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!

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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.

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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!

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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!

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What’s the worst thing that could happen at a holiday party? Okay, there’s a lot that can go wrong… but from the perspectives of the retail and wholesale specialists that are supplying their customers, the worst thing could be missing an opportunity to provide the best products for the occasion, at a price that makes it easier to build the sale.

I’m talking about wholesale party supplies from Toptenwholesale.com, of course. We at TopTen would like to remind you that there is a crucial and vital side of party planning that is best served by those who offer the right supplies to those fearless, fun-loving customers who are going to be hosting a holiday bash for their guests and loved ones this year. This goes beyond simply bringing them the hottest merchandise that is making all the headlines now… it should also be taking into account the need for those less-glammy articles like napkins, plates, dinner ware, cups, bowls, and so much more. In fact, the buck doesn’t stop with eating utensils and clean-up goods… I mean, what about the foods themselves? There’s a lot of bulk foods and easy-mix recipes out there that will satisfy any party-goer’s palate, without putting the party-planner in the poor house!

Here’s another point to consider: most holiday shoppers are forced to go in and out of multiple stores, in the search for the perfect mix of costumes, accessories, party supplies, and gifts. Why not offer everything they need, under one roof? You online sellers should be jumping up and down right now, because it couldn’t be easier for those in the e-trade to line up a few good suppliers and vendors who can get the goods you need dropshipped directly to your customers. Actually, it doesn’t mean the ones with brick-and-mortar venues are left out in the cold, since a large – and rapidly-growing – number of shop keepers are also hosting fully-outfitted online stores as well, in an effort to build a potentially huge customer base, while being in touch with the more tangible realities of the consumer market. Best of both worlds, if you ask me.

Now let’s talk about the actual party supplies themselves… in spite of the media’s best efforts at bumming us out with the economic news headlines, the truth is that there are new opportunities and never-before offers for the wholesale market, due to the dizzying nature of the export/import industry, and once-successful companies looking for new ways to bring themselves back up to speed. You should be looking for those deals! Here’s a quick checklist of things to keep your eyes open for:

• Disposable napkins are a must, but have you seen the ones that are near-linen quality? This comes at an affordable cost, and gives your party a little touch of elegance that conventional paper napkins might not.

• Dinner ware was always a no-brainer, but now the companies that were making institutional-use plastic forks, knives, and spoons are struggling with a sagging economy. This could be the time to connect with them.

• Bulk foods to the rescue! I’m not even talking about making that obligatory trip to the local “warehouse” savings club, so you can add a few family-sized bags of corn chips to your sale. I’m talking about the companies that were supplying the entertainment and sporting industry with large-volume foodstuffs, who are going to be needing a helping hand this season. Your customers will be thrilled to see that you’ve found the goods for them.

• Tell your customers to think big… and cover their tables, and maybe even some furniture, with disposable table covers. It will spare them the headache of dealing with spills, and it will give you something to add to your arsenal of smart holiday party supplies!

• Look for the extra-special touch, as some party suppliers are offering customized and unique products like huge outdoor banners, signs/displays, and even smaller disposable paper and plastic goods that have custom messages at the customer’s request.

As you can see, there’s a lot of planning to do… and it won’t get done by itself. However, you can always make things easier by starting with a search on our site, and using my party planning points as handy reference. Good luck, and please let me know if I’ve left anything critical off the list, by leaving your comments on this blog!

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The reports are coming in faster than you can say Jack O’Lantern! There’s a huge buzz over what Halloween costumes are going to be named as the hottest and most exciting contenders this year, and all of you in the wholesale and retail biz should be listening! This year has seen enough bad news to make anyone’s head spin, and I’m getting the feeling that Americans want to have a good time this Halloween, without paying any heed to the economic crisis, dipping US Dollars, or global financial policies that flip over faster than a Tarot Death card.

Ooops, there goes the economy… but hey, Halloween’s here!

Come on, it’s time to smile again, even if it is only for one night… but oh, what a night it will be! We’ve seen a huge source of inspiration from various Hollywood movies in the past year, political satire (both funny and terrifying), and even some huge celebrity news that makes it easier than ever for the holiday consumer to cook up a Halloween costume that sizzles. Check out Toptenwholesale.com for more wholesale Halloween costume ideas.

