Many of the intended readers of this blog may currently be participating in the ASD/AMD Show in Las Vegas this week (3/15-18).  I wish all of you the greatest success at an event that continues to be critical to general merchandisers in the US and beyond. For those of you interested in developing new business, as you may know already, there is a growing demand for home/gift, general merchandise and new categories by apparel retailers who are looking for that one niche product that will get new customers into the store and allow their apparel lines to sell themselves. Accordingly, our team at the Off Price Specialist Center is launching a new salon area at our August Off Price Show called “HOME.”  HOME @ the Off Price Show is designed to be a home/gift, gen merch and new product “incubator” for apparel retailers looking to add more excitement at their stores. It is a ground level opportunity for vendors in these categories to make a significant impact at the largest and perhaps ONLY Off Price Show in the apparel industry.  Our apparel “jobbers” or off price specialists (the newer, more politically correct term) have become known as heroes to struggling apparel retailers who have found excellent values at our semi-annual trade show – which is the offical Off Price Show of the multi-venue/concept Las Vegas Fashion Week. Home/Gift, Gen Merch / hard goods are not new to the Off Price Show.  My good friend Larry Manus (who is at ASD this week) has been bringing his hard lines to the Off Price Show since its inception in 1995.  “I meet entrepreneurs and savvy retailers who already got the message about the need for diversification.”  His New Jersey-based company, United Auction LLP, has been wildly successful at our show in hard goods, as has St. Louis off price specialist CWC Inventories.  And as long ago as 2003, when I was first involved with the Off Price Show as its outside marketing agent, I met candle and gift vendors in the second last row of the show who were doing cartwheels because they were writing orders like crazy from aggressive retailers looking for new products. Now that I have been more directly involved with the show for the past 5+ years, it doesn’t surprise me that there is a great fit for home/gift and gen merch vendors at Off Price.  Our concept is known to many of our seasoned buyers as “the treasure hunt” because you are sure to find 1-2 new products (not on your pre-show shopping list) that could make your whole season or year.  The show is not arranged by category because of the nature of the off price business.  Our vendors carry either all categories or they specialize in one or two, plus they may come across an opportunity in a new category or product line that they know (based on their years of experience) could be a winner for their retail customers or prospects.  For Home/Gift, Gen Merch and new category vendors, we are making a more centralized HOME salon area to accommodate our largest retailers (who serve on our retail advisory board) who have been begging us for this kind of centralized space so that they can go back to their offices and – mind you they are all CMOs, CEOs and other executive types) tell them about the great values they found in bed & bath, table top, home decor, gift and other non-apparel categories that could be real winners for their chain. I invite all who are interested to contact me at the Off Price Specialist Center at either 262.754.6910 or dbrowne@offpriceshow.com.  I feel that this is an exciting opportunity for these vendors to develop new business that happens right on our show floor.  If you need further assurance, talk to my good friend Jason Prescott, President of JP Communications, whose TopTenWholesale.com is an official sponsor and media partner for the Off Price Show and has been since 2001 (I think).  Jason is a real visionary who’s very big on building bridges online for wholesalers and retailers, and takes advantage of the onsite connections at the Off Price Show to transcend this message across apparel retail lines.  Thanks, Jason, for this wonderful blog and for all the great things you do to support our respective industries.

            Jacksonville, FL (September 22, 2008)—Robert S. Bryan, Jr. has been appointed as the new Executive Director of Dignity U Wear, the locally-based, national nonprofit that provides brand new clothing to men, women and children in need. The announcement was made by T. Parker McCrary, Chair of the Dignity U Wear Board of Directors.

            Bryan comes to Jacksonville and Dignity U Wear from

            “Bob has a strong track record of leadership and has successfully grown the organizations he’s been involved with,” said McCrary. “He has great vision, knows how to develop people and build innovative, efficient organizations. He’s the ideal person to take Dignity U Wear to the next level. As we grow our business, increase sources of funding and generate additional revenue, we will have the ability to expand our reach and help even more people. We have high expectations of what Bob will be able to accomplish.”

