Wholesale Hats: What’s Selling This Season

Among the wide array of fashion accessories for both men and women, none have been as varied – except maybe shoes – as the humble hat. It can give you a feeling of power… or make you shrink away into the shadows when you don’t want to be noticed. The right hat can give you an authoritative look… or make you seem mysterious and even shadowy. Let’s face it, hats are not going away… and as a savvy wholesale or retail specialist, you should pay attention to the fact that Winter is going to bring a whole new wave of customers who want to put a lid on their domes this season! Take a look at our own Toptenwholesale.com search results page to see some examples of companies that offer great hats at unbeatable prices! To see more ideas, check out manufacturer.com, wholesaleu.com, and offpricenetwork.com as well as a huge selection of general merchandise, apparel, accessories, gifts, electronics, handbags, jewelry, toys, and more!

Today I’m going to give you a little bit of help in selecting the right hat for your wholesale business, especially for those of you who are doing online sales and e-tailing.

• Choosing the hats to carry can be a lot like selling shoes, or watches, or even jewelry… but the price point is much lower, and that can make it easier for you to offer a wide variety of styles and materials, instead of cautiously keeping a limited supply on hand.

• The style choices and trends in the hat business follow distinctly cyclical cycles, which means that your inventory of hats that aren’t selling today could be flying off the shelves tomorrow!

• It’s also got a lot to do with the seasonality of wardrobe choices, since Winter tends to bring the richer and plusher fabrics to the fore… and these are always complimented nicely by a proper hat. Keep your eye on what materials are hot right now for jackets and scarves, and you will already have a good idea of what kind of hat material will pair up nicely.

• Hollywood has never made it easier to follow the fashion, as movies have brought hats back in a big way. Kate Hudson with a wide brim, the normally glammy Beyonce in a simple knitted wool hat, Brad Pitt and his signature newsboy cap, Mickey Rourke and the rugged cowboy hat. I’ve even noticed Justin Timberlake… who – in my opinion – has always been a bit of a fashion victim, but making news nonetheless in a variety of hats that customers are eager to find for themselves. You should be helping those customers find them, on your site.

As you can see, picking the hat isn’t the biggest issue… since there’s something for everyone out there, and a lot of existing marketing to support your selections. On the other hand, you’ve got to make sure that you stand out in the crowd when it comes to offering your customers the right blend of fashion and service. Here’s a few things you’ll want to keep your mind on, as you set up your site with a smoking-hot deal on hats:

• Make sure people know about your quality hat selection… whether you’re selling MLB caps, Stetson, Kangol, Cubavera, or even some of the designer-inspired gear… slap those logos up on your page! It will give your buyers something to reinforce their feeling of satisfaction, knowing that they’ve found a site that isn’t afraid to show who they carry.

• Selection is important… since there’s a hat for ever head, you need to carry a good range of choices. Be varied, and don’t be afraid to put two seemingly contrasting styles next to each other. After all, the one who gets noticed is going to get the sale.

• Make it easy to order… offer service online 24/7, design product category pages that are easy to navigate, create informative individual product pages are full of detailed color samples and other helpful information, etc… be creative!

• SSL provides encryption between web browsers and web servers… so make sure you’re using it. Putting a big header on your order page that says “100% Secure Ordering 128-bit encryption key over Secure Socket Layer (SSL) to provide the highest level of security” will only help you secure the sale, when the customer hesitates to click the buy button. Just make sure you’ve actually set it up correctly, or you’ll be dealing with some major headaches later on.

• Brag a little… about your customer satisfaction, that is. Offer a little insight into your store’s history, and give some testimonials from happy customers. Be honest. This will only lead to more sales with other happy customers, and everyone will win in the end.

Well, there it is… my little primer for those who want to throw their hat into the ring… and get going in the hat game. You want my personal point of view on the hottest hat trend for the season? I have always been keen on basic knitted watch caps myself, but I’m going to go out on a limb here… and say that for the ladies, cloche hats will make a big comeback. This one sure looks good on Hillary Swank, and it will look good on a lot of other girls out there too!

