WholesaleEZ Blog

Wholesale Fashion Jewelry

2009-03-27T11:57:00.005-04:00

Looking for merchandise to sell, that will buck the trend of the down economy? No doubt, this will be a challenging year for us all. Sales on souvenirs and fashion jewelry with retails for $10 and under have been strong. Cool Jewels ® has a wholesale fashion jewelry website that is both user friendly, and loaded with the latest trends in teen and fashion jewelry. Whether your looking for peace sign jewelry or other hot trends, you'll be sure to find them there, at the lowest possible distributor prices.

Disgruntled ebay auction sellers look elsewhere

2008-06-29T20:43:00.010-04:00

By Robert Cyr

While ebay holds the title of worlds largest online auction there are other players in the field. Small ebay sellers are truly feeling "Pinched" as ebay slowly changes its policies and procedures for sellers who are trying to make an extra or even full time income.

Case in point:

As of July 1^st ebay will be implementing a “No Link” zone meaning you (as a seller) can no longer link to an outside website from your auction listings, about me pages, reviews, eBay blogs or community posts. This is a a very big deal to many who use ebay as a means to drive targeted traffic to an ecommerce website for additional sales.

In addition to this policy ebay will start cloaking buyers and seller's email addresses to further hinder the ability to actively communicate and cross-sell additional merchandise. The email cloaking will carry over to Paypal users eventually.

As ebay continues to restrict features and increase fees auction sellers are looking for other on line alternatives. There are some formidable players and a few up and coming auction sites to keep an eye on:

Bidtopia.com - Founded by Ebay's Titanium Powerseller: Bargainland Liquidation, Bidtopia is gaining momentum as a great auction site for name brand merchandise. Bidtopia offers proxy bidding with auctions starting a .99 with no reserve! Another unique feature is the "Inverted" Auction where a product starts at a minimum of $100 for one week and if no bids are received the item is discounted 1% every fours hours. Items can be purchased immediately at the discounted price or bidders can submit lower proxy bids. Sellers fees are 2.75% of final auction bid. Bidtopia charges sellers .25 if an item closes without a single bid.

Onlineauction.com - Started back by an Ebay Powerseller OnlineAuctions.com offers a new approach to selling. Once registered sellers are charged a flat $8 per month with no final value fees or listing fees. Sellers are encouraged to post links from auctions directly to their own websites.

Etsy.com - Started back in 2005 this online auction community only allows handmade items to be auctioned. The only exception to the handmade requiremnt being craft supplies and nostalgic items over 20 years old. Etsy does not charge a setup fee for new sellers and everyone receives an online store which an be customized. Etsy offers some very impressive stats including 1 million registered users; 1.7 million items currently listed and 2008 sales to date just under $29.5 million. Sellers are charged a small .20 item listing fee and final value fees of 3.5%.

Liquidation.com - Online auction targeting small to large retailers who have excess inventory to liquidate. You can buy or sell in quantities from small box lots up to truckloads in several categories including: apparel, computers, electronics, housewares, industrial equipment, vehicles, and much more. All auctions start at a minimum opening bid if $100 with no reserve set. Liquidation.com reports that 99% of what is posted online ends with a final bid. Liquidation.com is an excellent venue for those looking to move surplus merchandise.

This post brought to you by:

The Closeout Industry - A wealth of information centered around wholesale closeout merchandise. Author and consultant, Robert Cyr has educated thousands of entrepreneurs offering advice relating to sourcing name brand merchandise far below wholesale pricing.

Great Addition to PPC

2008-06-24T12:23:00.009-04:00

By Robert Cyr

If you are reading this blog post I would be willing to bet that you are in the process of buying wholesale merchandise or have been buying wholesale merchandise online for some time now. Why would I make this statement? To prove a point...and the point is that blogging is a great way to drive traffic to you E-commerce website or ebay auctions.

Large and small internet retailers are realizing that well written, content rich blogs are a great addition to PPC (Pay Per Click) advertising campaigns. What is a Blog? The term blog is short for weblog which is simply a data-base driven website where an author can publish posts about any topic imaginable. Each blog post is date stamped and categorized by the blog author. When a web surfer stumbles upon a blog he can then choose from a variety of blog posts by simply clicking a category. The Blog's database then loads topic after topic into the web visitors browser.

Search engines love keyword rich content, therefore blogs tend to be indexed and served up in the form of organic search results in a higher ranking than the traditional "static website".

One of the best ways to be successful is simply to emulate those that are successful...right? Some major retailers, like walmart (Walmarts Blog) have realized that blogging is a great way to connect with people and drive traffic. A Blog will keep readers connected to your website through the use of an RSS feed. We have all noticed that little, often orange, button marked, "RSS". Web visitors can click on that link and have content (from that particular website) delivered through a Reader or directly to an email address. That "Opt In" visitor will receive updated content as the blog publisher writes it.

"How would a blog I write send traffic to my website?"

I am glad you asked...

Lets assume you have an E-commerce website where you are selling electronics...maybe MP3 players and cell phones. You could blog about several different topics, like:

Product reviews
Product features
Upcoming new models
Information about downloading music or ring tones
Detailed user instructions
Your opinions
Current product news like "Cell phone usage while driving a car"

All of your blog posts could offer a link back to your E-commerce website; remember blog readers who find value in your blog will visit your website on a regular basis. Blogging will work for any type of tangible product or even a service.

When you are surfing then net pay close attention to the website that you visit...I think you will be surprised at the number of "savvy" Internet marketers who are using the power of blogging to drive targeted web traffic. Many websites today will have a link to their own blog. Spend some time investigating blog marketing and I think you will realize that blogging may just be the most economical way for you to drive traffic to your Ebiz!

You can start a blog for free and drive traffic to your website or ebay auctions:

Blogger - Setting up a Blogger account takes three easy steps. Create an account, name your blog, and choose a template. There is no charge for this service-

Wordpress.com - You will be blogging in minutes with a free Wordpress.com hosted blog. Wordpress is probably the most popular blogging platform today-

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Retailing with little overhead...How?

2008-06-15T10:29:00.015-04:00

By Robert Cyr

Are you looking to start a retail business on a limited budget? There are several ways to retail merchandise, but opening a traditional store can be very expensive. Another option other than a “Brick and Mortar” storefront is selling at festivals, fairs and parade events. You can set up as a vendor at these attractions for as little as $50 to $100 for a 10 X 10 booth. One and two day events attract thousands of people who are willing to spend money on just about anything.

