Toptenwholesale.com Report: Orange Zone, Inc.

(1 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5)

 Loading ...

Looking for general merchandise, apparel, accessories, gifts, electronics, handbags, jewelry, toys, and more can be a real test sometimes, especially when there’s a lot of new products out there… and not much time to sort through it all. While sites like  toptenwholesale.com, manufacturer.com, wholesaleu.com, and offpricenetwork.com can help you cut through the haze, it’s often a good idea to check our regular updates to see what else is going on in the ever-changing world of wholesale.

This time, I’m going to point out a leading online wholesaler of off-price clothing named Orange Zone Inc. This company is going to become your best friend for sourcing the hottest fashions without having to pay top prices, especially if you’re looking for plus-size apparel! Orange Zone is putting the emphasis on quality, value, and purchasing new overstock apparel directly from the nation’s largest manufacturers and suppliers. Here’s a few points to consider about this amazing company:

Quality plus-size apparel

just got easier to source!

• Successful strategic partnerships that have been in effect since 1996 allow Orange Zone to provide you with the best deals on fashion at the lowest possible prices. That’s real buying power, and the savings are passed directly to you!

• Buying the latest fashion in large wholesale volume brings the discounts to you.

• The company carefully sorts through and categorizes merchandise into unique, marketable and right-sized wholesale lots. That means no odds-and-ends, and les guesswork!

• This company’s methods are built specifically for small to mid sized apparel retailers, on-line sellers, apparel distributors, and exporters.

• All of the apparel purchased is First Quality and Grade-A Authentic Merchandise.

• Orange Zone does not buy irregular or returns. You will receive the same product found in your mid and high end apparel companies and department store retailers… except for the incredibly low prices!

As if that wasn’t enough, the other great advantage is Orange Zone’s advantage is found in the shipping program and customer service. Every order is treated with care, and phone calls or emails are answered immediately. Products are 100% guaranteed, making the process much less painless, as you discover your next number one source for apparel. With no minimum dollar amount on orders required, you should give Orange Zone a try… and find out what happens when you discover a solid partner in the wholesale business as you continue to Find it. Source it. Profit!

Yanks Win 27th World Series; Wholesalers Cheer!

(2 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5)

 Loading ...

It looks to me like the whole country is fed up with bad news, news about the global economy, accounts of countries playing tug of war, and updates on prices going up and down… because the headlines are positively lit up with late-breaking stories of the New York Yankees and their latest big win in the World Series. This could result in a whole lot more than just a ticker tape parade in the Big Apple, but maybe it will become a serious sales extravaganza that makes your numbers for this year go from a foul ball, to a home run with bases loaded! Start looking around at the sites that feature wholesale goods like toptenwholesale.com and its network of sites manufacturer.com, wholesaleu.com, offpricenetwork.com to get a glimpse at the amazing general merchandise, apparel, accessories, gifts, electronics, handbags, jewelry, toys, and more that carry the Yankees logo, and other baseball-related themes.

Just to give you an idea of what I’m seeing from where I stand, there’s a few items besides the usual headgear and jackets that caught my eye. Here’s some of the more interesting – and maybe unusual – items that help buyers get into the fun of supporting their favorite baseball team:

• Wholesale sunglasses with MLB logos and designs…

• Sculpted Yankees mugs and cups for your morning coffee…

• Shot glasses and bar equipment…

• MLB / Yankees reclining chair. Yes, a reclining chair…

• Yankees jewelry and pins…

• Game ticket frames, mega-tickets, and ticket albums…

• MLB Yankees pet clothes…

It sure makes you wonder, doesn’t it? Are you being careful to offer the gifts and discount items that your customers are looking for? Be the one to pitch like the Yankees (who were positively smoking Philly with the pitches) and get your customers to take a swing! Keep in mind that the big parade in honor of the New York Yankees will be held on November 11 down the Canyon of Heroes… this could be the time to think about putting Yankees gear in front of everyone you can reach, since it will be a huge event that requires a lot of fresh merchandise and memorabilia to satisfy the need s of die-hard fans who want to show their undying support for their team. Be the one they turn to for the hot goods they want, and be sure to browse the pages of toptenwholesale.com to Find it. Source it. Profit!

