Monday, August 29, 2005

Celebrity fashions for Women on a Budget

It’s never ending Jessica Simpson totes a Vuitton bag, Courtney Cox is seen in Instyle wearing a beautiful Prada dress, Hilary Swank heads down the runway wearing Calvin Klein. If that’s not enough Paris Hilton arrives on the scene with Chanel sunglasses while Jennifer Lopez is seen with Fendi.

Whether it’s Versace, Chanel, Vuitton, Gucci, Dior, Calvin Klein, Prada or Fendi, how the heck is the average woman going to be able to stay in style like the stars.

Let’s face it. Although we dream about owning that beautiful Vuitton handbag or that Prada dress. For most of us that’s about as far as it goes. Most of these items start in the mid hundreds of dollars and easily climb to a value of over $5000, for just one piece.

For the stars there is no worry about saving to buy those designer items. For them price is no object as they freely dole it out for what ever their heart desires. But it doesn’t take a brain surgeon to figure out most of us will never own these items. So what do we do? Well that’s easy.

You and I buy items that look a lot like the designer items. Many call these knock offs and that they are but please realize there are licensed copies and then there are copies that infringe on copyrights. We do not condone any company that infringes on copyrights. We do however encourage you to shop for items that made similar to the items we see the stars wearing. It’s the only way we an look like a million bucks on our shoe string budgets. However, the savy online shopper can find real designer items for a fraction of the costs while only paying a dollar or two for shipping.

Designer Handbags for 80% Off!

So....as you flip through this months Vogue or Instyle you are going to see some wonderful fashions that you are just going to have to have for the fall. Don’t worry within the next few weeks similar styles will be arriving at a boutique or Walmart near year. You can look as good as the stars for a fraction of the cost.

After all are your friends of co-workers going to notice your purse isn’t quite the same shape or fabric. Are they going to notice that the dress has a slightly different cut neck or length. I think not. You’ll be close enough for most to think you’ve suddenly got designer taste.

What are you waiting for? It’s going to be a hot fashion season and you are going to be a fashion goddess this season with some savvy shopping.

Sher from Estate Jewelry International have been serving customers for over 20 years, providing affordable estate jewelry, and a wealth of information on jewelry, fashion, designers, and beauty with on staff industry professionals. Please visit us at Estate Jewelry International.

Saturday, August 27, 2005

Buying Wholesale Clothing - A Harsh Reality for Startup Businesses

In my line of business, I often receive emails and phone calls from people who are just starting their online retail businesses and searching for wholesalers who can give them competitive prices on the latest merchandise from the most popular brand names. While it’s understandable that one would want to sell the latest merchandise from the highest quality, most popular brand names, it’s often an unrealistic goal unless you have a substantial amount of capital to invest in your business.

This is not to say that every prospective entrepreneur with the dream of establishing an online retail business should just throw in the towel – quite the contrary. Prospective online retailers need to understand the reality of the consumer goods industry, the abilities that they have based on their capital investment, and then design their business plan accordingly. In my next article, I’ll discuss some excellent options for prospective entrepreneurs with limited capital.

Popular Brands Work Hard to Protect Their Reputation

But first, let’s look at how some of the most successful companies in the consumer goods market operate their distribution channels. Companies with highly popular brand names have worked hard to establish these brands. Understandably, in order to protect the reputation of their brand names, they often establish strict controls in their distribution channel to ensure that their name is not compromised by association with a sub-standard retailer.

Authorized Retailers Only

Some clothing distributors do no require you to be an authorized reseller, however most directly control their distribution channel and only sell their products to authorized retailers who have met their application requirements. Their requirements for authorized retailers often include:

1. A substantial minimum sales volume

2. A physical presence, not just an online storefront

3. An established history of retail sales and an exemplary credit rating

4. Strong recommendations from other vendors with whom a business has dealt

No Distribution to Any Private Retailers

Some brands don’t allow private retailers to resell their products at all. Companies who operate in this manner may own their own retail shops and online retail websites. This is rare, but there are still some companies who operate like this, not allowing any independent retailer – large or small – to carry their products.

Strict Requirements of Wholesalers

Many brands don’t directly control their distribution channels, opting to allow wholesalers to handle distribution to retailers. However, even if they don’t directly control distribution, they still may establish policies that their wholesalers must follow. These policies may be very similar to the policies often employed by brands that directly control distribution, employing one or more of the following requirements:

1. A substantial minimum sales volume

2. A physical presence, not just an online storefront

3. An established history of retail sales and an exemplary credit rating

4. Strong recommendations from other vendors with whom a business has dealt

Do Your Research. Call the Manufacturer.

Companies who operate their distribution channels with any of these levels of control will most likely not allow small volume wholesale purchases, eliminating distribution to start-ups with limited capital. The best advice that I can give to a prospective retailer is to pick up the phone and do your research directly with the source. Call the company’s sales or public relations department and inquire about their distribution policies before putting forth a lot of effort searching for their products through wholesalers. You’ll potentially save yourself hours of wasted time. Not to mention, if you happen to meet the requirements for establishing a direct relationship with the manufacturer, there is no better place to obtain your products.

In my next article, I’ll look at options that are available for the majority of prospective online retailers, those who don’t have an endless source of investment capital that would allow them to meet the reseller requirements of any manufacturer. For those businesses, the newest merchandise from the most popular brands may not be an option. However, that doesn’t mean that the dream of owning an online retail store is out of reach. Until then, do your research by calling manufacturers to inquire about their distribution policies, and, as always, good luck in all of your business ventures!


