It’s a brave new world we live in, and there has never been such a curiously amazing set of variables in the history of retail and wholesale shopping before. Let’s take a look at the old phenomenon of Black Friday, and put it up against the newer, Internet-driven market activity known as Cyber Monday. The two of these are basically about the same thing; they are used as indicators to ascertain the health of the economy… they provide direct insight about the general health of consumer spending… and they serve as a forecasting tool for the following year’s sales figures. However, this is where the two days of activity take divergent paths, and it’s crucial that the savvy wholesaler and retailer understands what drives these two markets independently… and what parts are best played in unison.

A little bit of planning goes a long way. Looking at the large retailers and big-box stores, we can see that there are a lot of nice strategies to drive spending, most of which are created at the point of purchase… and sometimes even combined with online activity to form a potent custom-made coupon, for example. I’ve seen some retailers that are offering Internet-only rebate codes and e-coupons that don’t serve any purpose unless the consumer has already gone to the physical store, and made a purchase there to get a URL that grants access. Pretty good for the customer… and twice as nice for the seller who gets a double-dose of revenue from what could otherwise be wasted time, as the consumer gets back home after shopping… and logs back online to check emails and play around with Twitter anyway!

It’s all about choice… and you might be in a

great position to offer this to your customers!

Is there really any reason why you can’t put this information to work for you? Maybe you don’t have the physical storefront, but there are a few things a wholesaler can offer online that will give customers something to smile about. After all, as an online seller, you are able to make changes rather quickly, as opposed to the shops with huge inventories, employees, and overhead to worry about. Since there’s so much to talk about, let’s take a look at the TopTen ways you can be ready for Black Friday and Cyber Monday:

• The power of choice is on your side… and you should be thinking about how you can offer the best and hottest assortment of goods for your customers, in order to be first on their minds. Internet sellers will be in the best shape to quickly rearrange and categorize everything to promote variety on their sites.

• Time is of the essence… because time is on your side, for now. Major players like Best Buy were known to hold sales events that started at specified times, ending that day as the store closed. This kind of strategy works well if you have a retail location, and can boost your holiday revenue nicely if you already have the staff and environment for it. If you don’t have the space, why not do something like this online? Experiment a little, and see what people’s responses are to a limited-time offer on the Internet… maybe even post a real-time countdown clock on your site, to drive traffic to your discount category.

• Laziness can be a virtue… since nobody likes to get up early, and not everybody gets a thrill out of waiting in line for a shop to open so you can elbow and claw your way to sale-priced items that could be drop shipped just as easily. In a recent COMSCORE survey, early morning between 04:00 and 08:00 accounted for just 11% of the day’s total online retail sales, while the period after 08:00 accounted for 84% of online sales.

• Get to know the bargain-hunters… the guys have it, this time around. In a recent CIB survey, men were found to be the largest demographic group to spend time on the internet looking for a special price. They were also found to be the biggest group of self-proclaimed bargain hunters, at 48% compared to 41% for women.

• Dare to be different… it looks like the biggest reason for online shopping is simply the desire to find deals that are not available in stores. If you come up with a new way to bring a special discount or bargain price, don’t print coupons and mailers… bring it to light online, and let your customers follow your links to a rewarding shopping experience!

• Educate your customers… because those who put the information out there will be regarded as the source for everything else, too. Are you utilizing video (or at least audio) on your site? You should be. In a world of overbearing advertisements and ad copy that eclipses the product profiles on some of the less-skillfully crafted sites, your message could be coming through loud and clear.

• Appeal to the young buyers… but do it carefully. Young holiday shoppers aged 18-24 plan to spend less than $50 this year. Of course this means if you have a product that is perfect for this demographic, you should pull out all the stops and hit it hard this year.

• Think outside the box… especially the gift-wrapped ones, as customers will be making purchases this year for their friends, family, and other loved ones… and for themselves. Let’s face it, with so many great deals floating around during the peak of competition this holiday season, there will be a lot of side-buys that are made by people who decide to indulge a little for themselves while the price is right.

