• One-pieces are making a huge comeback this year, tough modern touches make these suits anything but demure. The hottest pieces with the most coverage will have draping, ruching or paneling, if not lower leg cuts, that recall the retro glamour of the 1950s.
  Example: Victoria Secret’s firm control twist-front one-piece, by Magicsuit
• One-shouldered wonders may allude to times much, much earlier – that of the Grecian goddesses – but this season’s bright hues and bold patterns can change that feel entirely.
  Example: Just Cavalli’s purple leopard print one-shoulder suit
• Monokinis are this year’s bikinis – because really, they would be bikinis if not for one or two straps connecting the tiny pieces together.
  Example: Miss Bikini Luxe’s metallic monokinis
• Cut-aways reveal skin in more unusual ways. Sure, a few too many can bring forth images of bondage. However, if placed more selectively, cut-aways can actually be quite flattering. Long slits on the side could lenghten a torso, while a keyhole above the chest could draw the eye upward.
  Example: Roxy’s white and blue zebra-striped one-piece

Finally, consider this Tomas Maier swimsuit a crash course in the trends – a one-piece featuring cut-aways in this season’s ‘it’ color, hot pink.

What summer product trends are you noticing?

The boyfriend jean: Fashion and celebrity spotters can probably easily point out by now who is responsible for this fit’s resurgence: Katie Holmes. And she had actually borrowed her pair from husband Tom Cruise, designers have since made enough pairs for women so that sharing is no longer necessary. The modern twists are its narrowly rolled-up cuffs.

The skinny jean: A pair of these in a dark wash and little embellishments will always be considered chic, though this season’s pair is quite the opposite. Most are cropped directly to the ankle to show off sandals. Some come with ankle zippers, perhaps for easier removal during the hot months. And some more can be found in a solid, bold hue – try purple, yellow, or red, if not an acid wash.

The wide-leg jean: While more easily associated with casual looks, this season’s pairs take a sophisticated turn reminiscent of old Hollywood stars: the high waist. Designers have made them available in a variety of washes, but make sure that they otherwise remain simple. The fit alone should create enough visual interest for any outfit.

What denim trends have you been noticing lately?

Round vs. Square

John Lennon and Jackie O.: two 1960s American icons whose images would not be complete without a pair of statement-making sunglasses. Today, fashion magazines and blogs cannot stop buzzing over the comeback of the different frame shapes those two donned back then, ranging from Mary-Kate Olsen’s round shades spotted at last year’s Sundance Festival to Nina Ricci’s reissuing of the square model that the First Lady wore herself.

How to choose: In this case, opposites attract. Lennon’s round frames suits a square face best, since it will soften the chin’s and jaw’s strong, angular lines. A square pair on sunglasses looks best on an oval face, to maintain balance between a slightly wider forehead and a narrower chin.

Rims vs. Rimless

The bigger sunglasses have grown over the past few years, the more room designers found on their rims to make a statement, like a few gems or a pop or two of color. Taking such has made today’s rims suitable for the fashion risk-takers.

Designers have also made rimless glasses in mostly classic shapes colors, though their aviators sans rims are still a trendy option. Lately, such aviators have also been modernized with colored lenses, like Just Cavalli’s rimless options in brown or blue.

How to choose: The more angles to a face, the more that a pair of rimless sunglasses would suit that face, since today’s thick rims would otherwise overwhelm it. Today’s modern sunglasses especially flatter triangular faces, as their rounded tops and square bottoms balance out a narrow forehead and wider cheek and chin areas.

Retro vs. Modern

Today’s retro and modern styles tackle entirely different colors, shapes and frames.

Whether square or round, retro sunglasses are still being made with white frames, as seen over the past few years. Meanwhile, the shapes of modern sunglasses are much more sloped, whether wrap-around or shield. Nowadays, these can also typically be seen in metallic shades and rimless.

How to choose: This decision should be based on more than personal taste. More angular faces – the heart, square and triangular – look best with today’s modern shades, while oval and round faces will benefit from the current thicker-rimmed retro variety.