Heavenly Body Products Feature Michael Jackson Novelties

(3 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5)

 Loading ...

Whether you consider yourself to be one of “God’s people” or not, there is one universal truth: cleanliness is indeed next to godliness, and those who don’t smell and look fresh will make everyone around them say a prayer of some kind… sometimes loudly. While I never personally considered any religious connection between the soaps and body products that I use, I’m happy to share a story with you today about an entrepreneurial venture that is based upon a message that anyone can appreciate. Looking to Toptenwholesale.com and its network of sites manufacturer.com, wholesaleu.com, and offpricenetwork.com to help buyers to connect directly with the wholesaler or manufacturer of choice… is surely always a good start, but what about finding the desire, passion, and motivation to fire off on a successful venture in the first place? It’s often a daunting goal to become a wholesaler or online seller, especially when it seems like there’s so much competition, challenge, and information to wade through.

A man by the name of Sir Markadoo illustrates exactly what happens when an ordinary person takes their extraordinary belief – whatever it may be founded upon – and allows it to shape the future by creating an unstoppable will to succeed. Much like the recently-departed Michael Jackson, this company’s founder has been doing things the hard way… by working to provide each and every customer with the highest level of service and satisfaction! In this case, it was back in 1994 when Sir Markadoo decided to buy two dozen T-shirts, and printed religious messages on them. From this one step, his business was launched, and a year later his operation had expanded to a 700 square foot space that held a variety of products including fragrances, body oils and lotions, as well as bath and shower gels. Because of his drive to provide the best products at the best possible prices, the company quickly found itself housed in a 2,500 square foot facility. Today the company is known as Heavenly Body Products International, and it is operating within a 10,000 square foot warehouse in Decatur, Georgia USA. His business is flourishing, and covers both the needs of wholesalers and retailers alike. This – coupled with a strong online presence – has propelled the company to new highs, and shows a great deal of promise to further expand into other markets as well.

As a wholesaler, Heavenly Body Products International has been helping entrepreneurs with their own business dreams, by helping them launch their own small businesses with $100 starter kits of either body products or T-shirts. Sounds simple, because it is simple. In a wholesaler capacity, Heavenly Body Products International helps entrepreneurs launch their own small business with $100 starter kits of either body products or T-shirts. With a company creed that states “We help God’s people prosper,” and Sir Markadoo’s personal belief that helping people make today’s dreams the realities of tomorrow by giving them the tools to work hard for themselves and prosper, there’s a chance for anyone reading this right now to get a business started!

Some important points to consider:

• This is a company that strives to create a long term committed team of employees, each of whom is equally important to the overall success of the organization.
• Delivering excellent service by a friendly, efficient and well-trained staff is the priority.
• Offering a consistent product of high quality and value was the foundation.
• Pursuing success by fostering an entrepreneurial, sales focused culture.
• Aggressively pursuing financial growth and success, making it further evident that customer relationships are still a company’s best friend!
• Operating by the tenet of: “We Help God’s People Prosper!”

Heavenly Body Products International is a family owned business responsive to the needs of their associates and employees.  They are dedicated to providing a positive experience for each of their associates, and believe that every customer should feel cared for and valued.

TopTen Report: Dollar Days Recession-Buster!

(4 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5)

 Loading ...

I’m pretty confused. The headlines are all about a recession one day and a recovery the next, Ben Bernanke is assuring me that  the financial crisis is over, and the price of gold is making my head spin. Brazil is boosting its export market to the USA, and I’m sitting here in Hangzhou, China… watching the country continue to build, build, build. It’s a lot for me to wrap my head around. It probably is for you, too. While leading verticals like Toptenwholesale.com and its network of sites (manufacturer.com, wholesaleu.com, offpricenetwork.com) help buyers locate general merchandise, apparel, accessories, gifts, electronics, handbags, jewelry, toys, and more… there’s a few others in the industry that seem to have a better handle on reality than most right now. A great example of one of them is DollarDays, a wholesale distributor who offers some superb options to the people who are either preparing for lean times in the job market… or maybe even those who are looking for something to bring revenue in while they are unemployed!

