Whether you are just thinking about, or you have decided that you would like to start running a wholesale business, there are a number of items that you should spend considerable time planning and researching before going full steam ahead. Proper planning and fact-finding up-front can not only save you from a lot of headaches in the beginning, but can also mean the difference between a successful wholesale business versus a monetary disaster waiting to happen.

In this article we will provide you with ten tips to help guide you along the way as you begin planning for your business. They are presented in chronological order so that you can use them as a way to plan out the proper steps along the way. Remember, success depends on many factors ? and the most important factor is your determination and energy you put into making your business a success!

Step 1: Ask Yourself Why?

Why do you want to get into the wholesaling business? It is because you would enjoy working with other businesses and manufacturers being the main point of contact between the two? Or is it because you think it is an easy way to make money quick?

Wholesaling is a demanding business, and can require lots of up-front capital, warehousing, logistics planning and customer service skills. As the main channel between the manufacturer and retailers you may find yourself dealing with hundreds of thousands of units of merchandise needing to be shipped across the country on a moments notice. Large retailers often pay on a Net-10 or Net-30 schedule, meaning payment is made after the goods are delivered. What would you do if a retailer did not pay or went bankrupt before you received payment?

Step 2: Study Your Competition

It does no good to enter a market where there already exist established, credible wholesalers for a given product. Retailers want to know they have a dependable supply source that meets their terms and often will not change wholesalers for an established product. Just because you build the warehouse does not mean they will come.

Use your local Chamber of Commerce, the Internet and even visit with retailers to find out what wholesalers exist in your area. If you want to specialize in a specific product, contact the manufacturer directly to find out who handles wholesaling for them already in your region. There may be none in your state, or there could be three down the street.

Step 3: Assess your Financial Situation

Wholesaling can require a lot of up-front capital and expenditures before you even see one cent of income. Do you have the resources to spend on setting up a relationship with a manufacturer who will most likely require you to buy in huge quantities from them? Can you afford to wait up to 30 days for payment? Do you have the money to invest in shipping freight or setting up your own delivery service?

Be sure to look past the startup costs as well. Employees, taxes, property rental and insurance are just a few of the things you will need to factor in as ongoing costs.

Step 4: The Business Plan

A solid business plan is the foundation of any business. You need to make sure that you have spelled out what you intend to do and how you intend to get it done. Not only will banks require this for financing, but often other businesses you deal with will want to see it as well. It should be the guidelines that you follow every day in your business to achieve the goals you have set forth.

For this part, it is often wise to work with a business lawyer or seek professional advice from business consulting services. A good resource to help you find people in your area with the necessary skills and background is the Small Business Administration, located on the web at http://www.sba.gov.

Step 5: Apply for Licenses, Taxing Certificates and Other Necessary Paperwork

Nothing is as certain as death and taxes. It is no different in business, with one exception. As a wholesaler you will be required to pay taxes and other fees to your state and to the federal government.

The one exception is that you will be granted tax-exempt status for the actual goods you are moving between the manufacturer and other retailers. This can be a tricky process and is handled at the state level.

Again, for this part you will want to make extensive use of your state taxing authority as well as local Chambers of Commerce. One wrong mistake here can end up costing you not only money, but possible your entire business.

Step 6: Establish Your Facilities

Location, location, location. Businesses must exist somewhere and like most things in life there are rules and regulations on where they can be. Will you be having semi-trailers coming to your location at all hours of the day and night? Will you have a storefront for vendors and clients to come calling at? What about electrical, water and sewage needs?

Zoning laws exist to make sure that the right structures end up in the right places. Nobody wants a warehouse next door to them in a residential neighborhood. Work with commercial real-estate agencies to find a suitable place for your business.

Step 7: Establish Your Relationships
You have the facilities, you have the financials ? now do you have anyone supplying you product or customers for that product? Work with manufacturers and retailers to build a relationship. This can be one of the most difficult parts of the experience, and is where the rubber hits the road.

In addition, relationships extend beyond your customers and suppliers. It is good practice to establish relations with your local Chamber of Commerce, retail associations and labor organizations in your area.

Step 8: Marketing

Wholesalers traditionally don?t advertise. That doesn?t mean you shouldn?t market your business to others, after all how can you build relationships or expand on existing ones? Wholesaling guides are published and distributed to many retailers and this is where the bulk of your marketing efforts will be directed. The other half should be in going to retailers directly, meeting with buyers and outlining your services. Just because you have a customer today does not mean you can rest on your laurels.

Marketing works hand in hand with building a relationship and maintaining it.

Step 9: The Machine in Motion: Servicing Your Customers

Product is coming in, retailers are placing orders ? we?re all done right? Not exactly. Getting the product to your customers, answering questions about delivery timelines, working with vendors to obtain new product lines, it is a complex and demanding part of the business.

In today?s ?just in time? marketing model a delay in shipment could mean the end to a business relationship. You must keep your customers informed of any status changes, pricing concerns and product movements from your facility to their loading dock. This is where backend systems come into play by maintaining records and logs of all activity with that customer. Do not underestimate the value of a good Customer Relationship Management system (CRM).

Step 10: Employees, Accounts Receivable and Other Financial Matters

Once everything is up and running your next focus is your business financials. Employees need to be hired and fired. Payroll needs to be met. Money must come in, and money must go out. Here you should invest in financial talent and services if you do not possess them already.

One oversight can mean the loss of hundreds of thousands of dollars; a missed payroll deadline could mean your entire business comes to a halt. It is critical that you constantly keep an eye on the books and on your expenditures. Know when to tighten the belt, and know when to expand.

About the Author:

Joaquin Reveron is the President of Video Games Mystery Corp. Trainer and wholesale marketing consultant for online and offline purchases. A Wholesale Distributor is one of the topics discussed at http://www.videogamesmystery.com .

Like the legendary search for the Holy Grail, the cup that Jesus drank from at the Last Supper, the same “holy crusade” goes on today by veteran and newly anointed business owners for the perfect wholesale, surplus, and drop-shipping resource. They believe that divine intervention will lead them to suppliers that can defeat the economic laws of “supply and demand.”

Like the legendary search for the Holy Grail, the cup that Jesus drank from at the Last Supper, the same “holy crusade” goes on today by veteran and newly anointed business owners for the perfect wholesale, surplus, and drop-shipping resource. They believe that divine intervention will lead them to suppliers that can defeat the economic laws of “supply and demand.”

There are more than a few people who try to build an enterprise based on the weak premise that they will able to “score” in demand retail items for their new business, or auction, at “pennies on the wholesale dollar.”

Trying to ride the wave of popular retail products brings out the greed monster in all of us. Pursuing the “deal of the century” has lead some aspiring business owners to risk their startup capital on fraudulent deals and knockoff merchandise.

In this article I want to discuss three of the more sought after sources of product supply, and the “Pros & Cons” of each. I also want to shed a little light on some of the misconceptions people might have about buying products for resale. The reality is that not every product will be available through wholesale, surplus, and drop-shipping venues.

Wholesalers: Typically, one of the better places to purchase products for your new found venture. Most true wholesalers will require that you have a “Certificate Of Resale” before you can purchase from them. A Certificate Of Resale, or “Tax & Use Certificate,” is not hard to obtain, and costs anywhere from five to twenty dollars depending on the state you live in.