Check out TopTen Wholesale Winter Fashion Favorites!

It’s getting close to the end of another decade in fashion, and the styles that we are seeing these days are certainly keeping up with the overall mood of global news… since it looks like everything surrounding the financial crisis and political re-shuffling that’s been going on has impacted nearly everyone in some way. Fashion seems to be taking a plunge into some distinctly military-themed apparel, as well as fresh ultra chic and glammy club-inspired gear. As a wholesale or retail specialist, what are you supped to do? It almost seems like there’s too much choice, and carrying something for everyone might not be the direction you’re trying to go in, unless you’re a drop-shipping powerhouse. For starters, try taking a look at our own Toptenwholesale.com search results page to see some examples of companies that offer great seasonal fashions at unbeatable prices! To see more ideas, check out manufacturer.com, wholesaleu.com, and offpricenetwork.com as well as a huge selection of general merchandise, apparel, accessories, gifts, electronics, handbags, jewelry, toys, and more!

In other words, the past few years of anything-goes seems to be coming to a head this year, and I reckon things will take a more decisive direction again, as soon as the news reflects more stability and predictability in everyone’s lives. This also means that you are going to have a lot of great options for selecting wholesale fashions and accessories for your cache of collectibles this year, because the emphasis will be on how you market the goods, not necessarily upon what you carry!

Plaid patterns will be part of the look this year!

Awesome, huh? Well, it might seem like shooting fish in a barrel at first… but if you don’t form a solid sales strategy based upon a foundation of fashion 101, you will be left with a dead inventory of overstock that looks more like the contents of every closet you’ve ever filled since you were five years old. Not so good. Let’s take a minute to look at what the fashionistas out there are talking about, and try to find the right line to follow this season as you Check out my quick list of TopTen Wholesale Winter Fashion Favorites!

• First, take a look at some classics… designers like PRADA and D&G will always be respected for taking daring steps into uncharted waters, but the power of classic appeal is undeniable. Make sure you look closely at what Geoffrey Beene, Bill Blass, Calvin Klein, Ralph Lauren, and Halston have on offer, because they are generally the ones to turn to for rock-solid classic style that doesn’t fade fast.

• Now that you’ve made note of the classics, take a look at what else has made the list. This year, designs from J. Crew and Michael Kors have been noted as style picks by some, especially for those seeking a refined look.

• The short dress was hot all Summer long, and it will continue to be a force in fashion through early Winter. Worn on its own as a breezy and light piece, or paired with leggings, jeans, and even layered with longer skirts and sweaters… well, let’s just say it’s not hard to promote an item like this one… especially since it usually holds at a price point that makes it attractive to wholesalers and online sellers.

• Jeans will never die, and this year is no exception to the great run jeans have enjoyed for the past 50 years. While this season is leaning more towards glammy fashion on-the-go, jeans offer the easy way out for those who don’t have the time or energy to get dolled up. They also keep your shoppers coming back for more, since this is the one all-time favorite apparel item that is notoriously well-paired with accessories!

• Dressed up, or dressed down… street chic is one of the driving forces behind fashion these days. With high-quality manicures and hair styles, it’s become the look of the decade to sport lower-end apparel with more glamorous shoes, bags, scarves, and other components that make the outfit shine. This is the ideal look to promote on your seller site, because it appeals to almost every demographic from the youth market, to the moms on-the-go!

• BOHO-style is still around, even after hitting its peak around 2005. It’s an easy one to accessorize, and with all of the free-flowing fabrics and colors to choose from, it is easy to carry on your inventory as well.

• Accessories rule! Hats, scarves, gloves, wraps, leggings, and other hot accessory items will be taking a large part of the order lists this year, as buyers try to keep their budgets under control. Once the core wardrobe has been built, many shoppers will be on the constant lookout for anything that adds variety to their existing gear. If you offer it, they will come to you!

That’s all for now, I hope you’ve enjoyed this little foray into the world of apparel and accessories, as we check out Topten wholesale winter fashion favorites! Don’t forget to browse the search results on our site, as you Find it. Source it. Profit!

