It’s not very easy to review the year and provide highlights from all of the events that have made 2010 such a significant time for the industry, nor is it really possible to do it effectively in about 500 words. However, the one thing I do hope to emphasize in this story is the fact that all the talk amid a climate of heated debate between the doomsday naysayers who predicted economic collapse has been equally contrasted by the ones who looked at this time as a period of growth and opportunity.

While the headlines have been abuzz with every bad story you can imagine, there have also been some significantly good ones, too. One of the topics that immediately comes to mind is the advances in social media as a tool for creating massive chatter in the retail and consumer community, that was never before possible through more traditional and conventional means. In fact, there have been numerous niche industries created as a result of this phenomenon, and millions of dollars worth of advertorial and marketing budgets spared the recessionary axe, because of the new channels for information to flow.

In another category that hits close to home – without actually being that physically close to home – is the expansion of global markets, as the dollars that turn into wholesale buys have crossed boundaries, and taken product awareness and brand loyalty to other parts of the world. This increase in global consumption can be looked at as a drain on existing distributorships, or as a chance to reformulate existing strategies, and move the products to new places where they are needed. Our coverage of stories about up and coming hot markets for manufacturing and distribution like Jiaozhou, China are just one example of what’s making the biggest waves, and what will be influencing the direction of the economic  undercurrents in 2011.

Among the biggest and most important changes we’ve witnessed here, the launch of Top Ten Wholesale Answers™ which has brought a new meaning to getting the facts you need to start running your business right! Industry experts are part of the online community that replies to real questions from real people in the business today!

Finally, the best has been saved for last, as we remind those of you out there of our partnership with China Mart Los Angeles™ and the power it gives members to connect with qualified manufacturers and distributors who have met the specs of a company who’s been in the industry for decades. If you have been thinking about looking to the East for new markets to operate within, then you should look no further than CMLA for the most professional and secure support available. It’s a company built by professionals in the industry, and it’s exclusively for professionals in the industry.

We hope you and your loved ones have a safe and joyous occasion this holiday season, and we will be continuing to bring the most relevant and thought-provoking information to you, as we get closer to the end of the year, and prepare for a great new start in 2011.