Archive for November, 2007
« Previous EntriesGift Troubles
Tuesday, November 27th, 2007Despite the fact that I have no problems shopping for hundreds, if not thousands of strangers through retail, I still have trouble shopping for some family members. For my sisters, I typically end up buying gift cards or just getting them cash. For my dad and uncle, body shop supplies tend to go over pretty well. And for the older female members of my family, a nice bottle of wine will typically do the trick.
The problem is this: I feel like those gifts can be a cop-out, especially the cash and gift cards. I get the same stuff every year and I worry that they’re getting sick of it. Do you have the same problem? How do you get original gift inspiration every year?
The Best Retail Movies
Tuesday, November 27th, 2007If you’re like me, you love your work so much that you even enjoy thinking about it in the off hours. I love retail, and I love watching movies and TV shows that include retail scenes. Below, check out a few of my favorites.
5. Bed of Roses (Florist Shop)
4. You’ve Got Mail (Book Store)
3. Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory (Candy Store)
2. The Lost Boys (Comic Book Store)
1. Clerks (Convenience Store/Video Store)
Any others to add? Am I missing some obvious ones? What about holiday-specific titles?
Post-Holiday Travel
Tuesday, November 27th, 2007Like I said before, I’m definitely planning on traveling once the holiday craziness dies down. Prices tend to be pretty good in early/late January, and the retail business slows down substantially once the initial holiday return period has passed. I should definitely have time to get away then.
For my readers in Europe, you should check out Holiday Hypermarket for great deals on travel. I’m a huge fan of last minute deals, as I like the thrill of finding something totally unexpected at the last minute. I’m not much of a planner, though. I know a lot of people are. Holiday Hypermarket has both last minute packages and all inclusive deals, though, so you can figure something out regardless of your preferences.
What’s the last great trip you took? Do you have any great plans for once the holiday season is over?
Japanese Goods from Kyoto Breeze
Tuesday, November 27th, 2007If you’d like to add a bit of international flair to your store, check out what Kyoto Breeze has to offer. They have a broad product line that includes apparel, decorative accessories, dolls, paper products, and more. The Lucky Cat below is actually a bank.
To get in touch with Kyoto Breeze, you can contact them below.
Kyoto Breeze
H. Matsui
545 Ohe-cho
Shimogyo-ku, Kyoto
Japan
Phone: (201) 410-9283
Fax: (201) 969-8577
Email: ef6511O0 (at) aol.com
Built NY Wine Accessories Wholesale
Tuesday, November 27th, 2007You’ve probably seen Built NY products without even realizing it. It seems like their neoprene cases are everywhere these days. What you might not realize is that they also have a great line of wine accessories. Their wine ratchet is incredibly popular, and would be a great addition to almost any gift store. Take a look:
If you’d like to contact Built NY about carrying their products, you can do so at the number below.
Built NY
(212) 227-2044
Female Products
Monday, November 26th, 2007No, I’m not talking about THOSE female products. I’m talking about products like exercise equipment, diet pills, makeup, travel accessories, and makeup. Do you carry them? Do you feel like they have a place in your store? Depending on your layout, I’d argue that most stores could do quite well with any of those products.
Think about your typical customer. It’s probably a middle-aged female with a husband, children, and ever-expanding waistline. That’s pretty much the standard in nearly all parts of the country. Assuming that you make a good “flow” between your typical gift products and other items, it’s worth giving unorthodox products a chance. You never know, it could work.
Chinese Product Scares
Monday, November 26th, 2007Right now, it seems like everyone is concerned over Chinese products and possible lead contamination. While the danger may actually be quite minimal. Unfortunately, the danger to your business could be significant if you are held responsible for the contents of your products. So, how is a small business supposed to protect itself?
Some companies offer machines that will give readings of the lead content in a product. Unfortunately, those machines cost several thousand dollars, even for rental. That may be perfectly alright for a massive company like Wal-Mart, but it’s more than rent at most smaller retail outlets.
I’m curious. What are you doing? Are you doing anything? How should small businesses balance the need to protect customers with the need to stay in business?
Payday Loans at Christmas
Monday, November 26th, 2007While payday loans have often gotten a bad rap in the past, they serve an important function in our society. Suppose you own a retail store and your credit stinks. Obviously, no matter how sincere you are about paying your debts, you can’t fix your credit immediately. Now, suppose it’s Christmas and you need both inventory and equipment for your store, but you’re coming up a little short. If you arrange for loans payday comes a little bit sooner. You can use the money you get to re-invest in your business, earn a return, and pay back the loan.
The same thing applies for certain personal situations. As with anything, be sure to read the fine print. Pay day loans, like anything else, can vary in their appeal. If you’re careful and you don’t just borrow for the sake of additional consumption, you can use them to your advantage.
Nautical or Nice…?
Monday, November 26th, 2007If you know that your customers include avid boaters or their loved ones, consider checking out what Up2Code has to offer. Their bright and cheerful nautical glasses make perfect gifts for those who love the sea, and at retail price points between $39-45 for sets of 4, you stand to make a nice amount on each sale. The designs have been featured in major publications like Sailing and Coastal Living, too, so you’re not alone if you like them.
Check out this member of their set:
To find out more about retailing Up2Code glassware, give them a call at the number below.
Up 2 Code
69 Washington Street
Marblehead, MA 01945
781.990.0043
Email: info (at) up2code.com
All I want for Christmas…
Sunday, November 25th, 2007At this point, I’m ready for Christmas to be over and I haven’t even gotten through the first post-Thanksgiving week. Between the cooling weather and the busy shopping season, I’m ready for a Royal Caribbean cruise. Somewhere warm is sounding pretty good right now. It’s been a long time since I’ve had a good vacation, and I could definitely use one. What about you? Any great plans for when the holiday shopping season is over?