The looks also offer a certain ease for consumers: the fits are looser, the flash has disappeared, and the fashion statements are familiar. Overall, the industry understands that this year’s consumers want to buy pieces that will last them for years.

Women will get to play around with looks that popped up before and after the crash. Fits vary between the boxy dresses of the flapper, and the baggy, worn-in layers of the thrifting hobo. But with all, the necklines of blouses, button-ups and more are slightly higher and rounder than in years past – no deep Vs here. Roberto Cavalli and Marc Jacobs can offer inspiration.

Essential items: The pencil skirt, like today’s belt, plays up the natural waistline, while the flapper dress shimmies, in either sequined metallics or black fringe. A baggy vintage-inspired dress in a checkered plaid or tiny floral lends to the hobo look the best. Finishing touches include t-strap platform shoes, costume jewelry, or a cloche hat.

Men can finally breathe. After seasons of heralding the European slim fit look in nearly everything, designers have finally cutting menswear a little bit more loosely. Those who are especially tired of skinny jeans will finally be able to take comfort in a wider trouser and short. But to avoid overall sloppiness, designers struck balance in proportions, by either pairing such a trouser with a slim v-neck cardigan, or matched a wider blazer with a skinnier pant. Refer to Ralph Lauren and John Barlett.

Essential items: The drawstring pant, likely to come in a lighter neutral, will provide some much-needed ease in harder financial times. The large plaid button-up will also resurge, as it once did during the 1930s. And while the essential blazer, in a dark neutral is slightly worn, the cardigan, bright and spiffy, should not be.

All should take advantage of the rising popularity of the 1930s newsboy look. Though the look may have clothed the poorest of poor in a past generation, today it offers polish for anyone who cares to play into the trend – especially with the accessories in grey.

Essential items: Donning the newsboy cap and the utilitarian bag are probably the easiest ways to achieve the look. The next step up includes a pin-striped vest, cropped trousers or oxford lace-ups, all of which easily go with a white button-up. The daring can also add suspenders to the ensemble, as rising fashion designer Andre Benjamin, also of hip-hop duo OutKast, has sported over the years.

Apparel buyers and retailers: do you think your customers would buy into “depression chic”? Why or why not?

• The hobo. Alone, its slouchy, worn-in shape could have been looked rather lackadaisical. But when designers constructed them of bold-colored leather and in epic proportions, the bag became a staple. And, very much like those late 19th and early 20th century migratory workers of the same name, women started carrying their entire lives with them.
• The color purple. MJ Bailey, sales manager of Bagsrep.com, has noticed that going into 2009, customers are still demanding for bags in the shade traditionally affiliated with royalty. And while Pantone declared mimosa as the color of the year, other handbag wholesalers may find that their customers still cannot get enough of purple or even its 2008 pick: blue iris.
• Animal prints and skins. Though the classic leopard print remained popular, consumers grew fond of other skins. More specifically, that of the giraffe and zebra sported the top sellers of Polka Dot Petals, according to owner Joni Rogers. But as Vogue notes, January could be the month of the python, with the skin making its most notable appearances on clutches. At Paris Fashion Week, Louis Vuitton also premiered a handbag collection made of ostrich skin, according to European boutique Gleni. Polka Dot Petals already has its own version available.
• Chain embellishments. For most of 2008, designers added a few small chains here and there, to toughen a chic look. But going into 2009, they are making appearances again as the bag’s handles. As Coco Chanel did with her 2.55 bag in the 1980s, long chains can be now be seen with smaller, boxier purses; shorter chains with bigger totes.
• The clutch. Many handbag wholesalers made sure to have this cocktail party essential in stock, in silver, gold or bronze – something they may still have to do in the future. Take note of Bluefly.com: while inspired by Blair of “Gossip Girl,” the online retailer is promoting a few designed by Felix Ray and Linea Pelle, among others.

Which handbag trends do you want to stay throughout 2009? Which trends should go?

While all the booths received some attention, it was clear that there were a few that everyone clamored to get a glimpse of.  Street and urban wear were the belles (okay, booths) of the ball and the following list highlights some of the most highly sought after suppliers of the August 2008 show:

1.  Air Walk – This brand has been a staple in the surf/skate/snow scene for many years now.  It remains true to its original vision but keeps it’s designs fresh season after season.