Some states do not require that you even have one. You can obtain the certificate from your State Department of Revenue. To see if your state requires you to obtain such a certificate, and for a complete listing of the Departments Of Revenue in all fifty states go to this website:

Roisyn.com/certificates.html
http://www.roisyn.com/certificates.html

Depending on your states procedure, once you fill out the paperwork you can get your “Certificate Of Resale” number the same day. You do not have to incorporate in order to obtain a certificate. You need to be a Sole Proprietor (at the very least) and have an address where you plan to conduct business. Once you have your number you will be able to open a business checking account at most local banks. Most do not require more than a few hundred dollars to get started. Wholesalers will require a minimum purchase price that can range anywhere from 100 to 1000 dollars.

A true wholesaler is usually one step away from the original source of the product. For instance, a manufacturer produces blue widgets and wants to get their product into the marketplace. They will then employ a sales representative to get the product into the market, or they will assign a wholesale distributor the exclusive rights to carry and sell their product line. Some companies are import wholesalers. While they do not necessarily manufacture a product, they will import products from manufacturers in the United States, and from countries like China. A great example of such an importer/wholesaler is the Bnfusa.com:

Bnfusa.com http://www.bnfusa.com/

There are a few ways to find wholesale products. Just about every product that is in the distribution chain will usually have a dedicated trade association, organization, or trade publication attached to it. You can find such trade information with the help of the following directory information:

National Association Of Wholesale Distributors

http://www.naw.org/Content/NavigationMenu/About_NAW/Associa
tions/About_Associations.htm

The above website address will lead your toward associations, ranging from Advertising to Woodworking. You should be able to solicit them for wholesalers within a particular industry. If you want to purchase their membership list (separate from the association listings), you will have to get in touch with them to check their current prices. Other good sources are:

Encyclopedia Of Associations By: The Gale Group

The Encyclopedia Of Associations lists over 100,000 different nonprofit American organizations. If you cannot find what you are looking for from the National Association Of Wholesale Distributors in terms of trade associations, then this is the directory for you. However, you will have to go to your library to find this research gem. You can usually find it in the reference section of any large University, or Public Library.

Publist.com http://www.publist.com/

In addition to trade associations, trade magazines are another good source. Publist.com allows you to: “Search our database of over 150,000 magazines, journals, newsletters, & other periodicals. Find FREE in-depth information on familiar and hard-to-find publications from around the world, representing thousands of topics.”

Tradepub.com http://www.tradepub.com/

Tradepub.com allows you to subscribe to trade periodicals from their web site for FREE! No hidden trial offers to qualify.

ThomasRegional.com
http://www.thomasregional.com/

If you are looking for industrial product manufacturers, then this is the directory for you. The Thomas Regional directory will give you access to services from over “550,000 industrial distributors, manufacturers, and service companies.”

The Thomas Regional will help you find suppliers in your own state or region. Registration is required, but you can use the directory for FREE! Other free online sources of wholesale information and offers are: Wholesale411.com, Wholesalecentral.com, Wholesalegopher.com, Bizbb.com, Wholesalegopher.com.

PROS AND CONS OF WHOLESALE SUPPLIERS:

Wholesale is the backbone of product supply for any type of new business venture. Large and small wholesalers are usually one step away from the manufacturer. They have the advantage of buying large quantities, and, depending on the type of merchandise, are able to pass along savings to those who are looking for “products for resale.” With wholesalers (in most cases) you can be assured of purchasing new product. I can’t think of too many “cons” when dealing with wholesalers—other than pricing. There might be items that could be too expensive to sell in the Ebay auction marketplace. Remember, true wholesalers will require that you have a Certificate Of Resale in order to purchase from them.

Surplus & Salvage Merchandise: Another sought after source of supply is retail surplus, closeout, overstock, liquidated, and salvage merchandise. Surplus dealers, and brokers, purchase shelf-pulled, returned, overstock, closeout, liquidated, and salvage merchandise from manufacturers, retail stores, reclamation centers, bankruptcy sales, and just about any business who has slow moving or salvage merchandise.

Surplus dealers buy these obsolete items in large quantities, and then resell them to just about anyone who wants them for their Ebay Auction, Flea Market, Dollar Store, or Retail Store outlet. One of the largest trade associations for the surplus industry is the International Marketing Association Of Surplus Dealers: http://www.surplus.net. You can find dealers throughout the United States.

Other sources of finding Surplus, Salvage, Closeout, and Liquidated merchandise include the following: Closeoutcentral.com, Liquidation.com, CWSMarketing.com, Commoditysurplus.com, and National Retail Equipment Liquidators (Nrel.com).

PROS AND CONS OF THE SURPLUS & SALVAGE SUPPLIERS:

The “Pros” of the Surplus & Salvage merchandise is that they can offer you a variety of products at below wholesale prices. However you “market your merchandise,” you should be able to find a product, or price, that will fit into any business advertising model. In most cases, you do not need a “Certificate Of Resale” to buy products from Surplus & Salvage Dealers and brokers.

The downside is that you have to do some investigative work. Some dealers will want you to buy merchandise in quantity (a pallet minimum, truckload preferred) and you have to visit the company you are buying from to make sure that the product is, as advertised. Also, more than a few S&S dealers want payment in the form of wire transfer which can be very risky. In addition, dealers and brokers will sometimes misrepresent the quality of the merchandise they are are selling. Before you consider doing any business with a surplus dealer, or broker, you must read “The Ten Tenets Of The Retail Surplus And Salvage Business.” It can be found here:

The Ten Tenets Of The Retail Surplus And Salvage Business
http://productsforresale.com/articles/index.html

Drop-Shipping: Supposedly the perfect business model. No inventory, no trips to the post office or UPS. You just set up shop, take the order, pass it along to the wholesale drop-shipping company and they send it out for you. Some drop-ship distributors will even send you ad copy and pictures to help you advertise their products. They can even put your return address on the package! A lot of Retail Catalog companies use drop-shippers as their means of supply.

PROS AND CONS OF DROP-SHIPPING:

There is one obvious advantage to drop-shipping. It is basically a “product less” venture. No need to tie up your money in inventory. Drop-Shipping can fit into any business model, or advertising method you happen to use. However, if you are an Ebay Auction seller you might want to rethink that position.

Finding a drop-shipping company that can deliver on a consistent basis can be tough. Drop-Shipping companies have been known to run out of merchandise. If they happen to run out of the product you are auctioning, asking buyers to wait on their product because it is “backordered,” does not inspire confidence.

Your negative feedback rating can pile up real quick. The other problem is expense. Some drop-shippers require a sign-up, or “entry fee” before you even start marketing their products. You might also have to pay for support materials, such as pictures and advertisement brochures for the product you choose to sell.

In addition, when you sell a product from a drop-shipping distributor there are processing fees that have to be paid, in order to get the product out the door and in the hands of your customer. That price can range anywhere from 5.00 to 10.00 dollars and up depending on the item. After Ebay and drop-shipping fees, you can wind up loosing money, or at best, breaking even. Bottom-line, drop-shipping and auction selling don’t mix. The best bet for any auction venture is to “own what you sell.”

