Archive for December, 2006
XYZ Beach Cruisers - Bicycle Manufacturer and Retailer
Sunday, December 31st, 2006I have been having a great time browsing through the beach cruiser shop at XYZ Beach Cruisers. The bikes are so bright and colorful and happy that I can’t help but want one. I’d love to get one for my grandma, too, as she’s always been a big fan of the bikes that look kind of retro. My personal favorites are the pink and purple classic beach cruisers. I could totally see myself wearing all pink, carrying a little puppy in a basket, and riding down the road/beach/bike path on one. I didn’t see an orange one, but if they had one, that’s the color I’d get for my grandma. She’s just crazy about the orange. They do have an area for future color recommendations, which is pretty darn cool.
I also wanted to point this site out because they have a drop shipping program, which could be great for many of you. I don’t ordinarily advise drop shipping programs, since there are so many crazy people out in the world, but when you’re dealing with a reputable, above-board company (that isn’t trying to sell you $5 designer merchandise from Hong Kong), it’s not a bad arrangement. Check out the Beach Cruiser wholesale information on their site if you’re interested.
This post is sponsored by XYZ Beach Cruisers, but that doesn’t change the fact that those bikes are just awesome.
Wholesale Candles - Elk Creek Candle Company & More
Sunday, December 31st, 2006If you’re in the market for wholesale candles, you’re in for a treat tonight. I’ve listed three wholesale candle sources below.
The first, Europa, is a great company for someone looking for a wholesaler of both candles and giftware. Their stuff tends toward to be a little on the ornamental side.
Elk Creek Candle Company is a great choice for someone who likes their candles extremely strong, like Yankee Candles. The only difference is that they’re more affordable, since they’re not carrying the Yankee Candle name. And of course, you’re supporting an independent shop, which is always nice.
Armadilla Wax Works has been in business since the 70s, and their stuff is super cute. I present to you, their Bistro Collection. I have a very hard time restraining myself from tasting candles like these when I see them in the store. They look and smell so yummy.
Click to continue on to the contact information.
Where Would I Go?
Saturday, December 30th, 2006 Business Broad Wholesale Product SourcesSeveral people have asked me before - Where would you go if you were going to start a business and you could move anywhere? For me, I think that Las Vegas would be among the finalists. It’s the fastest growing city in the country, the weather is amazing, and Las Vegas homes are still quite reasonably priced (when compared to places like Los Angeles, especially). Many of the newer developments are even offering incentives to get people to move in - paid closing costs, help with the downpayment, or free upgrades to the property. Not bad.
Nevada is also said to be a very business-friendly state (the next Delaware, maybe?). Plus, the active population can’t help, especially if you’re in an industry that caters to the young and active. It might not be the best place to set up your hand-knit sweater store, but almost anything else could do well.
Cheaplot.com - Closeout Apparel
Saturday, December 30th, 2006Closeout merchandise can be one of the hardest types of product to source reliably. A very large number of the suppliers can be selling fake products, so it’s always a good idea to do some research and order small lots until you can trust your supplier.
Cheaplot is one place that claims to sell closeout merchandise from department stores like Macy’s. While I can’t vouch for the accuracy of their claims, their prices are very reasonable. If you’ve ever searched for closeout and wholesale merchandise, you may have noticed that many of the purported “wholesalers” are actually charging prices that are almost as high as retail.
You can also search for closeout apparel at Shasta Liquidations and Salvage Closeouts.
Work Smarter, Not Harder
Thursday, December 28th, 2006If you run a business with employees, you probably know how hard it can be to keep up with the needs of your business AND your employees. They need paychecks, instruction, benefits, rules, and feedback. I’ve worked in businesses both large and small, and I’ve always felt like the owners made employee reviews a very low priority.
Depending on the structure of your business, you might benefit from some kind of performance review software. Even if you’re not hard-pressed to fit it into your schedule, you may find that a software specifically for that purpose helps you to think it through more methodically, avoiding more emotional responses.
This post is sponsored by Manager Assistant.
Deviations Dress in Peace - Women’s Fashion Collection
Thursday, December 28th, 2006If you’re in the market for fashionable women’s clothing, you know how hard it can be to find anything worthwhile. Obviously, there are big brand names that would sell easily, but most are either affiliated with chains or very, very picky about who carries their lines. Many require minimum purchases of $30,000 or more on a regular basis. That’s just not possible for most small retailers.