Let’s face it, in the middle of this non-recession(?), it pays to have a set of alternatives up your sleeve. I’ve mentioned the rise of opportunities during these economic hard times before, and I’ll say it again: this kind of market presents a lot of chances to service customers who are looking for the best deals, and the most personalized service. While the big box retailers do fine at their job of moving massive amounts of goods, they fail at identifying each customer’s needs on a case-by-case basis. This is where you step in, and make everything right for the frustrated consumer who needs immediate attention! DollarDays offers a whole bunch of advice for aspiring entrepreneurs as well as a quick-install, affordable option to start your own online store.

Here’s some additional highlights:

• This is a company that sells over 25,000 different wholesale goods on its website, and they are very interested in helping you to begin and grow your own business.

• Visitors have a choice between getting set up through their affiliate program, or by allowing the option to stock and sell their own goods.

• While there are hundreds – if not thousands – of sites that sell DollarDays goods, there are also plenty of brick and mortar stores that stock their products as well.

• If you don’t have the space to stock products, DollarDays offers a convenient drop-ship program that allows venders to drop-ship certain products by the piece.

• If you plan on buying a lot of goods from DollarDays, you can enroll in their Platinum Program, which could mean huge savings for you.

Look out for the twitter and facebook links on their site as well, and while you’re at it… make sure you get connected to our pages as well, where you can sign up to receive tweets, feeds, and updates from us about all the ways you’ll continue to Find it. Source it. Profit!

R.G. Riley: Profile of an Off-Price Powerhouse!

(No Ratings Yet)

 Loading ...

What makes a seller successful? In simple terms, it all comes down to how well you manage your business, and how easy you make it for the customer to take part in a transaction, right? Well, that’s the boring textbook version… while you can easily find a huge array of companies like these on the pages of Toptenwholesale.com and its network of sites featuring manufacturer.com,wholesaleu.com,andoffpricenetwork.com, I’d like to point out that one particular seller is certainly worthy of being featured in today’s blog post: R.G. Riley.

“All the consumers are looking for a value, so we’re

able to provide that value and that price because of

the volume we buy.”

R.G. Riley proves that sticking to a game plan is crucial to success, by offering only wholesale closeouts and graded irregular t-shirts, sweat shirts, sweat pants and related active wear. With featured products from Hanes, Fruit of the Loom, Gildan, Badger, Russell,  Delta, and other labels… this company has been in the business of bringing customers the right fit at the right price for over 75 years. Simplicity seems to be the theme with this powerhouse seller too, as they  specialize in case lot prepacks, which are sold by the case. Determining unit cost is as simple as dividing the case price by the number of prepack units. Anyone can do this kind of math! In addition to a simple selling strategy, R.G. Riley’s high-volume inventory changes by over 40,000 dozen per week. Visit their website sometime, to find everything you need from the company’s main contact information, links to tradeshow activity, a public online catalog and a secure online ordering system. They even offer a web site help page that explains the online catalog and ordering modules in detail, and an FAQ page that addresses many common questions and provides additional information about ordering, delivery, and company terms and policies. If that isn’t enough, you can even check out their facility by taking a virtual tour with online pictures, too!

R.G. Riley is an outstanding wholesale clothing distributor featuring inexpensive clothing, including irregular clothing and overstock apparel. Their customers include discount stores, chain stores, food and drug stores, ebay.com merchants, flea market vendors, dollar stores, general merchandise stores, thrift and goodwill stores, as well as charitable organizations. They will also be on display next year, at the following venue:

Off-Price Specialist Show

February 14 through February 17th, 2010

Las Vegas, Nevada

Sands Convention center

Salon A

As a leader in the off-price wholesale clothing industry, R.G. Riley asks do you resell inexpensive irregular clothes and off-price apparel? Do you need irregular clothing and overstock wholesale apparel in all size ranges from Mens, Missy, Boys, Girls, Infant, Toddler, and Plus Sizes? If the answer is yes, then you should make a call, send an email, or at least browse their site today!

