Be sure to read the first installment covering letters A-J at the Top Ten Wholesale Buyers Guide and look for more wholesale buyers glossaries coming soon.

Kelly Bag – A handbag style associated with screen Grace Kelly and made popular by her. It is hard-sided handbag with a triangular profile and metal latch top with one carrying handle. It is a sophisticated style perfect for elegant occasions.

Knock Off – A generic term for handbags and other merchandise that duplicates the style of a famous designer brand name. Some knockoffs are legitimately licensed reproductions while others are simply forgeries passed off as the original. Retailers carrying knockoff designs should be absolutely certain of the legal status of the product in order to avoid defrauding their customers and possibly getting into legal troubles.

Lame’ – A shiny fabric woven with metallic as well as traditional threads. Lame gives handbags a glamorous look that is perfect for nights on the town and other occasions calling for a touch of the exotic.

Leatherette – A synthetic material with a look very much like genuine leather. It is durable and inexpensive making it a very popular material for less expensive handbags.

Messenger Bag – A large handbag with a long shoulder strap. It is worn across the shoulders and has a large flap at the front. Based on the bag once used to carry documents and the like.

North-South – A term to describe a handbag that is longer than it is wide.

Nubuck- A form of imitation leather that combines genuine leather with synthetic materials. In appearance and durability it is generally superior to leatherette.

Ostrich – Leather made from the hides of ostriches. It durable and has a distinct “pimpled” texture. In recent years the price of ostrich leather has gone down due to extensive ostrich ranching.

Patent Leather – A high gloss finish on leather. Is sometimes used to describe very shiny faux leather but properly applies to genuine leather only.

Pinking – A zigzag shaped trim cut into leather or cloth to provide a decorative edge to a handbag or other item.

Piping – A trim along exterior edges of handbags usually constructed from a synthetic material. It helps to keep the exterior shape of a handbag and protects the stitching.

Safari Bag – A large soft bag with a curved shape. Normally safari bags will have several compartments and close securely with a drawstring or latch.

Shoulder Bag- Any handbag that has a long strap and is intended to be worn over the shoulder. Shoulder bags are popular when moving in crowded public places as the strap can be worn across the body to thwart purse-snatchers.

Sling Bag – A shoulder bag that has one end of the shoulder strap attached to the top of the bag, and the other end attached to the bottom of the bag. Useful for carry large, heavy items and is similar to a backpack.

Top Handle Bag – A style of handbag that has a small handle located at the top. An often attractive but not very practical handbag as it cannot be carried over the shoulder and must be held by the hand.

Valise- A largish handbag that closes at the top, has two top carrying handles, and is durably built. A valise often serves as luggage for overnight trips or as a make up case.

Wrist Strap – A thin strap or cord attached to a small handbag or wallet so it can be carried on the wrist. Sometimes called a circle strap.

Zipper Top – A handbag that closes at the top with a zipper. The term is also applied to compartments within a purse.

Art Micklewraith is a freelance writer and regular contributor to Top Ten Wholesale. He can be reached at Content and Solutions or by email at artmicklewraith@gmail.com.

However, if you are not well versed in the terminology that applies to handbags it can be difficult to know exactly what you are ordering. To assist retail buyers in making the right decisions when selecting merchandise we offer this glossary of handbag terms. Handbags have long been a mainstay of online and traditional apparel retail. Wholesale suppliers offer a dazzling variety of purses for all price ranges and are amongst the best selling merchandise an online accessories store can offer.

However, if you are not well versed in the terminology that applies to handbags it can be difficult to know exactly what you are ordering. To assist retail buyers in making the right decisions when selecting merchandise we offer this glossary of handbag terms.

Acetate- A synthetic fabric related to plastic. Acetate fabrics have a very tight smooth weave that is resistant to moisture and stains. It is normally used for the interior lining of handbags.

Alligator Skin- Alligators are an endangered species and their skins are restricted from use in manufacture by laws in most countries. Handbags are often made to look like they are made of alligator skin, as their skin is still a popular texture for handbag designs. Today most handbags are made with cowhide leather or synthetic leather embossed and dyed to look like alligator or crocodile skin.

Authentic- An authentic handbag is the original designed and manufactured by the designer name on the name tag. Many fashion designers will include authenticity statements with the handbag, or will have a serial stamped on the inside of the handbag. Imitations of handbags are copies that are made to look very much like the original, and sometimes even have the designers name on them. These imitations are called “fakes”, “knockoffs”, or “replicas”, and are not made with the same quality craftsmanship and materials. Knock-offs are often, but not always, violations of copyright laws and are illegal to sell.