2.  Raw Blue – This company, based out of Germany, boasts a line of hip hop inspired street wear.  The website is still under construction but you can get a feel for the clothing from their interactive Polaroids.

3.  Trinity Products – These shirts have everything from a flying snowboarder to a train wreck on them.  They also feature a group of shirts inspired by pop culture.

4.  Bullseye Brand – Hoodies, shirts, backpacks, hats, belts, shoes…the list goes on!  Bullseye’s distintive designs feature skulls, tigers and even dragons.

5.  Dyseone – Boasting "redefined" and "real" streetwear, Dyseone is your one stop shop representing the West Coast street wear.

6.  Dickiesgirl – Dickies brand has been an industry standard for quality work wear, but throughout the years it has become more than just functional clothing-it has become a style and fashion trend!  So much so that it has expanded it’s line into a whole other realm…the land of women’s wear!

7.  Ed Hardy – Like color?  You’ll like Ed Hardy.  Clothing for men, women and kids, as well as shoes and accessories this brand does not do anything conservatively!  Bright, bold color and cartoonish designs dominate and are taking the urban fashion world by storm!

8.  LA Ink – Kat Von D of the hit show "LA Ink" has started a killer tattoo shop and inspired her own fashion trends along the way.  Loyal fans and newbies alike want to dress like Kat and now they can.

9.  TAPOUT – Get ready for a wild ride as TapouT takes you into American counterculture with their "flash, attitude and strength" all the while supporting and promoting Mixed Martial Arts (they even sell MMA training gear).  Their apparel is some of the most sought-after in underground culture.

10.  Bang-on T-shirts – If you’re looking for pop culture t-shirts, this is the place to go.  Everything from Black Sabboth to Seasame Street this t-shirt company covers it.

You can attend then next MAGIC show in Las Vegas this coming February 17-19, 2009.

Predicting the Future
How can you know when the peak sales are going to drop off? You can’t predict the future can you? Of course we can’t predict the future, but we can learn from our past.

Retailers keep track of what happened previous years to know how to effectively sell this year. Managers order enough calculators not only to get them through the back-to-school sale, but also the first few weeks of school. They know how to plan for this because of what happened last year.

The same is true with eBay. If you could see what happened last year with calculator sales, you could know when sales are going to start to drop-off.

With a market research tool like HammerTap, you can know what happened last year. With information like that, you can in a sense predict the future.

I used HammerTap to research calculator sales last year. I researched calculator sales for four weeks starting on August 23, 2006.

Below are the results by-week. Pay attention to how the Listing Success Rate (LSR) and Average Sales Price (ASP) change during the four weeks of sales.

The Dropping-Off Point
So when do sales drop off? Sales during Week 2, August 31 thru September 6 were the highest in both LSR and ASP. During this week, you can sell the most calculators for the highest price possible.

After September 6, the Average Sales Price drops rapidly. In one week you go from $66.85 to $53.95, a difference of $12.90. This is a huge drop in profit. While sales are steady at 77%, you are not making nearly as much per calculator.

Depending on your cost of the product, September 6 is your drop-off point. Even though sales are still high (that’s your Listing Success Rate) you may not be making enough money on each sale to cover your costs.

What’s your strategy then? Try to sell all of your calculators during Week 2 above to increase both your success rate and selling price. Selling during this week is going to maximize your profits for this product during the back-to-school season.

However, each product is different, and this is just one example. In order to maximize the sales of your products during seasonal and holiday trends like this one, you really have two options: 1) Try and guess when the optimal time to sell is or 2) Use a research tool like HammerTap.

Generally speaking, a product will hit hard in an area with a large population and concentration – and then make its way out to less densely populated areas. For brick and mortar businesses located in the central areas of the country, this means paying attention to which products are selling well in New York, LA, and so on.

Business owners who like to court a certain amount of risk may even want to see what is selling in other countries; traditionally, products and services that sell well in the UK, for example, also do well in North America.

