Showroom Cost Calculator
The complete annual cost of running your line through a wholesale showroom. Every layer: retainer, commission, catalog printing, sampling for the showroom, agents and retailers, trade show fees and travel, existing account territory transfer, Faire overlap, and agency own-buy discount.
What this is based on
Based on industry practice at showrooms including Keena, Aesthetic Movement, Karen Alweil Studio and comparable national gift and lifestyle agencies.
Territory exclusivity. Exclusive means the showroom covers all accounts in the territory. Non-exclusive means you can carry other reps or sell direct alongside. Settle this, the Faire position and existing accounts before you sign.
The cost layers
- Three sample populations
Permanent display samples for the showroom itself. Working samples for road agents and sub-reps who cover accounts in the territory. Ad-hoc sample requests from retailer buyers before committing to an order. Each has a different cost structure.
- One print run covers three uses
The catalog print run covers the showroom, trade show booth distribution, and agent packs. Reprinted every season. 2,000 copies minimum is standard for a showroom with trade show presence.
- Two trade show cost models
When the showroom exhibits on your behalf (permanent markets, joint booths), they charge a negotiated flat fee per show. When you have your own booth, you pay per linear foot. Both are real costs. Brand travel is additional and often forgotten.
- Agency own-buy
Common with top gift showrooms. Some place their own purchase orders to seed inventory with key accounts, often below your standard MOQ and with a discount negotiated at signing. This is both a cost (discount) and a benefit (guaranteed opening orders).
Existing accounts: the key negotiating point
Showrooms typically want commission on every account in the territory, including accounts you opened before they existed. Your position: existing accounts are house accounts, commission rate is 0%. Their position: full rate from day one. The three scenarios (0%, half rate, full rate) show the annual cost of each concession.
If Faire is included in the territory, the showroom earns commission on Faire orders from those accounts too. Keeping Faire excluded as a house channel is your strongest position.
Keep going
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Compliance and legal
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