAI and the pricing is marked in the typical keystone method of A, B, C, D, E, F, G for the discount codes. Yes, Owens pricing is relatively high but you only receive the 50% discount as their best offer.
From: Zonas [#45]
28 Sep 2005
To: Engravin' Dave (DATAKES) [#1] 28 Sep 2005
Just wading though everything that came during my 3 week vacation and found this catalog. I flipped quickly and saw a clock that I engrave regularly. I called and asked if there was any discount if I purchased 300. Their reply was...no discount and please call before ordering as they only keep a couple on hand. They would have to call their supplier to even see if they could meet an order this size. Great reference book, and might solve problems when I only need 'one more', but I'm hesitant to order to many of anything if they only keep a couple in stock.
Zona
Zona's Engraved Creations
From: Engravin' Dave (DATAKES) [#46]
28 Sep 2005
To: Zonas [#45] 29 Sep 2005
Zona,
I am sure Quality Gifts will have some growing pains trying to figure out what the proper inventory levels will be for such a huge catalog of goods. They will find out quickly that our industry tends to gravitate towards companies who provide prompt out-the-door service and adequate inventory on hand.
EDITED: 28 Sep 2005 by DATAKES
From: Liberty [#47]
3 Oct 2005
To: Engravin' Dave (DATAKES) [#46] 3 Oct 2005
I don't think growing pains will be a problem for them, not in the least. Here's the rundown on one of my neighbors.
Quality Gifts is a fairly recent marketing thrust by Quality Gold Inc. They have been around a long time, occupy a building that is at least 50,000 square feet in size, employee well over 100 and have been selling to the jewelry trade for years. They took a shot at online sales, ejewelry.com, many years ago (1997) and since the site has been down for some time it appears that may not have panned out.
Their niche is small orders to small retailers with lightning fast delivery. Every FedEx driver in the area is very familiar with them. I would wager you wouldn't have to walk into too many small jewelers before finding one that does business with them.
And yes, they have a large engraving department.
From: Engravin' Dave (DATAKES) [#48]
10 Oct 2005
To: Liberty [#47] 10 Oct 2005
With a product selection as large as they are touting, there will be growing pains. I made two attempts to order from them last week. In both cases, the items were out of stock and one of the responses when they were asked when they would be in stock was, "We have been told to say two to three weeks".
There won't be too many more "we are out of stock" experiences before the catalog finds its way into the dumper.
I'd like to know what other experiences been so far?
In all other areas, their service seems to be good, so I am really holding out hope at this time.
EDITED: 10 Oct 2005 by DATAKES
From: Harvey only (HARVEY-ONLY) [#49]
10 Oct 2005
To: Engravin' Dave (DATAKES) [#48] 10 Oct 2005
The other problem is that their retail prices in the catalog are too low. I would not show it to a customer.
They should have made the catalog prices 3X rather than 2X the cost. That way you could discount a bit if needed.
Some are in the right price range, but not all that many. It makes me think that I am undercharging on those items.
From: Engravin' Dave (DATAKES) [#50]
10 Oct 2005
To: Harvey only (HARVEY-ONLY) [#49] 10 Oct 2005
Harvey,
I hear ya! (or is it I read ya?)
EDITED: 10 Oct 2005 by DATAKES
From: Dee (DEENA-ONLY) [#51]
10 Oct 2005
To: Harvey only (HARVEY-ONLY) [#49] 10 Oct 2005
David,
Chiming in with what Harv said- they show a Creative Gifts frame that I charge 15.95 for including 1 line of engraving for a retail of $6.00 with no engraving.
If they are going to market to engravers maybe they need to talk to us about how we would like the catalog.
Dee
EDITED: 10 Oct 2005 by DEENA-ONLY
From: Doc (GREAT_ATLANTIC) [#52]
12 Oct 2005
To: ALL
I would imagine the target for this new catalog isn't necessarily engravers or traditional giftware retailers - particularly if the initial mailing went to ARA members.
Our business is primarily awards (about 50/50 sports/schools/organizations and corporate.) And while we sell corporate gifts to many of our existing clients, it's really a secondary business. On the general gift side (weddings, baby showers, etc.), most of the items found in Quality Gifts are purchased elsewhere and brought to us for engraving.
But that's changed dramatically since we added the catalog to the showroom. After showing it to a few customers, we've had an immediate response in orders and at least a dozen requests for the catalog itself. Clients have told us that they could do all their Christmas shopping from the one book! We're even getting referral business already.
And while you're right, the 2x margin on non-sterling and gold items is lower than we expect, the market itself is a new, unexpected profit center. And the catalog makes it possible - at least in the short term - to offer these goods without having to add samples of products we're not known for to the showroom. We're probably the target market these guys had in mind.
