Taking Sides in 2010?

by ruebenmarley
8 Mar 2010 at 12:38am
Unsolved mysteries that lie deep within China's IT Industry, the raging currency-exchange policy debate, the PRC working with Washington on thorny issues like Iran, China's ?Man of the Year? becoming an instant national celebrity, a self-professed display of ?strict? adherence to WTO rules in the past few years, and taking your frustrations out on customers... it's all part of a highly-charged state of news these days, and the top stories are here on the Newsroom, for you to read and apply to your own situation in the wholesale and retail business. Like it or not, these are stories that affect us in just about every capacity, and only the informed will prevail during these trying times.

Chinese New Year in Modern Times

by ruebenmarley
8 Feb 2010 at 8:48pm
With China being in the spotlight for the past few years - and with that spotlight growing in heat and intensity over the last few months ? there's a lot of confusion surrounding the PRC... and unfortunately, with that confusion often comes a lot of room for misinterpretation. In this piece, we will take a look at the celebration that practically stops China in its tracks for about a week, and what this might mean for the wholesaler or retailer who wants to continue doing business with their partners in the far East. If you're a newbie to the China biz, you might want to take some notes, and start practicing your skills in Chinese... it's time for a little China 101, with emphasis upon the modern CNY. You don't know what CNY is? Click here to find out more!

Specialty Retailers Are On a SPREE!

by ruebenmarley
2 Feb 2010 at 6:05pm
As many of us have expected, there is a major shift in the economy, as well as a major shift in the way business is done these days. While some companies and industry groups have been sticking to outdated methods in the hope of regaining and salvaging profitable sales activity, there is a new breed of industry specialists who have emerged, and they are starting to redefine what the wholesale and retail industries will look like in the future. With all of the economic instability in the world today, there is still a very predictable and quantifiable number of consumers out there... which means there actually is life after an economic crisis! Read on to see one of the major events of the year, as we investigate a major player in the world of the specialty retail industry.

China?s Bubbling Economy vs the Boiling Point

by ruebenmarley
21 Jan 2010 at 6:31pm
Looking at today's economic climate in China, we're seeing the results of a long-term plan that has weathered some rather violent up-and-down swings over the past two decades. Like it or not, the PRC has risen to new ranks, as China now edges ever closer to overtaking Japan as the world's second-largest economy, and nearer to what some speculate to be the end of US dominance over the world's currency standard. What this means to wholesalers and retailers is really quite obvious, but there are still many things to take into consideration before forming a strategy of your own, as China's evolving markets form both a tempting and perilous place of business for the next few years.

General Merchandise: Off Shelves, and Online?

by ruebenmarley
18 Jan 2010 at 7:13pm
The balancing act is over, in terms of getting through the holiday season of 2009... and with that comes the stream of indicators and data that lead many analysts and speculators to rethink their approach to getting merchandise moving for the new year. While the initial reports showed a fairly healthy wave of activity from buyers and consumers in the usual markets, the numbers have been revealed, and the results are in. What we're seeing may come as a surprise to some, but for wholesalers and businesses working to build their market potential in online sales, this could be a year to make some critical decisions, and a time to start preparing for the way things are done in the years to come.

Wholesale Retail Returns: Risk and Reward

by ruebenmarley
13 Jan 2010 at 7:02pm
We're halfway through the first month of 2010, and it's time to start looking at how gift returns from dissatisfied consumers can be viewed as constructive - even profitable - opportunities for those in the wholesale business. It's not all about apologies and excuses, as you know... but perhaps more about cementing the goodwill of your customers and even elevating their expectations based on your amazing service. There is another side to the returns scenario as well, and in this story we'll take a look at return fraud as a major hurdle to overcome during the post-holiday blitz, and the realities of purchasing large-volume returns from retailers who are looking to liquidate their returns inventory.