Baguette- Small handbags with long narrow shapes similar to the famous French bread. Not a terribly popular style.

Box Bag- A handbag shaped like a box. Usually constructed with hard sides and a stable square or rectangular base.

Bucket Bag- A type of soft-sided handbag shaped like a bucket. They are similar to box bags but have a round bottom.

Calfskin- The hides of young cattle. Calfskin is very soft and very durable making it a choice material for handbag construction. Normally calfskin bags are quite expensive.

Canvas- Canvas is probably the most popular fabric used in handbags. It is durable and versatile. Canvas can be made of synthetic, or natural fibers, or a bend of the two. Canvas is normally treated to repel moisture and resist stains.

Clutch Bag- A small handbag with no straps or handles meant to be carried in the hand or tucked under the arm. It is a popular style for nights out and special occasions.

Draw String- A strip of fabric, leather, or string that is weaved through eyelets and when pulled it gathers together the top of a handbag to close it.

Embossed Leather- When any leather is used to make a handbag, it is treated to create a variety of finishes, textures, colors and appearances. Embossing gives leather a grain and other patterns on its surface. It may be used to duplicate a natural look such as reptile hide or it may be used to create an entirely new effect.

Faux- A French word that means false. This term is used as a euphemism for a product that is not genuine.

Glazed Leather- A process to alter the appearance of leather. Usually this means adding a wax finish to the leather. Glazed leather has a shiny polished finish, whereas a matte finish is flat.

Hand Tag- A tag made of metal, leather, or fabric printed with the designer’s name and logo. It is usually attached to the exterior of the handbag with a small chain or similar device.

Hand Tooled- Leather or other animal hide decorated by hand using metal stamps or heat branding device to add designs to the leather or hide which is then highlighted by dye.

Hobo Bag- A popular style of shoulder bag with a long shape which scoops down at the top towards the center. It is giving a very casual look by its loose bag structure.

Jacquard Fabric- A fabric with a woven design as opposed to a design printed on the fabric. Material constructed in this manner can have a tremendous variety of designs and patterns due to the machining process, and is named for its inventor, Joseph Jacquard.

Art Micklewraith is a freelance writer and regular contributor to Top Ten Wholesale. He can be reached at Content and Solutions or by email at artmicklewraith@gmail.com.

Nothing kills time for teenagers like console video games and this summer will feature some huge releases that should draw the kids and their money like a politician to a fundraiser. Let’s take a look at a few of the biggest video game releases for July 2006. It seems everything is based on movies in the video game world these days and those below are no exception. The wholesale suppliers should have these in stock now or very soon will and retailers should get on the release date bandwagons.

Tis’ the season for big releases; big, blockbuster movies and many of the hottest video games are all released in the summer. Maybe everybody wants to get their work done in the earlier summer in order to get to the beaches but more likely it is to take advantage of the kids being out of school with money to spend and time to kill.

Nothing kills time for teenagers like console video games and this summer will feature some huge releases that should draw the kids and their money like a politician to a fundraiser. Let’s take a look at a few of the biggest video game releases for July 2006. It seems everything is based on movies in the video game world these days and those below are no exception. The wholesale suppliers should have these in stock now, or very soon will, and retailers should get on the release date bandwagons.

The Godfather- It is a tribute to the enduring popularity of the Godfather movie series that at this late date, some thirty years after the film’s release that Electronic Arts is revealing a video game based on Francis Ford Coppola’s masterpiece.

Gamers will create their own mobster character to play in the game, putting themselves into the action much of it taken directly from classic moments from the movie as well as experiencing new missions alone and teamed up with memorable characters from the film. The player will work his way up from small-time jobs and petty thefts until they are accepted into the Corleone family. It will be up to the player to carry out orders, earn respect and make New York City their own. Release date: 07/03/2006 on the X-Box 360.

Lord of the Rings: Battle for Middle Earth II- Just when you thought all of the hooplah surrounding the Lord of the Rings movie was finally over the second in real time strategy games based on them is just about to hit the stores and Amazon.com.

The first one was a fairly big hit and this one should do about as well. Don’t expect a huge rush but strategy games are relatively rare and Battle for Middle Earth I looked great and worked well. Reportedly, serious J.R.R. Tolkien fans will be disappointed since the story line strays far a field from the books. However, the primary market won’t see it that way. Release date: 07/05/2006 for the Playstation 2 and Xbox.