Wholesale Hats: What’s Selling This Season

(3 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5)

 Loading ...

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!

(2 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5)

 Loading ...

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!

DVD and Video Game Sales: Bulk Up for Turkey Day Blast!

(3 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5)

 Loading ...

Your customers are probably tired of the same old thing for Thanksgiving Day’s usual chain of events… you know, the wind-up of eating till you feel faint… then crashing out on the couch in frustration… and ultimately sleeping the whole thing off in guilt-ridden silence. Sound familiar to you? It seems that most consumers this year don’t want to repeat that scenario for the umpteenth time, and maybe they would prefer to have a fun-filled and entertaining holiday… but don’t like the idea of dealing with lead paint-contaminated toys, needlessly expensive diversions that don’t really add to the party atmosphere (but add to the guilt factor), or boring stuff that leaves everyone hungry for more?

Fear not, the good news is that most consumers seem to be leaning towards video gaming and movie-watching this year! While many people wouldn’t waste their time blasting aliens, monsters, other players, or any other type of target during their busy and hectic lives… this Turkey Day, it looks like it might be the best bet for families and friends who want to spend some quality time together, without breaking the bank or causing physical harm. Well, I won’t rule out the possibility of sprained thumbs and Carpal-Tunnel Syndrome, but that’s another story.

First, about family gaming: carrying the right selection of games and hardware for your customers can be a little daunting, since every major electronics producer seems to have some kind of answer to the gaming question. However, there are some things that stand out, and make your sales soar… when you consider the option of promoting and selling the games themselves, and maybe the gaming accessories too. Also, there is a great selection of  hardware that is not necessarily the name-brand stuff, but meets OEM specs for third-party production. I see these things all the time in the PC markets here in China, and it would be a good idea to offer this to your customers as well. With a growth figure of about 20 percent last year, you can bet that games will take a big chunk of the Thanksgiving Day revenue this time around, too. Video games outstripped sales of DVDs and movies as well, and I reckon people will only move further away from the movie experience… and closer to being the experience, in an interactive format that requires their input.

As for the movies: perhaps some of your customers are a bit like me, and don’t really get much pleasure from playing video games. That’s fine, because there’s a huge selection of movies and DVD options to stock your shelves and online pages with. I’ll admit, I have a totally unfair advantage over the rest of you living in the USA… since I can find movies for about $0.25 each, sometimes seeing the really good stuff at a premium price of about  $0.75! I know, you hate me… and maybe you’re seething over the fact that pirate DVD sales are crushing the biz back home (unless you happen to read the venomous news about Hulu.com, but that’s another story) but the reality is that DVD sales are almost entirely comprised of pirated stuff in the PRC, so there’s no existing market in China for services like Netflix, the DVD section of the electronics stores, or even pay-to-download sites. In fact, most Chinese simply watch streaming movie content that temporarily downloads onto their PCs at home and the office, without ever owning a copy for themselves. Well… why bother, when you’ve got the whole thing right at your fingertips anyway, right? Unless the USA starts following the same widespread East Asain model soon, there will be no freebies for everyone in the States… and that means the attraction to wholesalers and retailers who offer discounted DVDs will be more popular than the usual outlets that put them on display for $20 a pop! Ouch!

Visit the search pages of Toptenwholesale.com to find some killer deals on loads of closeout DVDs and to locate sources for dropshipping options on video games that will make your holiday sales a success!

TopTen Reasons to Attend the International Home and Housewares Show 2010

(2 votes, average: 3.50 out of 5)

 Loading ...

The International Home and Housewares Show 2010 (March 14-16) will be the place to see the latest designs, concepts, and styles of new and exciting items next year. Will you be amongst the lucky ones who get a close look at the goods before everyone else does? This awesome show will be held at McCormick Place in Chicago with the sole aim of boosting home goods products on a global front. The various products that will be exhibited are divided into four separate shows that will be held within the event, and more than 2000 exhibitors will be present to display various home goods products while unveiling a host of other innovations.