Internet Sales Tax Issues
Sunday, November 25th, 2007Whether you’re an online retailer or brick and mortar retailer, it’s important to be aware of the issues involving Internet sales tax for retail transactions. Even if you don’t sell items online now, you may want to in the future, and the issue will affect you. Imagine doing business with the added costs of sales tax in addition to shipping and the general wait for products in the mail. Below, I’ve pasted an article that should fill you in on the basic details.
Auto Accessories?
Friday, November 23rd, 2007The other day, I found myself in a gift store that sold things like cards, stuffed animals, candles, and chocolates. No surprises there. Then, I moved back a bit into the store and noticed sheet music. That was a little odd. As I got to the back of the store, I saw that they had an entire display for auto accessories - LED lights, safety equipment, some kind of Dodge Charger accessory, orange cones, etc. It really made no sense at all. I had to find out what that stuff was doing in there.
I asked the owner, and she said it was simple. She operates her store within a small town, and certain things aren’t available anywhere else there. So, in addition to doing brisk business with her gift items, she also did very well with her auto accessories. Since she isn’t fond of the auto stuff, she just moved it to the back so she could surround herself with the things that were most important to her.
Somewhere in that story, there’s a lesson. I think it’s awesome that she found something so strange that worked so well.
Good News for Online Retail…
Friday, November 23rd, 2007I never know if I should believe the reports or not, but I did think that this year’s outlook was pretty interesting. In years past, I don’t remember hearing nearly as much about online retail, but I’m glad to see it’s getting some attention. Hopefully, those of you who own real, brick and mortar stores are also taking advantage of the Internet as a sales channel. Given the minimal costs involved with making sales online, I can hardly see a reason not to.
Store Perks
Friday, November 23rd, 2007If you own a store, there are a number of cool things you can do to try to lure customers away from the big box stores and into your shop. I know of one local store that always has some kind of homemade baked good on hand. Another keeps a video game system for kids to play with while their moms shop. I’ve always thought that stores with espresso machines were nice, too. That’s especially true, given how expensive Starbucks can be!
Do you do anything special in your store? How has it worked out for you? Would you do it again, knowing how it would work out?
Dirty Cards to Titillate…
Thursday, November 22nd, 2007If you own a gift store, it’s almost impossible for you NOT to sell some kind of greeting cards. I’m pretty sure it’s a rule or something. That said, you don’t have to carry boring cards. Vash Designs definitely delivers in that department. On the first page of their site, you see a card that features a “fornicating” egg and chicken with the line “Who Came First?” Really. While not all the cards seem quite that edgy, they’re definitely not the usual.
Don’t miss the Bad Taste Bears. I would elaborate, but I think it’s better to let you discover that one for yourself.
Vash Designs
Michael Vash
3330 Pierce St.
#306
San Francisco, CA 94123
Toll Free Phone: 800 576-8274
Phone: 415 921-0663
Fax: 415 276-1756
Email: sales (at) vashdesigns.com
Watches
Thursday, November 22nd, 2007In a brief departure from my usual wholesale/retail store talk, I wanted to draw attention to these gorgeous ebel watches. My significant other is a big fan of watches without metal wristbands, and they have some that are surprisingly stylish. I’ll definitely be looking into the one below for Christmas.
Despite the fact that most cellphones have clocks, I still think watches are very elegant. It’s so much easier to glance at your wrist than to whip out a cell phone.
Aroma Diffusers Wholesale with Geodesis
Thursday, November 22nd, 2007Aroma diffusers are hugely popular these days, and the ones at Geodesis are terribly elegant. They have a wide variety of fragrances and perfume oil products, so you can actually create an entire aroma section in your store. Take a look at their fragrance list to see what I’m talking about. The Polynesia with Tiare Flowers scents sounds absolutely heavenly.
If you’d like to find out more about reselling Geodesis products, give them a call.
Geodesis
Carole Wagner
Rue Jules Henriot
Z.A Pentaparc
Vannes 56000
France
Phone: 01133297010800
Fax: 011332970109801
Email: geodesis (at) wanadoo.fr
Store Room Essentials
Thursday, November 22nd, 2007Moving into the holidays, it’s always important to make sure that your store/shipping area is in order. Just as a general guideline, here are the things I keep around to make things move smoothly.
A safety utility knife
A pair of scissors
A roll of packing tape
A roll of scotch tape
Extra boxes
Extra envelopes
Stamps
Ink pens
Packing list plastic envelopes
A small damp washcloth
A dustpan
Anything else you’d consider essential? It’s odd, sometimes, the things you end up needing that you never would have guessed until the need arose.
Top Holiday Songs for Your Store
Thursday, November 22nd, 2007When you’re trying to decide what kind of music to play in your store during the holidays, it’s important to consider your particular clientèle. If you get a wide variety of people in your store, you can always go for the classics and favorites. Personally, I’m going to use this list to create a set of songs. You really can’t go wrong with songs like “Silver Bells”, “I’ll Be Home for Christmas”, and “It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas”.
What are your favorites? Is there anything you would never include (or that you’d never leave off?)?
Wholesale Jewelry
Thursday, November 22nd, 2007If you’re looking to sell jewelry but you don’t want to sell the kind of stuff that appeals to the pearl necklace types, you should definitely check out Wicked Sista.
The designs are definitely best for a tween/teen crowd, though anyone looking for a youthful look could get a kick out of their pieces. While they don’t have the simple elegance that more classic pieces have, they’re also more impulsive buys that people don’t need to buy as frequently.
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