HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO US!

"It has been a year since we launched our eCommerce website www.discount-wholesale.co.uk, on 2nd May 2012. It has been an incredible year for us and we have been delighted with the response to the website, our product ranges, and our service. We have built fantastic relationships with our customers and cannot thank them enough for their ongoing support and business. Our staff numbers have grown over the year and we have a very strong team of customer service, transport & logistics, website content & design, and marketing. Our plans for 2013/14 are to carry on growing the business, to offer our customers an increasing range of discount products, and to continue to improve our service and website. Thank you to the incredible ITP Imports team and our customers for an amazing first year!"

Helen Todd, Business Manager | ITP Imports Ltd

Summer Is Nearly Here...

No, really, it is. While it may seem like winter and the very start of 2013, in actuality, most retailers and Discount Wholesale customers need to start thinking about Spring and Summer very soon indeed. To that extent, our Discount Wholesale Showroom (Located in Normanton, viewable by appointment) is being changed over this week in preparation.

All of our Christmas goods have been removed, to be replaced soon with the latest gardening and summer items. Stay tuned for more updates, rest assured we are working very hard to have the right products at the right time. We will let you know when our new lines are available. In the mean time here is a picture of where all the Christmas stock was and where all the new items will be.

For all your Pound Lines, Toys, Gardening, Christmas, Halloween and general discount store wholesale items, please visit the full range at www.discount-wholesale.co.uk. Discount Wholesale is part of the Poundworld Retail Group Ltd.

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas from the Discount Wholesale team! We will see you in 2013!

Organising Your Products for a Better Shopping Experience

Product Positioning 

Hopefully, you have read our previous post regarding seasonal goods and planning ahead so that you have the right stock in at the right time. But, while having the right products in is vital, there are a few tips and tricks which can maximise these goods to their full sales potential. 

The first thing sounds simple, but can be a little difficult to achieve. However, it is extremely important. Lets say, for example, you have purchased a range of Halloween goods from Discount Wholesale. It’s mid-September and now is the time to order what you think will sell well. Once the stock has arrived, now it is time to think where in your store you would like to display the goods. 

"It is important to keep all similar or related goods together in one place or section."

First and foremost, it is important to keep all similar or related goods together in one place or section. It may be all the new stock you have purchased e.g. all Halloween goods, but also any existing items you think could be tied into to sit alongside the new goods. If you have all related items near each other within your shop, it provides a cleaner and clearer shopping experience. In addition, it increases the chances of a customer buying not one, but 2 or 3 similar items as they can easily see products that may work well together. For example, they may visit to buy a Halloween mask, see the Halloween sweets nearby and buy both. 

This does not only apply to big events such as Halloween or Christmas, but to all of the goods in the shop. 

Window Display 

This may not be an option to all shops, however it is an often overlooked and underestimated promotional tool. As an example, we will use Halloween again. If you have window space, then you can use some of the stock that you have purchased to create a window display for Halloween. It will cast potential customers eyes and if you actually remove products from their packaging it will help towards the display being more effective. Yes, it will technically cost you the money of the goods ordered, however in relative terms, this is a very cheap and cost effective way of creating trade. 

The same could be said when displaying the merchandise inside the store. You could create a similar display inside, with a few selected goods removed from their packaging to show potential customers how good the gods are or so that they can get a hands-on feel before committing to purchasing.

For all your Pound Lines, Toys, Gardening, Christmas, Halloween and general discount store wholesale items, please visit the full range at www.discount-wholesale.co.uk. Discount Wholesale is part of the Poundworld Retail Group Ltd. This article can also be found on our Advice Centre.

Seasonal Trends and Planning Ahead

It is very important that your shop represents what people are buying in the current season. There are many to look out for and this guide will hopefully help you to know who, what, why and when. 

First of all, some trends/seasons/times of the year that can be beneficial to your business. 

For example, August. August is the end of the British summer. Hopefully you already have items for sale related to summer, such as disposable BBQ’s and sun lotion, so they should continue to sell. But, it is also prime festival season. Camping essentials should see an upturn in sales and especially if there is a music festival relatively near to your shop’s location. Not only that, but by the end of August and start of September, the Back to School push starts in earnest. 

"In order to make the most of such events and potential sales, a plan for upcoming events is the best way to start."

In order to make the most of such events and potential sales, a plan for upcoming events is the best way to start. Simply write down or print of the months of the year and write next to each one any events (e.g. Mother’s Day, Easter, Christmas etc) or seasonal happenings (e.g. Snow in January, sun in July etc) and when you next come to ordering goods, bear these in mind. Another thing of note is to plan well in advance or at least have some sort of idea which type or kind of products you would like order well before each date. 

Here is a very quick and brief run-down of events that happen each year so you can form a basis to your list. 

February - Valentine’s Day = Gift type goods e.g. small teddies, sweets etc. 
April - Mother’s Day = Small gifts suitable for Mums e.g. perfume gift sets, chocolate June - Summer is here, or at least very close = Holiday items e.g. lotion, sun glasses etc. 
Father’s Day - Small gifts suitable for Dads e.g. shower gift sets 
July - Summer well into the swing of things = BBQ e.g. disposable BBQ’s, fire-lighters etc. 
August - The end of summer is nigh but a month filled of music festivals = Camping e.g. tents, torches, sleeping bags etc. 
October - Halloween! Ideally order the stock at the end of September so you can have a whole month on sale. e.g. masks, sweets, costumes, toys etc. 
November - Christmas is a month away, all Christmas stock should be on sale e.g. wrapping paper, decorations, sweets, toys, the full works! 
December - Time for last minute Christmas shopping. 

Don’t forget, however, events that do not happen every year, but still provide a platform for sales. A great example would have been the 2012 London Olympics, with a whole host of Olympic-related products for sale. Other such opportunities exist within in sport such as: 

Football - A World Cup or Euro event can provide your business with the chance to sell football and England related goods. If England have qualified for an event, this is of course a big help! Products could include: Footballs, flags and anything with the St. George’s Flag printed on it!

For all your Pound Lines, Toys, Gardening, Christmas, Halloween and general discount store wholesale items, please visit the full range at www.discount-wholesale.co.uk. Discount Wholesale is part of the Poundworld Retail Group Ltd. This article can also be found on our Advice Centre.

Product Preview | Lets Go Fishing!

Wanting to tap into the lucrative fishing market? Whether your customers are keen fishers or just starting out, we all know how much the equipment can add up to. In order to really do it properly, all sorts of apparatus is needed. Be it reels, lines or simply a Tupperware box to keep your maggots in.

Certainly, the popularity of fishing is something that is still burgeoning and most people do it all year round. If you would like to enter this lucrative market for your store, or are already in the market place but are looking for some new high value alternatives, then Discount Wholesale has you covered.

While (sadly) we can't demonstrate how to use the products that Discount Wholesale offer (there isn't a canal or river near our base), what we can do is provide a quick video of what the products and packaging look like up close. You can watch it embedded below. Also, visit http://www.discount-wholesale.co.uk/ and search for "fishing" for the full range.

The Go Fishing! range of fishing items and goods are only available from February through to September, due to the seasonality of demand.