At Fabric Mart: Buying and Selling

This is where it starts. Meet our Fabric Buyers!

If you didn't know already, half of Fabric Mart's business is wholesaling fabric to fabric stores, clothing manufacturers, and designers. But in order to wholesale fabric to these customers, we need the fabric first!
This is where Robert and Julie come in, our Fabric Mart buyers. They thoughtfully select the fabric to be purchased from many different places, such as manufacturers lots and sample room inventories, to name a few. This is also why our inventory is always changing and you never know what you will find at Fabric Mart!

Robert is the founder/owner. Since starting the company 35 years ago, he has gained a lot of connections in the industry to make our business what it is today. The process of buying fabric isn't easy. Deciding which fabric, how much to order and negotiating a price are some of the main factors in being a buyer.

Julie is the wholesale manager. Julie is in charge of wholesale orders, purchasing fabric, giving fabric to our retail website, and so much more! She is in constant communication with our wholesale customers and sending out samples to them. Julie also travels frequently to buy fabric and participate in Fabric Trade Shows around the country.

How long have you worked here?
Julie: Since Aug 2008
Robert: I started the company 35 years ago in Manheim, PA.

Describe a typical day at Fabric Mart:
Julie: "Julie, Line 1. Julie, Line 2!" *Laughs* I come into work, check my e-mails, answer and make phone calls, send out samples to customers, and select fabric to be put onto the website.
Robert: Fabric Mart has 15 employees. When I arrive in the morning I say hello to each one. Notice that I usually arrive after the employees get in. I check to see how many orders were received overnight and I like to see what the customers are ordering. The rest of the day consists of looking at samples of fabric that are for sale, picking fabrics for the website and selling fabric to some of our wholesale accounts.

What do you do when your leave work?
Julie: Make dinner, go for a walk, spend time with my husband, do some sewing/crafting/creating, relax!
Robert: I live about 35 minutes from the store so I use the drive time to relax. I also enjoy woodworking and gardening.

How do you take your coffee?
Julie: I don't like coffee.
Robert: I am not old enough to drink coffee!

What is the best part of your job?
Julie: Working with customers to get them what they need, traveling to different parts of the country to meet our customers, and buying fabrics!
Robert: Coming into work in the morning and seeing all of the activity. I also enjoy seeing all of the new young employees with all of their ideas and energy.

If you were stranded on a desert island who, from Fabric Mart, would you take?
Julie: Sandy! Just because I think it would be fun and we'd have stuff to talk about.
Robert: Nobody, I would enjoy the peach and quite! Hopefully, I would have some fabric with me so that I could make a tent. I sunburn quickly!!

Do you sew and if so, what's your favorite thing to sew?
Julie: Yes! My favorite things to sew are accessories, clothing and things for my house.
Robert: Nope

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