Pards (and civilians) one and all: I regretfully advise that I am forced to take a small price increase for most of my hats. This is due to an increase in cost from my felter. I recently was advised by letter which I quote:
"Dear valued customer
Prices for our raw materials to make hat bodies continue to rise. We have made our fur purchases for this year, but all qualities have gone up in price. Our suppliers have told us that supply will not be a concern, but prices continue to be unstable.
At this time, we must raise prices $5.00 per hat body for westerns, and $3.00 per hat body for dress.
We have been told that prices should stabilize in the future.
Thank you for your past business."
Signed by the general manager of the felting company.
As an aside to the above, I've had a discussion with the general manager, and he says that the Chinese continue to influence the pricing due to the fact that their recent conversion to a more capitalistic business model. They are buying fur bales without much regard to price thereby driving the price per bale to an alltime high.
Other factors involved are an increase in postage (average $.40 per package), increase in ribbon cost (average $.04 per yard, andd an increase in the cost of shipping boxes (average $.09 per box
All things considered, I have instructed my web guy to increase the price of all hats, except top hats by $3.00 ea.
Thank you for your understanding in this matter
Tim Bender
T P & H Trading Co
"Dear valued customer
Prices for our raw materials to make hat bodies continue to rise. We have made our fur purchases for this year, but all qualities have gone up in price. Our suppliers have told us that supply will not be a concern, but prices continue to be unstable.
At this time, we must raise prices $5.00 per hat body for westerns, and $3.00 per hat body for dress.
We have been told that prices should stabilize in the future.
Thank you for your past business."
Signed by the general manager of the felting company.
As an aside to the above, I've had a discussion with the general manager, and he says that the Chinese continue to influence the pricing due to the fact that their recent conversion to a more capitalistic business model. They are buying fur bales without much regard to price thereby driving the price per bale to an alltime high.
Other factors involved are an increase in postage (average $.40 per package), increase in ribbon cost (average $.04 per yard, andd an increase in the cost of shipping boxes (average $.09 per box
All things considered, I have instructed my web guy to increase the price of all hats, except top hats by $3.00 ea.
Thank you for your understanding in this matter
Tim Bender
T P & H Trading Co
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