Here’s a quick TopTen List of Halloween Costume Trends for this Season that will give you a few ideas to get your shelves and Internet inventories stocked up for a massive season in 2009!

First of all, this seems to be the year for the guys. Sorry girls, but I actually can’t remember a recent Halloween that has made it so incredibly easy for the men to pick a costume that will get a few good laughs. With everything from the sci-fi genre; to the superhero category; to the theme of politics and world events… the boys are going to have it easy when it comes time to pick something up for the party. Just make sure you retailers and wholesalers make it even faster and easier to buy them, since men are notoriously impatient and topical about shopping.

Of course, the women have their usual pick of cute or sexy costumes… and a bunch of new ideas to try on for the night! Sure, some of the ladies out there could take a shot at being Sarah Palin for the night, or maybe (yawn!) Britny Spears…but a point to consider is the fact that men are getting off the hook easy this year… so women can splurge a little extra holiday budget on a really special costume that is clever, funny and elegant! The National Retail Federation reports a rise in average costume spending of about USD20 from 2001-2008, but maybe this year will be the one to see a faster climb, as the girls get serious about their hot look for the season.

Kids are a big market with a lot of potential to boost holiday sales, simply because parents are going to be more focused on making this a memorable experience for the whole family. Help them out by offering Disney-inspired classics, as well as some more modern twists on outfits that draw from whatever mom and dad are wearing. Maybe a whole family of mafia mobsters? A family theme could be the ticket to success, as you build a bigger sale by offering a one-stop solution to your buyers that they can’t refuse!

Pets are people too, remember? At least they can look like people, if you choose one of these crazy pet costumes that mimic little legs and feet, creating an illusion of a dog-faced munchkin with funny clothes on. Yeah, I know… I wouldn’t do it to my pet, either. However, there are more than a few people out there who would! Don’t let them go elsewhere for their pet’s get-up.

Babies can add to the fun if you don’t mind leaving the party early… or maybe your customers want to leave the party early? There’s no better excuse than telling the host that they need to put the baby to bed, and this could be a strong selling point when people are scratching their heads over what to do if they can’t find a babysitter.

Plus size woman’s costumes are bigger and better! Choices are extremely diverse, as the manufacturers are gearing up to supply everybody with their Halloween faves. Plus-size costumes have steadily been increasing their market share over the years, and those shapely girls want to have fun with cute and sexy outfits just like anyone else. Make sure you keep a good variety on your display, and be the go-to supplier for outfits that flatter and show off the best parts of a plus-size woman’s curves!

For those who just want to be scary, the horror genre has been cranking out a lot of good material to work with. Besides the usual spinoffs of movies, there will be a great opportunity to give your customers some pointers about horrifying everyone with the standard issue stage blood, face paints, and creative designs that are hitting the shelves.

Pop culture icons are the big theme of the year! I’m not even going to try to list off all the celebs and people of fame – and infamy – that can be added to this collection, but I’ll give you a hint: Michael Jackson will be the undisputable king of the Posthumous World Tour this year, as will Patrick Swayze, and other loved celebs that get another night in the spotlight as their fans commemorate them.

As usual, political figures are caught in the cross hairs! I’m not even talking about when they open their mouths and say something stupid, I’m talking about the opportunity for your customers to be the hit of the party by lampooning any one of our fearless leaders. This could be the scariest Halloween ever, with Obama, Bernanke, Greenspan, and most likely truly frightful resurrections of George Bush Jr coming up In the form of face masks and outfits that simulate high-end business suits without the taxpayer-supported price tag…

Accessories are a must, and they will boost your overall sales with a great add-on and up-sell feature that could mean the difference between numbers… and great stats for the year end. Impulse buys are seriously high during this holiday, so make sure you are offering the right goods towards the end of the sale.

Make sure you’ve got the goods when your customers are browsing your store or site, and you definitely want to make sure you’re not the one to let an easy sale slip past you this Halloween! The only ones who will win this year are those who offer the choices people are demanding, and the ones who don’t have the costumes and accessories on hand… may end up losing the shirts off their own backs!

