Wholesale products range in the millions. Or is it billions? With so many to choose from, how do you ever find a balance for your store assortment? For starters, it helps to understand who your customer is, who your competition is and what your store goals are. Below are the top ten questions you should ask yourself when narrowing down your choice of wholesale products to purchase.

1. What is the age range of your customers?

2. Are they men and women, or one or the other?

3. Do your customers shop because they need to or because they want to? Which outweighs the other?

4. In your immediate demographic area, who is your competition? What impressions do you hear from customers, friends, other business owners and anyone else about these businesses?

5. What product categories do your competitors have in their stores? How do they differ?

6. What product categories do you sell or could you sell that your competition does not?

7. What short term goals do you have for your store?

8. What long term goals do you have for your store?

9. Has your overall inventory changed significantly at any point since your store has been open?

10. Is there a product category in your store that routinely sells well? Is there a product category that always seems to struggle… even despite your efforts to sell it?

As the new year gets into full swing and as your business continues to evolve, it’s always a great idea to ask yourself the above questions as a way to analyze your business. By doing this, you will be better able to manage your inventory and make educated decisions on what wholesale products deserve shelve space in your store. Remember that change can be good – whether you want it or not – so accepting some of the answers to these questions is essential in allowing yourself to make smarter decisions for your wholesale product purchases.