Black Friday: Electronics and Cameras Expected to Sell Out!

Black Friday is coming fast, and with it come the possibilities of selling out your inventory of electronics and cameras, too! Are you ready for the electronics rush? In order to forecast what will be hot this time around, taking a walk down memory lane and getting a quick look at last year’s figures for what sold over Black Friday would be a good idea… but I’m going to go just a little further back on the timeline, by showing some figures from the 2007 season’s hot picks first:

• Women’s Boots
• Watches
• Blu-ray/HD-DVD Players
• Women’s Sleep & Lounge Wear
• Games & Puzzles
• Women’s Jackets
• Music
• Headphones
• Women’s Dresses
• Women’s Casual Shoes

Interesting how the electronics category didn’t seem to make such a big impression on this set of 2007 data, eh? Now let’s take a look at last year’s Black Friday sales winners:

• Nintendo Wii Console
• UGG Australia Boot
• Sony Blu-Ray Disc Player
• Samsung LCD TV
• Nintendo Wii Fit
• Panasonic Plasma TV
• Sennheiser HD Headphones
• Canon EOS Rebel SLR Digital Camera Kit
• Acer Aspire Notebook
• Canon PowerShot Digital Camera

This time, electronics positively smashed the other categories, and it looks like the only other noteworthy item that even made it onto the list was those puffy-looking Aussie boots. I don’t really know what that means (about the inexplicable popularity of UGG boots, that is) but two things I would take away from this history lesson would be that:

Things change pretty fast.

Electronics will most likely occupy a large part of next year’s list.

Be aware of what the big electronics retailers are doing, because they have wisely been changing up their strategies to compensate for this year’s dismal projections on holiday sales… and they’re also turning increasingly towards the rapidly-growing online shopping forum – your territory(!) – for some added consumer spending to flow their way. Remember those cute little mail-in rebates that Best Buy, Walmart, OfficeMax, and other big-box centers were tossing around at the checkout aisle? I don’t expect them to repeat that move, since a tidal wave of consumer complaints left people feeling bitter… and feeling a lot better about getting instant satisfaction online with e-coupons and discount codes. You could be the one to offer this, along with better service and more personalized attention.

Stay tuned, because I’ll have a list of predictions for you to feast your eyes on… when I post my blog about TopTen Trends for Computers and Electronic Accessories!

Back to School Trends for Trade Show Buyers, Merchandise and Apparel Sellers

When you scan trade show aisles or conduct searches for merchandise suppliers to meet Back to School buyer demands, keep this short list of trends and sales strategies at the ready.

1. “Bling-i-tude” Rules Among Teen-Tween Girls this Fall.
The economy has dialed down unlimited allowances and high-priced impulse purchases … like $120 brand name wrist bags and T-tops purchased by the dozen in every color. But teens and tweens still demand new back-to-class clothes. This season mixes new clothes with an ongoing trend to glitter…shine…a bit of flash. Also known as Bling-i-tude … BLING + Attitude.

Look for apparel that shows Blingitude.
· Silver, Gold or Bronze Detailing – buttons, appliqués, beadwork, jewelry findings sewn into blouses and sweaters, as well as jackets and jeans.

· Remember Ye Olde Hippie customized clothing following the Summer of Love (40 years ago). The show-stopping designs and patterns embroidered or screened on workhorse denim pants, skirts and jackets in 1969 … have gone brighter and blingy with metallic threads, shiny fabrics, new textile blends that shimmer or look 3-D with different hues from different angles. (Think hologram textiles with different naps. Or flip-action cards that tricked your eyes with motion.)

2. Hoodies and Graphic T’s On Display.
For Youth Apparel from high school classroom to college campus, see a search of wholesalers of Urban Wear Styles from Off Price Network. Hoodie pullovers, knit caps and heavy metal accessories still ride high. (Oooops, I mean still ride low at least on the waistband.)