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Have you ever taken a good hard look at a warehouse filled to capacity with… stuff? I have. I remember back in the Winter of 2006, I was working with PANASONIC’s North American Division on some Document Solutions sales projects, and it was never less than a shocking experience to see how the warehouse of one particular dealership was stacked –- nearly to the roof — with junk. We were selling and servicing clients who covered a full spectrum of operations, from SOHO (small/home-based) to enterprise-level… and it simply blew my mind to see what a state of disarray everything was in. Somehow, things got done… but things also got broken, lost, and confused as the orders would come in, and whenever you needed to get your hands on something, the cavernous warehouse defiantly dared you to make an expedition into its inner recesses. I was one of those guys that was gunning for a new warehouse manager ASAP, because I didn’t have the time or energy to figure out how to separate old from new, broken from functional, and treasures from trash.

What’s in your warehouse?

Now it’s the middle of 2009, and we are dealing with an economy that doesn’t know where it wants to be at any particular moment… and customers who are tired of the run-around. Dropshipping is the new industry standard, as wholesalers and even retailers are beginning to see that letting a seller manage the sales, while the manufacturers and distributors can simply route the goods directly to the customer… is a good idea that has finally come to light.

What’s the secret to dropshipping? Is there something you need to know, in order to get in on the action? Not so much, really. There are, however, some steps you might want to take that will give you the advantage when trying to get your operation going in a customer-centric direction, while utilizing dropshipping channels. Here then, is my quick TopTen list of things to know when looking into the dropshipping option:

• Many online wholesale sources are getting keen, and they are improving their interface for ease of use, even for the newbies out there.

• Several of them are also listening more closely, as users report flaws or offer insights… and changes are made accordingly.

• With competition so ferocious, there is an emerging breed of legitimate companies that are going through great lengths to preserve their credibility in their markets.

• A lot of these companies are erasing borders by offering improved services for shipping internationally. There’s about 6 billion people in the world. Some of them should be buying from you, shouldn’t they?

• Membership has its privileges, and many sites are offering some substantial data to their members. Demographic research could be a few clicks away for you.

• Some great customer service is emerging from all of this.

• Efficiency might never be so easy. As this becomes more common, the processes involved will evolve as well.

• Reputation is everything, and many of the sites are quick to showcase their best partners.

• Shipping charges are not your problem any more, in some cases. Competition will make this more common as well.

• You will become more competitive, and your sales will grow as you develop your business over time.

Sounds easy, and maybe even fun. Of course, there are a lot of potential pitfalls out there, and it’s a well-known fact that there are scams aplenty on our beloved Wild, Wild West a.k.a the Internet… but you wouldn’t be reading this if you didn’t appreciate the allure of being rewarded for taking a chance on a venture, would you? One thing’s certain: I wouldn’t be writing this from all the way out in China, if there weren’t some adventure-seekers out there!

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It might sound funny, but it’s true… wholesale lobster — that venerable stuff of fine-dining menus everywhere — is going for a price that makes hot dogs a more expensive choice for a backyard BBQ this Summer. At the time of this writing, all-beef hot dogs are about a buck more per pound than fresh, live lobster that’s been snared off the coast of Maine!

Now, I have a pretty extensive background in the Food and Beverage business (with an emphasis on Fine Dining) and I can certainly tell you that the smart cookies are the ones who jump all over deals like these. Supply goes up… demand goes down… and prices pull a U-turn as the market reflects the overstock of goods. Not much different from the wholesale business overall, eh? Sometimes there are deals to pick up on, and if you act fast enough, you will walk away with a truckload of stuff for cheap.

All this talk of lobsters can produce some pretty comical imagery… and here’s some more: lobstermen (you know, the guys who snare lob-stuhs for a living) are trying their best to earn a few dollars, and have begun making the daily trip out to coastal towns themselves, in the hopes of selling their catch off on their own, rather than pay the extra costs of getting a broker involved. Who can blame ‘em? With the market prices dipping so low, they are losing money just by doing their job… since overhead costs are pretty high, and a typically higher margin makes up for it most of the time.

I like the spirit of the lobstermen. It reminds me of the enterprising types out there who find a good deal, and then act upon it. Wholesale is becoming more and more like this every day, especially with the economy being in the constant state of flux that it’s in. My only concern is that there tends to be a lowering of standards whenever the producer puts on the distributor-hat, and customers lose sight of this as they try to take advantage of a great price, in a no-holds-barred feeding frenzy.

