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Pumpkin & Pickle BearsHi all,
I'm so sorry I haven't posted in a while - life has been so busy with bears, children and wedding preparations and I've just returned from a week's holiday in Hurghada, Egypt which was beautiful.
I've received an email from a Japanese company that is interested in purchasing some of my bears for their shop. I'm always a bit sceptical of these sort of emails and wondered if any of you had heard of them before. They are called Poco Andante Corporation and are based in Osaka, Japan. They have a website (www.poco.co.jp) but looking at their website they don't seem like the kind of store to sell Artist Bears. Apparently they are coming over to the UK in July and are interested in meeting me. Does this seem too good to be true?
I haven’t heard of them, the web site isn't really anything to go on it?
these kind of companies normally look for mass produced stuff. Seems strange.
Kerren
DoodlebearsDitto, I agree with what Kerren said.
Hugs Jane. 
i clocked around and i found some lovely loking dools which look arty and also even a cute rat bag which i would love to have http://img3.store.yahoo.co.jp/I/poco_1901_1634182
do you have the email of some one who speaks english , lol ???
the teddy banner saying on line sales proved to show another pic with teddies and all kinds on it and lead to the bags and dolls !
keep talking with them and find out what they are looking for/want etc
and telk to us about it too if you are worried - no harm in talks ?
i watn thins bag !
heehee
good luck too
cat xxx
I used to work with them they are very nice and I went to Japan and demonstrated teddy bear making in a store in Nagoya which was fascinating. There are many artists who work with this reputable company...I worked with them when I started out and they negotiated keen prices back then. They are very demanding and ask for lots of bears and it got the better of me i am afraid..I can't work like it and it was very hard to produce the volume they want. There are artists that work well with them and seem to thoroughly enjoy it. Janette of Beani bears has a long standing arrangement with them and she goes to Japan a lot. They are highly reputable and very honest and businesslike. They do ask for keen prices though and their mark-up is staggering..and they do get the prices for the bears they sell.
But I can't work in the way they want and keep on going to Japan...it's too much of a commitment and I won't sell my bears for those prices...but don't be put off..they pay on time and they never quibble.
Past Time BearsGemma, I got the very same email from them yesterday. They said they saw my work in TBCI magazine and wanted to meet with me in the UK when they were there. Evidently they didn't notice that I am in the US rather than the UK. I suspected that they would want NUMEROUS bears from me, and, like Jenny, I just can't work like that.
Flying Fur Studioswow, sounds cool that you got picked though! Congrats on that even if you don't do it!
Posts: 1,836I'm pretty sure that Marion (acid attic) has their link on her site and blog...she's worked with them (???)
She might be able to help you too.
:hug:
~Chrissi
Creative Design Studio (RKR4CDS)World of Miniatures works the same way: I've been pitched many times by Chris and ......... (blanking on her name - Jamie Wu's ex).
The contract looked good, but I too cannot just design 10 new bears by the end of the month. And continue in that vein for several periods throughout the year. I think that those that're best at following their own muse, design as new ideas occur to them and that's never on a set schedule!
I couldn't agree more..when I started out it seemed a good idea..and to be honest it put a couple of thousand in the bank when I needed it ..but it made bear making a total drudgery and to me that's just not what I want from it.
Plus the fact that I can't afford to sell what amounts to one third of my yearly output at discount for them to then sell my work for over five times what I was selling it to them for....no thanks..it just went against the grain.
I don't like that kind of pressure..so I was not the best person for it...but some people like the reliable, regular sales and the up front approach to business that they have....