            Bryan holds a  Bachelor of Arts/Philosophy degree from

            Dignity U Wear was founded in 2000 and distributes brand new clothing it receives from manufacturers and retailers through a network of 300 recipient nonprofit agencies in 30 states. Nationally, the organization has provided more than 4.4 million pieces, valued at $71 million, to more than 354,000 people. Locally, the organization has donated clothing valued at more than $20 million through 70 Northeast Florida-area nonprofits.

            The nonprofit does not receive any city, state or federal government grants or funding; they operate exclusively on private donations from individuals, corporations and private foundations. Volunteers help process 100% of the incoming inventory, providing 95% of the time and labor necessary to accomplish the task.

            For more information about Dignity U Wear, visit www.dignityuwear.org or call (904) 636-9455.

Is there any good news in $4.00 per gallon gasoline, higher food prices and rising unemployment among free-spending teens?

Yes! Bargain Stores, Second-Hand Clothing Outlets, Off-Price Discount Stores and even … gasp … sewing and make-your-own Bling advice, targeted to teens, are now considered v. cool.

Tween-Teen belt-tightening is unmistakable: Retailers who target teens – like American Eagle, Tween Brands, Inc. and its Limited Too — have seen up to four consecutive months of sales declines (says UBS-International Council of Shopping Centers). Fewer teens remain in the part-time workforce over the past 14 months, squeezing out C-note Coach wristlet handbags and $80 jeans from Abercrombie & Fitch and pre-distressed surfer hoodies with brand new Brand Hollister price tags. Even Teen Food Staples – pizza, potato chips – cost more of youths’ dwindling discretionary dollars.

Opportunity knocks for off-price and bargain apparel traders!!! Now it’s cool to be frugal, including:

• • Get ready for another Grunge Fest? Maybe not. Economists state the current spending slump is the worst since the early 1990s … and it slumps all the way through the family, as budget-conscious parents cut unlimited text-message services, allowances and frivolous shopping.The previous big 1990s slump birthed the Grunge Look – torn clothing, flannel shirts, ripped stockings and that Je ne sais quoi touch of Gothica. Even with a sinking economy (teen hiring dropped 13% in the early 1990s vs. a 5% hiring slump this past year), no one thinks fashion will go Grunge during this cycle. Keep stocking that economical Bling: DIY beads, rhinestones; Metallic-thread shoulder wraps and scarves; Oversized handbags that double as beach totes and book bags; Off-price jewelry and accessories.

• Buffalo Exchange, a chain of second-hand clothing stores based in Tucson Arizona that operates throughout the west and central California, says business is surging. Because teens can trade in jeans and apparel at Buffalo, shoppers are still buying top brands like Banana Republic and Juicy Couture. The brand-name threads are simply “recycled” and cost a fraction of regular price at Buffalo X.

• Off-pricing and low-pricing still works. Another tween favorite, Aeropostale, sells jeans to teens for 30% less than look-alikes at Abercrombie & Fitch … and is thriving during this downturn. Teens are re-branding their shopping hangouts from higher-priced Hollister to lower-priced Target; and they’re shifting from pricey Pacific Sunwear of CA demo stores to thriftier knock-offs at H&M and Steve & Barry’s.

• Even if the prices aren’t bargain basement, a “thrift-store ambience” keeps frugal Teens loyal. Or, so say trend experts who look at Urban Outfitters and Anthropologie brands, which are staying afloat in the economic storm when they only look like thrift stores.
• For anyone who thought free-spending Teens would never, ever cut up credit cards, pinch dollars till George yelps or turn to sewing machines, get this: the teen-targeted spin-off of women’s Elle Magazine (called Ellegirl.com) launched videos titled, “Self-Made Girl.” It’s all about making clothes, crafting accessories like a prom clutch bag, and altering what’s already in the closet to look more stylish or fit better.

So, a few months ago, I promised Shawn Saba from US Style, Inc. that we would consider letting him write a guest post here and sharing his knowledge with all our readers. I never got around to posting it and he called me today saying I’d better put this up before he and Sam came down to San Diego and kick my butt back to Connecticut. Just kidding…I think I can take them anyways so their threats were falling on deaf ears But seriously, ApparelUS.com is one of the leading online resources for great deals on wholesale fashion and we welcome the knowledge of experts like Shawn any day. Shawn, I should have gotten this up back in Feb. but thanks for your work.

