vendors
Published October 16th, 2008
Whether you are opening a brick-and-mortar store or creating an online e-commerce site, you’re going to need a variety of products from a multitude of manufacturers. While it may seem overwhelming to set up accounts with so many vendors, there are definitely some easy ways to simplify the process.
First, you will need to decide what types of products you want to carry. It’s best to be flexible with brands, colors and sizes, as that will open up your opportunities when dealing with suppliers.
Wholesale product sources
*Manufacturer: Most times buying direct means a high minimum order. Usually manufacturers will... Read more
Tags: advice, Carrie Hinkel, Product Sourcing, source, tips, vendors, wholesale, wholesale vendors
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Well hopefully you don’t have one single supplier! If one of your major suppliers does in fact notify you that they are closing their doors, there’s no need to panic. Simply contact your other supplier(s) and speak with them about the possibility of you moving more business their way. Determine if they can handle the new demand and talk about pricing options with them (as they may offer a discount for more business). Also remember to contact the supplier that is going out of business and ask if they have any products that they can still supply you. If they... Read more
Tags: advice, Product Sourcing, Rebecca Button, small business, source, Starting a Business, suppliers, tips, vendors
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Going into a retail business for yourself means taking risks with your money and your future. Not only do you have to worry about finding customers and keeping positive cash flow, you have to keep a steady supply of merchandise. This means finding a reliable supplier or distributor. But with just as many fraudulent or overpriced suppliers as there are legitimate distributors, committing to a supplier can be a scary thing.
Good business sense can help you avoid many of the scams out there, but there is no way to avoid them all. Fortunately, a scammer’s charade is never impervious.... Read more
Tags: advice, jennifer ratliff, Product Sourcing, source, supplier red flags, suppliers, tips, vendors, warnings
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Published December 5th, 2007
Whether you’re outsourcing a call center, IT professionals, an accounting staff or web designers, you want to make sure that the vendor you choose is the best fit for your company. Otherwise, once you sign a contract and begin work it will be costly and difficult to switch to a different outsourcing company.
Be forewarned, the evaluation process should be lengthy and detailed. Not only should the outsourcer interview each of the outsourcing candidates according to the requirements of your company, a thorough research online should be done as well. That’s important, as you should not assume the word of... Read more
Tags: Carrie Hinkel, Doing Business Internationally, international outsourcing, tips, vendors, working with vendors
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Published October 9th, 2007
E-commerce is a multi-billion dollar industry, and there are an ever-growing number of companies looking to buy the latest and greatest in wholesale merchandise. The problem is that such a demand has sparked the interest of thousands of companies in business solely to scam small business owners into thinking they are legitimate wholesale vendors, when in fact they are not.
In our last article on researching wholesale vendors, we talked about the different types of wholesalers you can source from and how to choose the best option for you. In this article, we’ll be talking about the importance of always... Read more
Tags: advice, Carrie Hinkel, Product Sourcing, researching wholesale vendors, source, tips, vendors, wholesale, wholesale vendors
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Published August 28th, 2007
When a small business can establish relationships with vendors, lenders and subcontractors well in advance of when they are needed, it can avoid mistakes and save money. Planning all stages of development in advance is always a winning strategy.
Starting the search early provides the luxury of time: time to accurately determine the services and supplies needed; time to shop around for the firm or individual that provides the best fit with company needs; time to compare prices; time to negotiate terms; and time to weigh options and gather the most information possible before making a decision. On the other... Read more
Tags: business plan, jeff moses, lenders, NFIB.com, Starting a Business, startups, subcontractors, vendors
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Published August 14th, 2007
The growth of the Internet as a sales and distribution channel over the past decade has led to the unprecedented proliferation of fake or counterfeit merchandise. At the same time, technology has improved manufacturing capabilities around the globe to unparalleled standards to the point where "fake" is no longer synonymous with "poor quality" - everything looks the same now.
Furthermore, as venues such as eBay and Yahoo Stores attempt to arrest the growth of counterfeits from taking over their sites, it is becoming increasingly important for wholesalers and small resellers to take necessary steps to protect themselves from getting duped... Read more
Tags: advice, fakes, James McHugo, Luzury Magazzino, Product Sourcing, source, spotting fakes, tips, vendors, wholesale
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Published August 6th, 2007
Now is the time to get set for the peak selling season. Working with vendors has dramatically changed over the last decade. At one time you could count on vendors and manufacturers’ reps stopping into your store with the latest and greatest items. That was before company mergers, rising gas prices and the decline in company expense accounts. Now, especially if your business is outside a major metropolitan area, except for your local suppliers, you hardly ever see a vendor’s face. As a result, store owners need to be creative about how they find the right items at the right... Read more
Tags: advice, dollardays, marc joseph, Product Sourcing, source, tips, vendors, working with vendors
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