What's new for Q2?

Who else is ready to kick off Q2 with me?  After several false starts, it now looks like spring is here to stay - at least south of the Mason Dixon line.

Q1 was wackadoodle in many ways, and my plate was full with a new line package (and the learning curve that comes with it) and getting my dad through a medical scare (which is all resolved and fine now).

Now it's time to refocus and reconnect.  Oh, and West Virginia - I haven't forgotten about you.  We'll be meeting this month now that snow-covered mountain passages are no longer a threat.

The most exciting development is the addition for four(!) new product lines that will add color, whimsy and laughter to your retail experience:

Dammit Dolls

FCTRY

Simply Whimsical

Umlaut Brooklyn

You may be familiar with Dammit Dolls as it's not a new line to market - only to my line package.  Each 12" creation is a sturdy stress management tool that can really take a whacking - just grab it by the feet and do a dammit slam when stress makes you ready to shout and destroy.  Each doll also has a side-splitting poem to encourage you to vent your frustration with it rather than causing property damage or getting arrested! 

Dammit Dolls are available in many prints but all have the same construction

Unicorn Snot is the most prominent collection from FCTRY.  Your tween customers especially will love this glitter gel collection of products for body, face & hair that will make them sparkle more than they already do!  Choose from Body Gel, Lip Gloss and new SPF30 Glitter Sunscreen.  Gel & lip gloss are available in 5 colors using cosmetic-grade glitter.

Glitter Gel & Lip Gloss from Unicorn Snot

Simply Whimsical was created out of a love for aprons and a passion for fashion.  All of the vibrant, cheerful fabrics are original designs, and the range has grown to include other domestic items such as oven mitts, pot holder, household gloves, "pot pinchers", shower curtains - and the super hot category of dish towels.

The Lemonade apron is also available in a coordinating oven mitt/pot holder/waffle towel set

Umlaut Brooklyn pairs vintage and retro-inspired graphics with irreverent, sometimes naughty humor on greeting cards as well as giftable items such as compact mirrors, business card holders, journals, magnets & notepads.

Just a few of the humorous greeting card options from Umlaut Brooklyn

As Q2 unfolds, I do expect more new product introductions that I will share with you as soon as they are announced.  Keep your shop's assortment fresh and keep customers coming back during the spring months when the weather we compete with changes from snow to sunshine!

One Word: Core

In September, I posted about a book called One Word that inspired me to choose the word RESET as my focus for the remainder of the year.  Since that went so well, I'm choosing a new word for the new year.

My word for 2018 is CORE.

My RESET was successful even though it manifested itself in a way I did not anticipate.  I'm no longer working with the fun, fabulous ladies at Knack.  Our split was a mutual decision that was both amicable and drama free.  It did involve some sadness, but no ill will.  I'm very fond of everyone there, I learned a lot and will remain their biggest cheerleader.

My new career chapter is with Diverse Marketing.  The flavor of the line package is a slight detour from the lane I have traveled for so many years, and I'm already learning about new product categories (to me) and new markets (licensed products).  I'm thrilled that I'm also assuming new sales territory (with the addition of West Virginia) and will get to expand my family of retailers.  I'm a little out of my element at the moment, but that was the whole point of my RESET.  Be careful what you ask for, right?

The transition is what inspired me to choose CORE as my new word.

CORE was a clear choice because the concept provides continuity when you encounter changes, and its components are all connected and apply to different areas of life - personal, physical, spiritual and professional.

I'm easily overwhelmed by change - especially when it entails learning lots of new information in a short span of time - but my core principles remain the same and smooth out the insecurity that accompanies a big transition.

This move to Diverse offers the chance to meet new people, gain more knowledge and integrate my core business (retailers with whom I have built relationships over the years) with my new business.  It's a new adventure that allows me to both strengthen my core and build an even stronger business.

In so many ways, 2017 was a very good year for me, and 2018 looks really promising.  Thank you to everyone who has been part of my business in the past, and welcome to everyone who will be part of my business in the future.  Now it's time for us to jump head first into the new year and make it another successful one!

Time for the next chapter

That photo may have you expecting one of those end-of-year posts, but it's really just announcing a new chapter in my professional life - as your new sales guy for Diverse Marketing.

You're not familiar with Diverse Marketing?  It's my new mission to change that in 2018 by presenting you exciting, fresh new merchandise for your shop.

