Retail Blog

ProductBlazer tracks detailed search and usage data for thousands of independent retailers every month. We keep this data tightly sealed, away from prying eyes. We do however aggregate this usage information into interesting and actionable information about what independent retailers are thinking about. In this post you’ll find a summary of some of the fastest growing search queries on the ProductBlazer network this week.

 

Gone are the days of the lone, plain, tank-style maternity swimsuit- which means great news for both moms-to-be, and also retailers specializing in maternity swimwear! The boring and unflattering maternity swimsuits from years ago have evolved into much more sophisticated, stylish, even sexy garments. With the extensive selection possible, it is an ideal time for clothing retailers to specialize in this particular market.

Maternity swimwear has evolved to be just as accommodating and flattering to body types and personal preference as non-maternity swimwear. Just as with the non-maternity swimwear, women’s maternity suits are now designed to hide problem areas, and enhance your best assets. Be sure to stock up on a variety of the hottest new styles to make the most of your product selection. Some great choices to consider are:

Skirted- skirted swimsuits are ideal for covering troublesome hip/thigh areas. They are a popular choice for those women who are particularly conscious of that “little bit extra” they might be carrying in that region due to their pregnancy.

Flowing- often fit into the “skirted” category, but with even more material and coverage, sometimes extending over the bust. These suits are often “goddess-like” in style, and are very flattering.

Strapless- a bold choice for women who are a little bit more daring. Strapless suits also serve to enhance the bust, which is most often a great asset on a pregnant woman, so it’s a great time to play them up!

Tankini- a two piece suit that provides more coverage than a bikini. This tank style is a bit more updated than the one piece basic tank look.

Bikini- for the daring mom-to-be who is comfortable showing off her belly and a little more skin. There are many variations on the bikini available- bandeau tops, skirted bottoms, etc.

Don’t forget to stock up on a variety of sarongs. Sarongs make great quick cover-ups, are easy to use (even past pregnancy) and are very stylish. They are versatile, and well-appreciated by women of all body type.

When building your maternity swimwear collection, be sure to include not only these basic styles, but also work in various patterns and colors to suit a variety of tastes. You might also want to consider suits that are textured, that have embellishments, or features such as ruching for a sophisticated and flattering look.

With summer being near, so is the rush to find “the” ideal swimsuit. Spring is the perfect time to be building and promoting your line of maternity swimwear. Mother’s Day might even serve as the ideal time to promote your hot swimwear line for all those moms-to-be!

 

If you’re already selling pooch-ware in your gift store, you are likely aware of the amazing opportunities for selling in this particular market. If you haven’t dipped into this specific area yet, it is definitely time to consider doing so. Pet owners are becoming fanatical about keeping their doggies up to date in the latest fashions- with trendy summer fashions being no exception!  This season, there are some “must-haves” to keep in stock in order to guarantee that Fifi and Fido stay not only looking great, but healthy and happy this summer.

For dogs who like to dress for the occasion, there are plenty of clothing and accessories to help them look stylish, without making them too hot in the summer heat. A tank or small dress offers a cool option without covering the dog in too much clothing. Better yet, opt for a designer collar or harness and lead. From polka dots, to alligator skin, there is a style for everyone.

To make sure dogs are protected by long periods in the sun, there are a few important items that every dog owner should have. One of those items is a doggie-inspired tent, designed for keeping direct sun off your pooch, and providing great ventilation.  You might also opt for a simple portable umbrella or alternative sun shade. And yes, even with that coat of fur, a dog can still experience sunburn. Make sure your retail store is stocked with canine-formulated sunscreen, as well as bug repellent to keep dogs free of outdoor buggy pests.

For outdoor protection in rainy weather, dog owners value the use of lightweight raincoats. Paw covers can also help protect little paws from sand, lawn care chemicals and other damaging agents.

ProductBlazer is an excellent source for all things doggie apparel. If you’re interested in adding some of these summer “must-haves” to your retail store, you can find out more information from the following wholesale suppliers of the best in canine fashion.

 

When it comes to achieving a level of visibility and name recognition that’s on par with their chain-store rivals, most independent retailers face pretty stiff odds. Add in a few confounding factors, such as the current economic uncertainties, and the prospect of marketing yourself effectively can start to feel like an insurmountable challenge.

