Comments on: Spring Fair – A sellers visit to source stock http://tamebay.com/2008/02/spring-fair-a-sellers-visit-to-source-stock.html eBay & ecommerce made easy Thu, 24 May 2012 00:03:08 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: Chris Dawson http://tamebay.com/2008/02/spring-fair-a-sellers-visit-to-source-stock.html#comment-4902 Chris Dawson Fri, 08 Feb 2008 21:27:43 +0000 http://www.tamebay.com/2008/02/spring-fair-a-sellers-visit-to-source-stock.html#comment-4902 Ohhh well done Jade! Fantastic early results! :) Ohhh well done Jade! Fantastic early results! :)

]]> By: Jade http://tamebay.com/2008/02/spring-fair-a-sellers-visit-to-source-stock.html#comment-4901 Jade Fri, 08 Feb 2008 20:27:42 +0000 http://www.tamebay.com/2008/02/spring-fair-a-sellers-visit-to-source-stock.html#comment-4901 Well we got our 1st follow up from a supplier today, it was only a letter confirming that we will be contacted, but considering that the fair only finished yesterday, it is a good start. Only about another 8 suppliers to wait for now :-) I forgot to mention :oops: we also got the stonewall from two wholesalers before Christmas, one we left alone because we had chance to view what they had on offer and it wasn't up to much anyway. The other I followed up with a polite phone call and I reckon it took all of 4 seconds to win the sales account manager round. We now have an account with the 2nd and they were one of the main players at Spring Fair with about 4 separate stands! That perhaps adds a little balance to the perception that all suppliers run a mile from e-tailers! :-) Well we got our 1st follow up from a supplier today, it was only a letter confirming that we will be contacted, but considering that the fair only finished yesterday, it is a good start. Only about another 8 suppliers to wait for now :-)

I forgot to mention :oops: we also got the stonewall from two wholesalers before Christmas, one we left alone because we had chance to view what they had on offer and it wasn’t up to much anyway. The other I followed up with a polite phone call and I reckon it took all of 4 seconds to win the sales account manager round. We now have an account with the 2nd and they were one of the main players at Spring Fair with about 4 separate stands! That perhaps adds a little balance to the perception that all suppliers run a mile from e-tailers! :-)

]]> By: Jade http://tamebay.com/2008/02/spring-fair-a-sellers-visit-to-source-stock.html#comment-4900 Jade Thu, 07 Feb 2008 12:01:59 +0000 http://www.tamebay.com/2008/02/spring-fair-a-sellers-visit-to-source-stock.html#comment-4900 Jon I don't wish to infer that I hope you go out of business in my final comment, I just wanted to clear that up. OMG I go on and on when I get excited about a subject, so sorry if my "commenting" appears excessive! :oops: Jon I don’t wish to infer that I hope you go out of business in my final comment, I just wanted to clear that up.

OMG I go on and on when I get excited about a subject, so sorry if my “commenting” appears excessive! :oops:

]]> By: Jade http://tamebay.com/2008/02/spring-fair-a-sellers-visit-to-source-stock.html#comment-4899 Jade Thu, 07 Feb 2008 11:36:30 +0000 http://www.tamebay.com/2008/02/spring-fair-a-sellers-visit-to-source-stock.html#comment-4899 Morning Jon, "high profit is made from customer satisfaction , not retail price" Why does everybody assume that selling on the internet or ebay for that matter equates too poor customer satisfaction? What I am offering is BOTH added in with the convenience and scalability of the web, I know that I am on to a winning formula, if the "old school" supply network don't realise it yet then so be it, luckily there are enough people who do, either because they have seen whats happening, or because they will deal with e-traders through fear, I couldn't give a hoot, so long as they supply me with saleable goods that are fit for purpose from which I can make a profit on that I am happy with. I will look after the custmer better than they could ever dream of, I've worked in customer service in one way or another all of my life, so I am qualified to talk about it without access to online subscription services ;-) A lot of the "economic theories" were written BEFORE the information age or by people who have failed to smell what is in the air. Of course certain products will lend themselves to added value, I think of perfumes and designer jeans as obvious ones, but appreciate there are a lot more. But bare in mind that I was talking to homewares suppliers (not Gucci, or Apple), and we were talking to them about storage solutions, these were companies that supply tubs to keep cornflakes fresh, storage boxes for tea coffee and sugar, shoe racks etc! So tell me what added value a supplier of these products is looking for, they are everyday items and I don't need to read a "deloites" report to tell me what a consumer is looking for, they are most definatley looking for value AND service! I deliver fully on both. Times are changing, this is definitely not getting carried away with e-commerce or "boom-brands", its the future of trade. Can you really see e-commerce reducing in over the next few years? If you can, then I fear you will be one less competitor that I need to worry about. :sad: Morning Jon, “high profit is made from customer satisfaction , not retail price”