• Don’t wait around… because all signs are pointing to consumers doing their holiday shopping pretty early this year. With a big expected surge in seasonal spending kicking off right after Halloween, it’s going to be more important than ever to get your message out there before the competition does.

• Break it down… and remember that in a world of Internet-driven sales, categorizing products effectively has a major impact on how quickly your customers will find the goods they are looking for. If you want to be the one to offer it to them, try using a site like the Toptenwholesale.com site for the best way to put your product category directly in front of the people who are looking. While you’re at it, check out the Toptenwholesale.com facebook site for some ideas and strategic content that will give you the edge this holiday season!

Today’s consumers are looking to you to provide them with the wholesale fashion accessories that transform a lifeless, drab, and uninspired costume into one that leaves people wondering why they didn’t find the source first? Clue your customers in to your secret (well… not so secret, I hope) cache of bling and other things that will increase your item count, and push your sales volume a tad further than if you strictly tried to rely upon the outdated strategy of thrusting a ready-to-wear costume in front of the customer… expecting them to dutifully take it, with no further questions to ask.

This is where you’re going to have to get creative, and start thinking fast about how you can create a palette of colors, textures, and materials that perhaps don’t just fall into the Halloween category. You might want to think about upping the ante with high-value goods that can be used for occasions other than fright night. Here’s a little TopTen list of hot wholesale fashion accessories that you might want to consider:

• Jewelry – it’s a bit more expensive, sure… but it represents an investment. Raise the bar on your sales goals, by offering something that is classy, functional, and not too easily pinned down to the purpose of being part of a Halloween costume. Something that can be used year-round will justify itself when the customers are reaching for their wallets.

• Belts – these things practically sell themselves. If there were ever a fashion accessory that could be classified as supremely versatile, the humble belt is it. It will look great as an add-on to the Halloween costumes that hit the streets this year, and those same belts will continue to bring satisfaction to your customers, as they become part of the wardrobe for the Autumn/Winter season.

• Scarves – another old stand-by in the accessories game, this one will instantly add a splash of color to any outfit, bring the focal point to a new location, or add an element of mystery to an ensemble. It’s just a matter of what style, and what is done with them. Suggest three or four to your customers, and maybe even give a special holiday BOGO to keep them moving.

• Hats – while these can be tricky to accessorize into a costume, there is the benefit of cold weather on the way. Function over fashion might be a selling feature, and in some parts of the country an easily-stashed, colorful knit hat will be a lifesaver for those who decide to wear less, and stay outdoors a little more.

• Glasses – in China, the trend for the past year has been big, thick, plastic glasses with no lenses. Time will tell if this takes off in the States… but you could be the one to pull the trigger on this accessory getting early publicity! Glasses can be found on the cheap from a variety of producers these days, and you might be surprised to learn that the optics industry has been taking astonishing profits on specs for years… there’s no reason to let them have all the fun.

• Shoes – the undisputed champs of fashion accessories, these items are going to become more important as the focus shifts from an overall ensemble, to details that count.

• Bags – how else are you supposed to carry things? You might as well make sure that your customers are doing it in style.

• Chains – these are the ‘wild card’ goods that have been gaining popularity over the past few years… they appeared on the belt loops of punk rockers in the 90’s, and now they are becoming synonymous with the hip-hop crowd. It pays to keep some of these in stock, just to keep things on an even keel.

• Quirky Items – trust me when I say that sequined gloves are going to be big this year. So will the toys that resemble futuristic weapons like Star Trek hand-held phasers. Goofy ties, stockings with designs, and all manner of cosmetic appliances will be the rage, as people try to copycat their favorite looks from Hollywood’s blockbusters.

• Gifts – what, nobody ever gave you a pair of plastic glow-in-the-dark Dracula fangs, just because you showed up at the party? Giving gifts to your guests and friends - even unsuspecting random victims – will set the tone for fun, as the party goes on.

