Most certainly NOT!
Every wedding dress you see hanging in a bridal salon has been paid for in full by the store. Most shops hang at least 100 samples and so even a middle price store (retails from $699 - $1199) has at least $40,000 invested in those dresses! And 100 samples is really a small store!
Now consider that the store is required by each designer they carry to purchase new styles twice a year. Depending on the manufacturer, that can be as few as 6 per season = 12 a year or as many as 24 per season = 48 a year. A store carrying 6 different designers (and that is a fraction of what is out there...just look at the designer list on The Knot) needs to purchase between 72 and 288 new styles. Many times this is as much or more than the store offers altogether!
And it is complicated by the fact that most bridal gowns only last 6-12 months before the designer discontinues them and the store is left trying to reduce the price and move the sample to make room, to get something back on their investment.
So, you say, a savvy bridal shop owner will recognize this dilemna and just NOT purchase all those new dresses. I refer you back to the paragraph with the bold word "required". If a store does NOT place their required number of samples, the designer will close their account.
Maybe you think that is OK because if the store loved the line, of course they would like to buy more styles. But for you, the BRIDE, it is not OK because when the designer closes the account, they will no longer accept any orders from that bridal shop on the styles they do own and more importantly for BRIDES, they will hold your ordered gown hostage until the store comes up with the order and the MONEY to buy the required samples.
And you all thought this was a glamour business and so much fun! No one can survive in bridal unless they are a skilled business person. No one.
Every wedding dress you see hanging in a bridal salon has been paid for in full by the store. Most shops hang at least 100 samples and so even a middle price store (retails from $699 - $1199) has at least $40,000 invested in those dresses! And 100 samples is really a small store!
Now consider that the store is required by each designer they carry to purchase new styles twice a year. Depending on the manufacturer, that can be as few as 6 per season = 12 a year or as many as 24 per season = 48 a year. A store carrying 6 different designers (and that is a fraction of what is out there...just look at the designer list on The Knot) needs to purchase between 72 and 288 new styles. Many times this is as much or more than the store offers altogether!
And it is complicated by the fact that most bridal gowns only last 6-12 months before the designer discontinues them and the store is left trying to reduce the price and move the sample to make room, to get something back on their investment.
So, you say, a savvy bridal shop owner will recognize this dilemna and just NOT purchase all those new dresses. I refer you back to the paragraph with the bold word "required". If a store does NOT place their required number of samples, the designer will close their account.
Maybe you think that is OK because if the store loved the line, of course they would like to buy more styles. But for you, the BRIDE, it is not OK because when the designer closes the account, they will no longer accept any orders from that bridal shop on the styles they do own and more importantly for BRIDES, they will hold your ordered gown hostage until the store comes up with the order and the MONEY to buy the required samples.
And you all thought this was a glamour business and so much fun! No one can survive in bridal unless they are a skilled business person. No one.
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