Archive for September, 2007
« Previous EntriesVan Gogh Starry Night Nightlight
Friday, September 28th, 2007If you deal with an artsy clientele, you’ll love the nightlights at Ata Boy. They have models from Andy Warhol, Vincent Van Gogh, and DC Comics, among other companies. Personally, I’d be quick to carry the Starry Night Vincent Van Gogh Nightlight. It’s one of those paintings that makes even art newbies feel sophisticated.
If you’re interested in carrying Ata Boy’s nightlights, mousepads, or keychains and bracelets, definitely get in touch to find out more about their terms. You can get in touch at:
Ata Boy
Alex Perez
1646 N Spring St.
Los Angeles, CA 90012
Toll Free Phone: (800)289-4282
Phone: (323)227-7100
Fax: (323)227-7101
Email: aperez (at) ata-boy (dot) com
Plastic Picnic Blanket Holder
Friday, September 28th, 2007If you’re buying for spring, you should definitely check out these new plastic picnic (or beach) blanket stake sets. Instead of tearing up your blanket, they grab the blanket and then use a stake to secure the “grabber”. It’s another one of those “Why didn’t I think of that” ideas, especially if you’re in an area that gets sun for most of the year. Take a look:
They come from Adams Manufacturing, and they’re part of their latest line of home and garden products. If you’d like to get in touch with them, you can reach their contact point below.
Adams Manufacturing
John Fischer
109 W Park Rd.
PO Box 1
Portersville, PA 16051 -0001
Phone: (724)368-8837
Fax: (724)368-9311
Email: email (at) adamsmfg (dot) com
Home Storage Products
Wednesday, September 26th, 2007If you’ve ever looked through a Harriet Carter or Walter Drake catalog, you’ve probably noticed that they carry a lot of storage products. Drawer organizers, cabinet shelf organizational systems, and in-closet organizational products all do well with catalogs year after year. If you’d like to get in on the action, you can work with a company like 123 Axis. They offer a number of products in these areas, and they’re constantly developing and producing new items
On a side note, if you’re an inventor of household products, you should definitely have Axis on your cold-calling list. Like many manufacturers, they’re willing to help you develop your product at no cost to you. Instead, they take a portion of the item’s profits and give you a percentage as well.
If you’d like to get in touch with Axis, do so at:
Axis International Marketing
Andy Berger
1800 S Wolf Rd.
Des Plaines, IL 60018
Phone: (847)297-0744
Fax: (847)297-0877
Email: axismkt (at) aol (dot) com
Non-Permanent Parking Barriers
Tuesday, September 25th, 2007If you rent a brick and mortar retail space, parking lot space can be a huge issue. Nearby businesses or activities can lead to your spots getting filled up, which in turn robs you of valuable customers and revenue. Improper use of your parking lot is a form of theft that takes money out of your pocket and surely as any petty thief.
That’s why they make things like these collapsible bollards. Instead of allowing your spaces to be pilfered, you can set up official-looking barriers and markers to let people know your intentions. They’re not all permanent, either, so you can remove them as necessary. You can also use them to ensure that you have a spot near your business in the mornings when you come in. That’s extremely handy during cold winter months!
Austin House - Hand-held Sudoku
Tuesday, September 25th, 2007As hot as Sudoku is, it’s hard for retailers to ignore it. While there are literally dozens of different handheld Sudoku toys on the market, Austin House’s is pretty neat. It comes in several colors, and the buttons are big and easy to understand. Take a look:
It folds up for easy storage in a purse or briefcase, too, so you don’t have to worry about scratching the screen or killing the batteries by leaving it on too long.
If you’d like to get in touch with Austin House, contact them at:
Austin House
Stuart Taylor
PO Box 665
Amherst, NY 14226
Toll Free Phone: (800)268-5157
Phone: (800)268-5157
Fax: (800)469-5222
Email: travess (at) austinhouse (dot) com
Safety Products Distributor
Tuesday, September 25th, 2007If your business plan includes things like first aid kits, molded rubber tie down straps, and traffic safety products instead of candles and gifts, you should talk to All In Safety. Instead of seeking out separate sources for each product, you could contact them, since they act as importers and distributors for a number of products.
Even if you don’t want to re-sell safety products, you should also consider your store’s in-house safety needs. You can never be too careful, and it doesn’t hurt to do a regular check to make sure that your first aid kits are stocked, and employees have the items they need to protect themselves while doing their jobs.