Monster House- Animated movies are in some kind of golden age. Everyone that comes out seems to make more money than the last. Columbia Picture’s upcoming release Monster House should be no exception. As surely as there will be a Happy Meal toy and a breakfast cereal there is a video game.

Players of the Monster House video game will recreate aspects of the movie as they uncover the mysteries of the possessed house in order to save their neighborhood. Pretty standard fare but promises clever voice acting and a pretty look. Release date: 07/18/2006 for the Playstation 2 and the Xbox.

Miami Vice- The 1980s hit television show Miami Vice will simply not go away. The show brought a cool South Florida style to the attention of American and, despite the cheesiness of the show it has never gone entirely away. Here comes a major Hollywood movie version and the video game.

Advance press on the game has not been good. It has been described as a clunky game based on an outdated license that has already been done better by Rock Star’s Vice City. All in all I wouldn’t get too excited about this one. See if it flies and pick up cheaper ones later. Release date: 07/19/2009 for the Playstation 2.

NCAA Football ’07- Although this list is arranged by release date we have saved the big boy for last. Legions of gamers already have this game paid for and others will trade just about anything to get as soon as it is released. EA Sports’ college football games are among the most successful video game franchises ever.

If you sell video games you should probably sell this one. Wholesalers have are likely to have back orders already pilled up but even if you miss the initial rush there will be plenty of the not quite so rabid of fans still looking to buy. Release date: 07/19/2009 for the Xbox and Playstation 2.

Art Micklewraith is a freelance writer and regular contributor to Top Ten Wholesale. He can be reached at Content and Solutions or by email at artmicklewraith@gmail.com.

Unfortunately, someone selling you traffic could typically care less about your conversion rate: They delivered the traffic they sold you – and in their eyes, their job is done. If it fails to convert, it must be your site’s fault.

How many phone calls do you receive from excited marketers trying to sell you traffic to your site? Probably quite a few. Now, how many phone calls do you receive from someone wanting to show you how to convert the traffic you are already getting? Our guess is very little or none.

Unfortunately, someone selling you traffic could typically care less about your conversion rate: They delivered the traffic they sold you – and in their eyes, their job is done. If it fails to convert, it must be your site’s fault.

The truth is, over a period of time, traffic to your site will always fluctuate, but with a little work, your conversion rate can steadily increase. Sadly, most internet business owners are satisfied with a one percent conversion ratio when, in fact, one percent is already the general conversion ratio for online sales. Can you imagine any bricks and mortar business content with this rate of conversion? Certainly no car dealership, department store or Mom & Pop. They simply could not survive with anything less than 10%.

Bottom line: Instead of spending money on traffic, focus on conversion and in particular, on the following points to make it happen:

Create Trust – Creating trust means much more than just offering your customers a secure checkout. A professional site with no dead links and no missing products is the biggest credibility builder you can have. A well-designed site utilizes good use of color, space, and navigation techniques to communicate experience, commitment and customer service. In addition, think of including testimonials, client lists and independent reviews to educate your visitors. Yes, prospective customers really do read those things!

Pay Attention to Presentation – You have one chance to present your product: Make it outstanding. Professionally photograph items, optimize your pictures for quick download and show multiple angle and zoom shots of important details. Make it easier for visitors to read about you and your company by keeping your web site content in short width lengths. One of the fastest ways to lose visitors is forcing them to read a wall of text that goes across the full width of your pages.

Write Killer Copy – Write descriptive and detailed copy with an emphasis on benefit and remember to remain user friendly. Don’t bog your readers down with unnecessary words, such as ecommerce when Selling Online can get the message across faster and more simply. Utilize clear, bold headlines on each of your pages to draw in your readers and encourage them to read on. Remember the two-second rule: you really only have two to three seconds to grab the average users’ attention.

Disturb the Buyer – You want the buyer to take action immediately and the easiest way to accomplish this is to associate a negative consequence with not buying now. Low inventory, limited price availability, competitors buying remaining stock and missing the peak trend, are all effective ways of conveying this message.

Entice the Buyer – Clearly define your products’ most positive attributes and communicate the benefits of owning your products. In most cases, people are looking to buy the feeling your product creates. SELL THE FEELING. Speak directly to your visitors and ask them questions that make them think about what benefits you are offering. For example, do you want to improve the conversion rate of your web site? What will happen when you succeed in improving it – More sales? Pride of ownership? A trip to Hawaii?