EVERYTHING CAN BE HAD FOR A PRICE-BUT THERE IS A PRICE TO PAY FOR EVERYTHING!

Now that we have reviewed the “big three” let me put them into perspective. There are products that can be obtained through a few of featured supply chains, and then there are products that will never make it to the surplus, wholesale, or drop-shipping market. Example: To get Louis Vuitton handbags through a surplus dealer is almost impossible. Surplus dealers that are promoting LV Handbags are misleading you.

Same is true for people who are selling designer handbags on Ebay in mass quantities. The likely scenario is that they are Chinese knockoffs. Over 80 percent of popular retail products here in the United States are copied in the People’s Republic Of China. Those products include Nike, Reebok, Puma, Adidas, Louis Vuitton, Calloway (Big Bertha) golf clubs, and just about any product that enjoys popular merchandising status.

There is no plan by the Chinese government to stop “knockoff” activity because it is a thriving industry that provides employment for the masses. Despite pleas from American companies to “cease & desist,” there is a tepid response from Chinese officials to address the issue. When raids are conducted, they are “ceremonial” public relations stunts to appear as if they are actually taking action against the counterfeiters.

Another indicator of authenticity is price. You will not find any authentic Louis Vuitton handbags for 30, or even 100 dollars. Most are 500.00 and up. To illustrate this point even further, just think about the popular celebrities of today who are clothes and handbag aficionados. Jennifer Lopez, Britney Spears, Jennifer Aniston, Angelina Jolie, all sport around town with “Louies” that can fetch up to 10,000 dollars for an exclusive style of handbag. Do you think you will ever have access to these items in the wholesale, surplus, or drop-shipping market?

Forget it! You might not even get these in some upscale boutiques! There are people so well connected that they buy up “hot items” like LV Handbags before they even hit the stores. They know who wants these items, and they will purchase whatever is available just so they can have an exclusive for their celebrity clients. Don’t get me wrong. It’s not that you can’t get “designer duds” or handbags at wholesale prices. You will not get high end clothes and accessories that are featured in the latest issue of Vogue, Cosmo, as a “product for resale,” in any wholesale environment, unless you spend thousands for the right to distribute such a product.

Even if some of these items made their way beyond the connected channels of purchasing, exclusive clothing and handbag items like Louis Vuitton will have limited distribution in “hand picked’ boutiques, and well connected purchasing agents. In addition, there are people in the fashion industry, as well as other branded industries that would rather have their merchandise burned, or buried before it would reach the wholesale, surplus, or drop-shipping market! For more information on designer clothing, and to learn about designer “fakes,” please refer to the following websites:

http://fashion.about.com/cs/tipsadvice/a/fakingit.htm

http://www.handbag.com/fashion/howtolookgood/spottingfakes/

http://www.fakediesel.com/

For a healthy does of honesty, and an eye opening perspective concerning the realities of purchasing designer clothes for resale, the Clothing Broker will definitely explode some popular myths about obtaining such items:

The Clothing Broker http://theclothingbroker.com/

THERE IS GOLD UP IN THEM THERE HILLS!

Now lets address the Surplus & Salvage Industry. When people first encounter some of the offers from Surplus dealers, or brokers, they tend to suffer from what I call the “I just found Gold” syndrome. A feverish excitement permeates their brain cells, and reduces them to a quivering pile of jelly, leaving their reasoning skills inoperable! A few thousand dollars later, and after coming to the conclusion that their “Golden Opportunity” turned out to be bars of lead, elation, then turns to anger.

It is a cliche, and I hate using it, but it is more than appropriate when it comes to surplus and salvage products. “If it sounds to good to be true, it probably is!” Some Surplus dealers will hone in one at least one of seven deadly sins—greed! As with wholesale, you will never get certain products for “pennies” on the dollar. One type of surplus product category that has some people loosing their minds is surplus and salvage electronics.

The problem with electronics is that they have a low profit margin even when they are brand new. Finding surplus dealers with working, undamaged, electronic products can be a daunting task. Most salvage electronics can be in pretty rough shape. See Techliquidators.com: http://techliquidators.com

What you are getting from most Surplus Dealers, or companies who specialize in electronic salvage is someone’s customer returns, i.e., “junk!” Unless you are a electronics technician, or recycler, then I would stay away from “salvage” electronics.

Even product that is not damaged, and still in the box or retail blister pack, can have a pretty high surplus price. If you find that someone is offering you a electronics item, be it a DVD Player, or Xbox, for eight dollars a unit, then “buyer beware.”

For a further explanation of the surplus industry, and how you can avoid “purchasing pitfalls,” I would suggest that you read the: “The Ten Tenets Of The Surplus and Salvage Business” found here:

The Ten Tenets Of The Surplus & Salvage Business
http://www.productsforresale.com/articles/index.html

GETTING DROPPED BY DROP-SHIPPING!

My last critique, and word of caution is about drop-shipping. You might have access to information about drop-shipping companies that would prove me wrong. I will not argue with anyone who is dealing with a dropshipping company who is serving them well. However, I will tell you that dropshipping is a risk. I really can’t recommend any type of guide, or information that would lead you to a reliable source of drop-shipping companies.

Unlike surplus and wholesale, where you physically own and control the product, that option has been taken out of your hands. You are entrusting a company to ship products directly to your customers. If you get involved with a company who cannot deliver, or who is back ordered, you can find yourself with some very irate customers. Sign up fees, shipping fees, and expenses for support materials can really affect the bottom line.

Also, most drop-shipping companies like to send out product in volume. If you are selling just a few items per week, or per month, it might not be worth if for a drop-shipping company to deal with you. Large retail catalog companies use drop-shipping or “fulfillment” houses, but these companies cater to large scale operations.

The bottom line is this. When it comes to finding product supply for your business it pays to do your homework. Visit the company facility when you can. Never wire any money into a company account. Use a credit card, or Escrow service to protect yourself should your supplier not deliver, or send you defective merchandise.

Understand that you will not be able to get the latest and greatest technology or fashions at surplus and below wholesale prices. If you follow all of these rules, and you use common sense as your “crusade” you just might be able to find your own “Holy Grail,” of wholesale product supply!

About the Author: Robert C. Potter is a wholesale and retail surplus products specialist. He is the author of The Ultimate Guide To Products For Resale! Over 300 Wholesale & Surplus Supply Sources For Ebay Auction Sellers, E-Commerce Websites, Flea Market Vendors, and Retail Store Owners! You can find his 160 page ebook at: http://www.productsforresale.com

Like the legendary search for the Holy Grail, the cup that Jesus drank from at
the Last Supper, the same holy crusade goes on today by veteran and newly anointed business owners for the perfect wholesale, surplus, and drop-shipping resource. They believe that divine intervention will lead them to suppliers that can defeat the economic laws of supply and demand. There are more than a few people who try to build an enterprise based on the weak premise that they will able to score in demand retail items for their new business, or auction, at either below wholesale prices, or pennies on the wholesale dollar. I have seen many such requests whenever I troll the free wholesale sites, and discussion forums. Consider the following offers and product requests:

Where can I find Seven Jeans for thirty dollars a pair?