There’s a lot of great ideas out there, and you should try to put your feelers out early, to see what your customers are asking for. A quick survey or e-newsletter with an email response option to a few simple questions could prove to be highly valuable, since it will not only give you a feel for what accessories are making news… but it may even provide you with some useful data about who’s reading your newsletters anyway! If you’re not sure how this works, take a look at the Toptenwholesale.com email blast newsletter, and be sure to register if you’re not already getting the news!

It’s called a zentai suit, and this one is

an example of the crazy concoctions you’ll

find coming out of China these days.

(photo milanoo.com)

Finding the stores that carry wholesale-priced and discounted Halloween goods this year shouldn’t be too hard, since everyone is trying to save a few bucks here and there… without putting an end to the good times entirely. Here’s another handy Top Ten List of things to consider when promoting your ‘Halloween shopping list’ to customers this year:

• Halloween is second only to Christmas, in terms of holiday spending and planning. Besides Thanksgiving, this is the party event of 2009, and you had better be ready! Budgeting is crucial for the consumer, as it will save headaches and woes when they’re enjoying the holidays… instead of scrambling last-minute for items that could easily have been prepared in advance. You should prepare in advance too, by offering the best and hottest items earlier! Here’s a few must-see sites you have to check out for all of your discounted and holiday shopping needs: www.funexpress.com, www.dollardays.com, www.joissu.com, www.koleimports.com and find many other sites at TopTenWholesale.com…   

• It’s usually a good idea to recommend a theme for a party. This will keep party planning more focused, and allow planners to be a little more organized when they’re making purchases. Retailers, wholesalers, and online holiday merchants should offer helpful categories to streamline their shopping tasks. Your customers say they don’t like following the crowd, and prefer to stay away from anything that seems too pre-canned? Tell them to combine seemingly incompatible themes for a really fresh approach… and a lot of fun.

• Look out for those seasonal Halloween shops… because they will be opening somewhere near you… and then they’ll be gone as quickly as they showed up. These will be one of the havens for bargain-hunters, since most of the gear they carry will be marked to sell, and offered at closeout prices. Knowledge is power, and you should be looking for the early-warning signs of competitors who make their move on your territory. On the other hand, you could give it a try yourself!

• Stock up on multipurpose party supplies. Who says your customers can’t get a big supply of paper plates and disposable dinner ware, if it could be used for Christmas, New Year’s, or even next summer’s BBQ? This goes for pretty much all sorts of non-perishable items that can be stowed away until the next party is held. Tell them to buy big, and save big by getting the volume discount.

• Many will be making their own costumes and accessories. Do you know how to sew? Are you handy with arts and crafts? Pass the info along! There are many dollar store goodies and discounted items that need only a little tweaking to make them unique for the discriminating holiday shopper. Simple tools like hot-melt guns, glue sticks, glitter, buttons, beads, and sequins can come in really handy for your eager customers right now, and imagine how much fun the kids will have making their own costumes… especially in your store, or by following your online advice in a how-to series that keeps ‘em glued to your site.

• Alternatives to costly, sugary candies… are not only in fashion this year, but they’re a lot healthier, too. Nuts, trail mix, and assorted seeds can be turned into tasty and wholesome snacks for the Halloween shopper’s party guests. Don’t be afraid to experiment a little with the wholesale candies, and maybe come up with your own recipe suggestions for gooey, fun-filled desserts that have everybody asking where did you get that?

• Zentai suits could be the answer this year! Okay, maybe they’re not for everybody… but with an average retail price of USD30, they sure do look attractive to the budget-conscious buyer. Imagine a party where everyone has to show up wearing their own brightly-colored full-body spandex suit, maybe with regular street clothes over it? Sounds like fun to me… and it could sound like fun to your customers!

• Unique gifts for your party guests? Okay, I live in China… so you could say I’m in the belly of the beast when it comes to seeing some truly strange trinkets for the export market. Why not look around the Internet and scare up a few of these goodies for yourself? Remind your customers that it’s the thought that counts, and party guests will be appreciative of the fact that they thought of making them some crazy little favors and treats to take home with them when the night is over! These little trinkets can be positioned as impulse-buy items, or even as free gifts for placing orders that meet a certain size.