About the Author: Kirk A Larson has worked for over 15 years in business as a writer, personnel manager, and most recently for the last 4 years as a successful entrepreneur. To learn more about Wholesalers, visit The Wholesale Suppliers Registry at http://www.wholesale-suppliers.net

Friday, August 26, 2005

Buying Wholesale Clothing - A Harsh Reality for Startup Businesses Part 2

In my last article, “The Reality of Buying Wholesale,” we looked at some of the controls that the largest companies in the consumer goods market place on their distribution channels. As we learned, some of these companies make it impossible for the small, start-up online retailer to obtain their merchandise.

However, this is no reason to give up on your dream of being a retailer. Less capital to invest just requires a little more creativity. Many established retailers have built their businesses by starting out small and then adding more products as they grew. In this article, we’ll look at some creative options available for those who don’t meet the requirements to be an authorized retailer with some of the most popular brand names.

Where do businesses find merchandise?

I’m sure some of you are thinking right now about the many eBay sellers or independent online retailers who sell popular brand names. If they are products that are only sold direct to authorized retailers, or through wholesalers bound by strict manufacturer’s requirements, then these sellers are obtaining their products in one of three ways:

1. They are an authorized retailer who met the manufacturer’s requirements
2. They are selling used merchandise
3. They purchased their merchandise through liquidation or closeout

Sell Used Goods

If you’re looking to make money selling on eBay, selling used merchandise is a very viable idea. Many sellers, including several of my personal friends, have built successful eBay businesses selling used clothing, electronics, musical instruments, and toys, just to name a few. They locate their merchandise through estate sales, garage sales, classified ads, thrift stores, consignment shops, and sometimes even through eBay itself. Then they clean up the merchandise if need be, and list it for sale in an attractive and exciting way. I know several people who substantially subsidize their existing incomes by doing this, and I even know a couple who do nothing but sell on eBay.

Closeouts and Liquidations

Closeouts and liquidations are also a very viable source of merchandise for both eBay and an online retail store. With a good closeout or liquidation source, you purchase reasonable lots of overstocked or discontinued merchandise. You’ll be purchasing last year’s models, but there is a large market out there for this merchandise. Most people don’t have to have the latest style or model, especially when there is a large savings involved by purchasing last year’s products. Many sources of liquidations and closeouts are available by searching online and calling around to do your research.

Consider Lesser Known Brands

Another option is to look at other brands that may not be among the most popular. Not every consumer has to have the most popular, most expensive brand. In fact, most people don’t buy the top brands all of the time, making this market very large. This is an excellent option for someone who wants to establish a retail store selling brand new, recent model merchandise. Once you establish yourself as a respected retailer in this market, your reputation will make applying to resell other products that much easier.

Keep an Open Mind

When you’re deciding on a business venture, it’s very important that you don’t go in with blinders on. Be willing to consider multiple types of products before deciding on the items that you want to sell. For instance, clothing, consumer electronics, and DVDs are very popular items, and not just among consumers but also among sellers. If you choose a very popular market, the requirements for resale may not only be more difficult, but it may also be more difficult to compete with the mass of sellers in the market.

Creativity is King

Creativity is king in the business world. To be successful, you must locate a niche where you can provide a benefit that makes your business stand out. When I talk of creativity, I don’t necessarily mean originality, either. There is a difference. It’s difficult to be original in the business world, as so much has been done already. Originality doesn’t always win either. If you’re too above and beyond the norm, people may not relate to your approach, and thus turn away.

Creativity could be as simple as borrowing an idea from another market and applying it to a market where it hasn’t been used. People had long delivered flowers, and people had long delivered groceries, but no one had ever delivered pizzas until Domino’s started doing it. Now everyone down to the smallest corner pizza joint delivers pizza because it works.

That’s an example on a grand scale of where a simple idea grew into a giant success. Not all of us will be as fortunate as Domino’s, but millions of business owners have succeeded using the same principles. They located a niche where they could provide a benefit that made them stand out, if even ever so slightly from their competitors. This advantage gave them market share, and now they live comfortably from the proceeds of their creativity.

Put Forth the Time and You Will Reap the Benefits

Creating a business requires a great deal of time and research. You’ll need to research products and find some that are attainable at a price that will make you a profit. Then, you’ll need to research the market and determine an approach that will set you apart. At the same time, remember to keep an open mind and consider several markets, ideas, and approaches before you decide on the best fit. You have a lot of work ahead of you, but no one ever said that good things come easy. And I can tell you that when you do your research and do it right, the benefits are more than worth the effort.

In my next article, I’ll be discussing the reasons the Internet has made business ownership much more attainable within the last five years. Until then, put on your thinking hats and find yourself an idea worth that’s worth the effort. And, as always, good luck in all of your business ventures!


About the Author: Kirk A Larson has worked for over 15 years in business as a writer, personnel manager, and most recently for the last 4 years as a successful entrepreneur. To learn more about Wholesalers, visit The Wholesale Suppliers Registry at http://www.wholesale-suppliers.net

Finding Vintage Clothing

Why Vintage?

Why would anyone want to wear vintage clothing? First of all, it's fun! When you wear vintage, you stand out from the crowd. The chances of someone else wearing the same exact outfit to that special event are slim to none. More and more high school girls are shopping vintage for dances and proms because it guarantees originality. Yasmine, a vintage clothing collector from Los Angeles, says, "I wear vintage so I can add a little something authentically retro to my clothing and not look the same as everyone else, which is difficult in style-conscious L.A.."