Where can I find Diesel Jeans for twenty dollars a pair?

Willing to pay 50.00 per bag for Louis Vuitton handbags!

Sony VAIO Laptops Only 800.00!

For those of you who might think that these inquires are within the “realm or realism” then you truly are a “crusader!” Trying to ride the wave of popular retail products brings out the greed monster in all of us. Pursuing the deal of the century, has lead some aspiring business owners to risk their start-up capital on unrealistic expectations of inventory. In this article I want to discuss three of the more sought after sources of supply, and the Pros & Cons of each. I will also clear up some of the misconceptions that seem to surround the wholesale, surplus, and drop-shipping arena..

Wholesalers: Typically, one of the better places to purchase products for your new
found venture. Most true wholesalers will require that you have a Certificate Of Resale before you can purchase from them. A Certificate Of Resale, or Tax & Use Certificate, is not hard to obtain, and costs anywhere from five to twenty dollars depending on the state you live in. Some states do not require that you even have one. You can obtain the certificate from your State Department of Revenue. To see if your state requires you to obtain such a certificate, and for a complete listing of the Department Of Revenue in all fifty states go to the Roisyn.com website:

Roisyn.com/certificates.html
http://www.roisyn.com/certificates.html

Depending on your states procedure, once you fill out the paperwork you can get your Certificate Of Resale number the same day. You do not have to Incorporate in order to obtain a Certificate. You need to be a Sole Proprietor (at the very least) and have an address where you plan to conduct business. Once you have your number, you will be able to open a business checking account at most local banks. Most do not require more than a few hundred dollars to get started. Wholesalers will require a minimum purchase price that can range anywhere from 100 to 1000 dollars.

A true wholesaler is usually one step away from the original source of the product. For instance, a manufacturer produces and owns blue widgets. They will then employ either a sales representatives to get the product into the market, or they will assign a wholesale distributor the exclusive rights to carry and sell their product.

Some companies are import wholesalers. While they do not necessarily manufacture a product, they will import products from other manufacturers overseas. A great example of such an importer/wholesaler is the Bnfusa.com:

Bnfusa.com
http://bnfusa.com/

There are a few ways to find wholesale products. Just about every product that is in the distribution chain will usually have a dedicated trade association, organization, or trade publication attached to it. You can find such trade information with the help of the following directory information:

National Association Of Wholesale Distributors

http://www.naw.org/Content/NavigationMenu/About_NAW/Associations/About_Associations.htm

The above website address will lead your toward associations, ranging from
Advertising to Woodworking. You should be able to solicit them for wholesalers
within a particular industry. If you want to purchase their membership list (separate from the association listings), you will have to get in touch with them to check their current prices. Other good sources are:

Encyclopedia Of Associations
By: The Gale Group

The Encyclopedia Of Associations lists over 100,000 different non-profit American
organizations. If you cannot find what you are looking for from the National
Association Of Wholesale Distributors in terms of trade associations, then this is
the directory for you. However, you will have to go to your library to find this
research gem. You can usually find it in the reference section of any large
University, or Public Library.

Publist.com
http://www.publist.com/
Trade magazines are another good source. Publist.com allows you to: Search our database of over 150,000 magazines, journals, newsletters, & other periodicals. Find FREE in-depth information on familiar and hard-to-find publications from around the world, representing thousands of topics. The only downside of this site is that you have to be part of a particular industry before they will give you a free subscription.

Tradepub.com
http://www.tradepub.com/
Tradepub.com allows you to subscribe to trade periodicals from their web site for FREE! No hidden trial offers to qualify. Even though there is no hidden trial offers, I think that same situation applies here, as with Publist.com. You have to be associated with the industry you want to
subscribe to. Nonetheless, it is a good source for finding trade information.

ThomasRegional.com
http://thomasregional.com/

If you are looking for industrial product manufacturers, then this is the directory for you. The Thomas Regional directory, will give you access to services from over
550,000 industrial distributors, manufacturers, and service companies.

The Thomas Regional will help you find suppliers in your own state or region. Registration is required, and you can use the directory for FREE! Other free
online sources of wholesale information and offers are: Wholesale411.com, Wholesalecentral.com, Wholesalegopher.com, Bizbb.com, Wholesalegopher.com.

PROS AND CONS OF WHOLESALE SUPPLIERS:

Wholesale is the backbone of product supply for any type of new business venture. Large and small wholesalers are usually one step away from the manufacturer. They have the advantage of buying large quantities, and, depending on the type of merchandise, are able to pass along savings to those who are looking for products for resale. With wholesalers (in most cases) you can be assured of purchasing new product. I cant think of too many cons when dealing with wholesalers—other than pricing. There might be items that could be too expensive to sell in the Ebay auction marketplace.

Surplus & Salvage Merchandise: Another sought after source of supply is retail surplus, closeout, overstock, liquidated, and salvage merchandise. Surplus dealers
and brokers, buy shelf-pulled, returned, overstock, closeout, liquidated, and salvage merchandise from manufacturers, retail stores, reclamation centers, and just about any business who has slow moving or salvage merchandise.

Surplus dealers buy these obsolete items in large quantities, and then resell them to just about anyone who wants them for their Ebay Auction, Flea Market, Dollar Store, or
Retail Store outlet. One of the largest trade associations for the surplus industry is the International Marketing Association Of Surplus Dealers: http://www.surplus.net
You can find dealers throughout the United States and overseas.

Other sources of finding Surplus, Salvage, Closeout, and Liquidated merchandise
include the following: Closeoutcentral.com, Liquidation.com, CWSMarketing.com,
Commoditysurplus.com, and National Retail Equipment Liquidators (Nrel.com).

PROS AND CONS OF THE SURPLUS & SALVAGE SUPPLIERS:

The Pros of the Surplus & Salvage merchandise is that they can offer you
a variety of products at below wholesale prices. However you market your
merchandise, you should be able to find a product, and price, that will fit into any business advertising model that you happen to be using. You do not need a Certificate Of Resale to buy products from most Surplus & Salvage Dealers, or brokers.

The downside is that you have to do some investigative work. Some dealers will want you to buy merchandise in quantity (a pallet minimum, truckload preferred) and you have to visit the company you are buying from to make sure that the product is, as advertised. Also, more than a few S&S dealers want payment in the form of wire transfer which can be very risky. Also,
dealers, and brokers, will sometimes misrepresent the quality of the merchandise
they are selling. Before you consider doing any business with a surplus
dealer, or broker, you must read “The Ten Tenets Of The Retail Surplus And
Salvage Business.” It can be found here:

The Ten Tenets Of The Retail Surplus And Salvage Business
http://productsforresale.com/articles/index.html

DropShipping: Supposedly the perfect business model. No inventory, no trips to
the post office or UPS. You just set up shop, take the order for the product you
are selling—pass it along to the wholesale drop-shipping company, and they send
it out for you. Some drop-ship distributors will even send you ad copy and pictures
to help you advertise their products. They can even put your return address on the package! A lot of Retail Catalog companies use drop-shippers as their means of
supply.