You can preview the exciting line offerings in the sidebar to the right (with website links) - and notice there are quite a few included.  Diverse specializes in toys and fun gifts, so you can expect our meetings to be entertaining.

Now, I know retailers don't want to hear from me this week leading up to Christmas so I'm spending the down time learning new products and new processes so when we resume business after the holidays I will be ready for you.

In even more exciting news, Diverse maintains a showroom at Americasmart in Atlanta where we can meet, you can put your heavy bag down for a little while, have a glass of wine and spend some of your open-to-buy.  The showroom is perfectly located at the top of the escalator on the 14th floor of building 2.

You'll also notice that I am still your sales rep for many of the lines we've worked together on for years, so please don't wonder if I have abandoned you.  I'll still be bugging you for orders on those lines.

Oh....and you can expect my end-of-year musings next week.

Gift Ideas Under $25 - Green Tomato Pickles from Lauri Jo's

Green Tomato Pickles - the item that launched Lauri Jo's

Holiday entertaining and gift-giving will drive business for the remaining 8 weeks of the year, and your customer will be looking to you for fresh ideas to make their events unique and memorable.

Lauri Jo's is not only a welcome gift idea, it is also an easy way for your customers to add that special ingredient to their holiday meals and parties that will have their friends begging for their recipes.

Lauri Jo (she's a real person!) started the company with a few of her great-grandmother's recipes and began home canning - launching a growing and successful business that now offers over 40 products.

The first item was Green Tomato Pickles:

The Green Tomato Pickle is my HERO!!  It is what started my business and is still to this day my favorite product.  They are the real deal.  It takes 4 days to make this old-fashioned lime pickle....Chopped up, they make the best deviled eggs or chicken salad you will ever eat.  Some people eat them on grilled hamburgers.  Food Network serves them on Turkey Cheddar Melt sandwiches.

She works with local growers and suppliers to bring you the agricultural bounty of South Georgia, producing award-winning pickles, pepper jellies, salsas and other gourmet products, using locally-sourced and all-natural ingredients.

Pepper Jellies are available in 14 different flavors

The pickles and pepper jellies can retail for $8.95, making them easy additions to gift baskets and ideal for multi-unit selling because just one isn't enough!

The pickles are available in 6 different varieties, while there are 14 flavors in the pepper jellies.

All items taste great on their own, and they are often used as ingredients to add a new flavor dimension to common dishes - like with her meatball recipe which I had the good fortune to taste last week and can affirm they are delicious!

Gift Ideas Under $25 - Handcrafted Soap Bars from ManHands

A hearty welcome to ManHands Soap - the newest addition to my line package.  I don't normally take on new lines this time of year, but I'm so excited about this one that I made an exception!

ManHands Soap is the manly scented soap company that you need in your shop immediately - especially in your men's gift section. 

The line was born one day when founder Adam Anderson went to wash his hands and noticed the only soaps he could find in the house were a bunch of girly scents - scents no man should ever have to smell like! 

Among the unique, manly scents are such evocative names as Bacon (#1 seller - no surprise), Cash, Cedar Log Cabin, Pine Tar, Pizza, Zombie Repellant, Lumberjack, Corn Chips and...well, you get the idea.  There are many more.

Bacon is the #1 selling scent

Each 3-oz bar is handmade individually and tested on dudes, not animals.  It is a glycerin-based soap formula that is palm oil-free and vegan. 

Retail each bar for $6.00.  Opening order minimum is only 50 bars, so let's get these in your store right away so you can delight your customers with the gift suggestion for the man who is so hard to buy for.

Gifts Ideas Under $25 - Hand Cremes from Lollia

Hand cremes from the Wish and Breathe collections

Luxury hand cremes from Lollia are always a welcome gift.  For your customers seeking a thoughtful gift that is not too personal, make Lollia's hand cremes your go-to suggestion this season.

Available in seven distinct, romantic fragrances, each hand crème is a rich formulation of shea butter, aloe and avocado oil.

Lollia is well-known for beautiful packaging, but it is also an exceptional product.  Each collection also includes an eau de parfum, a shower gel, bath salts, bubble bath and a soap.  Because each one is a consumable, users will return to your shop when they need more.