• Sex sells… and it won’t cost your customers much, either! Adult-themed Halloween parties are an American tradition, pure and simple. It’s the one night of the year to be naughty, and they might as well do it right. Have you looked at all of the wholesale adult novelties and gifts out there? Don’t be shy… it’s a huge industry, and last year it’s estimated to have netted around USD1 billion. Shouldn’t part of that number belong to you?

• Inflatable means… bigger, better… cheaper! Size really does matter, and sometimes it pays to offer shoppers big, colorful, inflatable toys to take up some space in their parties/costumes and add to the good times… as guests play with giant-sized microphones, kungfu-inspired weapons, and other wild super-sized versions of everyday objects. Beats a few simple balloons, right? Actually, you might as well stock a few varieties of balloons while you’re at it!

The verdict: Halloween is not so scary after all. If you plan accordingly and make the necessary preparations, you will be the one howling at the moon over the great holiday sales you’ve made… while those who wait until the witching hour will be frantically making the rounds looking for leftovers. That’s something to be scared of!

With a total attendance of over 10,000 at the recent August 2009 Off-Price Specialist Show, and over 450 exhibitors showing off their best merchandise, there was an atmosphere of high-energy activity that resulted in the formation of intense, exciting, and fresh new buzz over the steals-and-deals in the Closeout and Off-price Industry. While many of the doomsday-types predicted a rapid cooling period for the Retail and Wholesale business that would lead to catastrophic results for anyone who dared to get involved in such a volatile and dangerous market… the people who make up the Wholesale and Retail sector know that the show must go on, and it’s really up to us to determine whether that show is going to be a comedy, a tragedy, or a gut-wrenching drama…

There were a lot of smiles at the show, and reports from the field were all rather upbeat and similarly positive about the great turnout, the attitude of the buyers who showed up, and the unexpectedly good order rate on the sales floor. For some sellers it was not a matter of trying to capture the attention of buyers, but instead a matter of trying to get the orders filled out quickly, so they could give everyone the attention they deserved!

“It was nice to meet a lot of new customers and future friends. Thanks to everyone that was patient enough to wait in line for our product!”

Kenneth Delaney

Bordan Shoe Company in Los Angeles

One of the truly surprising features of the show was a huge focus on the low price-point merchandise that was being put right next to luxury-brand goods. In an economy that seems to be shifting with the winds, and a lot of dollar-pinching going on… innovation sometimes takes place in some unlikely ways. While the Luxury Market’s share of the consumer pool is slipping downward, the Budget and Discounted Goods Industry is seeing tremendous growth. Of course, this is what anyone would expect to see during a financial pinch, but what’s become one of the hot topics of the business is the fact that these two areas of retail –- which were once miles apart — are now rubbing shoulders and competing on the same sales floor. In a brilliant move, the sellers and distributors have adapted to the changes, and made the move to put these high-end goods to the test by offering choice to their customers that was not available in the past.

“My lower price point items performed better than the upscale goods that we are known for!” Kathy Chikato

Commerce, CA–based DLM Off Price Specialists

Another point to consider is the influx of new vendors who showed up to announce their goods. According to David Lapidos, Senior Vice President for the Off Price Show, conversations with attendees revealed that everyone was quite able to find what they needed at this event. A good mix of general merchandise, specialty items, and everything from bulk costume jewelry to sports wear and athletic gear made their presence felt and heard at the show. Wait a minute… wasn’t this supposed to a bad year for everyone in the business? Shouldn’t we be slowing things down, and waiting for the right time to promote our products and services again? Mr. Lapidos added that “All who attended will re-affirm that this industry is very much alive.”

It looks like the slow and cautious strategy couldn’t be more out of tune with the sound of people filling the convention center… and the songs of victory that were being hummed by happy vendors at this event. Winter merchandise made a huge hit on the sales floor, and the variety of goods in all categories on offer was a clear sign that making your move sooner — rather than later — is the only strategy to consider. This show experienced a 10% increase in buyer attendance and an equal increase in exhibit space from last year’s show, so there’s little doubt that the following shows will yield similar results. Remember, this is just the beginning… and if you missed out on the amazing August event, you’ll be pleased to know that another chance is coming up fast. For information regarding the upcoming Off Price Show on February 14-17, 2010 at the Sands Expo & Convention Center, Hall G, Las Vegas, you can follow the link we’ve provided. Happy wholesaling to everyone who made the August show such a success!