PROS AND CONS OF DROP-SHIPPING:

There is one obvious advantage to drop-shipping. It is basically a product less
venture. No need to tie up your money in inventory. Drop-Shipping can fit into
any business model, or advertising method you happen to use. However, if you are an Ebay Auction seller, then you might want to rethink that position. Finding a drop-shipping company that can deliver on a consistent basis can be hard.

Drop-Shipping companies have been known to run out merchandise. If they happen to run out of the product you are auctioning, asking people to wait on their product because it is back-ordered, does not inspire confidence. Your negative feedback rating can pile up real quick.

The other problem is expense. Some drop-shippers require a sign-up fee before you
even get involved with their company. This means that before you even start to sell
their product, you will get hit with a start-up fee. You might also have to pay for support materials, pictures, and advertisement brochures for the product of your
choice.

In addition, when you sell a product from a drop-shipping distributor, there are
processing and shipping fees that have to paid in order to get the item into your customers hands. That price can range anywhere from 5.00 to 10.00 dollars, and up, depending on the item. After Ebay and drop-shipping fees, you can wind up loosing money, or at best, breaking even. Bottom line, drop-shipping and auction selling dont mix. The best bet for any auction venture is to own what you sell.

EVERYTHING CAN BE HAD FOR A PRICEBUT THERE IS A PRICE TO PAY FOR EVERYTHING!

Now that we have reviewed the big three let me put them into perspective. There are products that can be obtained through a few of featured supply chains, and then there are products that will never make it to the surplus, wholesale, or drop-shipping market. For instance, to get Louis Vuitton handbags through a surplus dealer is almost impossible. Surplus dealers that are promoting LV Handbags are misleading you.

Same is true for people who are selling designer handbags on Ebay in mass quantities. The likely scenario is that they are Chinese copies. Over 80 percent of popular retail
products here in the United States are copied in the Peoples Republic Of China.
Those products include Nike, Reebok, Puma, Adidas, Louis Vuitton, Calloway (Big Bertha) golf clubs, and just about any product that enjoys mass merchandising status.

There is no plan by the Chinese government to stop knockoff activity because it is a thriving industry that provides employment for the masses. Despite the pleas from the American companies to cease & desist, there is a tepid response from Chinese officials
to do anything about the problem. When raids are conducted, they are ceremonial
public relations ploys to appear as if they are doing something about the problem.

Another indicator of authenticity is price. You will not find any authentic Louis Vuitton handbags for 30, or even 100 dollars. Most are 500.00 and up. To illustrate this point even further, just think about the popular celebrities of today who are clothes and handbag aficionados. Jennifer Lopez, Britney Spears, Jennifer Aniston, Angelina Jolie, all sport around town with Louies that can fetch up to 10,000 dollars for an exclusive style of handbag. Do you think you will ever have access to these items in the wholesale, surplus, or drop-shipping market?

Forget it! You might not even get these in some upscale boutiques, much less
any wholesale or surplus dealer! There are people so well connected that they
buy up hot items like LV Handbags before they even hit the stores. They
know who wants these items, and they will purchase whatever is available
so that they can have an exclusive for their celebrity clients..Dont get me
wrong . Its not that you cant get designer duds, or handbags at wholesale
prices. You will not get high end clothes and accessories that are featured in
your favorite issue of Vogue, Cosmo, as a product for resale, in any
wholesale environment!

Even if some of these items made their way beyond the connected channels
of purchasing, exclusive clothing and handbag items like Louis Vuitton will
have limited distribution, in hand picked boutiques. There are people in the
fashion industry, as well as other branded industries that would rather have their merchandise burned, or buried before they it would reach the wholesale, surplus,
or drop-shipping market! For more information on designer clothing, and to learn
about designer fakes, the please refer to the following websites:

Information about spotting fake fashion:
http://fashion.about.com/cs/tipsadvice/a/fakingit.htm
http://www.handbag.com/fashion/howtolookgood/spottingfakes/
http://www.fakediesel.com/

For a healthy does of honesty, and an eye opening perspective concerning
the realities of purchasing designer clothes for resale, the Clothing Broker
will definitely explode some popular myths about obtaining such items:

The Clothing Broker
http://theclothingbroker.com/

THERE IS GOLD UP IN THEM THERE HILLS!

Now lets address the Surplus & Salvage Industry. When people first encounter
some of the offers from Surplus dealers, or brokers, they tend to suffer from what
I call the I just found Gold syndrome. A feverish excitement permeates their brain cells, and reduces them to a quivering pile of jelly, leaving their reasoning skills
inoperable! They recklessly buy what seems like a fantastic deal. A few thousand
dollars later, and after coming to the conclusion that their Golden Opportunity
turned out to be bars of lead, elation, then turns to anger.

It is a clich, and I hate using it, but it is more than appropriate when it comes to
surplus and salvage products. If it sounds to good to be true, it probably is! Some Surplus dealers will hone in one at least one of seven deadly sinsgreed! As with wholesale, you will never get certain products for pennies on the wholesale dollar.
One type of surplus product category that has some people loosing their minds is electronics.

The problem with electronics in general, is that they have a low profit margin
even when they are brand new. Finding surplus dealers with good, undamaged,
electronic products can be a daunting task. Most electronics returns, and overstock
can be in pretty rough shape. See Techliquidators.com: http://techliquidators.com
What you are getting from most Surplus Dealers, or companies who specialize
in electronic selling, is someones customer returns, i.e., junk! Unless you are
a electronics technician, or recycler, then I would stay away from salvage
electronics.

Even product that is not damaged, and still in the box or retail blister pack,
can have a pretty high surplus price. If you find that someone is offering you
a electronics itembe it a DVD Player, or Xbox, for eight dollars a unit, then
buyer beware. You will more than likely be able to purchase lower end electronic
items like vacuum cleaners and cordless phones, at a more reasonable price. Once
again, in demand products like DVD Players, Laptops, and Car Audio Equipment,
and Plasma TVs, if you do find them in the Surplus aisle, will still have a high
end price attached to them, despite their secondary market status. For a further explanation of the industry, and how you can avoid purchasing pitfalls, I would suggest that you read the: The Ten Tenets Of The Surplus and Salvage Industry
found here: The Ten Tenets Of The Surplus & Salvage Business

http://productsforresale.com/articles/index.html

GETTING DROPPED BY DROPSHIPPING!

My last critique, and word of caution is about drop-shipping. You might
have access to information about drop-shipping companies that would
prove me wrong. I will not argue with anyone who is dealing with a
drop-shipping company who is serving them well. But, I will tell you that
drop-shipping is a risk. I really cant recommend any type of guide, or
information that would lead you to a smattering of reliable drop-shipping
companies.

Unlike surplus and wholesale, where you physically own and control the product, that option has been taken out of your hands when you are dealing with a drop-shipping concern. You entrusting a company to ship products directly to your customers. If you get involved with a company who cannot deliver, or who is back ordered, you can find yourself with some very irate customers. Sign up fees, shipping fees, and expenses for support materials can really affect the bottom line.

Also, most drop-shipping companies like to send out product in volume. If you are
selling just a few items per week, or per month, it might not be worth if for a drop-shipping company to deal with you. Large retail catalog companies use drop-shipping
or fullfillment houses, but these companies cater to large scale operations.