Vintage clothing is also nostalgic. Remember the good old days when there were party lines and soda shops? Me neither, but wearing vintage gives a girl the chance to experience a small part of history. In today's ambiguous world, it feels nice to pull on a crinoline and full feminine skirt once in a while. Let's face it: grown-up girls like to play dress up, too!

For the thrifty, the prices on vintage items should be incentive enough. Local thrift stores, flea markets, and yard sales are excellent sources of old clothing at unbelievable prices. Broke? Go volunteer to help clean out grandma's attic! I've gotten several vintage pieces handed down to me since I began collecting about two years ago.

Online Shopping

The internet has made it easy for vintage clothing enthusiasts to comparison shop and buy items that may not be available in their area. Type "vintage clothing" into any search engine and you'll get hundreds of results. There are a few things you should know before purchasing vintage wear online, however.

Carol, owner of Dandelion Vintage, a fun and inexpensive online Vintage Clothing shop based in New Jersey, recommends that first-time buyers be aware of what it means to buy and wear vintage clothing. "It's not like something new and fresh from Macy's, it's going to feel different and smell differently (there is no "new" clothing smell) and the items do need to be treated a little more carefully," she said, adding that customers should always ask questions up front about the garments, especially if they are unsure of the size or condition. When shopping vintage online, she says, be sure to read the site's terms of sales, ordering procedure, and return policy before ordering.

There are many different styles and eras to choose from. Items from the late 19th century on up through the 1980's are available. Whatever your style, you're sure to find something to suit you. Carol suggests customers buy what they like and avoid following trends, which is excellent advice when it comes to collecting of any type.

Making it Work

Vintage clothing can be teamed up with modern apparel or mixed and matched with other vintage pieces. Back in L.A. Yasmine says, "I find that wearing head to toe vintage is just not practical in day to day life, but by adding a few pieces I can create a look that is uniquely my own. I often buy high-end designer shoes and team them with a $1.00 vintage dress and a Gap cardigan. The look is pulled together and definitely mine."
There you have it: vintage clothes are fun, affordable, and enable the wearer to create and maintain an original look. So what are you waiting for? Go shopping!

Excellent vintage pieces at affordable prices can be found at http://www.dandelion-vintage.com

About The Author

A homemaker and homeschooling mother of four who enjoys collecting and wearing vintage clothing.

myrandamorgan@yahoo.com

Wednesday, August 24, 2005

Custom T-shirts - Put Your Logo on Cotton

An effective way to gain company recognition is to order custom t-shirts with your company name, logo, phone number, and other important information on them. You can use customized apparel to outfit your employees as well as to contribute a sense of professionalism and reliability to your company. In addition to outfitting your company with the custom apparel, you can market your brand by distributing the custom designed clothing to your customers and potential clients.

Ordering custom t-shirts is easy: you can contact a local printer to make them, or you can design and order them online. There are several websites that have t-shirt design interfaces in which you can design and order your t-shirts entirely online. The one down side is that you end up using their basic t-shirts instead of quality blank clothing. Whatever type of company you choose, however, you will want to make sure that the process they use is screen-printing rather than heat transferring because the prints will last longer and look more professional.

Because printing prices can vary drastically, you should get quotes from several different companies before ordering. The benefits of ordering online include convenience, not having to pay taxes on the goods, and in some cases, complimentary shipping. The benefits of using a local screenprinter include being able to see the goods before you purchase them, and perhaps, speaking directly with the artist. A downside to ordering locally includes having to go to the local screenprinter to place your order and then picking the items up yourself. If you order online, however, you will have the items shipped directly to you. An online screenprinter that we find very reputable for printing company apparel and custom t-shirts is DesignAShirt.com. Check the yellow pages for local printers.

Whether you are ordering locally or online, the entire process from ordering to receiving your apparel should take around 2 weeks. If you need the apparel faster, you can opt for other production and/or shipping methods for additional fees. Some companies can get the goods to you from the time of ordering in as early as three business days.

Ordering your own company t-shirts is not the only way to advertise on apparel. Inquire about sponsoring community events that are coming up in your area. These events may have their own custom t-shirts in addition to other promotional materials that you could have your company logo printed onto if you are helping sponsor it. Such events include fundraisers, sporting events, and school functions. Check your local papers and community newsletters for more information about such community events and sponsorship opportunities.

Kelli Fassbender is a writer and designer for Custom-t-shirts.info. This article is provided courtesy of custom-t-shirts.info and can be reprinted as long as the author and company information is included. Custom-t-shirts.info offers advice for printing, sizing, and pricing custom t-shirts. For more information about custom t-shirts visit: http://www.custom-t-shirts.info.

Tuesday, August 23, 2005

Finding Stylish Maternity Clothes for Your Clothing Botique

Here is a sampling of the best maternity shops online. You’ll undoubtedly find one or several that match your budget and style! Remember to feel good it helps to look good, so why not indulge in a maternity outfit or two?

BabyStyle http://www.babystyle.com
In this store you’ll find maternity fashions at reasonable prices, with free shipping on large orders! Babystyle also offers a selection of what they call ‘transition’ maternity wear… clothes you can wear after the baby comes but before you are ready to fit back into your pre-pregnancy clothing!

