Being ghosted by
stores is the worst.
Asking retailers to buy your work can be exciting at first. But if you don't know what we expect, you can end up in a frustrating rut. Comparing yourself to other artists. Blaming yourself when you don't hear back. Wondering if the lovely thing you make is good enough.
I can help you step off the rollercoaster by kitting you out with artist-friendly tools and guidance every step of the way. Knowledge is power and feeling powerful is what you need right now.
I'm Clare Yuille and I help makers of all kinds sell their work to independent stores. Visit the knowledge hub for my expert advice on wholesale – for your head and your heart.
Being ghosted by stores is the worst.
Asking retailers to buy your work can be exciting at first. But if you don't know what we expect, you can end up in a frustrating rut. Comparing yourself to other artists. Blaming yourself when you don't hear back. Wondering if the lovely thing you make is good enough.
I can help you step off the rollercoaster by kitting you out with artist-friendly tools and guidance every step of the way. Knowledge is power and feeling powerful is what you need right now.
I'm Clare Yuille and I help makers of all kinds sell their work to independent stores. Visit the knowledge hub for my expert advice on wholesale – for your head and your heart.
Being ghosted by stores is the worst.
Asking retailers to buy your work can be exciting at first. But if you don't know what we expect, you can end up in a frustrating rut.
Knowledge is power and feeling powerful is what you need right now.
I'm Clare Yuille and I help makers of all kinds sell their work to independent stores. Visit the knowledge hub for my expert advice on wholesale – for your head and your heart.
What kinds of independent stores do Indie Retail Academy students sell to?
Wholesale is a conveyor belt of rejection - at least, that's how it often feels to makers.
You screw up your courage, pitch your products and the shopkeeper almost always says "no" (or doesn't reply at all.)
This cheeses me off so I created Indie Retail Academy.
I believe it shouldn't be this hard to sell your work to shops.
Retailers shouldn't be turning people like you away - interesting new suppliers with a fresh point of view - without explanation (or education) so many times that you're left thinking "Maybe I'm just not cut out for this."
But then, I have a unique perspective.
I'm a shopkeeper and an actor.
I've been an independent, bricks-and-mortar retailer since 2009 - my shop is called Merry + Bright. I spend thousands on stock from makers and designers like you every year, so I'm basically the person you need to impress.
But I also work in telly, theatre and film. You might have seen me in Emmerdale, Outlander or Calibre. After 20 years of auditions, I know what it feels like to put yourself out there, believe me.
Wholesale is a conveyor belt of rejection - at least, that's how it often feels to makers.
You screw up your courage, pitch your products and the shopkeeper almost always says "no" (or doesn't reply at all.)
This cheeses me off so I created Indie Retail Academy.
I believe it shouldn't be this hard to sell your work to shops.
Retailers shouldn't be turning people like you away - interesting new suppliers with a fresh point of view - without explanation (or education) so many times that you're left thinking "Maybe I'm just not cut out for this."
But then, I have a unique perspective.
I'm a shopkeeper and an actor.
I've been an independent, bricks-and-mortar retailer since 2009 - my shop is called Merry + Bright. I spend thousands on stock from makers and designers like you every year, so I'm basically the person you need to impress.
But I also work in telly, theatre and film. You might have seen me in Emmerdale, Outlander or Calibre. After 20 years of auditions, I know what it feels like to put yourself out there, believe me.
Wholesale is a conveyor belt of rejection - at least, that's how it often feels to makers.
You screw up your courage, pitch your products and the shopkeeper almost always says "no" (or doesn't reply at all.)
This cheeses me off so I created Indie Retail Academy.
I believe it shouldn't be this hard to sell your work to shops.
Retailers shouldn't be turning people like you away - interesting new suppliers with a fresh point of view - without explanation (or education) so many times that you're left thinking "Maybe I'm just not cut out for this."
But then, I have a unique perspective.
I'm a shopkeeper and an actor.
I've been an independent, bricks-and-mortar retailer since 2009 - my shop is called Merry + Bright. I spend thousands on stock from makers and designers like you every year, so I'm basically the person you need to impress.
But I also work in telly, theatre and film. You might have seen me in Emmerdale, Outlander or Calibre. After 20 years of auditions, I know what it feels like to put yourself out there, believe me.
So I'm an unusual guide, if you want to sell to shops.
So I'm an unusual guide, if you want to sell to shops.
So I'm an unusual guide, if you want to sell to shops.
In other words, I'm in the ideal position to help you make the kind of money you want to make from wholesale.
And that's what I've been doing here at Indie Retail Academy for the last decade. I've taught thousands of artists, all over the world, how to get retailers saying "Yes."
Can I help you, though?