If you need to get your store’s name out there and you’re not sure how you can afford to do it, don’t despair. Effective marketing doesn’t have to be expensive. In fact, some of the best ways to make a splash in the local or regional market can cost little or nothing at all to pull off. Use these ideas for inspiration, adopting them to your own needs and circumstances.

•    Think hard about how to reach your target market. Many independent retailers cater to a small group of customers. As such, small-scale but narrowly-focused marketing efforts are more likely to pay off than big, splashy, overly-broad campaigns. If you run a shop or website that sells supplies to model train enthusiasts, a small ad in the hobby’s premier publication will have a much greater return on investment than a highway billboard that costs tens of thousands more. Make a list of the niche groups you want to reach, and then brainstorm cheap ways to get your company’s name in front of them.

•    Be your own ad. If you’re really dedicated to lodging your store’s name in the brains of as many potential customers as possible, take it upon yourself to become a one-person marketing machine. Wear company t-shirts wherever you go; have your store’s name and location emblazoned on your car; get a special computer-safe logo screen-printed on to the back of your laptop; add a website link and motto to the signature line of all your emails. Even everyday chitchat and errands around town can pay big marketing dividends if you use this strategy wisely.

•    “Go dutch” with other businesses. A great way to get more bang for your advertising buck is to band together with other likeminded independent retailers in your area. Form a group with other stores in your neighborhood, or team up with similar or complementary businesses across the entire community, sharing the expense of advertising efforts. That way, you’ll get all of the exposure for a fraction of the cost.

•    Actively engage in the community. Most locally-focused independent retailers depend on their connection to their neighborhood or town as a major source of business. Leverage these relationships on a micro-level, sponsoring local groups and performances, volunteering visibly at annual festivals, or giving your time or in-kind donations to charity events. Don’t forget to wear your store’s t-shirt!

•    Cultivate the loyalty of a team of “brand evangelists.” The most expensive marketing campaign in the world isn’t worth the word-of-mouth spread by one passionate customer. Make a habit of going above and beyond the call of duty, establishing truly world-class service as your personal trademark. Chances are, you’ll inspire the die-hard loyalty of a small group of “evangelists” who will sing your praises wherever they go.

What are your favorite cheap marketing techniques? What’s the best marketing investment you’ve ever made? Share your experiences in the comments.

 

What wholesale products are independent retailers searching for this week? ProductBlazer, the web’s largest wholesale supplier search engine, can help tell us. The site provides a massive index of over 40,000 suppliers and tracks search queries across a network of wholesale supplier search engines. Summer is coming so we clearly want to lounge in Adirondack chairs, but what is on the minds of the country’s leading independent retailers? What’s hot this week?

Let’s see!

 

Should Your Business Have a Blog? These days, it seems like everyone and their dog has an online presence. In particular, blogs – a unique kind of Internet journal that takes its name from a mash-up of the term “web log” – are skyrocketing in growth and popularity. It is estimated that well over 100,000 new blogs are created each day, with the total number of blogs now far exceeding 100 million.

Plenty of businesses are getting in on the blogging act, too. From corporate bigwigs to mom ‘n’ pop shops, it’s possible to find a blog covering every conceivable type of operation. One recent study found that as many as 50% of all companies surveyed had some type of blog. In an era when even a sliver of competitive advantage can be a great boost, some experts call business blogs an innovative and low-cost way to extend your brand and bring your image up to date.

Have you been thinking about starting a blog for your business? If so, you deserve kudos for being open to new possibilities. But don’t just jump on the blogging bandwagon because everyone else is doing it. Before you commit to a business blog, it’s best to carefully consider the pros and cons involved in this kind of undertaking.

The benefits of blogging

If you’re looking for a cheap and simple way to exponentially boost your business’s profile, blogging might be just what the doctor ordered. With little or no risk and remarkable ROI potential, a company blog can be a great tool for any business. Here are just a few of the ways blogging could help your enterprise.

• Establish authority in your field. If you know a lot about your business niche, a blog is a great way to broadcast your expertise. A blog is a great conduit to help you connect with a community of like-minded experts and create interest and awareness of your business among those who are in the know.

• Forge connections with new customers. More and more people are making blog reading a part of their daily schedule. There’s probably no better way to get your business’s name in front of millions of people than starting a blog. Once you establish yourself as part of the online community in your field, reciprocal links from other sites will help bring new readers – and potential clients – to your blog.