Get in touch with AllInSafety.com at:
All In Safety.com
44 Skillman St. Suite 5-L
Brooklyn, New York 11205
1-800 376-8415
Island Inspired Gifts - Wholesale
Sunday, September 23rd, 2007Island decor seems to be more popular than ever before, though it can be tough to source related products for your store. When something’s trendy, a lot of companies stop working with the little retailers and stick to big chain stores. The Madden Corporation offers a great variety of contemporary island gift and decor products. Most are fairly neutral, too, so they have a pretty broad appeal. They also have bath and body products like this Coconut Willie Coconut Oil:
If you’d like to contact The Madden Corporation, do so at:
The Madden Corporation
Lynne Madden
94411 Koaki Street
Waipahu, HI 96797
Phone: (808) 564-8922
Fax: (808) 564-8877
Email: thowe (at) welcometotheislands (dot) com
Moving
Sunday, September 23rd, 2007When I first moved in with my significant other, we didn’t have a lot of stuff, so we did the moving ourselves. Even still, it was insanely time-consuming. You never realize how many possessions you actually have until you have to move them.
Three years later, we moved again. The second time we moved, we got help from family and friends. That was definitely easier, but it still consumed the better part of two days for about 6 people. If you assume that everyone involved had an average time value of $25/hour, that means I wasted over $1000 in the time of my friends and loved ones - and that’s a low estimate, considering that most of the people that were helping are self-employed.
Next time we move will be next April, and it will be about 6 years from our first move. We’ll be moving to a much bigger house, and of course, we’ll have a lot more possessions. In the years that we’ve lived together, we’ve accumulated several beds, a couple of couches, some nice televisions, and an assortment of other items that we really don’t want to move. Oh, and we can’t forget the marble table. That’s not exactly lightweight.
That’s why we’ll be using movers next time. I found HomeBulletin.net, and they offer a great service that lets you find the moving companies for your area. From there, you can get free quotes from qualified movers to help you get a better rate. They also have information on commercial movers, so if you’re moving your business at the same time, you can find arrangements for both on one site.
Even better, they also had articles with helpful tips. Since different companies can alter different variables to make it harder to compare rates, the information they offer can definitely make it easier to make sense of it all. If you’re moving anytime soon and you’re sick of doing it yourself, definitely check it out.
Wholesale Cosmetics - The Balm
Sunday, September 23rd, 2007Unless you can catch a trendy company on the way up, it can be hard for a small retailer to get involved with a decent cosmetics company. Even when it is possible, wholesale prices aren’t always the best. The Balm is one great exception. They offer popular products like plumping lip gloss and anti-aging concealers, but they keep it pretty simple. They’re not like MAC where you practically need a degree in makeup to figure it all out.
If you’re interested in re-selling The Balm products, contact them at:
The Balm
Stacey Wexler
1550 California Street
Suite 255
San Francisco, CA 94109
Phone: 212 966-2280
Fax: 413 403-7660
Email: info (at) thebalm (dot) com
Scandinavian Housewares
Saturday, September 22nd, 2007When people think of Scandinavian countries like Norway and Sweden, they usually think of sophisticated, clean style. Swedish House certainly doesn’t disappoint. They sell a number of dishes, throws, and general houseware items that would fit into any semi-modern home. Most of their items are fairly neutral, too, so they appeal to that large group of people that is afraid to try anything too bold for fear of messing it up.
Swedish House also carries a small selection of spa items like these bath salts:
If you’re intereted, get in touch with Swedish House at:
Swedish House
Swedish House
Helena Nordstrom
PO Box 1044
Osprey, FL 34229
Phone: (941) 966-1160
Fax: (941) 966-1160
Email: helena (at) swedish-house (dot) com
DIY Logo Design for Your Business
Friday, September 21st, 2007If self-service design is your style, don’t stop at your signage. You can also design and purchase your logos online. LogoYes offers packages for $99, and you get to pick from their entire library of symbols. Beyond that, they also have packages that include postcards, brochures, and business cards.
What’s especially neat is that you can instantly download high-resolution versions of your logo. That’s imperative if you ever hope to have direct mail pieces printed, or if you do any kind of advertising. Low resolution files wouldn’t look at all professional. If a logo design and expenses have been a big stumbling block in your marketing efforts, check them out and give their free trial a try. You can get a logo design sample before you ever even pay.
More Wholesale Luggage Tags…
Friday, September 21st, 2007While we’re on the subject of wholesale luggage tags, I should probably mention Top it Off Accessories. In addition to their lines for hair accessories, flip-flops, and handbags, they also carry a number of bright and cheerful luggage tags. They’re a little more sophisticated in nature than the previous LugTagz line.
While they have a wholesale page, you’ll have to contact them to get the login information. You can contact them at:
Top it Off Accessories
info (at) topitoffaccessories (dot) com
phone: 617.323.2605
Need a Sign?
Friday, September 21st, 2007When you start a business, it can be a little overwhelming trying to figure out where you need to go to buy everything. As if the products themselves weren’t enough to worry about, you may also have to worry about new flooring, display units, a point of sale system, and of course, a new sign.
If you’re in the market for new business signs, you should check out BuildASign.com. They offer a variety of online customization options, so you don’t actually have to locate a designer, pay for hours of design time, and then find a sign building service. They can also do car magnets, in the event that you’d like to advertise your business in traffic. Overall, it’s a very affordable option for a business that’s just getting started.
