What is a "cottage vendor" company exactly?

[Bcarrawa]

Hi everyone,

I wanted some clarification on what the pros consider a true cottage vendor hammock company. Are these just handcrafted? Are they only operations that make hammocks by the order? (Don't carry a huge inventory?

Just curious since I see the phrase thrown around on other sites, and knew I would get better clarification here.

Thanks

[WaffleBox]

I haven't really thought about it until now, but I would define a cottage vendor as one that only sells its own products and doesn't distribute them through any third party retailers. There is also probably an upper limit on the company's size, either in terms of sales or employees, but I'm not sure where the cutoff would be.

[Xtrm tj]

I haven't really thought about it until now, but I would define a cottage vendor as one that only sells its own products and doesn't distribute them through any third party retailers. There is also probably an upper limit on the company's size, either in terms of sales or employees, but I'm not sure where the cutoff would be.

Just add to this, They make their product also. When it comes to selling something sewn, spliced or possibly manufactured. Warbonnet,dutchware,arrowhead equip....the list goes on.

[Porter Rockwell]

It is more often one that produces and distributes from home with possibly a second livelihood. Here, with several of the well known ones, they may have certain operations performed by others in their homes. One thing with ours: They are superb on craftsmanship, quality control and service with almost endless advice. Ok, they may have lead times to solve supply issues, but I've always been very satisfied.

The opposite of big-box merchandisers that produce nothing but distribution locations.

[novasquid]

not sure how the term was first applied to the hammock world, but i always think of farmers markets when I hear "cottage vendor."

I would consider any operation that has a business license to be a "small business" than a cottage vendor.

[dakotaross]

Agreed, a "cottage vendor" is better described as a craft business, someone between home-made shop and true small business. The latter being something big enough to require additional help to manage the company, whereas a cottage company might typically employ other craftsman to help make product, but management is typically the primary producer/owner, bookeeper (likely a spouse), and likely doesn't employ anyone else who isn't making product. Not to disparage those making product as if their all worker bees, I know all too well how many hats you wear with a small company.

You'll find some start-ups never really making it past the "shop" stage, but if they hang around enough then I think its fair to lump them in with other cottage vendors who are bigger. These folks are so directly involved with the end product, that something like a 35% profit may be very sufficient for them, whereas 35% barely pays the North Face wholesaler's salary. The big companies know all too well what our price points are, and that's why you see such a variation in product with them. To get the sales on the low end, they have to produce a cheaper product. In some cases, they need to sell it as something that its not. Its not that they aren't capable of producing some really good product, but its going to be more expensive, and you find they don't pay a lot of attention to what is deemed as not so marketable - either because they feel there is no market or its too small to justify setup expenses. (quilts for instance)

The joy in working with the cottage vendors is that they are devoid of cheap product and aggressive sales tactics, and their product evolves rather quickly to better satisfy the want & needs of the community it serves.

[fallkniven]

Think mom and pop shop from home. Someone who works from home with family/friends, handcrafting something to sell. A small time custom craftsmen you deals with customers personally. Think pioneer days when people lived in little cottages and each had their own trade (blacksmith, carpenter, etc...).

http://www.thefreedictionary.com/cottage+industry
http://www.investorwords.com/1163/cottage_industry.html
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/cottage+industry
http://www.merriam-webster.com/dicti...age%20industry

[Bcarrawa]

I just wanted some clarification as to what exactly a "cottage vendor" business is. Is it a company that makes all products by hand? Is it a company that only does made to order products, like more of a custom order vendor?

What are you thoughts?

[hanginyaker]

they only make gear when they are at the cottage. good question tho kind of a funny term for sure

[sparky32]

Funny, for all the stuff on Wikipedia, they don't have an entry for Cottage Vendor (as of 7-20-2015).