I have found that just about any type of merchandise will sell at fairs and festivals, but to be honest the big dollars can be made by selling to one category of fair attendees....children. Kids love to buy toys or novelties. I, myself can attend a festival or fair and not spend a dime, but when I have my children with me they are “hounding” me to buy souvenirs or toys relentlessly.

You can sell just about anything at festivals and fairs providing you follow vendor guidelines which will be apart of each event you participate in. Some festivals will only allow a certain number of related vendors in each event so it is imperative that you sign up to become a vendor well in advance.

I have set up as a vendor at probably 30-40 different events and some have been more profitable than others. There is a learning curve involved and much of the success you will have will come with trial and error. In my circumstance selling toys and novelties I know that for every 10,000 in attendance I average about $1,500 in retail sales. Larger cities will hold annual festivals and fairs where it is not uncommon to have 50,000 to 75,000 people attending daily!

As a vendor it can become overwhelming at the volume of people viewing your merchandise and trying to hand you money. For larger events you must have help selling and watching your merchandise to prevent theft.

You will need to purchase a couple of large items to make selling easier:

10 X 10 sun canopy to provide shade for your selling area; also provides protection in the event of rain. Canopies can range in price from $79 for a lower end unit up to $350 for a sturdy commercial grade canopy designed to be setup over and over. Look for a canopy that provides ease of setup, often in minutes with two to three people assisting.

Folding tables are a must and can be purchased just about anywhere. Folding tables come in various lengths, but the standard are six to eight feet long. 3-4 tables will provide an excellent way to merchandise your inventory.

In addition to the above I recommend bringing:

Electrical extension cords at least 50-100 feet in length
Bungee cords to secure your canopy for windy days
Lights for night events
Secure cash box
Rolling hand truck to pack your equipment/merchandise from the parking area to your selling location

How do I find out about upcoming events in my area?

Contact the Chamber of Commerce in your geographical region. Ask for a schedule of community events which allow retail vendors to sell.

Get friendly with other vendors at the events you set up at as they can offer additional information about upcoming places to sell-

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Why do I need a State Sales Tax License?

2008-06-08T09:53:00.005-04:00

Have you been searching the web for wholesale merchandise? There are literally thousands of companies who either specialize in specific categories of wholesale merchandise or offer multiple lines of merchandise to meet your reselling needs. Many of the web's largest wholesale distributors have online catalogs where you can shop and compare pricing.

Have you noticed that some wholesale companies/websites require you to register as a wholesale buyer before you are able to view product pricing? Companies who ask you to register are doing so for a few reasons:

They want to protect wholesale pricing from competitors & end consumers
They want to make sure you are actively engaged in reselling the merchandise you want to purchase
Marketing: The contact information you provide upon registration will allow the wholesaler to email or mail catalogs, latest offerings etc

I personally like the idea of a wholesale company keeping pricing exclusive to resellers and feel more wholesalers should practice this requirement. It does take some time to fill out the registration forms, but typically once completed you will have instant access to inventory pricing.

Lets take a closer look at step 2 above as this is where some questions will arise. Many wholesale companies will ask you for a resale number or State Sales Tax ID. Providing your State Sales Tax ID will prove to the wholesale company you are actively involved in reselling merchandise (Retailing) and thereby will allow them to sell to you without charging you sales tax.

Why do I need a State Sales Tax ID?

If you live in a State that charges sales tax and you are retailing merchandise to someone that resides in your State you must collect sales tax. The sales tax you collect must be paid to your state on a quarterly or yearly basis.

If you are retailing your merchandise and shipping out of your home state you do not need to collect sales tax. For example, if your business is located in California and you sell and ship to Texas...you do not need to collect sales tax.

Applying for a State Sales Tax License is very easy and in most cases inexpensive. Most States allow you to apply online, start by visiting USA.gov which will provide you with a direct link to your States' government website. Once you click on your individual state there will be links to information relating to licensing and starting a business specific to your state of residence.

Once you have applied and been issued a Sales tax license for your business you will be given specific information about how to collect sales tax, reporting and general information relating to tax laws.

If you plan on selling merchandise in bulk (wholesaling) you will want to ask for your customer's State Sales Tax license information. You must keep an accurate record of the sales you make to resellers where you do not charge sales tax.

This requirement is why the wholesale company you are thinking of buying from is asking for your specific resale number...otherwise they will have to charge you sales tax on your wholesale purchase...

Here is an example of a California Sellers permit. Each State that collects sales tax will issue a permit to resellers once you provide specific information about your business.

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Sales Channels: Better to place eggs in multiple baskets...

2008-05-31T23:12:00.005-04:00

By Robert Cyr

I have had the pleasure of interviewing Alain Stambouli from Via Trading this past week and we discussed several key areas in the wholesale liquidation industry. Alain explained the sales staff at Via Trading is expected to work with each new client prior to a purchase making sure each customer understands what to expect when buying liquidation merchandise. Via Trading supplies hundreds of online ebay auction sellers with name brand merchandise.

(excerpt of interview)

Q- What advice can you give the small Ebay seller wishing to purchase liquidation merchandise for ebay?

Generally speaking standard advice is the more sales channels you have – the better chance you have of recuperating a higher amount on your inventory investment. For example: someone who sells at flea markets and on eBay has a much better chance of making more money then someone who only sell on eBay alone or vice versa.

Via Trading offers the following guidelines to eBay sellers –

Aim to purchase High Value (low bulk) items (e.g. a low end microwave – retailing for $40 will not do well on eBay since shipping costs will be prohibitive

Keep unbranded goods to a minimum as people tend to search for top name brands on ebay

Depending on your business model – purchasing assorted wholesale lots (as opposed to large quantities of same item) will mean a faster turnover of goods for you and will minimize your risk in case any particular item for some reason or another is ‘price dumped’ in the online market

Be creative and intuitive – Try to distinguish yourself form other sellers. E.g. if your selling shelf pull clothing – try to match up bottom with a top and sell as a set. If selling cosmetics, try to match up like colors and sell Lipstick, Skin, Eye as a set as opposed to individually.

Keep a database of your customers and what they have purchased. With permission email them appropriate offers – discount coupons etc.