Motherhood http://www.motherhood.com
This is another great maternity stop for moms looking for well-priced maternity clothes for all seasons. Motherhood contains a comprehensive selection of maternity wear and nursing items for moms young and old alike.

Bella Blu http://www.bellablumaternity.com
Designer maternity fashions for the fashion conscious mother. If you are looking for something hip and stylish, check here first!

Mom’s Maternity http://www.momsmaternity.com
This store features maternity clothes, lingerie and more for tall, petite and plus sized women.

A Pea in the Pod http://www.apeainthepod.com
Slightly more expensive maternity clothes and accessories. Considered one of the more popular maternity outlets.

Mimi Maternity http://www.mimmaternity.com
Fashionable maternity clothing for hip mothers everywhere.

Maternity Mall http://www.maternitymall.com
Features maternity fashions from a variety of top label and designer maternity fashion providers.

Don’t forget many traditional retailers also offer a wide selection of exceptional maternity wear and clothing. The stores listed below carry traditional and maternity clothes for fashion and budget conscious moms. Here are some other places you should consider when shopping for maternity wear:

Target – http://www.target.com

Old Navy - http://www.oldnavy.com

Gap – http://www.gap.com

Women's Shoes up to 80% off everyday!

If you are really looking to save dollars, you should consider buying second hand maternity wear online. E-bay is one of the world’s largest online auction houses, and here you’ll find literally thousands of choices when it comes to maternity wear. Most sellers will post pictures of the assorted clothing they have for sale, and very often you will find designer maternity items at a fraction of the cost a retailer would sell them for.

What to Buy? Are you wondering what your maternity wardrobe should contain? Though women have varying preferences and styles, there are a few items that every woman should have in her maternity wear closet. Among these include:

- Jeans
- Pair of black or khaki slacks
- One skirt or dress
- Variety of Maternity T’s and Tops
- Maternity Bra

You may or may not have to buy maternity underwear. While some women find the support in these comforting, others find that traditional bikini underwear purchased a size or two larger than normal work just as well, and are less expensive and come in more colors and styles.
You will find that your breasts are growing throughout your pregnancy. A good maternity bra is recommended. You should buy a bra that allows a little room for expansion however, as your breasts will likely inflate even more when they fill with milk close to delivery.

Remember that as a pregnant woman you deserve to look and feel your best. Don’ t hesitate for a moment to pamper yourself and purchase a few items that will not only help you look great, but will help you feel great during your pregnancy.

Article by Beverley Brooke

Visit http://www.pregnancy-weight-loss.com/maternity-clothes.html for more on maternity clothes

Monday, August 22, 2005

Fashion Marketing

In a nutshell, fashion marketing is a profession that takes the latest trends and designs in clothing and communicates them to a target market in such a way that the consumer is not only aware of the product, but wants to and ultimately does buy the product. A target market is a sector of the consumer market to which a company wishes to sell (i.e. market) its clothing. To fully know what fashion marketing is, it is important to understand that marketing does not stop at ads in magazines or commercials on TV. The world of marketing is just as dynamic as the world of fashion. Marketing clothing includes elements such as determining which stores the apparel should be sold in, what price the clothing should be sold for—all the way to how the in-store displays should look. Fashion marketers often are as savvy about business as they are about fashion and popular culture.

Fashion marketers are creative. At the core, the profession is about connecting with the image—the lifestyle—the consumer wants. For example, in the fashion industry, comfort, style, material, color, symmetry, and usability are just the beginning of a list of elements designers must consider when developing a line of clothing. Fashion marketers take the task a step further by determining the best way to promote the characteristics of the clothing to the consumer and to which group of consumers to promote it to. What a 65 year-old female is looking for from a piece of formal eveningwear is completely different from what a 21 year-old male wants from casual everyday wear. Consequently, fashion marketers must stay abreast with the latest fashions as well as know what styles will be successful for a variety of occasions, age groups and demographics.

Fashion marketers play an essential role within the fashion industry because they are the link between designers and the public. The success of a line of clothing does not rest solely on its design. Often, successful marketing is just as crucial, if not more so, to the line as the actual clothing itself. This is because marketing is the tool through which the designer identifies with the public, and the public identifies with the designer. Without this exchange, it would be difficult to establish the consumer base required to have a successful line of clothing.
Ultimately, fashion marketing is a fun profession—changing and reinventing itself just as often as the clothes it promotes. It integrates the artistic nature of fashion with the creative aspects of business—making for a highly rewarding career to the ambitious and innovative.

Amie Pronowski writes about style topics such as fashion marketing.

Saturday, August 20, 2005

Selling Your Private Label Clothing Line to Action Sports Retailers

So everyone thought you were crazy when you announced 6 months ago that you were quitting your “real job” in hopes of chasing the Private Label dream. Your house is a disaster, blank tank tops and line sheets everywhere, your living room has been transformed into a makeshift production lab. You’ve bled and sweat, investing every last of ounce of time, effort and inevitably…your life savings. At last…you’re first sample line is complete and your line sheets are nothing short of spectacular. Congratulations! But wait…better take a deep breath as the real

work has only begun. What next?

Lucky for you, Leisure Trends estimates that in 2004 surf and skate retailers sold $4.87 billion in goods. With those figures continuing to increase in 2005 you only need a sliver of the pie. Most importantly you need to place yourself in front of and meet the right people.

