Pallet Bargains from AML

The saying goes, “Someone’s trash is someone else’s treasure.” And while clearance items, customer returns, and surplus inventory aren’t necessarily to be categorized as trash, they are no treasure to full-price retailers looking to generate cash fast. However, off-price retailers are looking to resell these “throw-aways” at a significant discount, taking advantage of forecasting mistakes made by their counterparts in the full-price retail sector. Connecting buyers and sellers has often been a challenge in the business of off-price... 

Smokers Vapor E-Cigs

According to a recent International Business Times article, e-cigarettes (e-cigs) are catering to a new generation of smokers; a generation that wants to smoke anywhere, anytime and save money. Since e-cigarettes cannot be marketed as therapeutic nicotine cessation devices, Barry Gray, owner of SmokersVapor, is careful not to guarantee benefits beyond the label of an alternative smoking device, but suggests that with the right planning, smokers may be able to cut back on traditional smoking. However, one thing Gray can guarantee is old fashioned... 

Green Smoke E-Cigs

The electronic cigarette (e-cig) has quickly become a hot product and a booming industry. Marketed primarily as an alternative to traditional smoking, and not as a therapeutic nicotine cessation device such as the nicotine patch, e-cigs appeal to smokers looking for real cigarette sensations, without the harm of toxins such as tar, tobacco, carcinogens and carbon monoxide. And while many distributors are new to the profit train, Miami based e-cig distributor, Green Smoke, is a self-proclaimed pioneer in the now flourishing industry. “We have been... 

GFD Spells Incense Profits

GFD Imports, based in Ohio, is best known as a distributor of the extremely popular, Wild Berry Incense, but also carries an extensive line of other scented products, including cones, fragrance oils and the newest addition, candles. “We also have a large selection of incense burners,” says Sydney Ferrario, who sells to a variety of outlets including tanning salons, gas stations, head shops, smoke shops, and boutiques. Scented products and incense always enjoy a strong following, but GFD has an edge over the competition, based on sales reports... 

Securing Your POS

In today’s world, customers are expecting to shop and checkout at a pace that is conducive to their busy schedules. As a result, most retailers have invested in electronic purchasing options such as point of sale (POS) systems, with credit card transaction capabilities. Retailers should be prepared to handle credit cards in a secure and efficient manner. However, smaller businesses such as independent retailers are more vulnerable when they open up their POS system to electronic purchasing options. They are constantly under siege from malware,... 

Selling Unique Gifts and Service

Independent retailers have found a profitable niche in the sale of unique gifts that express thoughtfulness and sentiment, but most importantly stand out from the cookie cutter gifts purchased from big box retailers. Main Street USA can often promise an unusual present, “that has a great story behind it,” says Alison Jatlow Levy, a retail strategist, noting, “Local stores can add to the treasure hunting aspect of gift shopping that the national chain stores often miss.” Being different and offering one of a kind merchandise is the top criteria... 

Twirl-Go-Round Fun

A successful union between a merry-go-round and a teeter totter, Daryl Ducholke’s Twirl-Go-Round brings playtime outdoors once again. “The Twirl-Go-Round has been tested on four generations of kids,” notes Ducholke, mentioning his own children’s part in prototype testing. While the original homemade Twirl-Go-Round of Ducholke’s childhood was composed of old machinery parts with few safety features, today’s model is kid friendly and kid tested. The Twirl-Go-Round, made out of 100 percent recyclable metal material, comes in a standard... 

Supply Chain Gaps

Inventory balance is an evolving science, and at times a game of luck. For retailers, decisions on inventory purchases, often made months before items actually hit the shelves, necessitate considering consumer confidence levels and projected spending. Unfortunately, today’s demand forecasting activity continues to be built around a store-centric demand model, without the acknowledgement of multichannel retail. The, “State of Cross-Channel Retail Supply Chain Execution,” benchmark report, conducted by Aberdeen Group Retail and Banking, revealed... 

Open to Buy Planning

The formula for open-to-buy (OTB, a financial budget for retail merchandising) planning is not difficult. To start, look at planned sales. Where do they come from? Most independents get into trouble right out of the gate, by getting this segment of the planning process wrong. A common, albeit incorrect approach, is to plan monthly sales volume based on last year. Using last year’s figures to project future sales is wrong on several levels. If sales last year were driven by markdowns and were thus unprofitable, there is a good chance that planning... 

FortuneKeeper Keepsakes

While today’s fortune cookies carry silly sayings or obvious statements, once in a while you’ll see a message and want to hold on to it for inspiration. FortuneKeeper necklaces and key chains are intended to safely store these prized fortunes, quotes, mantras, prayers, pictures or affirmations. A product that has been in the works for over three years, FortuneKeeper launched its wholesale business last January at the New York International Gift Fair. “It was our mission to help people keep their dreams and goals, and to make them happy and... 

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