Try me. I've helped sock makers, candle makers, stationery designers, ceramicists, painters, illustrators, furniture makers, skincare makers and apothecaries, jewellery makers, bridal accessory designers, glass makers, fashion designers, lingerie designers, swimwear designers, photographers, papercut artists, book binders, leather workers, children's costume makers, stone carvers and sculptors, weavers, textile designers, toymakers, print makers and chocolatières sell their work to shops.
In other words, I'm in the ideal position to help you make the kind of money you want to make from wholesale.
And that's what I've been doing here at Indie Retail Academy for the last decade.
I've taught thousands of artists, all over the world, how to get retailers saying "Yes."
Can I help you, though?
Try me. I've helped sock makers, candle makers, stationery designers, ceramicists, painters, illustrators, furniture makers, skincare makers and apothecaries, jewellery makers, bridal accessory designers, glass makers, fashion designers, lingerie designers, swimwear designers, photographers, papercut artists, book binders, leather workers, children's costume makers, stone carvers and sculptors, weavers, textile designers, toymakers, print makers and chocolatières sell their work to shops.
In other words, I'm in the ideal position to help you make the kind of money you want to make from wholesale.
And that's what I've been doing here at Indie Retail Academy for the last decade. I've taught thousands of artists, all over the world, how to get retailers saying "Yes."
Can I help you, though?
Try me. I've helped sock makers, candle makers, stationery designers, ceramicists, painters, illustrators, furniture makers, skincare makers and apothecaries, jewellery makers, bridal accessory designers, glass makers, fashion designers, lingerie designers, swimwear designers, photographers, papercut artists, book binders, leather workers, children's costume makers, stone carvers and sculptors, weavers, textile designers, toymakers, print makers and chocolatières sell their work to shops.
You can have your
happily ever after.
Selling to shops can unlock years of regular, repeat income for makers.
So if you dream of owning a flourishing creative business that takes care of you,
here's what I can help you do.
STARTING
Figure out if wholesale is right for you.
Understand pricing for wholesale.
Set your terms and conditions.
Design a linesheet or catalogue.
Identify the right stores for your work.
Decide how to approach stores.
Write a persuasive pitch email.
Feel prepared, whatever happens.
GROWING
Get more stores placing orders.
Get more stores placing repeat orders.
Optimise your terms and conditions.
Turn your line sheet into a catalogue.
Get better results from your catalogue.
Make stores increasingly loyal to you.
Maximise the benefits of a trade show.
Tailor your wholesale set-up to suit you.
TROUBLESHOOTING
Diagnose why stores aren't buying.
Fix your catalogue or linesheet.
Fix your pitch email.
Fix your website.
Improve your strategy for finding stores.
Reduce churn.
Handle tricky situations.
Boost your confidence.
You can have your
happily ever after.
Selling to shops can unlock years of regular, repeat income for makers.
So if you dream of owning a flourishing creative business that takes care of you, here's what I can help you do.
STARTING
Figure out if wholesale is right for you.
Understand pricing for wholesale.
Set your terms and conditions.
Design a line sheet or catalogue.
Identify the right stores for your work.
Learn how to read a shop.
Write a persuasive pitch email.
Feel prepared, whatever happens.
GROWING
Get more stores placing orders.
Switch to wholesale from sale or return.
Optimise your terms and conditions.
Turn your line sheet into a catalogue.
Get better results from your catalogue.
Make stores increasingly loyal to you.
Maximise the benefits of a trade show.
Tailor your wholesale set-up to suit you.
TROUBLESHOOTING
Review your pitch email.
Review your catalogue.
Review your line sheet.
Review your product photos
Review your website.
Handle tricky situations.
Boost your confidence.
Diagnose why stores aren't buying.
"I could cry for how good and helpful this is. You've saved me from trying to find bandwidth I don't have."
GILLIAN GAMBLE
Illustrator
You can have your happily ever after.
Selling to shops can unlock years of regular, repeat income for makers.
So if you dream of owning a flourishing creative business that takes care of you,
here's what I can help you do.
STARTING
Figure out if wholesale is right for you.
Understand pricing for wholesale.
Set your terms and conditions.
Design a line sheet or catalogue.
Identify the right stores for your work.
Learn how to read a shop.
Write a persuasive pitch email.
Feel prepared, whatever happens.
GROWING
Get more stores placing orders.
Switch to wholesale from sale or return.
Optimise your terms and conditions.
Turn your line sheet into a catalogue.
Get better results from your catalogue.
Make stores increasingly loyal to you.
Maximise the benefits of a trade show.
Tailor your wholesale set-up to suit you.
TROUBLESHOOTING
Review your pitch email.
Review your catalogue.
Review your line sheet.
Review your product photos
Review your website.