Since consumers everywhere are making changes to their spending habits — and the fashion industry has felt the pinch of profit margins slashed by falling sales volumes — it’s become more important than ever for quality products to become available to small vendors, since they are one of the last links in the chain that ends with the consumer.

On top of that, many of the leading wholesale distributors are forming partnerships and relationships with exclusive designers and manufacturers who produce goods that won’t show up anywhere else. This means your search for unique and fresh fashions for men, women, and children are all in front of you, and only a mouse click away. It also means that those popular and high-demand items like bags, belts, and other fashion accessories can be found at discounted wholesale prices, through your favorite online distributor!

Wholesale distributors like Shopforbags.com are sensitive to the needs of the smaller vendors. Minimum orders start at only $100, and buyers can mix and match designer products to create the perfect order for their business! There are more than 1,000 fashion products available, and all orders are shipped within 48 hours, which will be perfect for those who want to avoid delays in restocking their shelves as the products take off. It’s nice to know that you can have a friend in the business who will offer discounts on orders that were only available to the larger outlets in the past, but are now easily within your reach. This trend is gaining momentum, and the choices will invariably broaden as the market grows into its new position in the ever-changing global wholesale and retail community.

Other savvy distributors can also be found through TopTenWholesale.com Twitter account by droves of loyal retailers, and it would pay to look for the ones who employ online-only incentives that come in many forms, such as a current offer to receive free shipping for using a checkout code for all new accounts… or an e-coupon that applies credit to the next order. It’s no doubt that new incentives will manifest themselves over time, if you just want to wait. However, new competitors will also emerge from the shadows, so what are you waiting for?

Take a look at WholesaleU

• Handbags – the product directory that leads you to see some of the hottest and latest styles on offer from a collection of suppliers.

Check out Top Ten Wholesale

• Fashion Accessories - a vertical search engine with a plethora of assorted accessories and must-haves for the fashion experts in the wholesale business.

Something that surprises me is the fact that jade jewelry has long been the understated adornment, even though it’s been around for a very long time (some jade artifacts have been excavated from prehistoric sites) and it’s always been considered a thing of beauty and value. Today’s jade can be found worn by many men, women, and children in China, Korea, Vietnam, and other parts of Asia. It’s still got the mystique of being a treasured Oriental material, yet has deep roots in South American history as well. Another thing that surprises me is the fact that while I was living in the USA, I saw jade on a very rare basis. Living in China, I see it all the time.

I personally think we will see a big surge in the Western jade market in the coming months and years, mainly because the rising level of interest in Asian culture is in direct proportion to the news headlines that cover stories ranging from the deals gone wrong between China and Australia… to the positive changes in the realm of IPR (intellectual property rights) and… the WTO recently handing down a verdict to China — in the USA’s favor — over opening up the market for entertainment and media channels without government-sponsored middlemen. Okay, I’m getting ahead of myself… those are stories for another blog.

As for purchasing jade and related pieces of jewelry, it takes a real expert to make the call on what stones are truly of exquisite value, and which ones are just polished up to look nice under showroom lights. I won’t even attempt to make you a connoisseur after reading this, but you’ll at least have some understanding of what details to look for as you search for the right seller/distributor to supply you with some jade that will entice your customers who are looking for something special and unique.

First of all, there isn’t a clear-cut set of rules and standards for the grading and selection of jade at the production level. Sometimes, a panel of experts from renowned Chinese universities will assist with the process, and there are also numerous independent experts that can also be called upon to give their perspectives on making the determinations… but unfortunately – as with so many things in the PRC – the ‘experts’ are nothing more than a few guys who have some form of protection through the Byzantine maze of connections and guanxi that China is so infamous for. What’s a wholesaler to do? Are you at the mercy of scammers, or is there anything you can do to protect yourself and your investment?

