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Tuesday, March 13, 2012

Follow Up about TKB Trading's Pints

Links checked 12/12/13.
Don't forget to check Suspension Base Suppliers & Notes for all possible sources.

Sounds like I started something, doesn't it? I'm feeling a little guilty about that, as though my reaction was over the top despite that I felt the previous entry was well thought out. Well written or not, my reader's response and TKB Trading's require a follow up entry.

I love TKB Trading and was very upset to hear that the pint would no longer be sold; it took so long to happen, to have a suspension base for retail purchase and then to have the option removed... I was a little insulted because the way it was phrased on the page for the pint sure sounded like preferential treatment of frankenpolish sellers- I must use the word "was" here because Mrs. Westerman has since updated that page with a clearer explanation. But before she did that and after I wrote the last entry, I sent a similar email which I am including, along with Mrs. Westerman's response. Normally I wouldn't post correspondence verbatim but in this case, I wanted to make sure I was being fair- you know, to show both sides and I suppose also to show that I was being unnecessarily harsh. 

Mrs. Westerman,
I'm sure I am not the only frankener upset by the news that the company is reserving the pints for micro businesses. The message that sends is that if one does not sell their franken polish, they are going to pay more for the privilege of creating their own. There is a substantial difference in price between what the hobbyist and the franken polish seller will now pay and quite frankly, I don't think that's right. We all sink money into it to do it but the franken sellers at least get part of their expenses back. I understand that you have a responsibility to those high-volume customers, particularly since you make more money off those orders but what about the rest of us? Had I known that eventually I wouldn't be able to purchase a pint, I would've bought two or three when I bought just the one because that would've been the sensible thing to do. The company will do whatever it is going to do but if you're determined to do this without having given us prior warning, lower the prices on the small bottles. Shipping for almost every frankening supply is expensive because it goes ground, hobbyists have to save money wherever possible and this isn't saving us money. 

And the response...
The lead time for nail polish manufacturing is about three months, and based on my last quarter sales, I thought I had ordered enough, but somehow "word got out" this time around and I clearly miscalculated. It's not a matter of trying to control the market, a 'secret club' or anything. It is simply a matter of the well running dry.

I got flooded with orders this week, I had to pull the plug suddenly in part because I may have actually sold out my inventory. I'm sorry I didn't plan better.

Your suggestion about lower the price on the smaller bottles is something I will consider. Right now, I am just trying to work through the orders we have and then I'm going to do an inventory and see what options I'm left with. So I won't know exactly what I will do for about a week.
Kaila Westerman, TKB Trading. 

In short, TKB Trading received more orders for suspension base than they had the suspension base to fill this time around, no doubt influenced by the recent explosion of franken polishes for sale. It'a an unfortunate oversight and one with unintended consequences, namely that everyone is going to have to slow down their frankening or risk running out of suspension base altogether. Hubby explained it all by saying that supplies, whatever the industry, are ordered based on the previous quarter's sales, (as you can see Mrs. Westerman confirmed) supply-and-demand, first come, first served and all that, it's only good business that high volume buyers get preference... sometimes Hubby's matter of fact way of looking at things is greatly annoying. You can still buy the suspension bases in smaller bottles so its not as though the well truly is empty but the price is not conducive to mass production. For the pints we're looking at at least a three month waiting period, possibly more since the back-logged orders will have to be filled first and then, get in line. I am not a microbusiness, I'll be waiting along with the rest of you. -MK

25 comments:

  1. Sooo.... What if you are not currently a seller, but would like to play around with the suspension base and work on formulating your polishes for possible sale? This is where I am right now.

    I will have to work with what I have for the next 3 months or so. As long as they will now order more to keep up with the demand in the future, I guess this should not be too much of a problem.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. What if? You buy the smaller bottles because there's no other choice and keep looking for alternatives in the meantime, that's what I'm doing. At some point, perhaps TKB Trading will accept pre-orders.

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  2. I've checked TKB site and now the medium size bottles have been taken off as well.

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    Replies
    1. Thanks for letting us know. The news just gets better and better.

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    2. Oh for Pete's sake. I am most curious about whether or not us small fry will be able to order ANYTHING at this point. I suppose I will reserve judgement until TKBs stock situation is resolved. I'm definitely not getting the warm fuzzies from all this, that's for sure.