Jim
From: Dee (DEENA-ONLY) [#53]
15 Oct 2005
To: Engravin' Dave (DATAKES) [#48] 16 Oct 2005
David,
The original catalog I received from them a couple of years ago is larger and much more jewelry oriented than this one. It is also leather (leatherette) bound and the name on it is Quality Gold.
I had 2 customers come in this week and ask for something I don't normally carry but I knew was in there. I called and ordered them. Both items were out of stock. They told me 1 was due in in 2 days and the other early next week. The first item shipped the day they told me it was due in. I will let you know about the 2nd item.
While I normally don't carry things at a keystone I looked at these sales as found money. I wouldn't have sold them if I had to make a large minimum order. I am charging the customers the freight. One item in not even engravable and the other will have an engraving charge. My time on the phone to place the orders was less than 5 minutes.
Dee
From: Engravin' Dave (DATAKES) [#54]
16 Oct 2005
To: Dee (DEENA-ONLY) [#53] 16 Oct 2005
Dee,
I had a jeweler in my shop near closing time on Thursday. We had a nice conversation. I asked her if she had ever heard of Quality Gold. She said she used them all of the time. I showed her the Gift Book and asked her if she had received it. She said they have a similar large book for the jewelers but it was different.
In our conversation I mentioned the struggles I have had with their inventory levels. She immediately said to give them a chance to get things in order, that inventory issues will not be the norm, and that they are an excellent company to work with. Time will tell.
From: UncleSteve [#55]
16 Oct 2005
To: Engravin' Dave (DATAKES) [#54] 16 Oct 2005
David, did she say what was different? Was it the products or the pricing structure (triple key?) or perhaps no pricing at all?
From: Engravin' Dave (DATAKES) [#56]
16 Oct 2005
To: UncleSteve [#55] 16 Oct 2005
EDITED: 16 Oct 2005 by DATAKES
From: UncleSteve [#57]
16 Oct 2005
To: Engravin' Dave (DATAKES) [#56] 16 Oct 2005
Understanding that precious jewelry is a world unto itself, how do you think a basic line of rings and semi-precious (white and colored cubic zirconium) charms and jewelry would work as an expansion of what is traditionally considered the engraving line of products?
Do you think it could take a profitable bite out of the local jewelers and gift shops?
From: Dee (DEENA-ONLY) [#58]
16 Oct 2005
To: Engravin' Dave (DATAKES) [#54] 16 Oct 2005
David,
I agree and will give them a chance. In this economic climate anything we can do to bring in income without investing in stock sounds good to me. I just wish they had a price book instead of pricing on the page. As I previously said picture frames that I regularly mark up 4 times are shown in the book at a keystone. If they are ARA members maybe we will be able to talk to them in Las Vegas.
Dee
From: Dee (DEENA-ONLY) [#59]
25 Oct 2005
To: ALL
I have now received three orders from Quality Gifts. My results were as follows. The first two items were on backorder. They were to be available in a few days. They were shipped exactly when they said. The third item was again out of stock but my customer was so desperate for a compass (not the first time I have had that request) that they made a more expensive compass selection. I fearfully asked what it would cost to ship overnight. I was SHOCKED when they said it would be $8.25. I was so shocked that I made her repeat the price three times. The compass arrived exactly as described and overnight at that price. Happy customer.
I did have a quality issue with the second item. They are very very long stemmed flutes that sit in a vase from Beverly Clark. The flutes had many manufacturing defects. I called Quality and they sent out another set the same day. They were not great either. I showed the two sets to the customer and we took pieces from both sets and made one set. The quality was still not great but this was not a fussy customer. I must stress that I received boxes that were sealed at Beverly Clark. While Quality was responsible for my issue the ultimate responsibility rests with Beverly Clark.
I have previously written about my dislike of Quality printing the retail price on the actual catalog page. I was going to show the catalog to a customer yesterday but realized that 2 of the same items I carry were on that page and I sell these items for triple the price Quality had them priced at. The catalog stayed under the counter.
Other than the out of stock issues, which right now I am chalking up to growing pains, my experience with them has been good and I will use them again.
Dee
EDITED: 25 Oct 2005 by DEENA-ONLY
From: Cindy (CINDYM) [#60]
25 Oct 2005
To: Dee (DEENA-ONLY) [#59] 25 Oct 2005
Sometimes we can get away with adding an "engraving charge" to the price shown on the page, but that is kind of a pain, and at other times, the perceived value of the item takes it to a much higher price range than adding an engraving charge could.
I prefer not to have prices shown on most of my catalogs, but we were just talking about this in regards to Glass Graphics 2005 catalog and I hate the new format where the prices are not shown because now I have to flip back & forth between the price list and the items as a client decides between one item or another.
Cindy M
Show messages: 1-20 21-40 41-60 61-72