Without pointing out the obvious (due dliligence!) stuff… I will provide some items to consider, when making the leap to buying a truckload of jade from China. In fact, this sounds like a good time for another TopTen List, doesn’t it?

• Be prepared to look at a lot of different sellers. Walking away at the faintest hint of something that doesn’t feel right is usually the best course of action, and it will often save you from being roped into a deal that doesn’t suit you or your customers. Most of the major established sellers can be found on the East Coast, and places like Beijing, Shanghai, Zhejiang Province and Fujian Province are a hotbed of jade activity… both the good and the bad.

• Know a little about the basics of jade characteristics. Jade is a tough and fairly hard material, a lot like quartz in many respects. If you can plainly see chips and flakes of stone being produced by the goods in question, walk away. If there are cracks and breaks along the pieces, you are better off without them. Imagine you are giving this as a gift to a loved one. If it wouldn’t be good enough for you, it’s probably not good enough for your buyers either.

• Color of the stone is the single most important characteristic. Hands down. Some people prefer an intense emerald-like hue, while other jade-lovers like to see a bluish-waxy color that looks soft and buttery. All of them are okay, and to be honest, jade comes in a lot of different colors. Something for everyone!

• Intensity of the color can be a lot like looking at a piece of ice. Have you ever wondered why some ice cubes look as clear as glass, while others might have a cloudy, almost milky appearance? So have I. This will be a factor in determining the value of your jade.

• Brightness of color, and the finish is very much a subjective sticking point, and while some dealers tell you that a high gloss is preferred, others will tell you that the ‘greasy’ look is the mark of truly superb material. Research your market, and know what your customer wants before getting too carried away with this part.

• Evenness of color and depth is the last one of the ‘big four’… and it’s the one that usually separates real from fake in the least amount of time. High-quality jade is even in color, and extremely expensive. If you are getting perfect pieces of jade that show no variations in their color for a bargain price, you should know that you are still paying too much. The merchandise could very well be glass, or some other mineral that has been dyed or polished with a colored wax that will wear away faster than your reputation!

• Be prepared to make ‘em wait a while. Nothing will flush out the bluffers like making them nervous with a vague timeline, or no clear indication of how long you plan to be in the area. Of course this goes both ways, and the Chinese are no strangers to the waiting game.

• Don’t let the cargo leave your sight! I’ve heard a good number of horror stories from quite a few laowai doing business in China, and the one thing that is consistently at the top of the list (besides disappearing funds!) is the old bait-and-switch. Perhaps the best advice I have ever heard was from a guy I know who buys in China, and trades industrial uniforms and safety apparel to some companies and institutions in Africa… he told me that he personally inspects the cargo, seals the container, and then sits by it (sometimes for hours) until it’s on the ship! Pretty extreme, but then again, your blood pressure will be too… if you find out you’ve been had.

• Avoid generic names, and try to apply the proper names of the material you sell, even if it means making the extra effort at branding or marketing a new concept to the public. After all, the one thing scammers hate most is a well-informed buyer, and the only way you will weed out the bad sellers from the good ones is by making sure that your customers are asking for the right stuff by name. Words like serpentine (also bowenite), carnelian, aventurine quartz, grossularite, Vesuvianite, and soapstone should become part of your vocabulary.

• Further education goes a long way, if you want to make jade your area of expertise. Since there isn’t one single, unified global standard in the industry, and the lines are quite blurry from one definition to the next, you have a great opportunity to become the expert!

There are great advantages to being the first guy on the block to offer jade to willing buyers… but the reality of the situation is that you’ve got to make certain of the risks involved. While it’s easy to say that doing biz in China isn’t worth the hassle, frustration, and immeasurable layers of deception… it’s also quite valid to point out that being the one with the endurance to earn your chops through careful and steady forward growth will pay off in the end. I’ve said it a hundred times before: if it was easy… everyone would be doing it, right? Do you remember what I mentioned earlier about blood pressure? It’s said by numerous Traditional Chinese Medicine advocates that wearing jade can improve and regulate blood circulation… you might want to start there!