Why does everybody assume that selling on the internet or ebay for that matter equates too poor customer satisfaction? What I am offering is BOTH added in with the convenience and scalability of the web, I know that I am on to a winning formula, if the “old school” supply network don’t realise it yet then so be it, luckily there are enough people who do, either because they have seen whats happening, or because they will deal with e-traders through fear, I couldn’t give a hoot, so long as they supply me with saleable goods that are fit for purpose from which I can make a profit on that I am happy with. I will look after the custmer better than they could ever dream of, I’ve worked in customer service in one way or another all of my life, so I am qualified to talk about it without access to online subscription services ;-)

A lot of the “economic theories” were written BEFORE the information age or by people who have failed to smell what is in the air. Of course certain products will lend themselves to added value, I think of perfumes and designer jeans as obvious ones, but appreciate there are a lot more. But bare in mind that I was talking to homewares suppliers (not Gucci, or Apple), and we were talking to them about storage solutions, these were companies that supply tubs to keep cornflakes fresh, storage boxes for tea coffee and sugar, shoe racks etc!

So tell me what added value a supplier of these products is looking for, they are everyday items and I don’t need to read a “deloites” report to tell me what a consumer is looking for, they are most definatley looking for value AND service! I deliver fully on both.

Times are changing, this is definitely not getting carried away with e-commerce or “boom-brands”, its the future of trade. Can you really see e-commerce reducing in over the next few years? If you can, then I fear you will be one less competitor that I need to worry about. :sad:

]]> By: Chris Dawson http://tamebay.com/2008/02/spring-fair-a-sellers-visit-to-source-stock.html#comment-4898 Chris Dawson Thu, 07 Feb 2008 11:11:36 +0000 http://www.tamebay.com/2008/02/spring-fair-a-sellers-visit-to-source-stock.html#comment-4898 I have to point out that the harder you have to work to gain a new supplier generally the better that supplier will be. If they don't want to supply every new eBay (or off eBay) seller that comes along so much the better, you'll have less competition when you convince them that they should supply you. After all - they don't want their time wasted by someone that'll spend £50 once a quarter and possibly be an awkward customer any more than you do ;-) I have to point out that the harder you have to work to gain a new supplier generally the better that supplier will be.

If they don’t want to supply every new eBay (or off eBay) seller that comes along so much the better, you’ll have less competition when you convince them that they should supply you.

After all – they don’t want their time wasted by someone that’ll spend £50 once a quarter and possibly be an awkward customer any more than you do ;-)

]]> By: Gill http://tamebay.com/2008/02/spring-fair-a-sellers-visit-to-source-stock.html#comment-4897 Gill Thu, 07 Feb 2008 11:04:33 +0000 http://www.tamebay.com/2008/02/spring-fair-a-sellers-visit-to-source-stock.html#comment-4897 I have, and I'm sure plenty of others have too, although perhaps not something that is shouted from the rafters! Sure there is plenty of resistance to online only, and quite a few outright refusals. However, that isn't the case with every supplier and in my experience, things get easier the longer you have been established. I have, and I’m sure plenty of others have too, although perhaps not something that is shouted from the rafters!