Fortunately, there are companies like Deviations Dress in Peace. It’s a small design company based in California, and they have a handy web form where you can contact them about their lovely creations. There’s not a whole lot on the site at this time, but what they do have is just exquisite. Props to designers Lili and Amer Jabali. It’s all very romantic and sensual (and not trashy).
If you wish to contact Deviations Dress in Peace, you can reach them at:
DEVIATIONS Dress in Peace
600 Moulton Ave (Brewery Arts Complex)
Studio 205
Los Angeles CA 90031
phone - 323 342 9250
Salon & Spa Wholesalers - A Brief List
Wednesday, December 27th, 2006Here’s another quick post for those of you who might be interested in salon and spa wholesalers. I’m sticking to the basics on this one - URL, name, and contact information. Feel free to comment if you have had experiences with any of the companies mentioned:
Brenda Christian Cosmetics
1518 Roberts Drive
Jacksonville Beach, Florida 32250
Phone: (904) 249-0102
Fax: (904) 249-7008
Brushes By Karen
P.O. Box
# 1547 Mineola
New York, NY 11501
Phone: (800) 722-0528
Fax: (516) 739-7788
Fairy Tales Haircare for Children
P.O. 3157
Wayne, NJ 07474
Phone : (888)244-1990
Fax: (973)389-9649
Another Good Blog For Your List
Wednesday, December 27th, 2006I’ve come across a number of good blogs lately, so I thought I’d share this one, since I don’t get too many chances to update during this season. This blog, by Sandberg Ventures, helps you learn Internet Marketing. While I’m sure that many of you are more interested in helping your brick and mortar retail stores, I know from e-mails that there are plenty of would-be internet marketers clicking around here.
The post that caught my eye was the Can A Successful Business Be Started with Only $100 post. Interesting stuff.
Trailer Trash Dolls - Wholesale
Tuesday, December 26th, 2006Trailer Trash Dolls are not something that most people immediately hope to carry in their stores. When I first saw the product, I honestly thought it was a joke. It’s not, though. You could be the proud owner (or reseller) of one of these fine dolls:
For more information about reselling Trailer Trash dolls, contact:
Gibby Novelties, LLC
P.O. Box 1014
Fairfax, CA. 94978
Telephone: (415) 459-1212
Fax: (415)257-8819
E-mail: trashdolls (at) aol (dot) com
A Lighting Show and Spring Training
Tuesday, December 26th, 2006Like I said before, I rarely make it to trade shows and conventions. Next year, though, I hope to make it to a lighting show in Phoenix. It’s going on in March, at the same time as Cubs Spring Training, so I could make it a dual purpose trip. Arizona is amazing in the spring, so I think it would be a lot of fun.
I’ve been to spring training games before, but never for the Cubs. I’ve also been to trade shows before, but never for lighting. It might not be as exciting as, say, the Fancy Foods show in Chicago, but I’d be there more for the spring training anyway.
To buy tickets directly, you need a Cubs.com account, which I don’t have. Cubs spring training tickets are also available at Team One Tickets, though, so I won’t have to go through all the hassle.
If anyone else will be at spring training or the convention, let me know. If I decide to go, we could meet up for a chat at one of the events. I’ll keep you posted as I have more details.
This post is sponsored by Team One Tickets. That doesn’t change the fact that I’d like to go 
Great Places to Find Products
Tuesday, December 26th, 2006People often ask me how I find so many cool products to resell. Do I spend money to attend all the expensive conferences and trade shows? Nope. Do I source products directly from factories? Again, nope.
Here are just a few of the places I look:
-Trade magazines (mostly free)
-Online retailers. Just look around the sites. Many of them will even go so far as to tell you which items are their best sellers.
-Print catalogs. If you request one on their site or over the phone, it’s usually free.
-Consumer Magazines. Look for the gift guides, tips and trends sections, and new product features.
-Stores. Little boutiques are the best places to source stuff if you’re concerned about buying from places with small minimum orders.
-People. Pay attention to what people are talking about.
I’m sure there are more, and I’ll add them as I think of them. That should be enough to keep you busy, though. The important thing is that you like to shop, and that you’re always looking out for something good. It gets easier with time.
Boston Warehouse - Toucan Can Opener Wholesalers…and More
Sunday, December 24th, 2006Tomorrow is Christmas, but we spent this evening celebrating with The Man’s family. One of the items unwrapped tonight was this toucan can opener (by the way, if you’re just dying to have one, you can click the link to head over to Amazon to buy retail):
Anyway, this gift item got me wondering about a few things: Who makes this most excellent toucan can opener? Do they have more than just toucan can openers? Will they wholesale? Sorry, I’m just a little in love right now.