Ask for the Sale — Most important is your call to action, and remember, your site’s most desired actions could be any number of things, including a quote request, free gift or brochure download. A buyer should never need to look for an “action” button. Name your buttons with assertive buying terms such as, Buy it Now, Add to Cart, Make it Mine, etc. Be sure to place these buttons liberally throughout your pages.

Make it Easy – How many of your prospective customers are computer whizzes? Your buyers need to be able to view their carts easily and check out quickly. Attempt using a one-page checkout to streamline the process. Allow customers to see the contents in their carts and the purchase amount. Clearly define your shipping policy and offer a variety of shipping methods and times.

If you’re serious about your online business, receiving quality, targeted traffic to your site will always be a necessary marketing expense. Optimizing your conversion allows you to wring the most from your marketing dollar and will outlast your advertising campaigns. It is also what your customers will remember best. Steve Gibson and Gigi Fotou are partners in Skyabove®. Skyabove® is a full-service internet marketing agency specializing in both Search Engine Optimization and Conversion. Call them today for a free detailed consultation at 714-553-4894 or contact them on-line at www.skyabove.com. They currently have two national locations to serve you better.

A very under-appreciated, at least by those outside the wig wholesale industry, is the sell of fake hair. Very little data is readily available regarding the total annual sales of wigs but there is plenty of evidence of a major market. Retail specialty stores, online discounters, and case lot auction companies all keep an active and profitable industry thriving.

Wigs have been in use for thousands of years. Ancient Egyptians wore the earliest wigs history records but as rule they didn’t wear them for cosmetic reasons. We are told, although I’m not sure how historians would know, that the Egyptians primarily wore wigs to protect their frequently shaved heads.

Presumably, they found it easier to keep their heads clean and lice-free by shaving it and then wearing a wig to protect them from the heat of the desert sun. It makes me wonder why a culture that built the pyramids and invented a battery apparently couldn’t make a hat.

For what may have been similar reasons wigs were overwhelmingly popular, for men and women, during the 17th and 18th centuries. I have heard that a king of France, in order to hide his balding head took to wearing a wig. Sycophantic nobles took the hint and before long the wealthy couldn’t find a wig long enough, piled high enough, or heavy enough to suit them.

In modern times of course the wig has fallen nearly entirely out of use by men but are worn by millions of women at least occasionally. (By the way, when it comes to men’s wigs I should point out I said nearly entirely out of use. Every wig manufacturer makes several men’s lines. They are called toupees.) Many women love to change their look dramatically now and then or radically change their hair color without the commitment to a new hairstyle or dyes. It might be the trip to Vegas or just to the clubs nothing lends an air of mystery like a wig.

Certain celebrities have lent popularity to wigs. Country music star and cultural icon Dolly Parton has long been vocal about her obviously fake hair. Raquel Welch owns her own line of wigs that are very popular. Ms. Welch’s lines are arguably the most popular wigs made.

Of course, many medical procedures including, but not limited to, chemotherapy cause the loss of hair. It is a sad additional burden to an illness sufferer. It is a terrible thing for anyone to have their hair fall out but all the more so for women. Wigs are often treated as merely objects of fun and a little ridiculous but for a chemotherapy patient they can be a connection to a normal life.

Wigs intended as hair replacement are often, but not always marketed especially for medical hair loss customers. It might be desirable to handle these customers with particular delicacy and avoid pushing the glamour of a wig but on the other hand they might appreciate not being singled out for different treatment than any other wig buyer.

Theatricals, both professional and amateur, costume parties, and various forms ‘costume play’ are all excellent markets for the more eccentric or flamboyant wigs. (Costume play is where fans of science fiction, heroic fantasy, or anime dress up as favored characters. It may seem strange but it is big business.) All across the country and every single day small playhouses, high schools, and churches are putting on productions of some kind. They need wigs just as much as they need costume clothing. Halloween and other costume parties are getting more popular all the time and costumes are getting more elaborate. There is an excellent market for costume wigs of all kinds if you promote them carefully.

Now, some practical information about wigs. Wigs are made either of real human hair that has been sold to the wig manufacture or in some cases donated for wigs intended for cancer patients or made from synthetic fibers. As a rule real hair wigs are of higher quality, look better, and cost a lot more than the synthetic ones. Authentic human hair wigs, particularly hand tied ones, can be quite expensive. I’ve seen them going for as much as $600. Most are much less expensive. Synthetic material wigs of medium length, bought in bulk, should probably cost about $25 – 35 each.

