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

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One of the things I have noticed is a general streamlining of things in the foreign trade business; in the area of trade fairs, a sort of cost-cutting effort to trim some fat from trade shows that were usually hosted in multiple venues… multiple cities… and required a lot of legwork on the part of the visitors to get something accomplished. This year, the reality of the CPC missing its elusive 8% GDP goal — by a mile — is pretty clear, and it means that once-headstrong wholesaler juggernaut China is responding with a more intelligent approach to the way business is done, as global market contraction steadily continues.

I can hear the collective sighs of relief, from people who have had more than enough of poorly-executed trade fairs and haphazardly-organized shows of the past. After all, business is still business… but it will be nice to know that efficiency will be of greater value this time around.

Companies seeking to enter the China market may have a golden opportunity to see and be seen by some of the biggest names in leather-related manufacture and production in the world. All China Leather Exhibition (ACLE) will be in its 11^th year, as it continues to bring all major Chinese producers, distributors, and buyers together into one massive show space. This is a very big event, and it should be noted that last year turned out over 15,700 buyers (over 13,800 from mainland China) and media representatives from around the world. China International Footwear Fair (CIFF) & Moda Shanghai 2009 will also be represented, since they are major co-organizers of the event.

From the press release:

“China International Footwear Fair and Moda Shanghai 2009 will be one of the leading trade shows of its kind in Shanghai. Organized with a joint venture of APLF Limited and China Leather Industry Association, the event will take place concurrent to the All China Leather Exhibition (ACLE) 2009. The event will display an extensive range of fashion goods including leather garments, handbags, travel-ware, and fashion accessories, giving buyers an overall preview of fashion total-look. China International Footwear Fair (CIFF) and Moda Shanghai 2009 is a must attend event for professionals from footwear industry.”

Another important point to consider is the fact that 22 group pavilions have already been confirmed, and pavilion groups from Australia, Brazil, Ethiopia, France, Germany, India, Italy, Japan, Korea, Mexico, Pakistan, Spain, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey and USA, have been slated to participate in ACLE and CIFF 2009.

Sounds pretty good, eh? There is still a chance to book a spot now, and it always pays to be early when dealing with the logistics of international travel. For some specifics on getting the info you need to make your reservations, I have listed some of the vital information below:

All China Leather Exhibition (ACLE) 2009

in a joint presentation with

China International Footwear Fair (CIFF) & Moda Shanghai 2009

September 2 - 4, 2009

Shanghai New International Expo Centre
Longyang Road
Pudong, Shanghai, 201204
China

Last but certainly not least, for those who would like to know who this show is specifically for, here’s a list of the visitor profiles (by industry sector) that the show organizers have produced:

* Importers & Exporters

* Semi-Finished

* Finished Leather

* Hides & Skins

* Components & Accessories

* Process Chemicals

* Tanning Machinery

* Synthetic Materials

* Man-made Leather

* Exotic Leather

* Shoe Machinery

* Technology

* General Public

* Footwear

* Handbags and Leather Goods

* Garment

* Fashion Accessories

* Travel Wares

* Related Services

Some of the hungry power-players looking to get a minute of your time will be hailing from companies like Dongguan Wanhua Leather Co.,Ltd, Wenzhou Ruixin Leather Co., Ltd, Wai Hing Leather Mfg Co.,Ltd, Chaei Hsin Enterprise Co.,Ltd, Wenzhou Synthetic Leather Co., Ltd, Zhejiang Longyue Technology Co., Ltd, Taiwan Haoquan Enterprises Co.,Ltd,Comshoe Spanish Shoe Component, Wenzhou Baifeng Shoes Material Industry Co., Ltd, Haining Haixiang Group Co.,Ltd, Wenzhou Liyu Shoe Materials Co.,Ltd, Wenzhou Nanfang Shoes Material Co.,Ltd, Nanjing Great Eastern Resins Co., Ltd, Nanbao Resins Co.,Ltd. Desma (Guangzhou) Machinery & Engineering Co., Ltd, and Wenzhou Shenming Shoe-making Machinery. be on your guard, but remember that the event will also be geared toward makin this a fun experience for all, and I hear that there will even be a scheduled trip to local factories for selected participants on the second day of the fair. More is expected to materialize, as the show date draws nearer.

As you can see, this event is certainly not limited to shoes, and should be considered seriously by anyone who wants to get to know the climate in China’s leather business, as the attending exhibitors and promoters strive to put on their best show for eager buyers. Come to think of it, Shanghai isn’t far from Hangzhou, and I’ll be very interested to see what goes on at this particular event. Maybe I’ll see you there!

Yes, that’s the beginning of next month. No, there wasn’t much advance notice.

It’s a rather tall order, considering that PC makers supplied more than 40 million new PC’s to China last year (New York Times) and it’s anticipated that the world’s largest online community (over 300 million to date) are going to keep buying new computers. It begs the question: who will supply these new PC’s to the Chinese market? I’m willing to bet that PC makers like the bruised-and-battered DELL (Ouch. Wasn’t it a 34% reduction in PC sales last month?) would like to know the answer, immediately.

This spells big trouble for the folks who have to go back into the warehouses to open up sealed boxes and install the new software, which is already being decried as “unstable, ineffective, and problematic…” even before Beijing’s unrealistic rollout date. According to the Beijing News, the program is “less than stellar” in its ability to filter content.

Immediate backlash notwithstanding, pundits are already stepping up to the plate, as they attempt to defend the decision by the central government. In a related statement, Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang made it clear:

“The purpose of this is to effectively manage harmful material for the public

and prevent it from being spread.”

Screen capture of Green Dam warning page.

While all of this may sound deviously Orwellian in nature, it should come as no surprise to the crafty wholesale / retail virtuosos (that would be YOU!) that a severe, near-crippling bottleneck in the system introduces an opportunity to pick up some product that does no good to anyone, as it sits in containers and warehouses gathering dust… and reaching the end of its technology cycle, before resulting in a profit for the manufacturers. In other words, there may be some leveraging power for those who want to help move the goods, and this could be a boom year in the domestic wholesale PC business, despite all the hand-wringing from the likes of political activists, to the PC industry giants that have been stopped in their tracks by this sudden boondoggle in the path of Q3 sales for the year.

Checking out some Top10 results like these can reveal a soon-to-be exploding market in Personal Computer liquidation. Get in there while you have the chance, and don’t be surprised as the market swings wildly from one end of the pendulum to the other.

Whether this thing really becomes a problem in the long-run is unclear at this point, but until the politicos can resolve things from the highest diplomatic levels, PC makers the world over might be heard saying: “Frankly my dear, I don’t give a Dam… but what will you give me for these computers?”