To give you a quick and easy overview of the show’s proposed highlights, check out my handy little list of TopTen Reasons to Attend the International Home and Housewares Show 2010:

• The exposition provides a platform for over 60,000 buyers from more than 110 nations throughout the world. That’s a lot of pairs of eyes, and they won’t just be focused on the goods on display… in other words, a great chance to do some effective networking.

• The event will be held at McCormick Place, which isn’t a bad place to be! Located in Chicago and easy to find, it’s a great venue for attendees to relax and take in all the sights in comfort and convenience.

• Those who might want to attend this event would be individuals in the fields of: Specialty & department stores, mail order/catalog companies, gift/gourmet shops, mass merchandisers/discounters, hardware stores, home & garden centers, e-tailers, importers/exporters, distributors and manufacturers representatives.

• Many of the items on display will cover themes such as: cookware, kitchen gadgets, cutlery, specialty appliances (electric and non-electric), tabletop, decorative accessories,  kitchen textiles, home storage items, personal care, lifestyle furnishings, and specialty foods.

• At the time of this writing, the IHA (International Housewares Association) has posted on their website: “There is no charge for trade participants to attend the Show for those who register before midnight Saturday before the Show starts.”

• CNN Headline News will be covering the event, and will also position kioks around the show’s floorspace to allow easy access.

• Be on the lookout for space-saving storage solutions to make some waves during the show…

• Pay attention to what the Chinese maufacturers are doing these days… for example, a huge signing between Hamilton-Beach and Galanz is resulting in a comprehensive line of Hamilton Beach and Proctor Silex branded microwave ovens, which will be on display at the show.

• Online registration can be done!

• Many other questions can be answered at the FAQ page provided by the IHA.

No reason to delay… just take a look at the information about the show, and get your schedule cleared for the second week of March 2010!

TopTen Trends for Computers and Electronic Accessories

(1 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5)

 Loading ...

Last year was a downright gruesome scene for some wholesale and retail specialists, as consumer spending hit rather scary low figures, and the usual myriad of reliable trends and predictability schemes were tossed out the window… making the big question this year revolve around what the future brings for the holiday season in 2009. While there will undoubtedly be a lot of shopping going on (since the USA is largely comprised of a consumer-based economy), it’s no secret that the average consumer will exercise a great deal of caution this time around, and only the sellers who prepare for this renewed environment of customer pre-shopping mentality can hope to catch a substantial part of the revenue that will be flowing into the usual sales channels. The good news, however, is that for those dealing in computers and electronics… this could be a victorious year-end!

It’s been some time since we’ve seen a buyer’s market like this, and it looks like things will not be stabilizing for some time. Computers and electronics are now being manufactured by pretty much everyone from the USA… to the deepest and most underdeveloped regions of China… and this means that there will be a lot of choices for consumers to direct their dollars towards. You should be paying attention to what the people are reading and hearing, in order to prepare yourself for the choices you’ll have to make regarding what kind of gear to stock, what kind of deals to put on the table, and what sort of after-sales service will be received with the most appreciation by the current crop of savvy buyers.

First of all, the notion that consumers simply follow advertising and marketing hype is an old strategy that has met its end. Today’s consumer is smart, picky, and willing to wait. Too many people have been burned since 2008 to allow the same thing to happen again… and this means that your service, attitude, and follow-through will determine what kind of success you enjoy for the following years to come.

Secondly, there’s a lot of information being passed around, but it seems to follow a very predictable pattern: electronics are the hottest pick this year, as manufacturers and distributors are rallying to get buyers excited about their merchandise… and the merchandise has never shown such signs of being categorized as low-hanging fruit before. Yes, that’s right… love it or hate it, this is a buyer’s market in the realm of electronics, and you should be very watchful of the trends.

