Handling Rejection from Store Buyers

This is a topic that I am sure all of us are familiar with. All of us have endured rejection with our lines and I know after some instances it can make us all want to throw in the towel and go back to a traditional 9 - 5 job. When I was faced with rejection from buyers, I would question everything.

My thoughts would be something like this:

Who is going to buy this line?

Brand X and Brand Y are so inventive and unique, my line pales in comparison.

Maybe I should listen to my friends and just go back to working for Nordstrom. It is safe and I don’t have to put myself out there everyday.

Geez. Just reading those sentences and those thoughts makes me depressed and want to go back to bed.

Listen, we all face times of rejection and it is critical that you continue moving forward. When I find myself getting down in the dumps and going into a downward spiral of negative thinking, I consciously make changes. Sometimes it is a matter of just getting up and going for a walk outside my office for some fresh air. Other times, I need to sit and be quiet and meditate on my goals and desires. The most powerful thing is to be aware of the negative self-talk and to make a change.

First of all, I would encourage you to have some affirmations posted around you about your company. I have affirmations in my purse that I look at each day. I also have them in my bathroom and by my monitor in my office. I look at them, say them aloud and they keep me on track. Some of my affirmations are “I can make money and do what I love.”

Second, be super clear on the accounts that you want to be in. Sometimes one has to contact a store buyer 2-3 times before you get a response.

Third, celebrate all of your wins. Even if it is getting into a store on consignment, that is a great feat because it gets your product in front of more customers.

Lastly, continue to push towards your goals. I have found the quote below by Harriet Beecher Stowe to be particularly comforting, because I know just when things seem to be completely hopeless, that is when I experience a breakthrough.

“When you get into a tight place and everything goes against you, till it seems as though you could not hang on a minute longer, never give up then, for that is just the place and time that the tide will turn.”