Selling fur clothing is kind of like selling illicit drugs, only much prettier and legal.
You must avoid the shady dealings of the black market. In addition, you must purchase your furry apparel with caution and efficiency because it must be pure and real, along with being delivered as the exact amount purchased.
To make sure you get your money's worth, follow these rules:
1. Know what makes a good fur coat. For a mink coat, look for bald spots, crooked seams, differing grains and bad lining-placement.
2. Research the market prices every time you make a purchase.
3. Know the differences between new, vintage and just plain old.
4. Be able to tell the difference among animals.
Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done
Learn to be a fur clothing expert
Being a fur apparel supplier is closer to being a diamond seller than a fashion storeowner. One must be able to tell the difference between not only fake fur and real fur, but a rabbit fur coat trying to pass as chinchilla, or a raccoon fur hat trying to pass as rabbit.
I recommend: Read what the
Fur Information Council of America (FICA) has to say about different kinds of furs. Look at and participate in message boards and discussion forums about fur and furriers, like the one on the
Ohio State Trappers Association (OSTA) website. Read about fur types, caring for your fur clothing and more from
Sir Charles Exclusive Furriers.
Look around when buying fur fashion
It's always better to buy fur in person in order to assure its quality. If you must buy online, make sure you know as much about the furriers as possible, including their warranty services.
I recommend: Look for a quality fur apparel manufacturer nearby. Check out
Sharnelle in New York (especially for mink clothing),
Snowflake in Canada,
Glacier Wear in Montana (especially for fur hats), and
Gabriella's Fur Den in Pennsylvania.
Make your mark with fur fashion
Whether you have an online store or a boutique, put a little of youself in your image as a fur apparel supplier. Do you only work with chinchilla, mink, rabbit and sable? On the other hand, do you have less pricey furs, like possum, skunk and beaver? Advertise as luxury-pieces only or family furs at family prices. Do you only sell used furs, fake furs, or re-worked fur clothing? Advertise as socially responsible. Do you sell fur accessories? What about other apparel such as a fur trim coat, a fur collar coat or fur-less items? Advertise as luxury clothing and fur.
I recommend: Fur & Luxury Center and
JR Luxury have good website layouts, the former including videos of models wearing fur coats for women, fur jackets and other fur apparel. If you're in New York,
Ritz Furs buys and sells used furs, and its website has easy steps for taking care of them.
Furs by Chrys also offers this feature, plus shipping, and some new items.
Stay on fur fashion guard
When dealing with something as controversial as fur, be ready for some backlash. Make sure you only work with humane fur suppliers and fur manufacturers, and you are secure in your stance when it comes to new and used fur apparel.
I recommend: The
Fur Commission USA (FCUSA) offers educational resources and videos on smart, safe real fur use. The
British Fur Trade Association (BFTA) offers the latest news in fur trade and fur fashions.
The Fur Council of Canada has all you need to know about the Fur is Green project.
Tips & Tactics
Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide
- The location of your store should not be in a very liberal area. Your customers shouldn't be concerned with the possibility of red paint splashed on them while walking out.
- Give your customer luxury: lots of mirrors, designer shoes, marble floors, superior customer service and solutions for storing and caring for fur clothing. Alternatively, if this isn't what your store is going for, make the fur section outdoorsy: cedar smell, log cabin interior, maybe even a fireplace.
- A fur is expensive, but is usually not a good investment (the worth deteriorates over time). Make sure you carry classic makes of furry apparel, so your customers do not worry about it going out of style too soon.
The official source of Fur Apparel is the Fur Apparel page at Business.com
Related Resources from Business.com
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