Alain Stambouli offered additional advice that I will be sharing with you in future blog posts, but lets talk a little more about diversifying your sales as explained above.

In addition to selling on Ebay you might try the following:

Sell on Craigslist which is a centralized network of online urban communities, featuring free classified advertisements. Users are able to post "For Sale" items in dozens of categories. Unlike ebay, there are no fees associated with listing or selling merchandise!
Sell at your local Flea Market or Swap Meet. Often dealer tables can be rented by the day or weekend. Large markets will attract tens of thousands of buyers every week. Flea markets are a great way to move merchandise that will not sell on ebay.
Leverage the traffic from your ebay auctions to your own E-commerce website. Make sure you link your "About Me" page to your website and cross sell all auction winners with special discounts for future purchases
Sell through local classified adds through your print newspaper. I know of several local ebay sellers in my city who routinely run two line adds daily

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Soaring Profits with Wholesale Liquidators!

2008-05-24T16:12:00.004-04:00

By Robert Cyr

I read recently about Viatrading's expansion from 63,000 to a massive 227,000 square foot warehouse and the news added another reason to reaffirm my opinion about closeout merchandise. Companies like Rgriley.com, Genco, Roden Surplus Imports and Ca Liquidators have continued to have impressive growth over the last couple of years due to the nature of their "niche" market. Yes, I stated the Buzzword "Niche" because wholesaling closeout or surplus merchandise in my opinion is a specialized sub category of wholesaling in general.

Why are liquidators who distribute closeout, surplus and customer returned merchandise doing so well? I believe the biggest reason is due to the current state of our economy in general. Consumers, faced with less spending power, want name brand products at "better than" fair pricing when they are out retail shopping.

Seasoned retail entrepreneurs understand that it is important to follow the trend of consumer spending in order to be successful. Small store owners and online auction sellers are constantly looking for inventory with brand appeal and the ability to purchase that inventory at the lowest possible price. The savings can then be passed on to a client base.

Enter wholesale liquidation merchandise. This niche category of wholesale merchandise includes overstock; customer returns and shelf pull items from the some of the Nations largest big box retailers. Sold in small pallet quantities, by wholesale liquidators, the average reseller can now offer top name brands at less than retail pricing.

Jargon used when describing Liquidation Merchandise:

Closeout Merchandise: New excess inventory no longer being stocked by a retailer.

Customer Returned Merchandise: Customer Returns are offered by department stores or catalog companies usually, a percentage of merchandise will be unsellable due to damage.

Overstock Merchandise: New merchandise that does not make it to the retail shelf. Usually deemed "Overstock" when a retailer has purchased more inventory than the store can sell.

Shelf Pull Merchandise: Inventory that has been sitting on the shelf for an unspecified amount of time and is pulled to be liquidated on the wholesale market to gain revenue for the retailer. May have retail price tags affixed.

If you retail through a traditional "Brick n' Mortar" store or if you are selling online through auctions like ebay, you should at least explore wholesale liquidation merchandise. often, you can purchase small pallet quantities of top name brand merchandise at unheard of pricing.

Visit wholesale liquidators right here at WholesaleEz.com

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Plan ahead when using a Drop Shipper

2008-05-18T12:17:00.006-04:00

By: Robert Cyr

Drop shipping does work, the concept and the process is not new. There are thousands of companies who openly advertise, "We will drop ship to your customer". Drop shipping has offered a sense of hope for many individuals who are are interested starting a business, but do not have a large amount of cash to invest.

Wikipedia defines drop shipping as - "a supply chain management technique in which the retailer does not keep goods in stock, but instead transfers customer orders and shipment details to wholesalers, who then ship the goods directly to the customer. The retailers make their profit on the difference between the wholesale and retail price."

Lets take an honest look into using this business model:

Advantages:

No inventory to stock

Ability to instantly have thousands of products to sell

Total control over who you use as a supplier

Product shipping/order fulfillment handled by supplying company

You can run your business from home

Drop shippers will typically allow you to use their image photos to advertise on your website or ebay auctions

Disadvantages:

Unless you actually have the product in hand, you do not know condition or quality of any one item being shipped out

Merchandise returns? Most, if not all drop shippers will not accept purchase returns from your customers. How then do you offer customer satisfaction?

Sometimes orders placed with a supplier will be "out of stock"

Product shipping/order fulfillment handled by supplying company. This can be a disadvantage as some drop shippers might process your orders too slow.

If you decide to use a drop shipper for order fulfillment the best way to succeed is to start with a business plan. Lets look at it this way..How many times have you found yourself using Mapquest or Yahoo maps on line for directions?

If you have a place where you want to go (destination) and you have never been there before... you would follow step-by-step instructions to get there, right? If your business idea is a destination for you into uncharted territory please follow a map (business plan) or you will inevitably become lost along the way.

Develop a strategy that will answer the disadvantages of dropshipping should they occur in your business. Be ready and prepared for the unexpected and your business will prosper. Consider the following suggestions when drop shipping:

Use multiple companies to drop ship your products; why rely upon (or be at the mercy of) one?
Follow up with your customers...Did they receive the merchandise in a timely manor? Are they happy with the purchase? Would they order again?
After reviewing the performance of a drop shipper (order fulfillment) discontinue those that under perform
Use drop shipping as a starting point for your business, work up to actually stocking the product you are selling. When you inventory the product you are in total control of the selling process from marketing to shipping

What is your experience with drop shipping....success or?

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Economy Response: Wholesale Salvage Food

2008-05-17T11:15:00.007-04:00

By Robert Cyr

As our Nation feels the "Crunch" at the gas pumps (surging well over $4 per gallon in some regions) angry shoppers are looking to cut costs in all areas of spending. Food, being a major staple, is one area where budget minded consumers are paying close attention. As Americans stretch their paychecks food wholesalers are seeing a steady rise in the request for deeper discounts.

Small surplus and salvage grocery stores are opening around the Country promising to offer name brand products discounted at unheard of pricing. This trend is in direct relation to our economy, savvy entrepreneurs understand that consumers are feed up with paying exaggerated pricing. Enter the wholesale Salvage food industry.

Where does this Salvage food come from?