Relax is Lollia's #1 selling giftable fragrance collection

Still not convinced this is an ideal gift suggestion?  The hand crème is such a popular item that Lollia offers it in 3 sizes:

• Full size (4-oz) - retail for $25
• Travel size (1.25-oz) - retail for $15
• Petite Treat size (.33-oz) - retail for $7.50

Not sure which scent to get someone?  Relax (pictured above) is Lollia's #1 best selling giftable fragrance collection.  It's hard to go wrong with this lavender & honey based fragrance.

Keep in mind that the smaller sizes are also great impulse items, so fill a jar or vase with them to promote multi-unit sales.

If you're not currently a Lollia retailer, it's not too late to get the collection in your store for holiday sales.  All you need to choose is which 3 fragrance collections to start with (and I'm here to help you with that), and the opening order assortment is already set.

Gift Ideas Under $25 - Canvas Pouches from Emily McDowell

Another hot category this season is zippered pouches, especially among younger female customers.  You know what else is hot with this demo?  Emily McDowell's humor!

So having her signature humor and graphics in a collection of 9 zippered pouch design means you need these in your shop this season!

Your retail customers already know Emily's greeting cards that put into words their feelings on the quirky, complicated relationships we have with friends and family.  Now they can express themselves with a fun twist on an everyday accessory.

This is an ideal holiday gift for so many occasions - girlfriend, secret santa, stocking stuffers, office or book club gift exchanges - but is also a popular impulse purchase.  They also make a fun addition to a girly or beauty-themed gift basket. 

Retail them at $20 with a comfortable margin.  Each pouch is made of sturdy 100% cotton canvas with a cotton lining and gold zipper with fabric pull.  The dimensions are 8.5" x 6.5" - perfect size for makeup, meds, note pads, phone chargers, pens and personal items.

Gift Items $25 & Under - Drinks for Mundane Tasks from Knock Knock

You can always rely on Knock Knock for fun merchandise, so you won't be surprised that they have a plethora of items under $25 for all categories of gift-giving.

Drinks for Mundane Tasks features 70 convivial cocktail recipes to make even the dullest to-do lists more intoxicating.  The tedium of daily life requires at least as much spirit as special occasions do, and the recipes here will make you look forward to your household chores.

Author and aspiring mixologist David Vienna serves up drinks like The Grass Chopper (for mowing the lawn, pictured below), Three Sheets (for making the bed) and The Debt Charge (for paying bills).

It is a 128-page book that is easy to read with colorful graphics.  It's a humorous option for stocking stuffers, co-worker gifts, girlfriend gifts - but maybe not a teacher gift.

Retail it for $14.95 with some breathing room in your margin.

Let's get your store stocked now so you aren't caught off-guard when holiday business kicks in.  If you order at least $400, you will also receive a free half-dozen Fill in the Love Notes, Family version - a $48 retail value.

Gift Ideas $25 & Under - New sock collection from rockflowerpaper

Dachshund Navy pattern

Socks remain a HOT category at retail and is truly one of the must-have categories for your shop this season.  The new sock collection from rockflowerpaper includes 11 designs, some of which are inspired by popular designs already in the line and others that are completely new.  Each pair is an all-over pattern with no words (or profanity) like you find on some other sock companies.

Socks have become the perfect impulse purchase - for a gift or for self-purchase - and a favorite stocking stuffer.  They add life to your store displays and a touch of whimsy to your customers' outfits.

Fair Isle Red pattern

The socks are crew length in women's one-size-fits-most.  They are a cotton/nylon/elasthan blend that makes them durable and easy-care.  

Retail them for $10-12 with a comfortable margin.  Since it's not uncommon for customers to purchase more than one pair, consider offering a price break on a multi-unit purchase ($10 each or $28 for 3).

Holiday Gift Ideas $25 & Under - Aromatherapy Shower Bursts

Shower Burst Variety Packs - Signature, Wellness, Pure Essentials, Lifestyle & Citrus Collections (left to right)

Shower Bursts are the signature item from Hydra Aromatherapy and will quickly become a must-have item for your shop.  They are popular products because they are like a bath fizzie for use in the shower, are handmade with pure essential oils, come in fun packaging and are consumable - which means customers will return to buy more!

Shower Bursts are sold both individually and in boxed variety packs (pictured above).  The variety packs are an easy way for your customers to try different blends to discover their favorite.

