Kole Imports Blog

I’m trying something a,  little different today.  Rather than write a short article about something, I’m recommending a book for you to read.  If Oprah can do it, so can Kole Imports.  A huge part of running a successful retail store is product placement and signage.  This is also something that few people really analyze deeply or consider when setting up their store.  It’s hard to know where to begin or how to measure results. 

When doing anything, rather than try to reinvent the wheel, it’s a good idea to look for some expert advice on the subject and then take that knowledge into your own situation and customize it to meet your needs.  One of these weekends I’m going to put an automatic primary chain adjuster on my Harley, but I’m not just going to start taking things apart and guessing at what to remove and replace and what torque to put on the bolts.  I’ll be reading the shop manual and checking the Internet for other people’s stories on how the install went for them, and find out  if there are any problems I need to look out for.  Placing merchandise in your store should be approached in the same manner.  Learn the most effective places to put signs and merchandise before placing them in your store, and understand how your customers shop.

One of the best books on the subject is Why We Buy:  The Science of Shopping by Paco Underhill.  Paco Underhill worked for a variety of the biggest retailers in the world, analyzing customer behavior and learning how to focus people’s attention on the things the store most wanted to sell.  It’s a great read, and you’re sure to learn a lot from it.  You can probably get it at your local library.  That’s how I read it.  If you want to see a preview of the book and read some of it to see if you like it, you can go to Google Books and read some of it.  Here’s the link:  http://books.google.com/books?id=63ecAoBr-a0C&dq=paco+underhill+why+we+buy&printsec=frontcover

At Kole Imports we have a large selection of wholesale tools and hardware, making it easy for you to add a tool and hardware section to your store, or to expand the section you already have.  Take a look at the tool and hardware items you’re selling now, and ask yourself if there’s anything missing.  Think of the items your customers would be likely to buy. 

Of course, hand tools like hammers, screwdrivers, pliers, putty knives, and measuring tapes are always good sellers, but make sure you also sell items which customers use in their projects and need to replace, like nails, screws, zip ties, hose clamps, brackets and hinges.  Tape is another great-selling item, whether it be masking tape, electrical tape, or duct tape.  And don’t forget to stock a few different kids of glue.  Including different length stretch cords, twine and rope is a good idea, as people need to be able to tie things down in their cars and trucks.  Painting supplies are good sellers year round, as people are always thinking of redecorating.  Make sure you have plastic drop cloths and different sized rollers and paint brushes.

See all of our wholesale tools and hardware on our website by clicking here.

Stubby Screwdriver Set # MP129

Wholesale Pliers # MT433

Wholeale Super Glue MP054

People like jars, especially glass jars, and they will buy them if you are selling them.  What do they do with the jars?  Why do they keep buying them?  Are they filling them with money and burying them in their yards, or filling them with homemade jam and giving them to the neighbors?  Who cares?  The point is, they will come back to your store and buy more jars if you have them on sale.  Some of your customers are probably jar hoarders, so take advantage of the opportunity to give them what they want by adding some jars to your inventory. 

We have a few different types of wholesale jars for sale on our website.  Click here to see our wholesale glass jars.  Below are some pictures of the jars.  

Wholesale Glass Spice Jars Item HS964

Wholesale Glass Jars Item HT881

It’s cold.  I had to wear a winter jacket when I rode my motorcycle to work today.  I love California.  But enough about me.  Let’s talk about people in colder climates.

Mom always said, “You should wear a warm hat when you go outside in the winter.  You lose 90% of your body heat through your head.”  It’s even worse if your head is really tiny and bald.  Tiny bald-headed people need hats, and we have lots of baby winter hats, in two different styles (Items BI007 & BI008), wholesaling for well under a dollar.  Cute winter baby snow hats will be great sellers in your store, and you will be helping to protect and nurture the brilliant minds of the future by keeping them warm.  These are a must-buy item if it’s cold outside and you have a lot of parents shopping in your store.

If you carry winter clothing in your store, take a look at your product line and make sure you have things for children and babies.  Kids are always losing their hats, and parents like to have some extra winter hats around for emergencies.

Both of these hats come in assorted colors.  Here are some pictures.  Click one to go to our website.

Baby Winter Hat Wholesale # BI007

Baby Snow Hat Wholesale # BI008

We’re well into the Christmas shopping season, but Christmas is still a few weeks away.  You’re busy running your store, probably open extra hours, and working as hard as you can to make it a successful holiday season.  In all the excitement of the present, don’t forget to plan for the future.

You’ll need to replace all of the items you’ve sold this season, and it’s best to get some new merchandise ordered early so it will arrive before the last of the old items has sold.  You still have time, but you should be making a mental list of what you need, or better yet, a written list of items to buy.  This way, when it’s time to order, the process will be quick and easy. 

This is also a great opportunity to add some new variety to your store.  Now that the Christmas items are gone, you can fill that space with closeouts, winter items, or just about anything you think would sell well to people in your area.  Take a look out your door and think about what items your friends and neighbors need and want.  If you do this every day, you’ll come up with some good new ideas, which will result in happy customers and more sales for you.  You could even ask some of your customers what type of items they’d like to see in your store.  There’s a good chance they’ll mention items other customers would also buy if you carried them.

If you look at the next few weeks as an opportunity to expand your offerings and improve your store, good things will happen.  Don’t wait until the last minute and throw together a quick wholesale order.  Take the time to buy the best possible items, and reap the rewards.

What’s your favorite sport?  It doesn’t matter!  We still have a wholesale product your customers will want, unless they’re into soemthing weird like cricket or roller derby, not that there’s anything wrong with that.  

We told you about our closeout car air fresheners a while back.  Now we also have some nice officially licensed NBA basketball,  MLB baseball, and NFL football magnets.  They’re nice quality, and packaged for retail sale.  They’re a great value, and they will sell out fast, so click here to go to them them now and see if  we have your team.  Below are a few examples of our wholesale closeout licensed sports magnets.

New York Knicks Magnet Closeout # UP068

Atlanta Braves Baseball MLB Magnet Closeout # UP080

Miami Dolphins NFL Football Magnet Wholesale Closeout # UP061