When shopping online at wig wholesalers it is very easy to tell what you’re looking at as the industry has a good standardized system of sort wigs by lengths and colors. Sounds obvious but in the world of online shopping the obvious isn’t always followed. Many web wholesale sites allow you find a wig style you like and then search through the remaining inventory by similar style, color, or length. A very handy tool for buyers.

Art Micklewraith is a freelance writer and regular contributor to Top Ten Wholesale. He can be reached at Content and Solutions or by email at artmicklewraith@gmail.com

The online apparel business is one of the most profitable and well-supplied aspects of Internet wholesale. So well supplied in fact that it is sometimes difficult for a new or expanding business owner to decide where to start. Today’s list will hopefully provide some basic information that will shine some light onto the perplexing question of which products to carry.

Plus Sizes- the simple fact is that plus size departments in most traditional, brick and mortar retail stores are lousy. Chain department stores, if they have them at all, shove plus size areas into poorly lit and nearly inaccessible corners of the building. Increasingly plus sized customers are turning to the Internet to get clothing that fits. An online merchant who carries attractive and fashionable plus sizes will attract a loyal customer base.

Uniforms and Medical Scrubs- Nursing and related medical fields are among the fastest growing employment sectors. Increasingly department and specialty retail stores have begun to take notice and uniform stores are popping up all over. Sensibly most medical workers are reluctant to spend top dollar for clothing that is essentially disposable. An online store with economically priced scrubs can be a nurse’s best friend. It would be wise to look at the lines of scrubs with colorful patterns and prints for health care workers who deal with ill children.

Club Wear- Club wear is new name for an old favorite. Shoppers are increasingly going online to find the smart and sexy fashions meant to be shown off at the dance club. Short dresses made from flashy fabrics and revealing designs are the centerpieces of this burgeoning apparel category. While a merchant can simply select a line of sexy dresses to fill out a club wear line many wholesalers now offer especially collected articles under this heading and that makes for easy selection and buying.

Leather Apparel- Timeless leather is a valuable online product line. No matter whether a merchant sells leather jackets, pants, or bandannas there is apparently no limit to the market demand. Excellent, high quality leather apparel is available from all over the world. This abundance of sources means that an online business can provided a dazzling variety of styles and products at amazing prices.

Stage Apparel- Another case of a new name to describe a long existing line of products. Stage wear are articles of clothing either intended to be worn by performers or articles distributed at concerts. T-shirts printed with the logos of rock bands or with rock-n-roll slogans are other examples. Concert shirts have been popular for many years but new creativity and distribution methods have made this line an emerging favorite.

Men’s Suits- With the increasing wholesale availability of imported men’s suit and growing consumer confidence with online purchases is making it possible for merchants to carry successful lines of suits. Be careful; suits can be tricky to size as few men know what size suit they wear. An online suit site should be sure to explain suit sizes clearly.

Athletic Wear- At one time athletic wears meant warm-ups but we now live in an age of specialization. There are outfits meant for running, tennis, and just about any other outdoor activity you can imagine. Highly specialized apparel is an excellent addition to many existing online businesses. For example, if a site carries hunting equipment a line of camouflage clothing is a neat fit.

Special Occasion Dresses- Women’s formal wear, once the exclusive market for high-end specialty shops, has become big business for online distributors. Shoppers have become increasingly aware of the fact that the need not pay for the fancy lighting and other perks of boutique stores. Wholesalers have huge selections of special occasion dresses for weddings, proms, and similar events. Keep the prices low and the trade will come.

Maternity Wear- No longer willing to accept ugly clothing at high prices, pregnant woman are turning to online shopping to fulfill their needs. A website offering stylish maternity wear at reasonable prices will attract a devoted, at least for the term of their pregnancy, and grateful customer base.

Novelty Clothing- A curious catchall category to describe the growing number of clothing styles that are powered by the advances in chemical and textile technologies. As odd as that sounds there is a growing demand for t-shirts that change colors depending on available light or have flashing LED displays affixed to them. There is even clothing that changes color when it comes into contact with body heat; the shirt might start out blue but become green when worn. If another person puts their hand on it, adding additional body heat, the color changes again.

Art Micklewraith is a freelance writer and regular contributor to Top Ten Wholesale. He can be reached at Content and Solutions or by email at artmicklewraith@gmail.com.