Growing from local to global. Opportunities for wholesale retail to grow your business in Glynn County, GA.
Savvy business owners understand that diversifying revenue streams must be a top priority in their growth strategies.
“The only way to safeguard against future financial crises is to continually be on the lookout for new sales to build a solid portfolio of clients and customers,” George Hojeige, CEO at Virtuzone shared with www.Entrepreneur.com
This is advice for any industry or service, including local makers. Several of the local craftsmen in Glynn County will be seeking to strengthen existing relationships and build new opportunities with wholesales buyers at this week’s Annual Atlanta International Gift | Home Furnishing Market.
The Annual Atlanta International Gift | Home Furnishings Market, hosted at AmericasMart Atlanta, will connect buyers with furniture, gifts, and appeal brands in an unparalleled market experience. This leading wholesale marketplace welcomes attendees from over 80 countries and buyers from the majority of the Top 100 retailers in the US. The event is a leading one-stop product destination that is full of over 8,000 brands, networking events, tastemaker parties, and more.
Glynn County-local brands like Face to Face, Grace Graffiti, and PillowGrace will be among the almost 3,000 visiting exhibitors showcasing their hand-crafted products to wholesale buyers.
Wholesale buyers are a great way to add another revenue stream to your existing business, but it’s not for every product or company. It is essential to consider that selling wholesale will operate differently than online sales, or direct to consumer, channels. To make sure that your business is ready for wholesale, here are a few things to consider:
- Pricing: Do you have the right pricing in place? Are you considering associated costs like freight, different state taxes, marketing, and others? What mark-up makes sense for you, and the buyer, to profit?
- Marketing: How do you stand out from the competition? A buyer’s reputation can be impacted by the brands that they carry. Know your value proposition and review your online presence before meeting with any potential buyers. Don’t forget that the end consumer, and how they interact with your products, are equally important to the buyers.
- Inventory: Do you have the inventory, and funds available, to meet the demand of wholesale? If you have existing sales, can you reach the product demands of both? Last year local Glynn County businesses, Dot and Army and Grace Graffiti, leveraged the Share the Future Grant Program from the Development Authority to help purchase equipment to meet increased demands. Program details for FY 2020 will be released soon so stay posted for information and qualifications.
- Market Research: Talk to local companies that are buying or selling locally made products. Boutiques from Glynn County will be exploring this week’s market to discover the latest trends and new products, including Two Friends, Market on Newcastle, Coastal GA Historical Society and Uncle Don’s. Attending a trade show before exhibiting can be helpful also. If you can’t participate in this week’s marketplace, you can follow the posts from attendees with the hashtag #ATLMKT.
Aside from the knowledge of other local entrepreneurs, if you are considering expanding your business with wholesale retailers, then take advantage of local resources to help you along the way. Business coaching from the Small Business Development Center, SCORE mentors or signing up from 1 Million Cups, are all valuable steps during your research and planning phases.
Adding new sources of revenue can help a business thrive, and even survive during unexpected hardships from customers or the market. Like any business strategy, the best plans are researched and investigated thoroughly. If you are considering wholesale or other opportunities to expand, then take advantage of the local and regional resources to support your business’s smart growth.
Do you have questions about how to grow your business? Email sherripruitt@bwkeda.com for a copy of our Business Resource Guide for contact information on local resources for your business.
Learn more about the local companies attending the Atlanta International Gift | Home Furnishings Market
Coastal Georgia Historical Society works to present and interpret the history and culture of the coast. Explore their collections at one of three island locations, St. Simons Lighthouse, the A.W. Jones Heritage Center, and the Lighthouse Keeper’s Dwelling and Historic Coast Guard Station at East Beach http://bit.ly/2NJmQy1
Face to Face is a family run business that leans toward happy and encouraging collections for the home. They describe their style as a mix of coastal climates with a Scandinavian touch and intentional thought. Visit their brick and mortar on St. Simons or shop online at http://bit.ly/2Jpojp2
Grace Graffiti creates America Made Wooden Art manufactured by hand in Downtown Brunswick. Their home goods are crafted with a mix of rustic charm and modern function. Their studio is by-appointment-only, but you can shop online anytime! http://bit.ly/30oNEVO
Market on Newcastle provides guests an array of vibrant gifts and one-of-a-kind treasures. Trendsetters and design-lovers will feel right at home at their shop in Downtown Brunswick, http://bit.ly/2S0uGBK
PillowGrace brings to life personalized scripture pillows and pillowcases so you can, “Rest Assured, Arise Restored”. In addition to an online market, PillowGrace has a shop on St. Simon’s Island http://bit.ly/2XFcDYc
Two Friends shop in Redfern Villages invites guests to visit and make this “Your New Favorite Shoppe” with their stylish collections of appeal, home goods and gifts http://bit.ly/2LarPFX
Uncle Don’s is a specialty grocer on St. Simon’s highlighting the best of local produce, prepared foods and seasonal gifts. https://www.facebook.com/UncleDonsLocalMarket/
Is your Glynn County business attending #ATLMKT and we missed mentioned you? Let us know by dropping a line. We love to hear what our local businesses are up to and share their success.