Industry Trade Shows: Inundated with retail purchasers in attendance, emerging brands often use trade show appearances to better establish their lines with key accounts from specialty shops such as Huntington Surf & Sport to larger chains including Tilly’s. From sourcing wholesale clothing to meeting buyers, these events are your opportunity to get your name out there and begin taking orders.

1. ASR – As a full service tradeshow, Action Sports Retailer (ASR) provides a venue for buyers and manufactures to meet, sell, buy, exchange ideas, market, and network. With 3 events each year, ASR gathers approximately 7000 buyers and decision makers. Visit www.asrbiz.com for more info.

2. Surf Expo- Produced twice annually, Surf Expo is the longest running trade show for manufacturers and retailers in the boardsports and resortwear industries (28 years). Visit www.surfexpo.com for more details.

3. Magic – Considered perhaps the most influential business event in the fashion industry, Magic connects a global audience twice per year and attracts over 95,000 attendees including over 3,000 manufacturers. For show information visit www.magiconline.com

Now, hopefully you’ve come up with a unique approach and can afford booth space.

Happy selling!

J-rod

BlankStyle.com
Fashionable Clothing Wholesaler

Friday, August 19, 2005

Private Lable Advice - Blank Apparel Sourcing

Do you have an idea for a private clothing label that will make millions? Does the idea involve a need for trendy fashionable tees and tanks that you will then alter and style into sellable product? You know what you want to do with the blank shirts, but the challenge lies in finding…or making…blank apparel that is “cool” enough to meet your standards. There are two solutions.

Solution 1: Lease an empty warehouse. Import fabrics. Purchase cutting machines and sewing machines. Hire staff to design the blanks, cut the fabric, and sew the garments. Hire staff to manage your other staff. Waa-la…blank garments.

Solution 2: Do a little research on the internet, possibly talk to a few people who have faced your challenge with their own business, and then purchase your ready-to-alter trendy blank apparel from a company who has done all the work of ‘Solution 1’ for you.

There are a number of companies that exist solely for the purpose of providing blank apparel to those ‘in need’. Depending upon what your line looks like there are blank suppliers that supply simple economically priced to highly fashionable slightly more expensive garments. You can even find companies that provide the garment and the private label services (i.e. screen printing, relabeling, embroidery, etc.) as needed.

The simple solution is this: Minimize your overhead expenses by outsourcing, spend your time doing what you are good at, and turn heads with your fresh new designs!

Luke

Thursday, August 18, 2005

Ebay Gold

Written by Guest Author Greg Hayes.

Internet auctions are relatively new having been around since the mid 1990's. There are several Internet auctions including Yahoo Auctions and UBid. But of course the undisputed king of Internet auctions is Ebay. Ebay has over 100 million registered users making it one of the top 10 most visited websites in the world.

I discovered Ebay way back in 1998. At first, I was strictly a buyer. I was amazed at the thousands of items that could be found on Ebay. Just about anything you can imagine can be found on Ebay. And there were more incredible bargains to be found than at any other ecommerce website or brick and mortar store I had ever visited. After about six months or so of buying, I began selling items on Ebay. I had an extensive collection of unbuilt as well as built plastic model cars. I began placing the models on Ebay with starting bids of $5.00 and no reserve. To my surprise, people started jumping all over these model kits. Some of them sold for as high as $70.00. It was at this time that I realized the enormous money making potential of Ebay. The key to being a successful seller on Ebay is selling items that people want. There are a number of ebooks on Internet auctions that tell of the importance of a great headline and a killer ad for your auction. While this is true, it is also important to remember that the best ad in the world will never sell an item that no one wants. The items that do well on Ebay are unique or interesting items. Antiques, pottery, collectables and high-end apparel are just a few of the items that will bring high bids on Ebay. If you can easily find the item at Wal-Mart, chances are it will not do well on Ebay.

There are a number of wholesalers around the country that you can buy merchandise from to sell on Ebay. But before you buy, do your homework. It's very tempting to buy a bunch of electronic widgets that sell for $2.00 a piece. You might think you can buy 20 of the $2.00 widgets and then sell them for $12.00 a piece on Ebay and make a killing. Unfortunately, you discover that no one is bidding on your widgets despite the fact that you have started the bidding at a mere $6.00. In fact, there are very few people that are even viewing your auctions. The end result is you are now stuck with 20 widgets that no one wants. The first mistake here was not doing a search of widgets on Ebay to find out if they're hot or not. The second mistake was trying to sell an electronic item. Yes, I know there is a huge market for electronic gadgets. That's the problem; the market is too huge. It is already saturated. How many times a day are you bombarded with offers for the latest and greatest cell phone or digital camera? If you try to sell in this market on Ebay, you're encroaching on Best Buy's turf, which means you'll be smashed like a bug. On the other hand, how many offers do you receive for NASCAR collectibles or Gucci shoes? Or how about die cast models? These are the hot items on Ebay. These are in demand items and more importantly you can sell these items without competing against Wal-Mart and Best Buy.

If you're new to Ebay, the first thing you need to do is to build positive feedback. Feedback is vital to your success on Ebay. Potential buyers will read your feedback in order to determine if you're an honest seller. If you have high numbers of negative feedback, many buyers will look elsewhere. Take a look at some of the Ebay Power Sellers feedback. Many of them have feedback in the thousands with a rating of over 99% positive. It's no secret how these Power Sellers became successful on Ebay. They take care of their customers. This means they'll have plenty of repeat business.

