[Surfie and Tiki]

Just felt compelled to write a wey bit of history as I know it in regards to different pricing between little boutique's pricing versus WalMart, and the like. In the past I have done millions of dollars with WalMart (ladies wholesale) with manufacturing companies that I worked for. WalMart writes HUGE orders, and either you meet their prices or you don’t get the business. They plan out their business up to a year before the garments hit the floor. During that time manufactures negotiate everything they can down to the penny, literally. When you are dealing with 100 of thousands of garments pennies do count. Most manufacturers want their business because the volume makes up for the low profit margin, but man, they are a pain in the ass to deal with. They call the shots, and everything that goes into their stores is run through a vigorous quality control program. The majority of manufacturers will sell to them under their (Walmart) brand label, and sell to other stores using their “better” label. WalMart on occasion will demand the “better” label, and depending on the company they will normally get what they want. Those huge orders are very hard to turn down no matter who you are.

Anyway, the purpose of my post is one must realize that the small boutiques here are not getting WalMart wholesale prices, they are being charged the max as most businesses here are small. They get no breaks as to wholesale prices. I can almost assure you, the retail prices being paid for a dress at WalMart is more than likely less then what our merchants here are buying the dresses for wholesale. It’s just the way business works, so what some might see as an outrageous markup, probably is not really the case. The bottom line is please don’t judge our small boutiques prices as being absorbenant as compared to WalMart, they are not getting the same wholesale prices, and just trying to make a living. As a vendor I would be plenty po’d if I bought the line and had no idea WalMart would be carrying the same thing……..

In the meantime I did go to WalMart this am and bought a few Lulupink dresses, they are adorable, so this thread is not about not getting a good deal, it’s about realizing what goes on behind the scenes and understanding what the small business owner is dealing with in many cases.