The toucan can opener is made by Boston Warehouse, and they DO have lots of other cool stuff. They don’t give you a whole lot of useful information on their page (like product listings / photos!), but you can contact them at:
Boston Warehouse
59 Davis Avenue
Norwood, MA 02062
1-888-923-BWTC
If you’re ready to get started with them, you can also check out their “Find Reps” section to get the name and information for a person that you can talk to. That’s often a good way to get individual, in-person attention.
Accessories By Sherwood - Lamps and Mirror Wholesaler
Saturday, December 23rd, 2006Accessories by Sherwood does more than just lamps and mirrors, but their lamps and mirrors are especially lovely. It’s hard to sum up their style as any one thing, because they do so much for so many types of decor.
Chain Link Mirror from Accessories by Sherwood
Tropical Parrot Lamp from Accessories by Sherwood
I decided to write about Accessories by Sherwood because I was browsing their site and noticed a “Best Sellers” feature. Not a lot of wholesalers include that, but it’s often very helpful for you as a retailer. Assuming that your demographic is pretty typical for the company, you can often save yourself valuable time and money by using the best sellers list as a starting point.
If you wish to contact Accessories by Sherwood, you can reach them at:
Accessories by Sherwood, Inc.
25272 Leer Drive
Elkhart, Indiana 46514
Phone: 800-989-2639
Fax: 800-931-7498
info (at) gosherwood (dot) com
Blank Book Wholesalers - Bayview and More
Monday, December 18th, 2006If you’re anything like me, the prospect of a blank book is pretty exciting. Empty pages represent a clean slate, new opportunities - a chance to do something different. In fact, I’m a sucker for overpriced blank books and journals. I rarely leave home without one. That’s why I’m devoting this post to discussing a few wholesale sources for blank books.
First off, we have Bayview Press. In addition to the jounals, they also sell greeting cards. You won’t find any kitschy or retro designs here. Each item is quiet and picturesque, definitely inspiring to the right sort of person. They have a handy retailer locator (the best way to find your competitors), along with a wholesale login area.
Bayview Press Blank Books
For something with a little more international flair, check out Far East Handicrafts. Their page is a little 1998, but their designs are lovely. In addition to paper products, they also sell hand carved stone products, textiles, and a variety of Buddhist and Hindu items.
Far East Handicrafts Blank Book
Finally, for a more modern kind of product, you can check out If’n Books and Marks. Yes, the name sounds like something that a toothless railroad bum would make up, but their product line is very cute. They have a very helpful wholesale page that outlines their minimum order amounts ($150 initial order, $100 for reorders) and payment terms (pay up front for first purchase, can apply for credit afterwards).
If’n Books and Marks Blank Books
To contact any of the companies mentioned, see below:
Bayview Press
P.O. Box 153
Thomaston, ME 04861
Phone: (207) 354-9919
Fax: (207) 354-9919
Far East Handicrafts
127 N. 36th St.
Seattle, WA 98103
Phone: (206) 633-1950, (800) 366-7823
Fax: (206) 633-2151
Email: fareast (at) seanet (dot) com
If’n Books & Marks
545 Pawtucket Ave. #309
Pawtucket, RI 02860
Phone: (401) 722-8083
Fax: (401) 722-8083
Email: info (at) ifnbooks (dot) com
Measurement Limited - Automotive Accessories Wholesaler
Sunday, December 17th, 2006If you’re looking to sell automotive accessories that aren’t ridiculously technical or obscure, you should check out Measurement Limited. They deal with consumer products that are easy to understand and sell. As the name might imply, they focus mostly on measurement devices - digital tire gauges, garage parking aids, and digital measuring tapes.
If you’d like to find out more from Measurement Limited, you can get in touch with them at:
2001 Route 46, Suite 310
Parsippany, New Jersey 07054
Phone: +1 973-402-4245
Fax: +1 973-402-4241
Sales: Bob Van Zeyl - vanzeyl (at) ml-ltd (dot) com
Dynatech Action - Radio Control Toy Wholesaler / Distributor
Thursday, December 14th, 2006 Business Broad Wholesale Product SourcesRadio control toys are a funny thing. Most all of them come from Asia, and then some other company will slap their name on the product. In many cases, you can buy the exact same item that a place like Sharper Image or Discovery Store sells (without the brand label, of course).
