Marketing Information

I've recently been approached by a manufacturer of sterling and gold jewelry
to be their representative in my state. I have experience with marketing
from a previous part of my life (pre-jewelry) but it was in computer
equipment so I am really not acquainted with expectations in the jewelry
industry. From my experience, resellers expect marketing rebates to defer
the cost of developing and maintaining the market for a particular
merchandise line (usually 3-5%) to be paid by the manufacturer or their
representatives. Are these or similar discounts standard in jewelry? Also, I
would appreciate any input from the members as to what they would wish a
manufacturer's rep or distributor had done. I like the company's product
line and want to promote them in a way that will reflect well upon both
their company and myself.

Kirk Robinson