When you first sign up with Ebay, you'll have zero feedback. Most buyers will shy away from an Ebay newbie with zero or very low feedback. Start building your feedback rating by selling personal items from around the house that you no longer want. This is a good way to get the feel of using Ebay and to build positive feedback. You should invest in a good digital camera. Good clear pictures are an important selling feature on Ebay. Remember to describe your items accurately and honestly. Do not try to trick or deceive buyers in any way. You can't afford receiving negative feedback this early in the game.

I came across a perfect example of a deceptive seller on Ebay a while back. The seller had sold a pair of slightly used shocks for a 2003 Chevy pickup. He used Ebay's Buy-It-Now feature to sell the shocks for just one cent. Wow! What an incredible deal! But wait a minute. The unwary buyer forgot to read the entire auction. The shipping charges were a whopping 60 bucks! The result was a pissed off buyer and negative feedback for the seller. This was an obvious attempt on the part of the seller to make money on the shipping costs. He was banking on the fact that the buyer would not read the entire auction and would simply assume the shipping charges would be reasonable. Do not use deception in your auctions or try to make money on shipping costs. If you treat your customers the way you expect to be treated you will never go wrong and you'll be well on your way to building a reputation as an honest top-notch seller.

If you happen to get a few non-paying bidders, resist the temptation to leave negative feedback for these individuals. Leaving negative feedback will only result in possible retaliation by the non-paying bidder and negative feedback for you. Once again, you do not want any negative feedback this early in the game. Buying items off of Ebay is another great way to build positive feedback. When you win an auction, pay for the item promptly. The result will be positive feedback for you. Most buyers will not care whether your feedback came as a result of buying or selling as long as it's positive.

After you've built a feedback rating of least 25, you'll be ready to start purchasing wholesale merchandise to sell on Ebay. Remember what I said about doing your homework before buying merchandise. If you have your eye on a particular item you think might sell on Ebay, first do a search of that item on Ebay to find out what people are bidding if anything on the item. If it looks hot, at least 7 or 8 bids, then it's probably a good bet. If it doesn't appear to be getting many bids, you should steer clear. You can also do an advanced search for auctions that have already ended. It's a great way to find out the final bid price for a particular item. A few extra minutes of research can save you from a giant headache down the road.

About The Author

Are You Tired of the scams and the get-rich-quick schemes? Greg Hayes is founding editor of http://www.mammothprofits.com/. Mammothprofits is the website devoted to helping others filter out the scams and become successful in a home based business.

Wednesday, August 17, 2005

Slimming Fashion Tip

“Slim and trim”, a trend on the thoughts of many these days. Expensive gyms, edgy diets, and revolutionary pills all play a part in pop-culture’s quest to be of model stature. An element often overlooked is the attire with which you adorn your body. Its important to remember that clothing with a more fitted cut can make you look slimmer.

Many people will select oversized clothing in an effort to hide figure flaws. Unfortunately, the extra material has the opposite effect by emphasizing those more fleshy areas. This does not mean that spandex tees, tanks, and pants are the clothing of choice!

What you wear…and it does not have to be expensive...has the potential to enhance or diminish the appearance of your figure. Keep your eyes open for those vendors offering stylish clothing that has potential to call attention to all the right areas, while de-emphasizing the others. Try something more fitted…not clingy…you may like results!

Monday, August 15, 2005

Petite Size Clothing - Easier to find online

We all know the expression: "If the shoe fits wear it." But for petites, the motto is more likely to go something like this: "If the petite size fits, buy it." Meaning clothing petite size has been hard to find in clothing stores and their needs are even more complicated than the ordinary run-of-the-mill sizes. However, more and more clothing companies have come to realize lately that catering to niche clothing demands, whether in terms of sizing or in any other way, can be very lucrative and offer something many women are looking for in petite clothing.

The advent of the Internet has made it all the more possible for retail clothing stores and clothing wholesalers to carry those hard to find petite sizes for women. This is a win-win situation for the petite size women and clothing companies. This will be of interest to an ever increasing section of the population, but reach them wherever they are so that the operation becomes convenient for the consumer and cost effective for the online store.

This may sound complicated, but what it basically means is that women of smaller stature, who are looking for petite clothing, no matter what their style needs are, can now begin to take an interest in the latest fashions by visiting some great online clothing stores that cater to women whos needs are for clothes petite size. This is very heartening news for ladies who wear womens petite size and who love the idea of looking good because now it is a mouse click away!

Bowe Packer is the webmaster and content provider for http://www.clothes-4u.com. His website: http://www.clothes-4u.com is dedicated to providing free fashion advice and tips for women. Offering excellent tips and strategies for women to look good in the areas of Casual, Petite Size, Plus Size clothing, as well as dress, athletic and casual shoes. You can reach him at: bowe@clothes-4u.com

Sunday, August 14, 2005

Wholesale Designer Handbags – Learn How to become a part of the Hottest Selling Online Industries.

It is said, to be successful in selling, you must be passionate about what you sell. This is easy if you love designer handbags and fashion. Fashion is a huge industry. Wholesale designer handbags and fashion is also quickly becoming a very large and profitable industry. But as good as it sounds, there are many things to know before you jump in and become a designer handbag wholesaler.

The most important issue you must understand is the manufacturing and distribution channels of the top designers. The production of designer handbags is almost a top-secret event. With the heavy competition between the designers to offer the latest and hottest trends for the up coming season, handbag manufacturers keep quite about their production runs, the quantity they will produce and orders must be placed two or three seasons in advance just to get any product. What does this mean to you, the wholesaler? It means that you cannot call up GUCCI or Hermes and ask for a couple hundred bags and expect to not get laughed at (in Italian of French of course). It also means that the top designer handbag manufacturers only supply their product to large retailers, small boutiques and maybe a website with an exclusive contract.

