2010 September

Last year, the experimentation began on a widespread level; virtual gift cards were becoming part of transactions everywhere, and they also made some surprising numbers during the holiday season’s final results for 2009. Now, with the 2010 holiday rush hurtling towards retailers, it’s becoming increasingly important for sellers – whether they are online, or in physical locations – to start gearing up with marketing strategies and advertising campaigns that conform to the growing trend of virtual gift cards and even gaming credits that can be applied towards real-life purchases. The challenge today is to determine which ones of these sales incentives will be of real value, and which ones will fade away fast.

Back in the good old days, manufacturing was a pretty straightforward affair. One company produced goods, and they were simply shipped off to a distributor who would then dole the merchandise out to authorized retailers. In the end, the consumer would stop by a favorite neighborhood location, buy the goods at a retail price, and the cycle was complete. These days, it’s a whole different game. Supply and demand is not so clear-cut any more, and the supply chain has been turned into a highly complex maze of orders that are driven by a trend towards commodities.

Finding B2B marketing solutions is no easy task for many; it’s a process that requires a clear vision of what the company is trying to achieve, coupled by adequate market data to determine which direction needs to be taken. For many small businesses and startups, this simply isn’t as easy as it may seem, especially in the rapidly-changing world of wholesale and retail. Sometimes it’s best to call in the professionals to make some changes, and that presents a whole new set of challenges for companies that fit the aforementioned scenario. Here are a few tips for business owners who are looking to expand or refine their companies with the right business services.

There can never be too much information presented about marketing tips for B2B, especially in the world of global trade. With all of the increasing opportunities for trade to take place across multiple platforms, it’s also a game that is constantly changing. However, some basic, time-tested guides can be extremely useful in securing a position with businesses who are looking for the best deals, and it’s up to the companies who have the right products to get their attention. While there’s a lot happening in terms of technology, sometimes a “boots-on-the-ground” approach is still a great way to refresh your marketing efforts, and capture sales from every facet of your buyer community. Here are some tips for B2B businesses that are smaller, and need to think of a more localized mentality to marketing.

Practically everyone has a mobile phone these days, and some users will really make the numbers matter for companies who are making full use of mobile apps and services to boost their earnings. These trendsetters are going to be the ones who pioneer the latest in reaching out to the mass of active users that are becoming increasingly receptive to a new age of marketing and interactive content.

Do you tweet? Hope so. In this crazy world of technology driven consumers and social media, Twitter has leveraged itself to be a key component in the retail marketing mix. If you haven’t already dove into the world of tweeting, it’s time to start. Here’s why. Support Your Current Customers Customer service takes on a whole new meaning with Twitter involved. In an instant you can respond to a question …

You had the idea. You created the product. Now what? As a wholesaler, getting your foot wet in the retail industry can be easy. But getting both your feet soaking wet in the world of retail isn’t always as easy as it may appear. There are many steps involved in reaching your goals, but among the first that you will have to face is how to attract buyers as a …

Manufacturer.com was launched in 2004, merged with JP Communications INC in 2009, and has since become a Premier B2B Marketplace where wholesale buyers and suppliers connect for international trade.

The East China Fair (ECF) is the largest regional trade fair in China, and has earned a track record of being able to attract thousands of manufacturing and trading companies, effectively structuring time for on-site deal making. With the power to attract a wide variety of manufacturing and trading companies, the Trade Conference with East China Fair will be held at ChinaMart in the Los Angeles (California, USA) Conference Center …

Negative news predicting a sluggish economy, coupled with exaggerated stories of economic disasters, have been pushed to the wayside, thanks to the huge success and impact of the recent OFFPRICE Show in Las Vegas, Nevada. For those who were willing to put their own skepticism aside, delegates and attendees at the massive wholesale exhibition were rewarded with a selling environment that could not have been possible without the support of …

Everyone from the retail sector, wholesale distributors, and online sellers know what has been building up in recent days; the call has been made for orders to be processed in anticipation of the holiday season. 2010 represents one of the most crucial and challenging retail years in recent history, and only the sellers who plan and prepare will be able to enjoy a fruitful new year in 2011. Planning is …

The OFF-Price Show, recently held at the Sands Expo & Convention Center from August 15-18, was a monumental event that will be heralded as the show for those in the industry who refused to allow negative media headlines to dissuade them from making a successful event of their own, in spite of perceived odds from outsiders and competitors. Exhibitors and attendees both agreed that the new location was a highly …

A “Home-based Wholesale Distribution Business” sounds like an enormous and perhaps even frightening undertaking, but with the right planning and strategy, it can be done by almost anyone. Although the rules of the game are always changing, and there are vast and often challenging logistics to overcome, in the end the nature of the business has not changed throughout history, and a few simple truths will always hold fast. There …

Outdoor temperatures may be hitting record highs in some parts of the world right now, but retailers and wholesalers are already watching for early signs of activity that indicate the yearly shift into an approaching winter holiday season. There are lofty goals ahead, as the holidays have traditionally been a time of capturing critical profits for the year, but this year will be especially important for businesses that want to …

It’s been some time now since the iPhone entered the scene, and changed the way we all look at touchscreens forever. It’s also been a while since the smartphone and all of its basic functions have risen to levels that might have been difficult to predict just five years ago. Does this mean wholesale will benefit from the smartphone’s rise? Many experts are saying that it will not only prove …