Food becomes "salvage" after it is discarded by supermarkets because it has damaged packaging or nearing expiration. Large grocery stores will ship pallets of salvage food to reclamation centers where it is either donated to charitable organizations or resold to smaller retail outlets. Due to its Salvage nature often name brand products can be purchased at a fraction of the original wholesale price and thereby offered to consumers, once again, in a discount setting.

End resellers will buy this food sight unseen in whats called a "Banana Box". There are typically 24 banana boxes filled with salvage food on a single pallet. Banana boxed pallets will range in price from a low of $168 up to $288 depending on factors such as item quantities and condition.

To meet the demand of our slow economy individuals are opening discount salvage grocery stores at an ever increasing rate filling shelves with grocery items and aisles with budget minded consumers.

Within the last few weeks I have spent countless hours on the phone with salvage food distributors who have all reported the fact that "phones are ringing off of the hook" as the demand for wholesale salvage groceries has increased at least 50% over last year.

What is your experience:

Do you operate a salvage grocery store?
Have your sales increased due to consumer demand for lower pricing?
Are you experiencing difficulty in finding salvage groceries on a wholesale level?

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WholesaleEZ Blog - Welcome!

2008-05-15T16:35:00.004-04:00

Chances are if you are reading this post you have found this blog searching for wholesale information and resources. Welcome, please start by adding our feed to your reader or choose
to have this feed emailed directly to you. You will want to stay updated on all posts here as you will learn about the latest information relating to inventory sourcing, retailing and general marketing ideas. Our blog feed can be accessed by clicking on the "Feed" link found just to the left in the side menu.

My name is Robert Cyr and I will be posting here at the WholesaleEz Blog on a regular basis. Please make full use of the comment feature allowing you to ask questions, post feedback and become a part of this community.

I have been involved in the retail and wholesale industry for just over ten years in several different capacities. My area of specialty is that of the Liquidation Industry where I have successfully launched and organized several internet companies. I have extensive experience in brokering merchandise (arranging sales transaction finding both buyer and seller), importing, exporting and I am currently offering consultant services to small and large domestic companies.

I am passionate about every aspect of business and I devote a lot of my time to helping others succeed. I have worked with large chain stores down to the individual making a part time living selling on ebay. I am really excited about writing for WholesaleEz and I am certain I will meet a lot of interesting people here., but remember you are a contributor as well.... So please stay in touch with comments.

Benefit from using a Loss Leader Strategy

2008-05-15T16:21:00.002-04:00

By Robert Cyr

There is a strategy in retail marketing which employs the use of a "loss leader" product or

simply put a product sold at, below or just above cost to elicit consumer interest.

Lets take a look at some loss leader examples:

Your local grocery store routinely utilizes the loss leader strategy to get you through the front doors. Watch for low prices on staple items including laundry soap, toilet paper and OTC (over the counter) drugs. The theory here is simple, you are drawn to the store to buy a few products at great pricing and before you leave you fill up the cart with other merchandise. It is not uncommon to place loss leader items at the back of the store that way you are forced to view other products (at everyday pricing) before checkout.

New Car Dealerships will continuously advertise vehicles at a very attractive price in print advertising. Look closely at the promotion and you will notice that the special pricing applies to only one vehicle or "One at this price". Dealerships will usually advertise the exact VIN (Vehicle Identification Number) of the "Loss Leader" and if you are not the first customer to purchase this vehicle you will then be encouraged to view other makes and models at the dealership. The coined phrase, "Bait and switch" comes to mind here.

Car dealerships use the loss leader strategy to peak interest and bring in a steady flow of potential car buyers.

Online or mail order music and DVD retailers advertise promotions which will offer the ability for consumers to purchase 10 DVDS or CD's at an unheard of price of one penny each! Who can resist this? Well, the fine print states you agree to purchase an additional amount of DVD's or CD's at regular pricing, plus shipping and handling within a specific time frame after the initial purchase.

Cellular phone providers will use the loss leader technique offering free cell phones to entice consumers. In order to qualify for a free phone you must sign a twelve or 24 month contract with the carrier and this is where the cellular company makes up for the initial giveaway.

The examples above illustrate the use of loss leader techniques and while you might be a small retailer, online seller or even a flea market vendor your business can benefit from the use of the loss leader strategy.

As a retailer you should always be on the lookout for wholesale pricing which will allow you to buy at a deep discount. Check with your suppliers on a regular basis for specials or closeouts which will allow to buy a particular item to use in your loss leader promotion.

This post brought to you by:

The Closeout Industry - offers a wealth of information centered around wholesale closeout merchandise. Author and consultant, Robert Cyr has educated thousands of entrepreneurs offering advice relating to

sourcing name brand merchandise far below wholesale pricing.

I Have Slow Moving Inventory!

2008-05-15T13:29:00.003-04:00

By Robert Cyr

Every retailer is faced with the dilemma at one time or another... what to do with excess or over-purchased stock? Have you thought about other ways to turn "Stagnant" inventory into cash? There are several ways for an individual to liquidate inventory thereby increasing cash flow. Slow moving merchandise ends up costing more and more each day it remains on your self. Lets turn it into cash.....

Ebay - There are (as of today) 44,013 auctions found with the keyword "Wholesale". Sign up to become a seller and list your wholesale inventory on Ebay. Your excess merchandise might not sell in your store but, ebay attracts millions of potential wholesale buyers who are searching daily for just about anything in bulk quantities.

Liquidation.com - Here is an auction specifically designed to help retailers, wholesalers, liquidators, manufacturers and others move bulk items. The website boasts several categories of merchandise and just might be the solution you are looking for.

Surplus.net - Offers a way for individuals to send out a what they call a "Blast" email to all liquidation members explaining the merchandise you have for sale in quantity. Fill out the form describing your inventory and you could have several liquidators contact you with cash offers to purchase!

Aside from the three links above, many closeout company will buy excess merchandise in quantity. When you visit wholesale and closeout websites make sure you look for a link offering to buy inventory.

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Get Friendly With Retail Packaging

2008-05-15T13:11:00.005-04:00

By Robert Cyr

Lets get a "little friendly" with some wholesale terms today! I want to talk specifically about retail merchandise packaging. Manufacturers spend a great deal of money when it comes to item packaging with both the retailer and consumer in mind. Packaging must offer the retailer an easy way to display inventory and the purchaser wants to be able to view an item before a decision is made to purchase. If you have specific questions relating to how an item is packaged make sure you ask the wholesale company or distributor before you buy. Wholesale companies use industry jargon when describing retail ready merchandise:
Blister Carded: A type of product packaging with a clear plastic semi-rigid plastic shell and a hard cardboard backing. Displays products clearly to the consumer but still provides the security of a theft resistant package.