Each variety pack includes 4 different scented shower bursts, a sachet that enhances the aromatherapy experience, and instructions for use on the back of the box.  Sachets help shower bursts last longer by allowing them to dry between uses.

To use, unwrap the shower burst and place it on a dish or in a sachet.  Wet briefly to activate.  As it dissolves, aromatherapy oils mix with the rising steam to provide a true spa experience.

Retail the variety pack for $20-$22.

If you order with me before the end of the year, I can offer you two promotions:

• Order $300 or more - receive 1 FREE case of individual shower bursts (your choice of fragrance)
• Order $500 or more - your freight charges are capped at 7% (in addition to the free case of shower bursts)

Let's get these on your shelves.  It's the unique gift that keeps your customers supporting you as a local, independent retailer.

Do you have enough gift ideas in the $25-and-under range?

So.....October is here.  That means 84 more days before Christmas.  That means 12 more weekends before Christmas.

No doubt you are already up to your eyeballs unpacking daily deliveries, and your shop is starting to look festive.  You probably also have glitter on your floor, on your shelves, and in your hair.

Don't forget to carve out time to review your fall buying and ask a very important question:

Do you have enough gift ideas in the $25-and-under range?

Every year I hear from retailers in November who are in need of more product in this magic price range.

Since it's my job to make your job easier (and I know how much work you get done outside of regular business hours), this year I will share suggestions from my line package throughout the month of October.  It just so happens my line package has oodles of ideas that will make your customers happy and your cash register sing!

Note: if you want to be sure you don't miss anything, you can follow me on Instagram or Facebook where I will provide a link to each new post here.  You will find more detailed info here than I can fit on social media. 

Hello, September

September is here, and fall is on the horizon.  Yes, I know September started on Friday.  I also know many people have been enjoying the long holiday weekend.  So that's why I'm greeting September now.

I'm not a pumpkin spice aficionado, but autumn is still my favorite season.  The change in temperatures encourages me to reflect on the year so far and make necessary adjustments that keep me on track to meet my January goals.

You may notice my blog's new look - and new name - if you have visited before.  The format is almost identical but the background is simpler.  My email address and Facebook page have also changed for the sake of consistency.  You can still use sohosalesva@gmail.com (I know it's a pain to change your address book) because all those emails will be forwarded to my new account.  No need to worry if I will get your message - I will!

Why the changes, you ask?

When I joined Instagram, I gave very little thought to my user name.  I planned to use it for building partnerships with both my vendors and retailers but was not clever enough to select anything more creative than @jeffthesalesrep.

The influence of social media led to people addressing me as "Jeff the Sales Rep" when meeting in person - especially people I had not met before.  What surprised me most was that I liked it.  As a professional moniker, it's simple and straightforward, requiring minimal interpretation - in stark contrast to SOHO Sales.

From my old blog, I've brought over posts about our industry that remain relevant and will be adding new ones.  The old blog became cluttered with posts about companies I no longer represent and painted a muddy picture of my business.  

So welcome to my fresh new blog and welcome to September.  Let's partner to make this holiday selling season one that will make your customers - and your accountant - happy.

About Me

Since my last "about me" post was written several years ago, I thought it best to replace it with a more current post.

2017 marks my 20th year in the gift industry!

My career goal when I went to college (Virginia Tech, thanks for asking) was to enter the management training program with Thalhimers department store in Richmond, Virginia, and work my way up.  My college years coincided with the era of department store merging and rebranding, however, which caused a retail earthquake that led me down a different path.

My wholesale career began in 1997 as the showroom manager for a rep group in Los Angeles.  Before that my background was in retail management for Macy's, Timberland and Bloomingdale's.

After several years and some invaluable mentoring from an industry veteran, I went out on the road full-time for that same group.  My territory was Palm Springs and Las Vegas.  Good times!

Then I scratched the itch to return to my hometown in Virginia and open my own gift shop.  In 2005, I went out on the road again to work an entirely new territory with entirely new customers.

My business now is a combination of companies I represent on my own and companies I represent through Diverse Marketing.

The industry has changed tremendously over the years.  Some changes are sad (as when prominent retailers and suppliers go away) and some are exciting (new technology and social media).

Even when the economy is robust, business is challenging.  Some days are exhilarating. Some days are frustrating.  But it's never boring and if you're like me you wouldn't have it any other way.