The Biz: Feature Articles

So many exhibitors responded to our inquiry about their “Must See” products on display at next week’s ABC Spring Educational Conference and Trade Show that we made it a two-part series. Since this ABC event is all about learning from others in the town built upon luck, brand representatives also shared their best business tips and the luckiest they have ever been in their lives. See Part One of the ABC SEC preview published April 19, 2012. The ABC Spring Educational Conference and Trade Show will be held April 25-27 at the South Point Hotel in Las Vegas.

Trends come and go, but one thing always stays the same: classic clothing. While customers are sure to scoop up a few of the latest trends for their children, they are happy to invest in foundational pieces that never go out of style. Vintage clothing and accessories speak directly to our nostalgia, our sense of sturdy, trusty fashion, and remind us of our heritage. Partnering with vintage purveyors, including Home Spun Vintage, Grass & Clovers, Rachel Riley and Bottleblond Jewels, offers a timeless way to add to a retailer’s sales foundation.

In sales, the end goal is to close the deal and write that order. Sadly, many sales professionals and novices alike are so fixated on the order that they overlook the process and are often shut down mid spiel. If you’re looking to get to the close, you have some homework to do before you approach the retailer. There will be some thoughtfulness to consider before and as you talk to the retailer, as well as some hustling to do after you leave the retailer. To help remember this process, I’ve broken down the word C.L.O.S.E.

Clothes that are geared towards a healthy lifestyle are gaining ground. We’ve already seen how some footwear brands now claim the wearer can stand straighter, lose weight, increase heart health, and promote better balance. Most of these products are geared towards a mature adult audience, but doctors and researchers know that the beginning stages of development are the most important because these formative phases are the building blocks for life. Miniature Milk, an infant clothing purveyor, is one of the pioneers in providing infant wear with value-added function.