Window Boxed: Cardboard box with at least one side protected by a clear plastic "Window" which allows the consumer to view contents. Used heavily in the retail toy industry.

Clam Shell: Retail packaging designed to open and close by a hinge along one edge. Clear plastic protective packaging also allows purchaser to view all sides of an item prior to purchase.

Display Boxed: A box specifically designed to be placed on a shelf or retail counter. Display boxes will usually offer product information including merchandising graphics designed to "entice" the consumer into a purchase.

Poly Bagged: Refers to an item placed in a polyethylene or polypropylene plastic bag which allows for merchandise protection and consumer inspection. Often used with a colorful or informative Header Card.

Header Card: Cardboard folded card usually attached to the top of a clear poly bag in which the item is held. Offers the consumer an easy way to view merchandise contents.

Skin Packaging: Product is covered by a closely fitting transparent film on one side and paperboard on the other. During sealing process a vacuum is used to draw the heated film around the product and bond it to the board.

Insert Card: Printed merchandising and information card used in conjunction with clamshell or other packaging.

This post brought to you by:
The Closeout Industry - A wealth of information centered around wholesale closeout merchandise. Author and consultant,
Robert Cyr has educated thousands of entrepreneurs offering advice relating to sourcing name
brand merchandise far below wholesale pricing.

Reselling Catalog Overstocks

2008-05-01T16:36:00.001-04:00

By Robert Cyr

There are literally tens of thousands of mail order catalog companies shipping millions of dollars of merchandise yearly. If your like the average household you have a few retail catalogs laying around. Huge name brand retailers utilize catalogs to sell merchandise to those who either cannot leave their homes to shop or individuals looking for unique gift items.

The larger catalog retailers mail out new catalogs frequently offering new merchandise in the hopes of tempting a sale. If you have looked through a few catalogs you will notice that the successful mail order retailers spend millions of dollars in product merchandising, picture layouts and fresh new products with the intent to garner huge sales. They key to that last sentence is "Fresh" or "New" merchandise.

If you picked up a catalog and realized that it was filled with items you recognized from last year would you buy? Probably not. Successful mail order retailers know that inventory must be rotated from month-to-month, season-to-season or at the very least yearly.

This poses and incredible dilemma for mail order retailers. Old stock, last years models and stagnant merchandise must be liquidated to recoup cost or most of the time inventory is simply sold at a loss. Enter you the small retailer. Mail order and catalog companies are an excellent source for overstock merchandise! This is an area of product sourcing where you can literally purchase inventory for your business well below wholesale pricing

Start by finding catalogs in your home. Call the customer service number listed on the order page and ask for the corporate number or simply the individual in charge of liquidating catalog overstocks. Be persistent as this can be a tedious task. Once you have exhausted all the leads (catalogs in your home), search the internet for catalog ordering websites like - Catlogs.com. Order all of the catalogs that pertain to the type of merchandise you resell. Once they arrive start investigating until you get in contact with their liquidation department.

There are thousands of mail order catalog companies who have millions upon millions of dollars of excess merchandise to liquidate.

This post brought to you by:

The The Closeout Industry which offers a wealth of information centered around wholesale closeout merchandise. Author and consultant, Robert Cyr has educated thousands of entrepreneurs offering advice relating to sourcing name brand merchandise far below wholesale pricing.

Buying Wholesale - Shipping and Freight Basics

2008-05-01T15:51:00.007-04:00

By Robert Cyr

Finding a wholesale supplier who offers low pricing is but one part of the sourcing equation. The merchandise you purchase must be shipped from your suppliers warehouse to your location. Smaller, compact order typically will be shipped using one of the three major carriers which are UPS, FedEx and DHL. UPS is by far the world's largest package delivery company delivering over 15 million packages daily. UPS, FedEx and DHL can deliver packages to your home without a "residential Fee" often charged by larger freight companies.

All three of the above shipping companies have a great tracking feature which will allow you to track your order from point of origin to arrival all by the use of a tracking number. The tracking system is a great tool for you as you will have an estimated day of delivery.

Depending on the size, volume and weight of your merchandise order the supplier you are buying from will often seek out the most economical way to have your order delivered. Each of the three shipping companies UPS, FedEx and DHL can handle large orders shipped in several boxes to one destination.

There is a point at which the cost associated with multiple boxed orders should be palletized and therefore shipped through a traditional freight company. It is much easier for the shipper (Company you are buying from) and more economical for you the “receiver” to have your order shipped LTL (Less than Truckload).

A pallet, which is sometimes referred to as a “Skid” is a wooden transport structure (Base) that supports goods in a stable fashion while in transit. A standard wooden pallet is 40″ by 48″ and can range in height due to the amount of merchandise being shipped. The shipper simply stacks boxes on the pallet and then uses shrink wrap to secure the merchandise while in transit.

How much does it cost to have goods shipped by pallet? This will vary due to may factors including the type of merchandise being shipped(class), weight and destination. On average shipping for one pallet will range between a low of $150 (Short distance) to about $400-$500 (across the Country). While this might sound substantial the advantage to LTL shipping is the fact that multiple pallets will lower your cost per pallet freight charge. For example: if one pallet being shipped costs $300 an additional pallet (Same Order) might incur another $75 there by lowering your actual freight cost per pallet to $187.50. It is advantages to order as much merchandise as possible to receive maximum freight discounts

Two key points to think about when ordering merchandise by the pallet:

If you are having your pallet delivered to a residence there is usually a “Residential Fee” which will be added to your freight cost. Usually between $25 - $75 depending on the actual freight company. It is best to avoid this fee by having your pallet(s) deliver to a business address or the nearest freight terminal closest to your door.

If you do not have a forklift or loading dock you will need to make sure the trailer is equipped with a lift gate. A lift gate will allow the truck driver to lower your pallet to the ground once delivered. A lift gate trailer will add an additional fee to your total cost usually between $30 - $50.00. Please note: if your pallet consists of smaller boxes stacked and shrink wrapped you might be able to have the driver simply cut the wrap and hand the individual boxes down to you with the use of a lift gate.