“Lobster dealers and retailers have responded with a letter to state officials saying the lobstermen are actually making matters worse for themselves and will drive down lobster prices even more.” (WWLP News)

So… the price of lobster plummets, and the quality of lobster drops to unfathomable new lows, and everyone starts seeing grilled hot dogs at A-list venues? No… it’s a vicious cycle, but it’s one that can be avoided. Sellers and retailers, wholesalers and distributors… they are critical to keeping things going, without giving way to the temptations of pushing bad product. While the lobstermen might be the best at catching and harvesting lobsters, they probably aren’t the best at selling them. Frankly, the same is true for any area of industry. Salespeople and brokers are necessary, because we are the ones who are looking out for everyone, including ourselves.

Inspiration and fresh ideas can be found in some of the strangest places, and while the story of the lobstermen of Maine might give you a chuckle, it should also prompt you to do a quick search on the Internet for some trends in the market of your choice, for those hot deals and can’t-miss opportunities. Check out our own toptenwholesale.com to get some leads, and try to open your mind to the possibilities of markets you might not have paid much attention to before. This is 2009, and innovation will determine the success stories of the next decade.

Are you getting hungry yet? I am. All this talk of lobsters and hot dogs makes me want to get some lunch.

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In this piece, the writer – a fellow Evanstonian (IL) comments on the changing retail in what was once the “Shopping Mecca” of Chicago’s northshore. Epstein takes consolation in the fact that the shopping adventure he once knew as a child can be experienced just a few miles south in Chicago’s Andersonville neighborhood. A few remarks about an “unpretentious and excellent shoe store,” and a “thrift store loaded with surprising items,” and Epstein speaks the language of the shopper who longs for the “wow factor” that has been missing in today’s corporate big box retail. “The element of unpredictability,” Epstein writes, “of delightful surprise, should be part of the adventure of shopping — an element precluded by the standard stores.”

This is vindication for local businessmen and women like myself (I was then GM for an eclectic group of 4 restaurants that were big players in downtown Evanston) who fought to protect independent retail against an initiative to bring in TIFD-funded big box powers with no real stake in the community back in 1998. Ten years later, not only has speculative risk not worked, but the city fathers scared away entrepreneurs and renaissance retailers in favor of becoming a second rate Lincoln Park (a trendy but over-priced and over-crowded Chicago northside neighborhood).

Going back to the bigger picture, Epstein makes two excellent points as to why independent shopkeepers are critical to our economy and to our society.

“‘England is a nation of shopkeepers,’ remarked Napoleon,…suggesting that…the English, as mere shopkeepers, were unfit to fight the French. Well, we know how the shopkeepers fared at a place called Waterloo. No great surprise, really. Considerable courage and perserverence are required to start and keep a good shop running. Especially is this so today, when real estate rental is expensive, taxes on profits high, and the prospect of being clobbered by a national chain store moving in discourage the initiative needed to open a useful shop.”

For this country to lift itself from the ruins of recession, we need to become a nation of shopkeepers. Self-sufficient people willing to take the risk of opening or acquiring a business can compete with the big boys through better service and sourcing the pleasantly surprising items at even more surprising prices.

The Off Price Show can furnish them with the best deals on a wide selection of quality apparel, accessories, footwear and home & gift. Online vehicles such as OffPriceShow.com, OffPriceshowrooms.com, TopTenWholesale.com, the newly re-designed OffPriceNetwork.com and other JP products can connect indy retailers with suppliers willing to deal in smaller quantities who can also drop-ship anywhere in the world.

Epstein ends his article with a second excellent point, that “Running a good shop is a service to one’s community, of much greater value, in my view, than the work of two hundred social workers, five hundred psychotherapists, and a thousand second-rate poets… A nation of shopkeepers, far from being the put-down Napoleon thought, sounds more and more like an ideal to which a healthy country ought to aspire.”

To this end, I invite all independent and smaller chain retailers to check us out at the show, online and of course, at JP’s sites. Jason, I hope you see this and list your products proudly with some sagely comment. And Jason, I also challenge you and your colleagues, especially at your new property Manufacturer.com, to extend yourselves to the smaller apparel retailers, home & gift shops, general merchandisers, and wholesalers, to take advantage of the online directories and links to vendors so that they can get a “marginal” edge on the competition. Oh wait, you do that already! You know have the Englishman (Daniel Brindley), now help us rebuild this nation of shopkeepers by bridging the gap between excellent values worldwide and THE RIGHT PEOPLE who know how to merchandise them.

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