So where do all the handbags that you see for sale online come from? Well, that is the key to getting into the wholesale designer handbag business. Most of the bags come from intentional or unintentional overstock by the small to medium size boutiques oversees. They will sell off their surplus of last season’s handbags to distributors who will then sell them to wholesalers. It is your goal to find these distributors.

Designer Handbags for 80% Off!

To find reputable, honest dealers who distribute authentic merchandise is tricky. There are a couple of things to consider.

**Most dealers that sell designers from Italy, France and England are not found in the US. It only makes sense. They need to have a close relationship with the boutiques, and very rarely the manufacturers themselves, that supply them with their overstock. So become familiar with what country the handbags you want to sell were originally produced.

**Learn the language. You will need to learn a little Italian or French. Just enough to understand colors, styles and shapes of the handbags when you are given an inventory list. It would also be good to know enough to at least say hello and what your intentions are when initially contacting the dealer. Learning the language is also extremely helpful when conducting searches on the internet. Don’t limit your search to pages here in the US, search google and yahoo in Italian and French as well.

**Contact as many dealers as possible. This will help to validate which ones are honest and have an interest in a business relationship. Once you have received the inventory/price list from several dealers, cross reverence them. Are the prices similar? Are the quantities on hand reasonable? This is important to gage if the dealer is selling authentic merchandise. If he has 600 of a particular bag, chances are they are not real. It is not reasonable, given the means in which he most likely purchases his stock and the production methods of the manufacturing, that he would have so many of one style.

**Understand all terms of sale prior to placing an order. It is not uncommon that the dealer will want a deposit on your order. You will usually commit 30% up front and pay the remainder when the items have shipped. Many dealers will only accept bank transfers. This is where becoming a designer handbag wholesaler takes a great deal of faith. A bank transfer offers no protection from the dealer taking your money and never shipping product. If he was dishonest and took the funds, but shipped nothing, you could have very little recourse. Unlike a money order or credit card purchase, there is no 3rd party protection. At the least, make sure you have the dealers phone number, complete business address and email address.

Of course, like with all start-up business, there are many, many more things to consider. But to make your search for the right distributor easier, we highly recommend going to Modal Imports. Unlike the many lists and directories that claim to offer true sources for authentic designer handbags, ModaImports.com has used, or contacted, all of the sources on their Supplier Database. We have also found authentic handbags on auction sites such as Overstock Auctions.

If you have a passion for fashion and are looking to start your own lucrative business, wholesale authentic designer handbags is a great business opportunity.

Deanna Key is the author of many articles and resources concerning desinger handbags. She has worked as an importer/exporter of designer fashions for over 5 years, and has imported over $25 million worth of designer goods. Read more helpful articles and get discounts on designer handbags at http://www.handbag-spot.com./

Friday, August 12, 2005

Wholesale Seven Jeans - Profitable Wholesale Apparel

Seven Jeans for All Mankind

Once thought extinct, the expensive designer blue jean again walks the Earth as proud as ever. In the last few years, high-end high dollar blue jeans have appeared on the legs of women and men all over the world. From New York to Tokyo people are paying hundreds of dollars for the most desirable brand names. It’s a phenomena that could benefit many clothing retailers and worth taking a look at.

The popularity of designer jeans is of course, driven by celebrity. Carefully ripped and faded jeans are seen on many of Hollywood’s young stars. A number of celebrities have launched or soon will launch their own lines, rock star Bono being among the most recent to get in the designer jean game. The new craze differs somewhat from its relative in the 1970s, however. Old famous name designers like Jordache and Calvin Klein with his notorious ads are missing from the new jean scene. Today’s beautiful people are getting their ‘hand-destroyed’ jeans from newer and hipper companies such as Seven for All Mankind, True Religion, or Innovo.

The brand names of the new jean craze can be an adventure for the novice. For example, Seven for All Mankind should not be confused with Seven 7 Jeans. Seven 7 is a different but also highly desirable brand name. The two companies have had a live and let live attitude up until recently when they became involved in litigation over their names.

The name problems and law suits shouldn’t distract you from just how many pairs of Seven for All Mankind jeans sell every year. The Vernon, CA manufacturer claims on their website that they took in 13 million dollars in their first full year of operation. It’s only been growth since then. The company has a retail presence in 35 countries including the U.S., Japan, and all over Europe. Their blue jeans retail in nearly all the big name stores and fashionable boutiques. Seven for All Mankind jeans are found for as much as $300 at high-end retail stores and as little as $75 at discount web sites. An average price for the jeans would be about $150. These are numbers that should open the eyes of any retailer.

Countless pairs are sold everyday on eBay for somewhat less. A quick sample of the auction site showed many pairs going for around $70 with some getting a good deal more. Like many items sold on eBay, authenticity is a major issue but real pairs of Seven for All Mankind jeans can easily sell for over $100. However on Overstock Auctions , you can find them selling individually for around $49 and in bulk for much less.