• Boost your site’s readership and traffic. If you already have a business website, or if your business is based online, a blog can be a huge boon. Blog entries are a great way to boost your site’s search engine rankings, as well.

• Strengthen your relationship with existing clients. A business blog can offer your clients a peek behind the curtain, so to speak, offering customers a rare glimpse into the inner workings of your company. Blog comments are also an excellent way to keep the lines of communication open with your clients and deepen your understanding of how people are responding to your products.

• Position yourself in the market. Need to communicate the uniqueness of your company to the world? There’s no better platform than a blog. That’s one reason why independent retailers who cater to niche markets are particularly well-served by the new form of company-customer communication.


• Respond quickly to emerging challenges and changes. Today’s market is dynamic and ever-evolving. With a company blog, you can respond to changes or challenges that may emerge, in real time and on your terms. If your business model relies on rapid adaptation and nimble response, a blog may be the perfect communication pipeline for you.


The drawbacks of blogging

Sure, business blogging is all the rage these days, but let’s face it – it’s not for everybody. Seasoned business owners know that trends shouldn’t drive your decision-making process, so if you don’t feel genuinely compelled to blog, you probably shouldn’t commit to it. Here are some very good reasons NOT to start a company blog.


• You’re a seller, not a writer. If you’d rather eat glass than sit down in front of your computer to compose blog posts, this might not be the thing for you. But before you nix the idea of a company blog, consider the possibility of outsourcing writing duties to a talented employee or a professional. As long as you maintain control of the tone and topics, you don’t have to write every word yourself.

• Your schedule is already packed to the brim. Life can be hectic for independent retailers. If you already have to juggle appointments to find time to sleep and eat, adding even more to your plate with a blog might not be the best idea. But again, you might consider delegating blog duties to someone you trust.

• Your business model isn’t based on your uniqueness. If your company offers products and services that really don’t differ all that much from those provided by your competitors, there might not be much point in blogging.

• You’re not exactly tech-savvy. Is your VCR display still flashing “12:00 a.m.”? Do you still own a VCR? Do you have trouble locating the power button on your computer? If technology just isn’t your thing, think twice before starting a blog. The learning curve involved might be way too steep to make good business sense.

• Your customer base doesn’t read blogs. If you run a specialty business that caters to a very narrow slice of the market, or if the lion’s share of your customers are unlikely to be the blog-reading type, the time and effort involved in starting and maintaining a blog might exceed the potential benefit.


Does your business have a blog? How do you manage it? In what ways has the blog impacted your business? Tell us more in the comments.

 

It seems like everywhere you turn these days, there’s more bad news about the potential health hazards of consumer goods that are produced in China and other overseas manufacturing hubs. The crisis reached a fever pitch during the run-up to the 2007 holiday season, when repeated reports of dangerous levels of lead in Chinese-made toys had millions of American parents scrambling for safer shopping alternatives.

The tainted-toy scare also happened to coincide with another trend that’s become more noticeable in recent years – consumers’ are developing more interest in sustainable manufacturing practices, fair trade, and fine craftsmanship, all of which can be virtually impossible to find or to verify in foreign-made products.

What this latest wave of more conscientious consumers have found is that it can be much more difficult to find products bearing the “Made in the USA” label than one might expect. At larger chain stores, it can be nearly impossible to determine a product’s provenance, as even a single toy or household good may contain components that were manufactured or assembled in a dozen different countries. Furthermore, many chain store employees’ knowledge of products doesn’t extend far beyond the number of the aisle they can be found on.

That’s where independent retailers come in. There’s no doubt about it – recent market research has shown that smaller, independently-owned establishments stand to benefit from the growing demand for American-made products. Here are some tips to help you make the most of this trend.

• Exploit your expert knowledge base. Many independent retailers are owner-operators who have a hand in everything from sourcing new products to stocking the store shelves. That unique depth of knowledge is just what consumers who are disenchanted with the hands-off, know-nothing approach that is standard in most large chain stores are looking for. Make yourself available to answer customers’ questions — and don’t be afraid to show off a little if they seem interested in hearing more details.

• Play up your products’ provenance. If you have a large number of products that are made in the United States or other developed nations, why not proudly point that fact out? Use displays that highlight the regions or countries your store represents and the manufacturing traditions and craftsmanship styles unique to each one.