I Miss My…Luggage Tags
Friday, September 21st, 2007Lug Tagz has been making stylish modern and retro luggage tags for some time now, but it’s only recently that they’ve released their “I miss my…” series. The tags are brightly colored and playful, and they’ll definitely help your luggage stand out from a distance. My personal favorite is the dog version, but I know plenty of people who would prefer the “I miss my shoes” tag.
The tags would make great stocking stuffers for the upcoming holiday season, and if you have a brick and mortar store, they’d probably do quite well at your checkout point.
If you’re interested in carrying the tags, get in touch with LugTagz at:
Lug Tagz
Log Cabin Road
Nelson, NH 03457
Phone: (603) 847-9080
Fax: (603) 847-9616
Email: jane (at) lugtagz (dot) com
Dolphin Backpacks and More
Thursday, September 20th, 2007If you specialize in items for kids and babies, you probably already know about Goodnight Moon. If you don’t, you should. They have some of the cutest items you’ll ever find, including these adorable backpacks:
I mean yes, these backpacks might get your 10-year-old boy beaten up, but that’s not really who they’re meant for. They’d be perfect for a very young child, especially little girls (although they do have a turtle design, too).
If you’d like to contact Goodnite Moon, get in touch with them at:
Goodnite Moon
Debbie Millard
111 Corte Madera Town Center
Corte Madera, CA 94925
Phone: (415) 945-0677
Fax: (415) 945-0206
Email: deb (at) goodnitemoon (dot) com
Bringing Your Business to Television
Thursday, September 20th, 2007Getting into television advertising can be extremely intimidating for someone who’s new at it. You have to figure out the characteristics of the people you’d like to reach, then figure out what city would be the best place to do it. After that, you’ll have to figure out which cable company serves the majority of that area and contact them for quotes. You’ll probably have to go through several revisions based on the numbers in your desired categories, and finally, you’ll have to negotiate rates.
Oh, and don’t forget to hire someone to make the commercial, write it, approve it, and make sure it gets to the station in the appropriate format. Or, you could just hire someone to help you enter the TV market. Companies like Hawthorne Direct can help you out with nearly anything you’d need, including infomercial production. Give them a look if you’re in the market.
Making Dogs Everywhere Look Like Italian Mobsters
Thursday, September 20th, 2007
They also have an adorable, preppy argyle collection too, if you’re dog is the more classy sort.
FabDog has a wholesale page that you can visit to get more information on their terms. You can also contact them at:
FabDog
Michael Becher
410 Garibaldi Ave.
Unit C
Lodi, NJ 07644
Phone: 973 472-5555
Fax: 973 472-0009
Email: info (at) fab-dog (dot) com
Promotional Products for Your Business
Thursday, September 20th, 2007It’s a common misconception that promotional marketing products are too expensive for small businesses to get involved with. Most places have done inkpens before, but that’s about it. Browsing Gimmees.com, though, I found half a dozen great products that small local businesses could use to get their name out there.
These Halloween bags are a great example. At less than .50 a bag, it wouldn’t be terribly expensive to supply them to local scouts or schoolchildren. Their promotional sales and closeouts section also has a lot of great deals that might not be affordable in any other situation.
So, if you’re interested in trying out some interesting promotions, head over and browse around a bit. You’ll definitely get some good ideas.
Cabin Fever Area Rug
Wednesday, September 19th, 2007I suspect that the Cabin Fever Area Rug will be pretty popular this fall and winter. It’s cute and kitschy, but definitely functional, which is always a plus. Decor alone can be a tough sell if you miss the mark by even a little, especially in economically slow years. The Cabin Fever rug is approximately 4 feet by a little over 5 feet, so it would be fun accent piece in a family room, or perhaps even better in a teenager’s or college student’s room.
If you’re interested in carrying it, contact the manufacturer at:
Bungalow
Shari Thomas
PO Box 10038
Goldsboro, NC 27532
Phone: 800 639-6287
Fax: 540 997-0075
Email: customerservice (at) bungalowco (dot) com
Losing the Accent
Tuesday, September 18th, 2007A good friend of mine moved to the United States from Hong Kong when he was in junior high, and even after living in the United States for almost two decades, he still has a thick accent that makes it hard for new people to understand what he’s saying. When he was younger, of course, he was more concerned with getting a handle on the language and doing well in school. When you’re in school, though, teachers can’t do much if your accent drives them nuts. They can’t exactly get rid of you for that.
Now that he’s an adult, he often finds less experience co-workers being promoted above him. His progress reports often list “communication skills” as an area to work on. While I know that he’s an intelligent, articulate person, it’s hard for others to figure that out. They’re too distracted.
I’ve told him for some time that he should sign up for an accent reduction course. It’s not that I want to encourage him to hide who he is, but when it affects his earnings and life at work, it’s a problem that should be dealth with.
What do you think? Have you ever dealt with a similar problem at work?
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