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    3. I think whoever said, "that sucks" first, pretty well summed it up. Something positive though- I doubt that TKB will ever underestimate their suspension base sales again.

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  3. There is this post, not mine, about an additive to make glitter suspend, does not help if you have no base at all though.

    http://headtofoot.wordpress.com/2012/03/11/frankening-how-to-suspend-glitter-in-clear-nail-polish/

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you, thank you, thank you! I am totally going to do this. I was freaking out at the thought of no more suspension base, and this will help me greatly.

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    2. I referenced that blog in the prior entry. It's good to have women willing to play detective/chemist.

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  4. Here is the link to the UK seller that you may be referring to
    http://www.decorativeindustries.co.uk/index.html

    I've inquired about price and mininum order quantity and am just waiting for a response.

    ReplyDelete
  5. This is all so frustrating. I ordered my first base from TKB about a week ago, one of the medium sized bottles. Right now I make my frankens with existing polishes but I was hoping to move on to base/glitter/pigment soon, mostly because having so many empty .5 oz bottles seems wasteful. I had planned to order more medium bottles once I saw that the bulk is no longer an option, and now medium isn't either? I get what tkb is saying, but I still don't think it's right or fair.

    Your site is amazing by the way! I just found it recently and I'm so hooked. Thank you for putting all of this information out there for us.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Filling the bottles is never really the problem for me, it's making something worth putting in them. Irritating as it is, the 1 oz is still available and the medium size you already have can go pretty far in .5 bottles. As to the rest of your comment, THANK YOU for reading.

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  6. I'm with you, MK...should have ordered the pints when I thought about it...was just trying to be a better planner with money and orders...She has run out before, she will get them back again, but the wait sucks, lol. Thanks again MK for your time and experience with all of this.

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    Replies
    1. My dad would say all the "patience" are in the hospital.

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  7. I was actually hoping to get started mixing my own polish when I heard the news about no bulk base from KTB. So I have kind of been on my own looking for a supplier of pre-mixed base. The only response I have gotten so far was from a bulk supplier in Singapore who told me they recommend buying their finished polishes because the process of mixing lacquer is "complicated." As far as I knew, people just mix the base and pigments/glitter, right? I can't imagine it would be very "complicated" if people were doing it at home. I have emailed about 3 different people and so far the frankener community has been extremely unhelpful :-/

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You have come to the right place, MK is very open and helpful with information on frankening and supplies! :)

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    2. Supposedly, professional polish is a complicated process in regards to how everything is mixed but frankening is only as complicated as YOU make it. It is as simple as dropping a couple BBs in a bottle with polish and pigment and shaking the hell out of it. The complication, if you consider it one, is finding the right balance of ingredients or places to buy them. I don't consider that a problem, I see it as a challenge.

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    3. Thanks everyone. Just being able to get a response from someone eases the frustration a lot, but it still sucks that I still don't have a way to get pre made base. Back to the lab again, I suppose. I've added this page to my favorites so once I get started I'll have somewhere to get advice and suggestions.

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  8. It looks like luster base is available up to 16oz on tkb's site :)

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  9. Oh wow. As a small business who can't afford to buy in gallon or larger just yet, I started with TKB. Now I'm going to have to find another source and she's not sharing hers.

    I have customers who are not going to wait 3 months while my supplier gets their ducks in a row.

    Lovely.

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  10. Hi there, I am from the UK and phoned decorative industries. Unfortunately they will not sell to individuals and won't sell small quantities eaither as it is not really feasable or of value to them! Plus the fact it contains "lots of chems and could be dangerous" for home/personal use. Shame there is not anyone willing to supply to the UK, Anyone got any hints or ideas how to by pass this. Thanks for all your research in this. Just wish I could get some.

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  11. I certainly do but everyone will have to wait a few days. Brace yourselves.

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  12. Just an update on UK suppliers of nail polish suspension base .
    You now get it at www.micamoma.com. Initially will be selling limited amounts.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Just an update on UK suppliers of nail polish suspension base .
    You now get it at www.micamoma.com. Initially will be selling limited amounts.

    ReplyDelete

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