That said, for most of us, it’s a whole lot easier to buy from a U.S. based distributor. Factory minimum quantities for something like that are usually around 500-1000 pieces (occasionally even more), so you have to be ready to sink a lot of cash into something in order to enjoy the big discount that comes with ordering from the factory.
One company that can help you out with this is Dynatech Action Inc.. They sell a number of radio control toys, along with a bunch of other random toys, so they could be an especially helpful company to work with. It’s always nice to be able to source a number of products from each place.
Dynatech’s Micro Flight: Sypher
If you wish to get in touch with Dynatech, you can do so here:
Dynatech Action, Inc.
28, 1200 Aerowood Dr.
Mississauga, Ontario
Canada L4W 2S7
Phone: (905) 629-4919
Fax: (905) 629-1029
sales (at) dynatechaction.com
Wholesale Fitness Equipment
Monday, December 11th, 2006 Business Broad Wholesale Product SourcesIf you’ve ever had the desire to resell fitness equipment, but you didn’t want to commit to a huge, several thousand dollar order, Bodytrends is going to make you very happy. Unlike most retail sites, they offer easy to find wholesale pricing on their website, with lots of only 20 units.
For a relatively small investment you can get something like these yoga mats or a nice set of hand weights (although you’ll have to watch the shipping costs on weighted items).
Yoga Mats from Bodytrends
If you’re interested, you can visit the Bodytrends site or contact them at:
Phone: 561-745-0773
Email: wholesale (at) bodytrends (dot) com
Toy Wholesalers and Distributors - Novelties
Thursday, December 7th, 2006 Business Broad Wholesale Product SourcesSince Christmas is coming up, I’ve got toys on the brain. That means more toy distributors for all of you.
Marshmallow Fun Company - Makers of the very popular marshmallow guns. They’re a huge hit among the catalog/e-commerce crowds, but they’re still a little tough to find in traditional brick and mortar retail outlets.
Marshmallow Shooter
Bleeding Edge - Manufacturers of what basically amounts to a league of goth Barbies. Their minimum order is just one case, and like most manufacturers, they do require a tax ID to work with them. You can fill out their dealer application here.
Bleeding Edge Goth Dolls
Finally, we have Dillon Importing. Now, it would be very easy to write off a lot of their products as junk, but they definitely shouldn’t be overlooked, especially if you have a brick and mortar store. They make the kind of little items that kids beg for at a checkout counter, and parents often throw in because they just want to get out. I’m not condoning bad parenting and rewarding tantrums, but hey, if that’s the way they’re going to be, then they deserve to have their money taken
If you’re looking for mini bouncing balls, keychains, tiny figurines, or carnival prizes, Dillon Importing is the place to go. You could also bundle their items for children’s party favors.
Contact information for all three companies is below:
Marshmallow Fun Company
500 Orchard Pond Road
Tallahassee, FL 32312
Toll-free: 877.894.6073
Fax: 850.894.6073
Bleeding Edge
23520 Telo Ave. Torrance CA 90505
Tel: 310.539.6585
Dillon Importing
P. O. Box 75939
OKLAHOMA CITY OK 73147-5939
Tel: (405) 228-3100
Fax: (405) 942-4705
Toll Free: 800-654-3696
Budget Tips - When You Can’t Afford to Buy 30
Friday, December 1st, 2006In many cases, the items we most want to resell are items that cost WAY too much to buy in bulk (at least in the beginning - you’ll get there soon enough). In those cases, I recommend testing the market and earning a few bucks by purchasing single items with online coupons.
By going to a site like CouponChief.com, you can search for codes that let you get items cheaply enough to resell them at a profit. Using Buy.com coupons that I found on their site, I was able to turn a quick profit on several items (Thank you, eBay!). I was actually shopping for something else, but when I come across a good deal, I can’t help but check for coupons to make it even better.
Even if you don’t seek out items for resale, coupon codes can greatly reduce the cost of your holiday/birthday/random gifts, leaving more money for you to invest in your business.
The Winter Storm
Friday, December 1st, 2006As you might have noticed, I didn’t get the chance to finish out my distributor series for the week. There was an awful winter storm here in the midwest, and much of the area has been without power. The series has been postponed until I can get back to my notes, but you can expect it to be picked back up a little later this weekend or early next week.
If you’re in the middle of bad weather, please be careful and take all the precautions you need to to stay safe. If you’ve got bad weather on the way, remember to buy your propane/kerosene heater now, because even well-insulated homes can get VERY cold VERY quickly without any heat.
In the meantime, I’ve prepared a couple of short pieces to keep you busy. Enjoy!