Handle tricky situations.
Boost your confidence.
Diagnose why stores aren't buying.
"I could cry for how good and helpful this is. You've saved me from trying to find bandwidth I don't have."
GILLIAN GAMBLE
Illustrator
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I'm Scottish, raised on rugby, roasted cheese and books about dragons.
My acting credits include the BBC, ITV, Starz, The Royal Lyceum, the Tron, Vanishing Point, the Traverse Theatre, the Royal Exchange, Dundee Rep, Wellington Films, BBC Radio 4 and Lessons Of The Hour by film-maker and installation artist Isaac Julien. I'm also a founding member of Braw Clan, the Scots language theatre company.
My favourite acting jobs: playing a princess kidnapped by goblins, a detective hunting down a serial killer on Emmerdale and an intense site-specific piece that took place in the bedroom of a high-rise flat.
I've written and spoken about wholesale and independent retail for places like Mollie, Stockabl, The Design Trust, Home + Gift, Top Drawer, The London School of Jewellery, Tizzit, BBC Radio 4, Folksy, Craft Scotland and the Scottish Glass Society.
The first few years of
Merry & Bright were hard.
We hired a marketing consultant. It didn't go well. Weirdly, being called names by her on Twitter changed everything.
Indie Retail Academy began training creative people to sell to shops in 2012. Previous classes and workshops include What Retailers Want, Create Your Own Catalogue, The Twenty Minute Line Sheet, Sell More Stress Less, Give Yourself A Raise, the About Page Repair Kit, Products That Sell, The Pivot Class, Pitch Perfect and Website Words.
Check out my FAQ or ask a question via my chat box. I monitor it personally.
I'm Scottish, raised on rugby, roasted cheese and books about dragons.
My acting credits include the BBC, ITV, Starz, The Royal Lyceum, the Tron, Vanishing Point, the Traverse Theatre, the Royal Exchange, Dundee Rep, Wellington Films, BBC Radio 4 and Lessons Of The Hour by film-maker and installation artist Isaac Julien. I'm also a founding member of Braw Clan, the Scots language theatre company.
My favourite acting jobs: playing a princess kidnapped by goblins, a detective hunting down a serial killer on Emmerdale and an intense site-specific piece that took place in the bedroom of a high-rise flat.
I've written and spoken about wholesale and independent retail for places like Mollie, Stockabl, The Design Trust, Home + Gift, Top Drawer, The London School of Jewellery, Tizzit, BBC Radio 4, Folksy, Craft Scotland and the Scottish Glass Society.
The first few years of
Merry & Bright were hard.
We hired a marketing consultant. It didn't go well. Weirdly, being called names by her on Twitter changed everything.
Indie Retail Academy began training creative people to sell to shops in 2012. Previous classes and workshops include What Retailers Want, Create Your Own Catalogue, The Twenty Minute Line Sheet, Sell More Stress Less, Give Yourself A Raise, the About Page Repair Kit, Products That Sell, The Pivot Class, Pitch Perfect and Website Words.
Check out my FAQ or ask a question via my chat box. I monitor it personally.
I'm Scottish, raised on rugby, roasted cheese and books about dragons.
My acting credits include the BBC, ITV, Starz, The Royal Lyceum, the Tron, Vanishing Point, the Traverse Theatre, the Royal Exchange, Dundee Rep, Wellington Films, BBC Radio 4 and Lessons Of The Hour by film-maker and installation artist Isaac Julien. I'm also a founding member of Braw Clan, the Scots language theatre company.
My favourite acting jobs: playing a princess kidnapped by goblins, a detective hunting down a serial killer on Emmerdale and an intense site-specific piece that took place in the bedroom of a high-rise flat.
I've written and spoken about wholesale and independent retail for places like Mollie, Stockabl, The Design Trust, Home + Gift, Top Drawer, The London School of Jewellery, Tizzit, BBC Radio 4, Folksy, Craft Scotland and the Scottish Glass Society.
The first few years of Merry & Bright were hard.
We hired a marketing consultant. It didn't go well. Weirdly, being called names by her on Twitter changed everything.
Indie Retail Academy began training creative people to sell to shops in 2012. Previous classes and workshops include What Retailers Want, Create Your Own Catalogue, The Twenty Minute Line Sheet, Sell More Stress Less, Give Yourself A Raise, the About Page Repair Kit, Products That Sell, The Pivot Class, Pitch Perfect and Website Words.
Check out my FAQ or ask a question via my chat box. I monitor it personally.
This is my store,
Merry & Bright.
We sell gifts, homeware and clothing with a relaxed and happy style. We've been trading in the market town of Biggar, on the edge of the Scottish Borders, since 2009. Have a look around here.