Shawn writes:

Every four years we add one extra day in the month of February in order to
re-synchronize our calendar with the seasons. This year, 2008, is a leap
year, which makes it the perfect opportunity to re-synchronize your clothing
collection with current fashion sense. Because fashions are sometimes as
fickle as the changing weather patterns, it‚s important to update your
clothing inventory periodically. There‚s no better or more economical way to
do that than by shopping wholesale online.

Wholesale clothing shopping online allows you to shop for and buy the
hottest new fashion designs at a fraction of their retail price. Shopping at
online wholesalers cuts out the middlemen, which allows you can spend as
little as possible. The less you pay wholesale, the more you profit in the
end. Another great thing about wholesale clothing shopping is that the
fashions are constantly being updated, so you can always choose from the
most contemporary styles.

When you purchase wholesale clothing, you can afford to completely redo your
clothing collection to fit with the modern fashion landscape. Many of the
newest fashion trends can be found at Apparelus.com, the best source for
wholesale clothing and accessories on the Internet. They offer their
customers a wide range of top-quality clothing and accessories at steeply
discounted prices. With exclusive contracts from many of the hottest
designers and manufacturers in the market, Apparelus.com always has the best
wholesale prices.

Apparelus.com has thousands of different clothing pieces you can choose
from. Their departments include tops, pants, dresses, skirts, jackets and
more. They even have hundreds of accessories like shoes, handbags,
sunglasses, belts and jewelry. No matter what style of clothing or
accessories you‚re after, you‚ll probably find it for pennies on the dollar
in their extensive collection. You‚ll be amazed to see that the unit prices
for most of their clothing items are just several dollars when they could
easily be sold for 5 times more. So, visit Apparelus.com to take advantage
of this once in a leap year opportunity to do yourself a big favor and give
your clothing collection a total overhaul. Your bottom line will thank you.

This Spring fashionistas from all over will be following the rainbow by looking to the crayon box for inspiration. This season’s runways were awash in bright, bold colors, a stark contrast from last season’s macabre obsession with all things dark and Gothic. This season, expect to see fashion mavens donning such cheery hues as deep hibiscus red, vermilion orange, sunflower yellow, tropical green, cobalt blue and vibrant violet.

Another blossoming trend this season is wearing large, graphic floral prints with everything from roses and pansies to retro-style daisies and everything in between. For those who are not feeling the large bold florals, mid-size and more delicate summery patterns are also a hit, as are any soft and delicate feminine accents like sheer ribbons and bows.

Retro styles from the 1970s have also come back full throttle, and this can be seen in everything from bold, geometric patterns to off-the-shoulder tops, bell bottoms, and even groovy platforms and leisure suits. Finding these and other styles can get pricey when shopping through most retailers, but that does not have to be the case.

Most of the trends showcased on last month’s runways can be found at ApparelShowroom.com, your premier source for wholesale women’s and junior miss apparel. They specialize in off price and high quality red tag clothing offering the lowest prices for the best quality on the market. Because their company is located in fashionable Los Angeles, Ca, they are constantly adding new merchandise to their inventory from hundreds of neighboring manufacturers and importers, and it’s always deeply discounted to ensure the greatest profits.

Apparel Showroom has a wide array of wholesale women’s clothing, including tops, dresses, skirts, pants, active wear, and even accessories. My favorite section is the page featuring discount wholesale dresses. This page showcases a wide selection of sultry styles, including some of the retro patterns mentioned before. Whether you’re looking for cool and casual or a style fit for a night on the town, Apparel Showroom will be sure to satisfy. They have a large assortment of the ever popular halter dress, svelte dresses with spaghetti straps, and even off-the-shoulder fashions. Check out Apparel Showroom today to spring into the sexy styles of the season. You won’t regret it.