Online Trending Tools

If online selling is part of your game, then the good news is that there are a lot of people who want you to succeed, in order to keep using their services. The Pay Per Click strategies employed by so many businesses today are huge money for the search engines, and that means that they are more than willing to develop and supply tools which can help business owners predict what direction to take.

Google’s Trends Tools is one example; it lets you compare and track the success of almost any product that you could imagine, broken down into any category you might wish. Thinking of starting a website to target consumers in France? Well, you can use the Google Trends tool to see what they will be likely to buy!

Be careful though – because sometimes these tools can be a bit distracting.

eBay Seller Tools

Another company that wants to keep their customers coming back, eBay, is making it easier and easier to figure out what products are likely to lead to your success. They have several tools that you can consult to see what has been selling well according to time parameters that you set; week, month, year and so on.

Once you get started on eBay, you will be able to see which products were selling at the best rate at different times of year; very handy when it comes to high-purchase seasons like Christmas!

Keep Your Ear to the Ground

Sometimes something happens in society that just makes it too easy to predict a hot seller. The SARS outbreak in Toronto, Canada, a few years ago led to a massive increase in the purchases of all types of masks. A major movie release, such as The Transformers, will mean a huge increase in sales on certain toys which may not have had much success in previous years.

Smart business owners keep an eye on the developments around them, always thinking about what a news story might lead to in terms of selling opportunities.

It really isn’t very hard to determine what it is that people will buy from you. Products that are selling at a good rate will likely continue to do so, although the time period will depend on the nature of the product (recurring, a one time purchase, and so on).

Staying with the trends means you will be successful in business!

What are the most popular products for the 2007 holiday season? Technology seems to be the key.
If it doesn’t plug up, use batteries or have a remote, it’s not worth the time. The most popular products include the following:

1. Apple iPod touch: This has been advertised heavily since it came out. Its “touch-does-everything” process attracts people from every age group. As Christmas approaches, sales and profits come easily. One selling point with the iPod touch is a built-in Safari web browser with built-in wireless access to the web. And since including music is a must for any new technology, another point of sale is immediate access to the iTunes Wi-Fi Music Store, where consumers can browse and buy the hottest music with a simple tap.

2. Nintendo Wii: People have to have their games. The proliferation of game sites such as Pogo and YahooGames has made that apparent. The Nintendo Wii is both one of the newest and most interactive video game systems available. Selling games along with the system can add hundreds of dollars profit to the mix. What makes the Wii so popular isn’t the advertising that the company spent millions of dollars to produce, but the interactive quality of this system. With a combination of infrared detection and accelerometers, the game controller senses where in space it is, which means that a simple hand gesture can control the game. A cool aspect to add to sales would be the introduction to PlayStation Home, an online community that can take gamers completely out of the real world and stick them in a virtual apartment.

3. Digital camera: The digital camera is facing stiff competition from cell phones, which has only forced camera developers to come up with more things to add to the package. Now they’ve added more storage and movie capabilities, which can almost turn it into a cheaper version of the camcorder. For the family set, there’s a kids’ version that has become a popular gift since it came out last Christmas, the Fisher Price tough digital camera. This camera, which sells at around $60, boasts the same picture quality and storage capacity as the adult version, but includes an impossible-to-break outer shell.

4. Flat-screen HDTV: No one really knows why they want it or how to use it, but they all have to have HDTV, and not just any HDTV, but a flat screen version. For those who don’t like the clunky picture-tube televisions, this is the first alternative. Expect HDTV sales to increase as cable stations across the country switch completely from analog to digital service by 2009.

5. Laptop: Laptops have been around forever, but they are only now becoming affordable enough for the average consumer to consider purchasing. They have the same (and sometimes better!) storage capacity as the larger desktop versions; but with the added benefit of portability, laptops have come into their own. Add to that the fact that many areas now offer free or low-price Wi-Fi Internet access, and it’s easy to convince buyers to go mobile.

6. GPS navigation unit for the car: Getting to a destination has always been half the trouble, especially for stubborn men who don’t want to admit they’re lost. Now, GPS units are included in most luxury cars. But with more exposure are more features and a lower price, the perfect combination for sellers. Now they are becoming more and more portable, with which consumers will be thrilled. At a retail price of $500-$600, even a small markup means big profits.