Okay, without being overly-dramatic… here is my list of items to keep your eyes on for this year’s electronics gold rush. In fact, I’ll just put it in another convenient TopTen list format, and let you decide what to do from there:

• Netbooks are going to be the champs in 2009, but there’s two sides to this story. They offer a counterpoint to the question of getting more bang for your buck. How much bang? Well, not blisteringly-fast processor speeds or incredible graphics performance… but for under about $200 bucks, that’s not a big problem for the consumer who seeks a laptop PC on the cheap. These will be coming out of the woodwork  at every turn, and people shopping for the low-cost answer to their portable computing questions will be happy to see them.
• Low-end notebook PC prices are also going to take a dive, as the netbooks create a huge competition factor that keeps the manufacturers from charging the prices they’d like to put forth this year. Even Apple is putting a new plastic-bodied low-cost alternative to the iBook on the shelves this year, in response to the tightened consumer purse strings that have all of the PC makers stressed out.
• Thanks for the memories… GB and MB of memory, that is. I’ve never seen memory so low. I remember when I was in college, a 250MB SyQuest drive (remember those?) cost me about $200 per disk. Nowadays, I just paid about RMB300 for a 1TB drive… and in the USA the prices are hovering around 5 cents per GB, so I expect to find 1TB USB 2.0 external hard drives for $49 bucks or so.
• Software is a necessary evil, but that might change pretty soon. I’ve mentioned cloud-based apps in past posts… and I do believe they will eventually put an end to the deluge of software that is sold for prices that sometimes make people think twice about even getting a PC. The pirate market has put a dent in the biz, too… and it only makes my suspicion that cloud computing will make all that software even cheaper. You should be looking for the price drops, and passing the savings along to your customers.
• LCD monitors can make all the difference between a good Internet-browsing session, and an amazing experience with your PC, time after time. be prepared to offer your customers the styles and sizes they want, at the prices they can afford.
• Game systems are not to be ignored, as people look for something relatively benign in a toxic world of job layoffs, company closures, and housing crises. Personally, I believe that the gaming industry is going to change the way we look at the computer screen… but it might be a little while before things fall into place. For now, it would be a good idea to offer your customers the selection of games and hardware that makes the difference.
• TV sets can bring the experience to you in a better light, and the bigger they are, the better. Prices are also dropping, and even with the maker of those coveted HDTV sets crowing about how amazing their picture quality is, many consumers will be looking for size, not razor-sharpness.
• Blu-ray disc players might be like the beloved beta cassette recorders of yesteryear (no, I don’t think Blu-ray will change the landscape of optical media as we know it) but this time – unlike the days of beta vs VHS – you won’t be stuck with useless discs that don’t play on any other piece of hardware. Where the beta cassettes went wrong was being unusable on any other system… this time around, the Blu-ray disc is compatible with just about any PC that has a decent set of codecs installed, and will be useful as long as the price is low. Consumers will be appreciative of any seller who can explain the mysteries of recording onto disc, and provide the answers to questions regarding their Blu-ray purchases.
• Digital picture frames might not be the sexiest of these items, but they are truly an idea that has become a reality. While many people might have been hesitant to make the switch from those yellowing, faded glossy prints from a one-hour lab that were printed in 1982… it’s going to be hard for people to fight the urge to put their favorite pictures on display – in a slideshow, even – for prices around $30 or less.
• GPS is the new best friend of tech-savvy delivery drivers, salespeople, and long-distance drivers everywhere… why let them have all the fun, as more people get used to the idea that a GPS system for their car is not really a luxury, but a necessity in these crazy days of finding the places you are supposed to be in, amidst all the traffic and chaos? If it helps any, I can tell you that Chinese car owners are one of the fastest-growing consumer segments in the GPS arena.

There it is… the good, the bad, and the not-so-ugly… especially if you’re looking to position yourself for some extreme holiday sales this year! Don’t forget to check in with us from time to time, and maybe even bookmark the Toptenwholesale.com site as one of your favorites, so you don’t miss the news as it comes down the pipeline! Good luck with your holiday wholesaling! Be sure to utilize our helpful search feature to effectively Find it. Source it. Profit!