This post brought to you by:
The The Closeout Industry - a wealth of information centered around wholesale closeout merchandise. Author and consultant, Robert Cyr has educated thousands of entrepreneurs offering advice relating to sourcing name brand merchandise far below wholesale pricing.

Creative way to find Wholesalers Close to You

2008-05-01T14:38:00.010-04:00

By Robert Cyr

Here is a method of which I have used countless times to locate wholesale suppliers that are within a specific driving distance from my geographic location.

Go to Ebay.com and look for the Item Search box. Next to the box just to the left you will notice a link which reads Advanced Search. On the advanced search page place the keyword Wholesale in the search box and then scroll down until you see an area that reads, “Items Near Me”. Check the box that says, “Items Within xxxx Miles of Zip or Postal Code xxxxx”.
Enter your desired radius and zip code and then hit the Search button.

All of the items now displayed by Ebay will have the keyword Wholesale and be within your local driving area. Scan through the listings to find the type of merchandise best suited to your business and then visit that auction page looking for any additional information relating to that sellers identity, business name or even email address. Those sellers who have merchandise to resell on Ebay will typically have an “About Me” page where you could find further information including a web address if they have one.

I have found several large wholesalers close to my home using this method. It is one method I use continuously to discover and network with wholesale contacts that are close in proximity to my hometown.

This post brought to you by:

The The Closeout Industry - a wealth of information centered around wholesale closeout merchandise. Author and consultant, Robert Cyr has educated thousands of entrepreneurs offering advice relating to sourcing name brand merchandise far below wholesale pricing. .

Buy Catalog Overstocks to Resell

2008-04-26T14:31:00.006-04:00

By Robert Cyr

There are literally tens of thousands of mail order catalog companies shipping millions of dollars of merchandise yearly. If your like the average household you have a few retail catalogs laying around. Huge name brand retailers utilize catalogs to sell merchandise to those who either cannot leave their homes to shop or individuals looking for unique gift items.

The larger catalog retailers mail out new catalogs frequently offering new merchandise in the hopes of tempting a sale. If you have looked through a few catalogs you will notice that the successful mail order retailers spend millions of dollars in product merchandising, picture layouts and fresh new products with the intent to garner huge sales. They key to that last sentence is "Fresh" or "New" merchandise.

If you picked up a catalog and realized that it was filled with items you recognized from last year would you buy? Probably not. Successful mail order retailers know that inventory must be rotated from month-to-month, season-to-season or at the very least yearly.

This poses and incredible dilemma for mail order retailers. Old stock, last years models and stagnant merchandise must be liquidated to recoup cost or most of the time inventory is simply sold at a loss. Enter you the small retailer. Mail order and catalog companies are an excellent source for overstock merchandise! This is an area of product sourcing where you can literally purchase inventory for your business well below wholesale pricing

Start by finding catalogs in your home. Call the customer service number listed on the order page and ask for the corporate number or simply the individual in charge of liquidating catalog overstocks. Be persistent as this can be a tedious task. Once you have exhausted all the leads (catalogs in your home), search the internet for catalog ordering websites like - Catlogs.com. Order all of the catalogs that pertain to the type of merchandise you resell. Once they arrive start investigating until you get in contact with their liquidation department.

There are thousands of mail order catalog companies who have millions upon millions of dollars of excess merchandise to liquidate.

This post brought to you by:
The The Closeout Industry which offers a wealth of information centered around wholesale closeout merchandise. Author and consultant, Robert Cyr has educated thousands of entrepreneurs offering advice relating to sourcing name brand merchandise far below wholesale pricing.

Impulse Items Create Huge Profits

2008-04-04T14:57:00.002-04:00

Retail store owners can benefit tremendously from selling impulse items. An impulse item is defined as a product that is purchased without thought or planning. We have all noticed, while waiting in line at the grocery store, the myriad of products displayed from hardware items to lighters, key chains and candy. To pass the time in the checkout line customers or “your captive audience” will purchase impulse items automatically. If you are not selling impulse items, you are missing out on a category that can really add on to your average sale transaction. If you do not already know it, the items placed in the front of your store should be merchandised with your most profitable inventory. Consumers will likely purchase with little or no thought when they visit your register. Usually impulse items like gadgets or novelties will become items that have a higher profit potential especially if the item is a “must have” due to its appeal or uniqueness factor. Impulse items do not have to relate to the balance of your store, for example if you are a clothing outlet you could merchandise complimentary items like jewelry, sunglasses or makeup at the front registers. It would not be out of place to offer gadgets, novelties or small gift items to your customers in line, in fact some shoppers, due to “guilt” from shopping, will actually pickup an item for a spouse or Jr. if readily available at checkout. I encourage all retailers to be bold when thinking about impulse items. The most unique and clever items tend to be the best sellers often selling out very quickly. A “unique” item or novelty usually commands a higher profit as “thought” is not a part of the equation when your customer grabs this type of item. When I offer consulting with my retail clients about merchandising store inventory and impulse items I ask that they themselves become very observant of any stores they might visit when shopping. Take note of the types of impulse items sold at your local grocery, clothing or even convenience stores. If something looks intriguing while in line at the register hold it up to the clerk and say something like, “Wow, this is really cool… do you sell many of these?”. I would be willing to bet the answer will surprise you. Make sure you profit from selling impulse items. Visit different wholesalers listed here at WholesaleEz and establish your wholesale sources for impulse merchandise.

To increase sales offer more than just low pricing...