7. Blu-ray or HD-DVD player: The potential replacement for the DVD player, Blu-ray discs have a lot more storage and a lot more strength. Whether they will stay in the limelight for long depends on what happens over the next few months; but for now, they are in high demand. Movie production companies have already converted some 300 movies to Blu-ray format, and if the trend continues, there will be plenty of selling opportunities for years to come.

8. Disney merchandise: This is really a combination of products, but if you can get the license to sell it, there is no limit to potential profit. The High School Musical movies and Hannah Montana series are both very popular with kids, and the stores are showing that with posters, dolls and games.

9. Cell phones: Everyone has to have a cell phone, and now there’s no reason not to have one. The age of cell phone contracts is long gone. Now that there’s the prepaid option, even those with the worst credit can get a phone (and in many cases a rather nice one at that). The style and price of cell phones varies so much that resellers are free to focus on finding the right phone for the right person.

10. LeapFrog Fly Fusion Pentop Computer: This may be geared for the student, but quite a few adults could get some use out of this newcomer. This pen “translates” handwriting into digital words on the computer. It also has games, translating ability, an MP3 player and some special little surprises. A double market for the same product – can’t beat that!

Wholesalers are finding that in order to properly compete with e-commerce sites and online specialty shops, they have to source their products much earlier than in the past. It is true that Christmas comes in July–at least to the wholesaler. It is not uncommon to plan four or five months ahead of the holiday season. Of course, this doesn’t mean that buyers should only buy product during the pre-season window. In fact, merchandise is traditionally cheaper within the first thirty to sixty days after the holiday has passed, so for wholesalers looking for Christmas product, the best time to purchase might just be in January and February, when supplies are being clearanced. Some suppliers offer seasonal merchandise at a discount when purchased out-of-season, so it is best for companies to research that possibility before committing to a full-price purchase.

The worst time to source seasonal products is the thirty days before a holiday. As an example, if a company has not purchased its Halloween supplies before October 1, they will pay twice its intrinsic value. Bricks and mortar stores like Wal-Mart take advantage of this window to raise the price of their seasonal goods.

If sourcing products was as simple as studying the calendar, all wholesalers would meet with the same success selling seasonal merchandise. As it is, buyers must consider seasonal trends. What might be popular one year can fizzle out by the following season, leaving unsold merchandise all but worthless. Wholesalers have to play clairvoyant when trying to determine what, of all the products they can purchase, will be the most popular during the coming season. The goal is to purchase more of the popular product and less of those that have uncertain future. Fortunately, the clairvoyant has some help.

Online marketing firms such as Oneupweb conduct research that is useful to wholesalers and other sellers. Through the holiday season, Oneupweb keeps track of conversion rates, sales and web site traffic. By using Yahoo, MSN or Google, the firm can predict what is currently selling and what might be selling in the future. Sites such as Clickbank can also help wholesalers, because it provides buyers with information on a product’s popularity with other wholesalers, retail sellers or resellers. If others are making a profit from a certain product, chances are that there are still pieces of the profit pie available.

The Internet is a wholesaler’s best friend, not just because many of their sales are generated from e-commerce sites and through product web pages. The Internet helps generate sales for wholesalers in other ways:

* Through pay-per-click (PPC) advertising, which generate impulse buys
* By giving wholesalers a chance to evaluate online catalogs for an idea of what is selling
* By allowing access to Google and Yahoo page rankings, in order to see what sites are making the most in sales
* Through researching email marketing campaigns. By studying the subject of bulk messages, wholesalers can determine what products garner the marketing attention, and thus the largest probability of success.
* By providing resource web pages such as Quantcast , which can track traffic on a company’s website, and simple resources such as search engine rankings, which can show wholesalers what companies have the largest audience.

Tracking seasonal trends doesn’t guarantee a wholesale company vast riches, but by studying the market and sourcing products at the right time, wholesalers have a chance to capitalize on a consumer-market.