Sure there is plenty of resistance to online only, and quite a few outright refusals. However, that isn’t the case with every supplier and in my experience, things get easier the longer you have been established.

]]> By: Louise http://tamebay.com/2008/02/spring-fair-a-sellers-visit-to-source-stock.html#comment-4896 Louise Thu, 07 Feb 2008 09:39:41 +0000 http://www.tamebay.com/2008/02/spring-fair-a-sellers-visit-to-source-stock.html#comment-4896 I have always wanted to go to a trade fair like the one being discussed. But after reading and hearing the same story from previous visitors on countless occasions I won't be bothering. It's a real shame that the fastest growing sector of the retail industry is being shunned by wholesalers and manufacturers. I can empathise with the reasons they have given about products being sold for less than the RRP, particularly on ebay. However, none of the traders I know who were trying to get new product leads ever mentioned ebay as they all have thier own sites. "No online only traders" was the catchphrase then and seemingly still is. Has anyone who is an online only trader ever managed to secure a long-term, viable supply source from such a trade show? I am sure there must be some ..... would be great to hear some success stories in this area that appears to be a very tough nut to crack. I have always wanted to go to a trade fair like the one being discussed. But after reading and hearing the same story from previous visitors on countless occasions I won’t be bothering.
It’s a real shame that the fastest growing sector of the retail industry is being shunned by wholesalers and manufacturers. I can empathise with the reasons they have given about products being sold for less than the RRP, particularly on ebay. However, none of the traders I know who were trying to get new product leads ever mentioned ebay as they all have thier own sites. “No online only traders” was the catchphrase then and seemingly still is.

Has anyone who is an online only trader ever managed to secure a long-term, viable supply source from such a trade show? I am sure there must be some ….. would be great to hear some success stories in this area that appears to be a very tough nut to crack.

]]> By: northumbrian http://tamebay.com/2008/02/spring-fair-a-sellers-visit-to-source-stock.html#comment-4895 northumbrian Wed, 06 Feb 2008 21:25:16 +0000 http://www.tamebay.com/2008/02/spring-fair-a-sellers-visit-to-source-stock.html#comment-4895 well bugger me I thought to be in business you need to sell at a profit better get me books out before I get the sack well bugger me I thought to be in business you need to sell at a profit

better get me books out before I get the sack

]]> By: Nick Talley http://tamebay.com/2008/02/spring-fair-a-sellers-visit-to-source-stock.html#comment-4894 Nick Talley Wed, 06 Feb 2008 20:49:22 +0000 http://www.tamebay.com/2008/02/spring-fair-a-sellers-visit-to-source-stock.html#comment-4894 I am with Barry & Jon on this one. Nothing to add to the argument but just a couple of tips for the spring or autumn fairs that I have learned over the years. Wear comfy shoes and don't mention eBay. I am with Barry & Jon on this one.

Nothing to add to the argument but just a couple of tips for the spring or autumn fairs that I have learned over the years.

Wear comfy shoes and don’t mention eBay.

]]> By: R Adams http://tamebay.com/2008/02/spring-fair-a-sellers-visit-to-source-stock.html#comment-4893 R Adams Wed, 06 Feb 2008 20:06:26 +0000 http://www.tamebay.com/2008/02/spring-fair-a-sellers-visit-to-source-stock.html#comment-4893 Northumbrian: 'the true value is what a buyer will pay,' Very true, but that also depends on supply, if you have ever studied economics you will know about elasticity of supply and demand and that selling more at a lower price is not necessarily better than selling less at a higher price. If you haven't studied the most basic economic theories maybe you shouldn't be in business. Northumbrian: ‘the true value is what a buyer will pay,’

Very true, but that also depends on supply, if you have ever studied economics you will know about elasticity of supply and demand and that selling more at a lower price is not necessarily better than selling less at a higher price. If you haven’t studied the most basic economic theories maybe you shouldn’t be in business.

]]>