2008-04-04T14:51:00.003-04:00

How long have you been retailing? Are you working to open your first store? The science of retailing is fascinating. The mind of the casual shopper experiences several emotional sensations throughout any shopping experience. There have been in depth studies completed showing how the average person reacts emotionally to retail store layouts, merchandising and pricing.
Walk through a big box retail giant like Walmart or Target and whether you realize it or not your experience has been well thought out through the science of retail merchandising. Aisle layout, product placement, merchandise displays and overall color schemes are carefully planned. There are consulting firms which specialize in watching shoppers shop. They watch you browse, they track how many times you read a label and they record your every move while in the store.
Some of the more interesting consumer attributes tracked are:
-Amount of time spent reading labels
-Ratio of generic products purchased versus name brand
-Average time spent in a particular store Entry to Exit
Are signs being read?
What signs are attracting the most attention?
Upon entering a store, which direction/path are shoppers drawn to?
Ratio of “Window Shoppers” versus sales
Average number of shoppers per day?
Average dollar figure of impulse products sold at checkout
There are literally hundreds upon hundreds of different ways to analyze a customer and the way a store merchandises product. There is an insightful book which outlines retail behavior called, “The Science of shopping” by Paco Underhill. Underhill and his consulting firm, Envirosell, have observed over 900 aspects of interaction between the shopper and store providing detailed information that can be literally translated into increased sales for any retailer.
From the data that is collected important decisions relating to store design/layout, merchandising and product pricing can be carefully controlled to offer better product sell-through, higher average register transactions and an overall increase of customer loyalty. If you desire to know more about your customer base and the clients that stroll through your door each day I recommend this fascinating read.
There are several areas to consider in the successful retailing equation; sourcing excellent wholesale suppliers, merchandising your inventory and understanding the emotional aspects of a retail transaction. Researching all aspects of your business will determine how successful you become and will directly relate to greater cash flow and profit margins.

It takes more than money to buy wholesale merchandise!

2008-03-20T09:29:00.007-04:00

Have you made your first Internet wholesale purchase? Are you gearing up to buy from a supplier? There are a few things you must consider before making that first purchase including what will be required of you to set up a wholesale account. I will assume for the purpose of this post that you have already picked out a supplier to buy from after long and careful research.
Check the following out before placing your Internet or phone order:
Monetary requirements for initial purchase: The Company you will be buying from might require a substantial first purchase and/or have a minimum order amount, which must be reached. The reason for this is generally that wholesalers do not want to sell to consumers who are merely buying products for themselves. Most wholesale companies want to establish long-term relationships with retailers that will grow over time.
Business License: There are a few wholesale companies, which will require you to provide your business license before making a purchase. A business license can be obtained through your local city offices and the fee associated with the license will depend on the type of your business and gross yearly receipts. A business license will cost $35 - $100 on average if you are just starting out.
Resellers License: A sales tax reseller license is an often-confused subject and a lot depends on the state or county where you do business. States have different names for the same permits or licenses: Resale Permit/License, Sellers Permit, Certificate of Authority, Use and Sales Tax License/Permit Sales and Use Tax, Application to Collect/Report Tax, Transaction Privilege (Sales) Tax, Resale Certificate-all adding up to much the same thing. Generally, companies who sell wholesale want to be sure their customers are not buying for their own consumption, thus cutting out the wholesaler's true customers. So when they ask for a wholesale or resale license, it allows them to be sure they are dealing with a business that will truly resell their goods. A great resource to use to find out the exact license requirements for your City/State would be your local City offices and your Chamber of Commerce. http://www.uschamber.com/chambers/directory/default">Find your local Chamber of Commerce.

Are terms available: Applying for credit might be advantageous if you are just starting out, as terms will offer time for repayment. The typical credit terms offered are Net 30. Net 30 is a form of trade credit wich specifies payment is expected to be received in full 30 days after the goods are delivered. Net 30 terms are often coupled with a credit for early payment; e.g. the notation "2% 10, net 30" indicates that a 2% discount is provided if payment is received within 10 days of the delivery of goods, and that full payment is expected within 30 days. Most companies will have a credit application, which will need to be filled out and faxed into the company for review. Expect to offer industry specific references, general information about your business and banking information in order to be approved.
Payment methods accepted: Investigate the various types of payment methods accepted by this potential company. Do they accept Visa, MasterCard, American Express and Discover? Can you mail a company check or money order? If paying by credit card many companies will require you to fax a copy of your current Drivers license and front/back copy of the credit card you intend to use. Some wholesale companies will require you to make payment by wire transfer. A wire transfer is a method of transferring money from one entity to another. A wire transfer can be made from one entity's bank account to the other entity's bank account. Wire transfers are expensive, if required by your wholesale company check with your local bank about the associated fee before commiting to purchase.

Other areas which I recommend reviewing before purchasing include:

Return Policies: Do the written terms spell out the return policy for defective products? Who pays for the freight? Can you get a refund or does it have to be a credit? If you have any questions about returns please ask before you purchase.

Volume Discounts: Are there volume discounts available? Sometimes you can negotiate discounts, if none currently are available.

Order Processing Time: Since the time from when your order is placed until you receive your inventory will affect how much inventory you need to keep on hand, it is important to ask lead time you need to allow between orders.

Do you want skyrocketing profit margins?

2008-03-19T15:29:00.005-04:00

Lets set up a a scenario here today, lets assume you have been selling on Ebay for a period of time and sales have been steady. Maybe you have become familiar with auction listings, your competition and have a sense of what does and doesn't sell through trial and error. I would imagine, as most Ebay sellers reflect, you now want to increase your profit margins. But how? Ebay is filled with sellers who are selling hundreds of the same products with auctions closing every hour with diminishing profits. Are you content with buying a $12 item and having it sell on Ebay for $14 before auction expenses?
Among the many ways to combat the above example, today I want to emphasis there is a way to purchase Closeout merchandise far below wholesale pricing, in fact sometimes 50-90% below original wholesale pricing!
What is Closeout Merchandise? There are hundreds of thousands of large chain retailers, manufacturers and importers who are left with billions of dollars in merchandise each year that are forced to sell their excess for a number of reasons: Items must be removed from shelves to make room for newer models; a change in financial circumstances or strategy may result in canceled orders; manufacturers may be downsizing or moving facilities; companies may need to reduce inventories for accounting reasons. As a result, the companies are forced to sell this first-quality inventory quickly and below their normal cost.
Buying this type of Closeout merchandise to resell will increase your profit margins no matter what your selling venue is. Sellers who sell with a retail store front, through flea markets or even Ebay are constantly looking for Closeout merchandise to reap larger profits.
Google the phrase: wholesale closeout merchandise, and your search results will be flooded with companies who distribute closeout merchandise, in fact there is even a category called Closeouts within the WholesaleEZ Directory.
If you are a retailer I would strongly urge you to take some time to start researching how purchasing closeout merchandise can improve your business strategy. In my next post I will explore the various types of closeout merchandise including Overstock, Shelf Pulls and Salvage.