The bottom line is this. When it comes to finding product supply for your business it pays to do your homework. Visit the company facility when you can. Never wire any money into a company account. Use a credit card, or Escrow service to protect yourself should
your supplier not deliver, or send you defective merchandise.

Understand that you will not be able to get the latest and greatest technology, or fashions, at surplus and below wholesale prices. If you follow all of these rules, and you use common sense as your crusade you just might be able to find your own Holy Grail, of wholesale product supply!

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About the author:

Robert C. Potter is a wholesale and retail surplus products specialist. He is the author of The Ultimate Guide To Products For Resale! Over 300 Wholesale & Surplus Supply Sources For Ebay Auction Sellers, E-Commerce Websites, Flea Market Vendors, and Retail Store Owners! You can find his 160 page ebook at:
http://www.productsforresale.com





How to Meet Quality Standards with ISO 9001Chris AndersonIn todays hectic business environment, it is vital that we are all on the same page, right? But how do we know if we meet those standards? Business owners and executives can avoid the uncertainty, and thats where ISO 9001 certification comes in.

Standardizing Quality Systems

The ISO, or International Organization for Standardization, was established in 1947 to develop international standards for everything from electronics to management systems. Having over 13,000 standards currently in place, ISO has created the auditing and certification process known as ISO 9001. This began the drive toward quality standards.

Improving Customer Satisfaction

Companies choose to implement ISO 9001 and get certified because many customers and industries require it. By keeping customers happy, they can increase sales and profitability for their business. And if an area of the companys program appears to be too bureaucratic and non-value-adding, then it might also be an area for continuous improvement efforts.

Enhancing Company Performance

Both customers and industries alike use ISO certification as a way to evaluate and audit their suppliers and products. Through an independent verification process, customers can gain assurance of their suppliers products. And as a supplier becomes certified, the testing requirement is waved, which saves the company both time and money.

Developing Best Practices

Employed as a Best Practices model, ISO 9001 utilizes the philosophy of the Plan-Do-Check-Act continuous improvement cycle to achieve requirements. This process approach centers around eight quality management principles used by management as a guide toward improving performance and identifying the main elements needed in a good quality system:

1. Customer Focus
2. Leadership
3. Involvement of People
4. Process Approach
5. Systems Approach to Management
6. Continuous improvement
7. Factual Approach to Decision-Making
8. Mutually Beneficial Supplier Relationship

Building Stable Processes

ISO 9001 policies, procedures and forms can provide employers, managers and employees with a systematic and consistent approach to implementing policies, plans, procedures and work routines. Instead of building their own policies and procedures from scratch, some companies prefer to hire professional writers that have already prepared a set of written policies and procedures to help on the way to certification.

Auditing a Company System

In the certification process, an independent registrar will perform an on-site audit of a companys operations to verify that it complies with the ISO standard. If the business complies, then that company will be registered as ISO 9001 compliant.

Meeting Company and Customer Needs

On the way to certification, a business can meet its ISO needs by:

Using well-defined processes and procedures to build stable processes
Training in the audit and certification process
Continuously improving with ISO 9001 standards

Noticing the Difference

With complete procedures manuals for ISO 9001 Quality Management System, required HR procedures, and an ISO training class, a template like an ISO 9001 Quality Manager Procedures Manual Series can help a business on its way to ISO 9001 certification. Sometimes the effort can be very great, but companies typically notice a remarkable difference in efficiency and effectiveness after the first year.

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About the author:

Chris Anderson has over 18 years of sales, marketing and business management experience producing the business process design, software and systems engineering. He is also co-author of policies and procedures manual products, producing the layout, process design and implementation of the information to increase performance. He is currently the Managing Director of Bizmanualz, Inc.
Visit: http://www.bizmanualz.com?src=ART73



Sexiest Christmas Card in the World… Ever Ian SpencerA UK based retailer has come up with what many would say, is the sexiest, if not best, Christmas Card ever.

Over the next couple of weeks, employees in offices across the nation will be scribbling well wishes and season’s greeting on corporate Christmas cards. If nothing else, a great opportunity to keep in with important clients.

Regardless of how much money the marketing department is paid, the MD or CEO will take it upon themselves to determine which card, out of a shortlist of three ‘safe’ designs, should officially represent the company that year. A winter landscape usually takes top slot, followed closely by a robin red breast.

This year, the management at a UK based baseball cap and trucker hat retailer broke with tradition and left it to their ‘creatives’. As a result, Santa Claus with his white beard and rosy cheeks has been replaced by a bare bottomed pin-up girl straddling a candy cane. Rosy cheeks remain.

According to Ian Spencer, Managing Director of www.Capitate.co.uk, “Traditional festive images are getting a bit tired. We asked our marketing department to come up with a contemporary twist – something that would turn heads. And that’s what they delivered.”

Perhaps more importantly though, Capitate.co.uk are actually taking their environmental responsibilities seriously. In an effort to become more eco-friendly, many companies will be using cards made from recycled paper. But Capitate.co.uk have gone one better.

Ian Spencer added “As a young company, green issues are important to us. We chose to go with a simple postcard style so we didn’t have to waste paper on envelopes. If other companies stopped for a second and built eco-friendly into the brief, I’m sure it would add up to a lot of trees.”

Capitate.co.uk are so proud of their cards that they’re giving them to anyone who wants them. Send an email with your name and address to e-mail protected from spam bots for a free pack.

Ends

Notes to Editor.

See the url below for more information: http://www.capitate.co.uk/free_christmas_cards1.htm

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About the author:

Ian Spencer is Managing Director of Capitate.co.uk baseball caps

See the Capitate.co.uk Media Section for contact details.

Chinese mega-cities need more community retail stores
In addition to warehouse supermarkets run by Carrefour, Wal-Mart and Metro, Chinese mega-cities are in need of more groceries and chain stores in expanding residential communities.

China to speed up reform, cut back savings rate
China plans to accelerate reforms in the social security and education systems to reduce its 46 per cent savings rate, the People’s Bank of China said yesterday.

Muscat Electronics to display advanced air conditioners at Interiors & Buildex (AME Info)
With the onset of summer in the sultanate, Muscat Electronics LLC is committed to deliver comfort and relief by showcasing its advanced range of air conditioners at Interiors & Buildex 2006, which will be held on April 1-3 at the Oman International Exhibition Center.

Design Chain Associates, LLC Announces the RoHS Business Compliance Program
... Compliance Program Design Chain Associates, LLC, the leading electronics industry RoHS/WEEE services firm, announces a service ...

World Nanotube Demand To Exceed $200 Million In 2009
... A number of developing nations, most notably China, will become increasingly important, as high-end electronics production shifts ...

China to Raise Price of Oil (RedNova)
China announced Sunday it is raising wholesale prices for both gasoline and diesel oil. Gasoline prices will be increased 300 yuan ($37.50) a ton, while diesel will go up 200 yuan ($25) a ton, Xinhua, the official government news agency, said.

Despite this, there are legitimate wholesalers who will work with and for you to help get the merchandise and support you need in a professional manner.You need to know the facts about wholesale trade, wholesalers and middleman, and finally know the resources to explore in order to get started.