The Off-Price New York Market, held October 8 – 10, 2006 at New York’s Hotel Pennsylvania. The regional Off-Price Markets was designed as a no-frills, cost-effective order-writing event where retail buyers could find quality apparel at prices well below established wholesale averages.

“We were extremely pleased with the turnout and buying activity at our October event,” says Show Director David Lapidos. “The Markets are great complements to our national Off-Price Specialist Shows held three times a year in Las Vegas. These are order-writing events where retailers can get immediate delivery on goods to fill in gaps in their inventory, which is always critical around the holiday season.”

Another similar event will be held in January. The New York Off-Price Market will return to the Hotel Pennsylvania on January 7 – 9, 2007. Held during New York’s first market week of the year, Off-Price management is expecting a good turnout and for a fast paced feel of old school buying you just can’t beat New York wholesale apparel events.

The Hotel Pennsylvania won’t be the only hotel crawling with purchasers. “A lot of buyers will be in town for Market Week,” says Lapidos. “In addition, four apparel shows will be running at the Javit’s Center on the exact same dates, which makes it a great week to be in New York for retailers.” Retailers hoping to attend better start looking for hotel rooms soon.

The Javit’s Center apparel shows include the Fame Show, Children’s Club, Accessories the Show, and MODA Manhattan. For more information about the Off-Price Markets, visit their website.

February 2007 Off-Price in Las Vegas Changes Venue

Fate has taken a hand to move The Off-Price Specialist Show from its usual digs at the Sands Expo. Due to one-time scheduling conflicts with the Sands Expo, the February Show will be held in the luxurious Grand Ballrooms of the Venetian Hotel and Casino. A curious press release on the move touts the new convention site’s carpeting and “elegant restroom facilities’. All important qualities for an event fueled by coffee and commerce but I’m sure the hotel has other appealing qualities as well.

“We’re very excited about the February Show,” says Dell Holden, executive vice president of sales and marketing. “Shopping a trade show is tough work. The days can be long and exhausting, so anything we can do to make our buyers and exhibitors’ jobs easier benefits everyone. The Grand Ballrooms are truly elegant. We’ve got all the pieces in place to make the February Show a memorable one.”

The four-day February show will open on Sunday, February 11 and close on Wednesday, February 14. The show will showcase new and expanded product offerings, including the newly co-located Home & Gift Show, an expanded jewelry pavilion, access to the new Off-Price Absolute Auctions.

The Off-Price New York Market, held October 8 – 10, 2006 at New York’s Hotel Pennsylvania. The regional Off-Price Markets was designed as a no-frills, cost-effective order-writing event where retail buyers could find quality apparel at prices well below established wholesale averages.

“We were extremely pleased with the turnout and buying activity at our October event,” says Show Director David Lapidos. “The Markets are great complements to our national Off-Price Specialist Shows held three times a year in Las Vegas. These are order-writing events where retailers can get immediate delivery on goods to fill in gaps in their inventory, which is always critical around the holiday season.”

Another similar event will be held in January. The New York Off-Price Market will return to the Hotel Pennsylvania on January 7 – 9, 2007. Held during New York’s first market week of the year, Off-Price management is expecting a good turnout and for a fast paced feel of old school buying you just can’t beat New York wholesale apparel events.

The Hotel Pennsylvania won’t be the only hotel crawling with purchasers. “A lot of buyers will be in town for Market Week,” says Lapidos. “In addition, four apparel shows will be running at the Javit’s Center on the exact same dates, which makes it a great week to be in New York for retailers.” Retailers hoping to attend better start looking for hotel rooms soon.

The Javit’s Center apparel shows include the Fame Show, Children’s Club, Accessories the Show, and MODA Manhattan. For more information about the Off-Price Markets, visit their website.

February 2007 Off-Price in Las Vegas Changes Venue

Fate has taken a hand to move The Off-Price Specialist Show from its usual digs at the Sands Expo. Due to one-time scheduling conflicts with the Sands Expo, the February Show will be held in the luxurious Grand Ballrooms of the Venetian Hotel and Casino. A curious press release on the move touts the new convention site’s carpeting and “elegant restroom facilities’. All important qualities for an event fueled by coffee and commerce but I’m sure the hotel has other appealing qualities as well.