Finding a Wholesale Supplier who offers more than just Low Pricing

2008-03-19T15:26:00.003-04:00

There are many factors that translate to a successful retail business. If you are just starting out or have been in business for a couple of years you know that among the most important aspects of retailing involves finding and securing merchandise suppliers. A strong supplier or “wholesaler” can make or break your bottom line. If you do not have products to sell how long can you stay in business? If you are not selling merchandise at a reasonable retail price how will you build ongoing clientèle?
I believe retail entrepreneurs primarily focus on pricing when looking for a new wholesale company to buy from. This should be the first conditional decision to make when researching a new supplier, but your investigation should not stop at pricing.
Pricing- Two factors here; small quantity and large volume pricing. Does this particular wholesaler have actual wholesale pricing which will allow my business to purchase at a reasonable price and after shipping will I be able to make a profit? Are the minimum quantities required feasible to my business? and does this wholesaler offer quantity breaks for larger volume purchasing (one item in large quantities)?
Selection- There is nothing wrong with a supplier specializing in two or three different products, however a large selection of merchandise will offer your clientèle the best variety
Terms- Does the company offer credit terms and what are they?
Freight- What are the shipping and/or freight terms of the potential new wholesaler? Do they offer free shipping if you spend a certain amount? Are shipping charges “tiered” meaning purchases of $100-$499 10% freight; $500 -$999 15% freight?
Refund/Exchange Policy – Are you able to return merchandise and if so, under what circumstances?
Customer Service – How well are you treated when you call to inquire of send and email?
Experience/Longevity- How long has this wholesaler been in business? A fair number of years will tell you they are establishing long term business relationships with their accounts.
A good Wholesaler will offer the best of all points above. I would venture to say that as a business owner you would go the extra mile for your customers. Remember, you are a customer when you pick up the phone or place an Internet order from your wholesale supplier. If the wholesale company you are buying from does not offer excellent pricing, terms and customer service..it might be time to look for another company to buy from.

SEO Companies

2008-03-12T14:38:00.001-04:00

There is lots to decide when you’re a wholesaler and you make the jump to Internet marketing. For the proper exposure to SEO marketing, to get the very best in what it can do for you, it’s a good idea to become acquainted with a reputable SEO marketing company. If you need your car fixed you try and find the best mechanic that will get it running at its top performance in no time, and it’s the same with your web site and a good SEO marketing company. But you’ll need to know what to look for in one of these firms.
One of the first things to look at is their website and not for the things you might expect. One of the most important things a wholesaler with a lot to invest needs to be sure of is the honesty of the Internet company they’re dealing with. To that end, anyone searching for an reputable SEO firm should look first for some contact information. Don’t just settle for an email address either. Most reputable companies will supply a landline or cell number and even an address. This just means that the people you’re dealing with don’t have anything to hide as they’ve got a real address where they can be contacted offline.
Next you’ll need to gather a list of the services they offer. Many of these companies can build a website for you that they claim will be search engine friendly, but you’ll need to make sure that beyond the graphics and code, the content on the site is written by someone qualified—namely a professional writer with SEO experience. Pay Per Click marketing is another feature that the best SEO online companies offer. Pay Per Click is an advertising method whereby you get your ad placed in front of the competition. It’s another feature of the online world that helps clients get their page rankings up.
You’ll need to talk to the company you decide on about other things too like landing pages. Landing pages are commonly the first pages on the site and considering most Internet users click away after nine second if their interest isn’t peaked, the content on those pages will need to be carefully thought out.

The Top Chinese Wholesalers

2008-03-06T14:40:00.004-05:00

China’s influence on the world markets is undeniable and their position as a major international economic force continues to grow with every passing year. Not long ago, the country was shrouded behind a wall of secrecy when it followed communist rule, but with the advent of capitalist leanings, China has been able flex some rather impressive market muscle. Everywhere you look in North America, there is a consumer good of one kind or another that is made in China, and of course that means there are some Chinese companies that are making tremendous headway in the area of wholesaling as well.
Sinoglass co, Ltd is one of the major players to emerge from the boom in the Chinese economy and wholesaling sector. The company has a series of food and condiment storage containers and glass house ware gift items. They have offices in QuingDao and the United States. While many Chinese companies struggle to break into and find their place in the American market, other’s are already well known and respected in North America.
A good example of these types of companies is Goodbaby Child Products. Among this company’s most noteworthy accomplishments includes having the number one stroller sales in the United State for several years running. Many of these Chinese wholesalers are able to keep their costs and overhead down to a level that they attract the interest of both foreign markets for the prices of the goods they can produce as well as foreign companies who can cut their own costs by working with the Chinese.
Another emerging wholesale market for the Chinese appears to be in electronics. Asian wholesalers boast a wide variety of products including car audio and visual appliances as well as the latest and best in other electronic equipment for the home. Digital cameras and camcorders are abundant as well as any of the latest digital advancements such as Bluetooth.

The Biggest Wholesalers

2008-03-06T14:39:00.008-05:00

Wholesaling is one of the biggest industries in North America. When you think about almost any kind of consumer good, there is usually a corresponding wholesaler. Still, even for any industry this large there are some clear giants. Some wholesalers that are miles ahead of the other colleagues in the business. It should really be no surprise that one of the biggest of these group deals with food and drugs.
Wholesalers of food, drugs, beverages, and tobacco compromise the largest group of wholesalers with just over 20% of the sector. With the globalization of the world markets, there are certain issues that are cropping up as more and more giant wholesaling companies are able to reach into markets where they had no exposure before.
This is taking place in certain areas of Japan. Although this issue is not generally reported in the media in that country, there is a large reorganization of the wholesale food industry in Japan due to the influx of, among others, Western influence. This has forced some of the larger wholesalers in Japan to resort to some drastic measures. Only eight years ago Japan’s largest and ninth largest wholesaler decided it would be in their best interest to merge to fend off the onslaught from foreign interests. Still, that move doesn’t seem to have solved the problem.
As the trend continues and the number of Japanese wholesalers shrinks, the variety of goods and services available for Japanese retailers to put on their shelves diminishes. So, in an ironic twist, these same Japanese retailers look more and more to foreign wholesalers to satisfy their customers needs for diversity. Added to the mix is the increased amount of knowledge the Japanese consumer has about what kinds of goods they want and where they come from. As well, the Japanese are traveling abroad now more than ever and often ask for foreign goods at their favorite stores by name.