Wholesale Tips | Shades of Color African American Gifts
THANK YOU YOUR INTEREST IN SHADES OF COLOR WHOLESALE. SELL INSPIRATIONAL GIFTS WITH SOUL THAT UPLIFT AND INSPIRE!
AS A WHOLESALE CLIENT YOU RECEIVE A SPECIAL 50% OFF RETAIL PRICING ON ALL ITEMS. PLUS OUR VALUE BUYS OFFER AN EVEN GREATER DISCOUNT! SELL FROM YOUR IN-PERSON STORE, ONLINE, THROUGH SOCIAL MEDIA, OR AT AN EVENT.
NOW IS A PERFECT TIME TO MAKE EXTRA MONEY. WE SUGGEST DISTRIBUTING A FREE CATALOG TO CUSTOMERS – SEND OUT A PHYSICAL CATALOG OR SEND A LINK . THE HOLIDAYS ARE COMING & YOUR CUSTOMERS WILL WANT TO SUPPORT YOU AND SUPPORT SMALL BUSINESS.
WHOLESALE SELLING TIPS:
— SET YOUR “WHY”
Everyone loves a story – be sure to share yours! WHY did you partner with Shades of Color? Do you have a sales goal? WHY should your customers support you? WHAT do these products mean to YOU??
— DISTRIBUTE OUR DIGITAL CATALOG!
We offer a digital flip through catalog that you can distribute to your customers with our contact information removed. This way customers need to return to YOU for their purchase. Click HERE to get the link.
— BE VOCAL, BE SOCIAL: SHARE & GO LIVE!
Now more than ever we are online & connecting via social media. Use that to your advantage! Use your Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and YouTube platforms to share information about the products you are selling.
1). SHARE! We have an abundance of enticing product photos. Share these with your contacts and let them know to come to YOU to place the order. (Access our Social Media platforms HERE).
2). POST! Use your own social media pages — this allows you to focus on your contacts that are really interested in purchasing. Talk about your products, share photos and videos, and capture leads!
3). Go LIVE! You have a captured audience – go LIVE and use your winning personality to convert your contacts into more customers. This is a great opportunity to show features of the products and why YOU love them! Get your fans excited about the upcoming holiday season. Connect with them and show how these items inspire and why they mean something to YOU!
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We recommend doing this once a week for the rest of the year. We offer a lot of products and you may not be able to run down the specifics of every item at each LIVE virtual event. Consistency will help you stay top of mind. Keep them brief – only about 30 minutes.
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Have customers contact YOU or place what they want in the comments so you can follow up with them to place their order. Point them to your website where they can purchase – copy a link to view that specific item or category. No website? Investigate in a payment processing platform like Squareup.com to get payments virtually or allow for payments to be mailed or dropped off safely.
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Be sure to PROMOTE your Live session often.
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Get to know the products and their features so you can demo why your customers will love that item. Plan out what you want to demo beforehand so that you are more comfortable and have a better flow. Have enough samples on hand to demonstrate.
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Give your customers ideas on WHO they can gift a certain product to. There is something for everyone!
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Practice getting good lighting, try purchasing a mic and tripod, and be sure to look at the right spot on your camera lens.
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Bring the energy – when YOU are excited, THEY will be excited!!
Watch THIS VIDEO for more insight into Going Live!
—PITCH TO CUSTOMERS BEFOREHAND & SEAL THE DEAL ONLINE
Think of going LIVE as hosting your very own virtual booth. Cast a wider net, and your contacts will be able to join you as available. Prep each Live event by pitching in advance to your contacts, allowing you to prepare them and actively hype each product that will be available for purchase. Customers can visualize your products and get acquainted with the brand. Give them a chance to ask questions. Highlight some of your favorite products by posting product photos leading up to your Live event. Send a link to the catalog. Let them do their homework and maybe even expand their orders by talking to family members!
— OFFER REWARDS AND GAMES!
Just because you’re virtual doesn’t mean you have to take out the fun. If you are going to sell Live or on your fan page, try keeping a fun atmosphere going with games, small gift rewards or coupons. Pull some trivia questions. Reward top sellers. Reward for certain items that are either higher priced or aren’t selling as well. Even a magnet or bookmark make a difference — and if you add them to your order YOU get 50% off!
Offer $2, $5 or a percentage off their order based on the total sale. You can also incorporate a raffle— a ticket for every item they purchase, and do the raffle each week for every confirmed (paid for) item. Another idea is a virtual Happy Hour — this is a great way we are connecting with our friends this year. Why not invite your customers to pull up a beverage and join you in your virtual booth display??
Whatever you decide to do with your audience, get creative and make it engaging! ENGAGEMENT is the magical word!
— THANK YOU CARDS
We recommend ordering extra holiday cards, thank you cards or blank cards to personally thank everyone who purchases from you and/or attends your virtual Live event. It shows them you appreciate them supporting you, gives an extra touch, AND again it is showing off a product that they may want to buy from you! (View Shades of Color Stationery HERE).
— IT’S IN THE DETAILS!
We recommend investing again just a little bit into making your gifts look good! Stop by a dollar store and pick up some gift bags, tissue paper and bows. Decorate the bag with a free magnet or bookmark. It will add a wow factor that make your customers feel special. Even if you are shipping from an online store you can still add a special thank you note or sticker to each order for a unique touch. You can also order our ECO Shopping bags as a functional gift bag. Anything you can do to STAND OUT from others with a special touch will help customers return!
— FOLLOW UP!
Be sure to thank your customers and Live! event attendees for coming and supporting, and perhaps they will be more inclined to come again. Send a follow-up note. Send an email highlighting products and let them know that they can still purchase from you even though the virtual event is over. Point them to YOUR website any time you follow up – make shopping online with you as easy as possible!
Post content from your Live event to all of your contacts — this will show those who didn’t attend what they missed so they will be sure to make the next one! Include product photos whenever possible.
— EXPRESS WHO WE ARE
Shades of Color has been creating inspirational calendars, stationery, bags & accessories, kitchenware, home decor and gifts since 1995. We work with uber talented African American & Inspirational artists nationwide. Every purchase supports black artists, small black owned business, and more importantly YOU. For more highlights about Shades of Color to share with your customers click HERE.
HAVE FUN!
These are trying times… Funds are tight, we understand. For some resources are still available, and especially as we get closer to Christmas we anticipate the sales to continue. Our 2021 African American Wall Calendars and Planners are still doing particularly well this season. Shades of Color’s collections are fun and inspirational. Bring that uplifting element with you as you talk about your sales, and that energy is sure to work in your favor!
Enjoy the journey. Here’s to a successful season!!
Best Regards,
Shades of Color Wholesale
800-924-1811 | [email protected]