“We’re very excited about the February Show,” says Dell Holden, executive vice president of sales and marketing. “Shopping a trade show is tough work. The days can be long and exhausting, so anything we can do to make our buyers and exhibitors’ jobs easier benefits everyone. The Grand Ballrooms are truly elegant. We’ve got all the pieces in place to make the February Show a memorable one.”

The four-day February Show, which will open on Sunday, February 11 and close on Wednesday, February 14, will showcase new and expanded product offerings, including the newly co-located Home & Gift Show, an expanded jewelry pavilion, and access to the new Off-Price Absolute Auctions.

In the last several weeks my columns have largely dealt with informing online and traditional retail store owners about wholesale suppliers that who have reputations for honesty, dependable delivery, and value. In order to save buyers from having to sort through them I thought I would provide a quick list of some of the excellent wholesalers featured in recent articles and touch on their strengths and specialties.

So without further ado and in no particular order here are four lauded wholesale suppliers;

1. United Auctions- A New Jersey based wholesale liquidation company. They specialize in apparel and shoes but offer a very impressive variety of merchandise from health and beauty aids to home decor. Extremely forthcoming with product information and a bidding system that allows users to automatically increase their bid by $.25 until a buyer preset maximum is reached.

2. Via Trading- A California based department store’s returns liquidator. The thing I like best about Via Trading are the incredibly complete product listings and the practical honesty they show regarding the products they offer. They don’t, as so many liquidators do, over promise. Their product descriptions are complete, accurate, and valuable. They specialize in brand name apparel but carry other merchandise as well.

3. Big Deals Outlet- A Minnesota based closeout wholesaler relatively new on the scene. Big Deals offers a wide variety of merchandise from small electronics to cookingware to office supplies. The prices are terrific and a simple flat rate shipping cost that makes life simpler for their customers.

4. Bidz- A California based jewelry auction wholesaler with a nearly unique live auction system. Some of the more interesting features include an entry that displays the product with a link to more information, the time remaining to bid with those ending soonest listed first, and the present high bid. There is also a compare price which shows the potential buyer what the maximum price other jewelers are offering the same items for. One of Bidz’s best features is a remarkably useful and detailed customer help section.

While there are certainly many other excellent wholesalers out there this list should help those new to the industry get a good idea what to look for in a wholesaler they can count on.

With the rising costs in fuel, delivery of goods ordered are perceived to be down.
Deals are said to be hindered by the additional cost of shipping.
We would like to research how domestic importers and distributors are coping with this situation.

How are wholesalers reacting to the situation and minimizing having sales offset by this.

Are there existing co-op organizations in place for distribution of goods?

Is there a network being established or developed to reach out to smaller operations who are feeling the squeeze?

We produce a wholesale event in Las Vegas for the garment & home/gift industry and wish to be proactive in providing our customers with the latest information to manage their respective businesses and overcome this increasing hurdle.

We appreciate your time and feedback.
Dell Holden
Business Development Manager
Tarsus US Group / Off Price Specialist Shows
www.offpriceshow.com

It’s coming! Can you wait? I can’t!

We have been working around the clock on this project for 8 months. Some of you have the inside scoop on Wholezilla.com

For those of you wondering…This is the first ever B2B shopping cart search engine. That’s right! It’s been done for consumers by a few ( Pricegrabber, Shopzilla and Froogle.) This is the first crack at the wholesale industry.

Let’s face it..There are 1000’s of wholesalers, manufacturers, importers, drop shippers and distributors out there. Many of these small businesses have little means to market their products, and the landscape for reputable companies, like JP Communications, developing communication platforms that effectively bring together retailers and wholesalers, is far and few. We are here to provide what these thousands of suppliers are seeking – a robust platform with features unlike any other search engine!

We are going to debut with 100’s of thousands of awesome products from premier names in the industry. All you SEO’s get ready. JP Communication’s innovations will inevitably take this industry a bit further….Let’s get ready to rock!

Happy Selling.

-Jason