Wholesalers exist for the primary reason of moving the goods between the manufacturers and retailers. They normally take care of the logistics and shipment of the goods between the factory and those who sell them.Often wholesalers are the primary distributor for the manufacturer and may have an exclusive relationship with them. The most important fact to realize about most wholesalers is that they do not advertise.You will not find them listed in many search engines, or if they are listed, they are buried deep within the results.In addition, a wholesaler will not normally advertise in any media.

Wholesalers are in the business of moving large quantities of the goods to resellers and other retail outlets. Moving small quantities of goods creates overhead for them, as they are not setup to deal with that type of business.This is not to say they will not sell smaller quantities, but you may find that you will have to negotiate and pay a higher price per unit.Given all this, an honest wholesaler will work with you to find the right channel for you to buy the merchandise if you are willing to work with them. Often they may direct you to local distributors whom they sell too depending on the quantity involved. You should not get discouraged if they do this as it is normally the best way given the quantity involved.

All too often people will come upon middlemen passing themselves off as a wholesaler.Middlemen often do not carry any inventory and merely enter your order into the system so the goods can be shipped to you. They charge a markup, often between 30-50 percent, and offer no value added service for you.These are the people you will find cluttering search engines and advertising using every available method.They do not have your business interests in mind and are only there to push as much merchandise as they can while maximizing their percentage.To put it another way, they are like dialing the operator to make a long-distance call.Sure, you will get the call to go through, but you will pay a high premium over dialing direct.

So how do you go about finding a quality wholesaler? The best place to start is with the manufacturer of the product you are interested in.They can often refer you to their distributor and/or wholesaler. From there they will determine the best channel for you to purchase the goods through, whether it is from them or through a local or regional distributor. Remember, manufacturers want to get their product out there and have sales departments that assist you in such matters.Don?t be afraid to go directly to the source, you may be pleasantly surprised!

To get started making wholesale connections there are a few questions you should ask of yourself and your business.These will help define not only what you need for your business to grow, but also will help the manufacturer and wholesaler get the products to you:

?What volume will I be doing? Is it ten units or ten thousand units?

?What facilities do I have available for delivery and receipt? Wholesalers often ship in pallet quantities via commercial trucking and do not deliver to home addresses.

?How often do I turn over inventory? You don?t want to have 10,000 units of an item sitting in inventory for months or years.

?What is my market area? Don?t underestimate the answer to this. Wholesalers and manufacturers are very strict when it comes to what area you are marketing in because of contracts with other retailers and other financial agreements.

If you are just getting started in establishing a relationship there are a number of online sites that can help you understand the basics of wholesalers and purchasing.However, be very careful of using any type of search engine to gather information. They are flooded with middlemen and others who have nothing to do with wholesale trade and will often lead you down the wrong path before you even get started.

Some of the resources we recommend include:

?National Association of Wholesaler-Distributors ?American Wholesale Marketers Association

?Manufacturers Association Directory

?The National Retail Federation

Wholesaler-Buyer relationships can be difficult to establish, but with a little bit of research and a lot of dedication to tracking down the details you will have a profitable relationship for both you and the wholesaler.

About the Author:

Joaquin Reveron is the President of Video Games Mystery Corp. Trainer and wholesale marketing consultant for online and offline purchases. A Wholesale Distributor is one of the topics discussed at http://www.videogamesmystery.com .

Whether you are just thinking about, or you have decided that you would like to start running a wholesale business, there are a number of items that you should spend considerable time planning and researching before going full steam ahead. Proper planning and fact-finding up-front can not only save you from a lot of headaches in the beginning, but can also mean the difference between a successful wholesale business versus a monetary disaster waiting to happen.

In this article we will provide you with ten tips to help guide you along the way as you begin planning for your business. They are presented in chronological order so that you can use them as a way to plan out the proper steps along the way. Remember, success depends on many factors ? and the most important factor is your determination and energy you put into making your business a success!

Step 1: Ask Yourself Why?

Why do you want to get into the wholesaling business? It is because you would enjoy working with other businesses and manufacturers being the main point of contact between the two? Or is it because you think it is an easy way to make money quick?

Wholesaling is a demanding business, and can require lots of up-front capital, warehousing, logistics planning and customer service skills. As the main channel between the manufacturer and retailers you may find yourself dealing with hundreds of thousands of units of merchandise needing to be shipped across the country on a moments notice. Large retailers often pay on a Net-10 or Net-30 schedule, meaning payment is made after the goods are delivered. What would you do if a retailer did not pay or went bankrupt before you received payment?

Step 2: Study Your Competition

It does no good to enter a market where there already exist established, credible wholesalers for a given product. Retailers want to know they have a dependable supply source that meets their terms and often will not change wholesalers for an established product. Just because you build the warehouse does not mean they will come.

Use your local Chamber of Commerce, the Internet and even visit with retailers to find out what wholesalers exist in your area. If you want to specialize in a specific product, contact the manufacturer directly to find out who handles wholesaling for them already in your region. There may be none in your state, or there could be three down the street.

Step 3: Assess your Financial Situation

Wholesaling can require a lot of up-front capital and expenditures before you even see one cent of income. Do you have the resources to spend on setting up a relationship with a manufacturer who will most likely require you to buy in huge quantities from them? Can you afford to wait up to 30 days for payment? Do you have the money to invest in shipping freight or setting up your own delivery service?

Be sure to look past the startup costs as well. Employees, taxes, property rental and insurance are just a few of the things you will need to factor in as ongoing costs.

Step 4: The Business Plan

A solid business plan is the foundation of any business. You need to make sure that you have spelled out what you intend to do and how you intend to get it done. Not only will banks require this for financing, but often other businesses you deal with will want to see it as well. It should be the guidelines that you follow every day in your business to achieve the goals you have set forth.

For this part, it is often wise to work with a business lawyer or seek professional advice from business consulting services. A good resource to help you find people in your area with the necessary skills and background is the Small Business Administration, located on the web at http://www.sba.gov.

Step 5: Apply for Licenses, Taxing Certificates and Other Necessary Paperwork

Nothing is as certain as death and taxes. It is no different in business, with one exception. As a wholesaler you will be required to pay taxes and other fees to your state and to the federal government.

The one exception is that you will be granted tax-exempt status for the actual goods you are moving between the manufacturer and other retailers. This can be a tricky process and is handled at the state level.

Again, for this part you will want to make extensive use of your state taxing authority as well as local Chambers of Commerce. One wrong mistake here can end up costing you not only money, but possible your entire business.

Step 6: Establish Your Facilities

Location, location, location. Businesses must exist somewhere and like most things in life there are rules and regulations on where they can be. Will you be having semi-trailers coming to your location at all hours of the day and night? Will you have a storefront for vendors and clients to come calling at? What about electrical, water and sewage needs?

Zoning laws exist to make sure that the right structures end up in the right places. Nobody wants a warehouse next door to them in a residential neighborhood. Work with commercial real-estate agencies to find a suitable place for your business.

Step 7: Establish Your Relationships
You have the facilities, you have the financials ? now do you have anyone supplying you product or customers for that product? Work with manufacturers and retailers to build a relationship. This can be one of the most difficult parts of the experience, and is where the rubber hits the road.