• Craft a marketing message to match. Market research has shown that more consumers are on the lookout for safe and well-made products these days, so make sure your advertising and marketing campaigns mention that you stock American-made goods. Keep it subtle and sophisticated – a small graphic stating your store’s policy is all you need to get your point across.

• Keep an eye out for new American manufacturers and distributors. As you are probably already well aware, the advent of globalization and multinational manufacturing has made it very difficult to source American-made products. To ensure that you can meet demand, make a habit of taking note of new domestic manufacturers and distributors that you happen to encounter. If you could use some leads, check out Product Blazer’s list of wholesale products made in America.


What are your experiences stocking and selling American-made products? Have you noticed that your customers are more interested in where products are made these days? Talk back in the comments.

 

Let’s face it- everybody likes free stuff. So, why not use this to your advantage- and use freebies to boost your business? Giving away something for free can really give you a competitive edge- IF you use them properly.

There are many reasons to consider using freebies with your business, such as the following:

An Incentive to Buy More

Offer a promotion that states that if the customer orders X number of product (or over a certain $ amount), they receive a free (insert product here). Try testing this promotion- does it lead to a greater number of sales than when you don’t have the promo? Another way to encourage a customer to buy more is to offer them some type of coupon with their order, stating that they will receive a free (whatever you choose) with their next order. Remember to track this type of promotion as well to see if these customers are more likely to repeat purchase than customers who do not receive this offer.

To Keep You In Mind

Include small items with your orders that a customer may likely hold onto and USE on a regular basis- they are more likely to remember you and keep you in mind when they need your product/service. An example of this would be when you go to a trade show, and you receive that little pad of paper, pen, or magnet printed up with the company’s logo. These items are often overdone though, so beware of this, and make yours somehow stand out. Try to make the item as valuable to THEM (your target audience) as you can so they won’t just get tossed. If you offer weight loss products, consider having a magnet printed up with an inspirational message and re-ordering information -something that entices them to keep the magnet and put it in plain site.

To Boost Perceived Value of Their Order

Simple additions can be added to a purchased item to give it that “WOW” factor when a customer receives it. The specialty bookstore that includes the fancy little bookmark, or the gift shop that includes (for FREE) the gift wrap and card is often held in higher regard because of the “extras” that come with your purchase.

To Boost YOUR Business Reputation

Offering a decent give-away serves to build your businesses reputation. If someone receives an item for free that they value, they will not only be impressed by the act, but are more likely to recommend your products or services to others, to return as repeat customers, etc. You may also add something like a free ebook for website visitors to download if they sign up for your newsletter. Not only will they sign up for your newsletter, but they’ll also gain a very valuable resource free of charge.

To Get Press or Peek Interest

No one said you had to give away one free product to each and every customer. Why not offer a larger item as part of a contest? Consider offering contests regularly, even include them in your newsletters or spread the word online. Or, you could offer the contest as a one time thing. Is the give-away item really special? This is a time to try to gain some press for your contest, and in turn, your business.

To Make Them Aware of Other Items You Sell, and Gain Repeat Business

For an example, if you sell books and other stationery products through your business, and someone orders themselves a set of new journals- why not include a few cards or small sample package of stationery with their order? The customer will get to experience your stationery face-to-face, hopefully use it and think it is of value, remember it (and the fact that you were kind enough to include it) and perhaps order it themselves.

Some things to keep in mind:

Try to keep the freebie to a manageable cost. You don’t want to go in debt offering free things to all your customers.
You can offer a FREE incentive in the form of an INFORMATION product- which is essentially free (besides paying to have it written) to you.
Keep the product relevant to the customer. Try to offer something complimentary to what they have previously purchased, as an “educated guess” that the freebie is of importance to them as well.

As you can see, there are many ways to use freebies in your business. It can be an effective way to strengthen your reputation, gain new and loyal customers, and get yourself noticed. And, importantly, using incentives in this way needn’t be an expensive endeavor. Overall, offering freebies can be a great way to market your business in a very positive way.

 

It’s hard to avoid the chatter in today’s news about Miley Cyrus. Regardless of your opinion on the photos, it’s hard to deny the appeal of the Hannah Montana brand. Getting your hands on wholesale officially licensed products can be difficult. Here are some ideas.

Check out License-2-Play they have a good selection of wholesale Hannah Montana products. Janson Media, and Alliance Entertainment are wholesale sources for Hannah Montana DVDs.

For other related suppliers check out GiftSuppliers.us.