When you consider the high price point and tremendous demand the possible impact of designer jeans on a clothing retailer is obvious. If the costs can be kept low the opportunity for an excellent profit is considerable. Small retailers looking to take advantage of the new demand can purchase Seven for All Mankind jeans in wholesale lots of manageable size. Searching the web will turn up any number of suppliers. For example, a major internet wholesale auction site sold cases of the jeans containing 36 pairs for $1,900 a case or $52 a pair. Another wholesaler was selling the same size case for only $1,300 a case or $38 a pair. Of course the retailer must also factor in shipping costs that vary depending on distance. A 50 lbs case is a good number to work with and shipping should add about one dollar to the cost of each pair.

The small retailer should be aware that the prices vary a great deal depending on the style. Seven offers its customers many choices of cut and stitching and the retailer should make sure to be informed about these before getting in the business of selling them. A good place to start is Seven for All Mankind’s web site http://sevenforallmankind.com/. The site is flashy but easily navigated and informative. It will certainly help the perspective retailer familiarize themselves with the styles available and get a feel for the company’s image.

It is of course impossible to say how long expensive blue jeans will remain in fad but for now the money is there and the clothing retailer should consider what designer denim can do for them.

Art Mickelwraith is the author of the Wholesale Buyer's Guide at TopTenWholesale.com. He can be reached at artmicklewraith@gmail.com.

Wednesday, August 10, 2005

Use Ebay for CHEAP Advertising & Link Development

If you are looking for traffic to your e-commerce clothing store, you should look no further than Ebay. The reason for this is Ebay is an online auction site that has a huge following and millions of hits on a daily basis. Because of this, if you have your clothing being auctioned off on Ebay, your storefront can be linked to the auction which increases your site's visibility. Here are a couple benefits Ebay auctions can provide:

1. You'll Have More Links

It is affordable to auction things off on Ebay and the price could come out of your advertising budget. Regardless of how you pay for it, you will have temporary web space where you can provide all the links you want to your website, photos, descriptions of products, or anything you like. These links will accomplish two things. The first thing they will accomplish is they will help you get higher rankings with the big search engines so other people will click on your site, increasing your traffic and ultimately sales. The second thing these links will accomplish is they take the visitor who is currently shopping and interested in your product right to the description, giving them the option to buy. Regardless of whether or not anyone buys your products online, you will have links to your site which will prove successful in driving traffic. You can re-list your Ebay auctions as often as you like and have as many auctions going at the same time, as well. This is a great way to sell products primarily, and secondarily a great way to promote your website.

2. Guaranteed Targeted Traffic

Most people work hard and long hours trying to develop links and joint ventures to their site to get better rankings. However, with Ebay you don’t have to ask permission or link back, you just pay a small fee and there you go. You have another link to your website, you have a website that is as popular as they get, targeted traffic interested in your products and services, and all for a very small fee. Actually, the small fee you pay to get your link and product on Ebay is probably less than the amount of money you lose trying to develop joint ventures. So, consider Ebay and other auction sites when trying to get more links to your website, not to mention selling products.

And above all, Ebay is easy. You can learn how to use the interface in no time at all and before you know it not only will you sell some of your products and services online, you will generate so many targeted leads for such a low cost you will wonder what took you so long to try it.

Michael Turner reveals step-by-step how you can increase search engine traffic in his free 7 part mini-series. Grab it now at http://www.powertraffictactics.com/

Monday, August 08, 2005

When is Wholesale Really Wholesale?

By Guest Author - Johnny Burke

You’ve finally found the wholesale source for the high demand widget that is selling like hotcakes on the Internet. Thoughts of watching the money pouring in and celebrating the new found success selling widgets has you so excited that you can’t wait to buy 5 widgets at wholesale and double the investment.

After a lot of effort to market your widgets, you haven’t sold any. Then, much to your surprise, you find others selling the same widget at a much lower price and doing a great business. You can blame the wholesaler for your lack of success or you can face the truth about wholesaling and volume purchasing.

So, after an unsuccessful attempt to sell widgets, you decide to do the research to find out why you couldn’t compete. The first eye opener is that you can find the widget at a number of places selling for less then your wholesale cost.
Lets look at the reasons for this.

The retailer can buy in bulk and receive quantity pricing. In many cases this also qualifies the retailer for manufacturers wholesale rebates, so it now seems that the word wholesale is a relative term. Small businesses get first level wholesale pricing. Large businesses (with great buying power) get 2nd and 3rd level wholesale pricing plus incentives. As an example, the small business may pay a price of $10 each buying wholesale widgets in quantities of 1-10. The large business may pay $5 each for the same widget in quantities of 500-1000.

Is there any recourse for the small business? Yes, The simple answer is Market Research.
OK, how can market research help me with wholesale buying? The problem that needs addressing is buying widgets at to high of a price to be competitive. Plus, there are hundreds of places that sell widgets for a lot less then you can. If the demand, competition and average selling price of widgets can be determined, then you can make an informed decision about the selling potential of the widget.

That is the simplified version of the answer, but touches on the main points of market research.
You can do the research manually but by far the best bet is to use one of the existing market research tools available on the Internet. A moderate investment is required up front but the information compiled and presented is essential to profitable marketing. These links may help you find that vital info you're looking for to position your business in the correct marketplace:

www.clickz.com

http://www.researchinfo.com/ - free market research.

A clear understanding how wholesale works in an open market along with good research can multiply your chances of successfully operating a small business. This applies to online storefronts, auction sellers, or anyone doing business from home.

About The Author

Johnny Burke is a successful online seller and webmaster for E-MarketingAmerica http://www.gtsystem.net/e-commerceamerica/ offering resources and information for the online marketer.