In addition, relationships extend beyond your customers and suppliers. It is good practice to establish relations with your local Chamber of Commerce, retail associations and labor organizations in your area.

Step 8: Marketing

Wholesalers traditionally don?t advertise. That doesn?t mean you shouldn?t market your business to others, after all how can you build relationships or expand on existing ones? Wholesaling guides are published and distributed to many retailers and this is where the bulk of your marketing efforts will be directed. The other half should be in going to retailers directly, meeting with buyers and outlining your services. Just because you have a customer today does not mean you can rest on your laurels.

Marketing works hand in hand with building a relationship and maintaining it.

Step 9: The Machine in Motion: Servicing Your Customers

Product is coming in, retailers are placing orders ? we?re all done right? Not exactly. Getting the product to your customers, answering questions about delivery timelines, working with vendors to obtain new product lines, it is a complex and demanding part of the business.

In today?s ?just in time? marketing model a delay in shipment could mean the end to a business relationship. You must keep your customers informed of any status changes, pricing concerns and product movements from your facility to their loading dock. This is where backend systems come into play by maintaining records and logs of all activity with that customer. Do not underestimate the value of a good Customer Relationship Management system (CRM).

Step 10: Employees, Accounts Receivable and Other Financial Matters

Once everything is up and running your next focus is your business financials. Employees need to be hired and fired. Payroll needs to be met. Money must come in, and money must go out. Here you should invest in financial talent and services if you do not possess them already.

One oversight can mean the loss of hundreds of thousands of dollars; a missed payroll deadline could mean your entire business comes to a halt. It is critical that you constantly keep an eye on the books and on your expenditures. Know when to tighten the belt, and know when to expand.

About the Author:

Joaquin Reveron is the President of Video Games Mystery Corp. Trainer and wholesale marketing consultant for online and offline purchases. A Wholesale Distributor is one of the topics discussed at http://www.videogamesmystery.com .

Counterfeiting and Counter Imperialism
Are you certain that the medicine you are taking is authentic? Are you sure your motor car brake repairer installed up-to-specification parts in your car

Retail move from Warner
Warner Bros is to open at least 200 stores in China over the next few years, the firm s consumer products partner Hutchison Harbour Ring has announced. The first store opened in Shanghai on Sunday and it will soon be joined by other Warner outlets in the city, as well as in Beijing, Guangzhou and Shenzhen. Rival group Disney already has 2,600 retail outlets across the country and plans to boost this number to 6,000 by 2009. Warner Bros, the studio division of Time Warner, is chasing a slice of the US$12.5 billion that Chinese consumers are expected to spend on toys by 2010. Driving this spending is a pool of 300 million children aged below 14. However, retail efforts are likely to be hampered by the widespread availability of fake products.

Beijing house prices go up 17.3% in first two months
House prices in Beijing surged around 1,000 yuan (US$124.3) per square metre in the first two months of this year, up 17.3 per cent from the same period last year, according to the Beijing Construction Committee.

Maybe someone you know needs some extra protection when going about his or her daily travels maybe many people. Or perhaps you are a retailer of a hardware store, firearms store, supermarket, or other store, and you want to help your customers to protect themselves.Maybe someone you know needs some extra protection when going about his or her daily travels maybe many people. Or perhaps you are a retailer of a hardware store, firearms store, supermarket, or other store, and you want to help your customers to protect themselves.

You are looking for wholesale pepper spray. Pepper spray is currently the most popular self-defense weapon. That is because it is effective for stopping attackers, easy to conceal and carry, safe for the user, and powerful but not deadly to the assailant. Pepper spray contains oleoresin capsicum, a chemical found in cayenne peppers and other hot peppers. Its Scoville Heat Units (SHU) usually number in the millions (with 16 million being the hottest by definition.) The OC is suspended in a carrier and manufactured in canisters with a propellant. Some pepper spray products come in other forms, such as inconspicuous, easily deployed pens and rings. They have been used by police officers the world over for decades, and in the last few years, pepper spray has become the most desired self-defense weapon for civilians. It is legal in almost all 50 states.

Unfortunately, pepper spray is not always easy to find. People usually have to ask around in order to find it. You can be a solution to this problem by buying wholesale pepper spray.

Normally, pepper spray retails at anywhere $3 to $30, depending on the amount of spray, size of the can, form of the product, and intensity of the contained Scoville Heat Units. You can buy the product wholesale from many online distributors at up to 2/3 off the retail price. One good place to start is safetytechnology.com. You can also find a number of other self-defense and personal security products there.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

We have become very concerned by the number of readers writing to us asking how to determine which are the wholesalers(*) that can be trusted. Why are we concerned? Because when we dig a little deeper, we realize that they are buying properties based solely on the recommendation of the wholesaler. Theyre guessing which ones to trust, and which houses to buy. Thats a dangerous way to do business.

Are we saying that most wholesalers will take advantage of you? Of course not. We believe in wholesaling. We wholesale many deals ourselves every year. Frankly, the majority of wholesalers are honest, and try to provide data that is as accurate as possible. The problem is twofold: first, wholesalers are sales people and present deals in the best light possible. The Buyers still need to do their due diligence to make sure the deal works for them. Second, wholesalers can only provide what the average renovator may incur as expenses. Your individual, specific expenses in any given deal may be higher or may be lower. It also depends on what exit strategy youre planning. Thats why two investors can analyze the same deal, and one decide that it works great, and the other decide theres no profit. Both views may be correct since everyones individual costs vary.

When you purchase any property, you have to calculate your own specific costs to determine if it is a good deal FOR YOU. It could be a great deal for many investors, but not for you. Only you can make that determination. Conversely, other people may have to pass on a deal that you, because you may have better resources available, will jump on the opportunity.

You also have to evaluate the After Repaired Value yourself. We still hear buyers talking about getting an appraisal to determine the value. An appraisal is a tool for the lender NOT for the investor. Appraisals are an art, not a science. We could bring three appraisers to a property, and get three different values.

Therefore, its up to you to do your homework and figure out the right value. The question is: What will this house sell for when the rehab is complete? You obviously do not want to use as a comp the one home that sold significantly higher than all of the others. But by the same token, dont use the lowest values either youll never buy a house. We use the highest price cluster of similar homes we find in the area as our comps. This is the most realistic version of what you can expect in the marketplace. We do not under-value the property making it impossible to buy deals; nor do we over-value the property potentially resulting in no profit.

Use the information the wholesaler provides you as a guide to determine which deals to pursue, but then do your own due diligence. Determine your own specific costs, and determine your own property values. Dont guess whose numbers are correct. In the long run, youll be much more successful as an investor.

(*) Wholesalers are investors who market extensively to attract motivated sellers, get the property under contract, then sell the deal to other investors who will fix up the property and re-sell to owner-occupants.

Best of success & abundance,

Lou Castillo

About The Author Lou Castillo FREE! Real Estate Investing Secrets To Earning $100,000 Your 1st Year!—11 Overlooked Real Estate Statregies That Will Turn Your Investing Business upside Down And On The Fast Track TO Success…Guranteed! Plus A Bonus Track With A Secret So Successful It Can Double Your Investing Income Overnight! http://www.InvestorSuccessTactics.com josh@joeandlou.com