Hot this Season: Graphic T-shirts screen printed with lifestyle and music designs, attitudes and slogans, brand names, elaborate “tattoo” patterns — without the skin ink – manga-style graphic cartoon characters and lots of Peace Symbols. (The Peace Symbol has a 50th birthday this year.) See also peace symbol jewelry and accessories from: wholesaler Cool Jewels Fashion Jewelry and Macy’s department store, which dedicates entire floors to displays of the Summer of Love .

3. Value-price Discount Buyers Find Closeout / Overstock / Below-Wholesale Deals at Trade Shows This Month.
Buyers stocking Back to School and Fall Season merchandise – hoodies and graphic T’s, student laptops and electronics, dorm room storage cubes, personal housewares, fashionable backpacks – will find exceptional deals at Las Vegas trade shows in August and September.

· ASD Las Vegas Las Vegas from August 9-12.

· Off Price Specialist Show Las Vegas from August 28 to September 1.

· ASAP Global Sourcing Las Vegas from August 30 to September 2.

Upside of a Down Market. The reason this year is best for discount deals on youth apparel, classroom and dorm accessories is the upside of a down market, or silver in the gray economic clouds. Several popular retail chains that target tweens, teens and the college-aged have boarded up their mall stores and outlets since last December. Some location shutdowns were driven by corporate desires to staunch the flow of red ink; others resulted from system-wide bankruptcies.

But chain reseller shutdowns mean more deeply discounted merchandise hit the overstock, closeout, surplus and liquidation resale markets. Look for value-priced lots of merchandise from Steve and Barry’s (every known graphic T, Sarah Jessica Parker’s “Bitten” design line, casual urban wear); Pac-Sun Wear (hoodies, T’s, jeans, beachwear, outerwear) and both Circuit City and CompuServe liquidated inventory (school supplies, computer and consumer electronics).

4. Fitness Footwear. Casual footwear that doubles for fitness activities is always a strong seller.

· Source the most popular, searched wholesalesuppliers of Athletic Shoes.

· Top 5 “sneakers” brand searches from Google-assisted AOL at the beginning of the summer season included: 1. MBT; 2. Adidas; 3. Converse; 4. New Balance; and 5. Nike.

MBT footwear is designed with a negative heel and a positive arch, which is supposed to burn more calories, improve posture and exercise and tone body muscles with every step. Brands like Adidas and Nike crossover wearers who want support for running and sports with wearers who simply want to display an athletic fashion persona.

· FitFlops ™ and Clogs like Crocs and EVA clog shoes, are molded to provide arch support to student feet. Some claim to exercise, strengthen or slim the wearer’s leg and thigh muscles.

5. Plan a Tax-Free Shopping Event.
Many U.S. states launch Tax-Free Holidays timed to the back-to-school buying season … August. The waiver on sales taxes for a one-to-three day tax break focus on school clothing, shoes, school supplies (backpacks, book bags, office supplies) and electronics for discount-driven parents on back-to-school buying missions.

· One example is a tax holiday in Missouri from August 7 to 9 that exempts over $3,000 in computer equipment purchases from sales tax … potentially up to $150 in a tax discount.

· Another example is tax-free clothing purchases in North Carolina, everything from coats and jackets to baby clothing, boots and shoes.

What of value-driven parents who need back-to-school clothing and supplies, but miss the narrow window of a tax-free holiday? Or what of buyers in tax jurisdictions like Washington, D.C. where a budget squeeze cancelled tax-free days this August? (Other revenue-strapped states have considered canceling as well.)

An independent discounter of electronics, jewelry and housewares in my region cleverly times a “We will pay your sales tax” one-day event … weeks after New York State’s tax-free holiday … for anyone who missed the official tax-free days.

If you’re a merchandise reseller who sources the lowest prices through wholesale search directories and at discount trade shows, why not stage a tax holiday for your customers? “We pay your sales tax on back-to-school essentials” has stronger marketing appeal than offering “10% off your purchase.” Or, “20% off *select* items.” Or, the even less specific claim: “Our prices can’t be beat.”

Savvy customers have a very specific idea of the sales tax they have to pony up on major clothing or electronics purchases. Offering them a tax-free holiday is cash-in-hand help for back-to-school buyers.

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