Wednesday, February 26, 2014

You Shoe Business in 3, 2, 1...

Establishing a business from scratch can be very hard and risky – especially when it comes to the budget spent on setting up the company and getting the capital to begin with. When you’re starting up a store to sell shoes, you’ll need to undergo a lot of things first.

Besides going through several feasibility studies, you’ll need to go through three steps in order to set up your shoe shop.


Image Source: North Shoes
First, to ensure the success of a store, choosing the right company to partner with is important. You need to find a shop that can provide you with wholesaleshoes for women and men, if you decide to sell to both markets. But before you can go with any store, you need to know if this partner can provide you with quality, comfortable and stylish shoes without causing your business any trouble. While shops with less experience may offer cheaper prices, they may not be able to provide the right customer service that you deserve. In the same way, just because a supplier sells expensive wholesale shoes, it doesn’t mean they can also provide the service and quality you desire. Choosing the company to partner with is essential to your business.

Second, you need to consider your budget. Starting a business is not an easy venture. If you don’t have enough money to fund your business, you may not be able to get your shoes on hand. Maybe you can settle for co-signing products instead or going for a pre-order basis of orders. If you set enough budget for your initial capital, you may be able to purchase your first set of shoes for sale.

Third, now that you have your budget and a company to partner with, it is now up to you on how to choose the shoes to purchase. If you’re targeting women, it’s always best to keep a look out on the latest fashion trends of celebrities. Usually, people like to find affordable, but similar versions of these shoes so you can look for these from your supplier. Those who want to target men will always require the basics – slippers, loafers and black shoes – the pairs of shoes common for men.

Running a business isn’t a piece of cake. It requires brainstorming, proper research and feasibility studies and the time to commit to the venture. Without these, even a large capital may not be enough to guarantee a successful business.
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Wednesday, February 19, 2014

Footwear Not to Wear to the Office

With so many options in wholesale shoes online available, what should career women wear at the office? Actually, the bigger question is, what should they NOT wear? Varieties of shoes abound, and there are quite a lot of kinds that will definitely not look good when worn in the office.

Here are some of Shoes not to Wear to the Office:

  • Shoes with bows and sparkling embellishments

shoes-with-bow

Why Not: Do you see a bow in your shoe? Does your pair rival the sparkle of disco balls and glitter on a Christmas tree? Then, you cannot definitely wear these pairs to the office! Office footwear should be conservative, and while the modern times have loosened rules on what can be worn or not in the office by a bit (at least, women can now wear pantsuits and men need not wear a jacket the whole time), there is still a very visible line between what is acceptable and what is plain and simple loud.

Bows can be worn on your hair, but on office footwear, that would look too casual. Anything that sparkles and shines too much would give the impression of immaturity, and that’s one image you want to avoid in the office.

What to Wear Instead: If you want something more stylish than just a pair of pumps or flats in one tone, you can have a discreet small ribbon on the shoe. Just make sure the design detail is kept at a minimum and in the same color as the shoe. As for sparkles, simple: N-O.

  • Flip flops

flip-flops
Why Not: If you are in the beach, during the summer or in the tropics, then it’s high time for you to strut in those thong slippers or flip flops. But the thing is, you are not in the tropics, and you are not in the beach. Flop flops do not match any office attire, unless you’re coming to work wearing shorts and a bikini top with a lei and a welcome drink. Save your flip flops for your Hawaiian vacation.

What to Wear Instead: If you want to keep a more casual feel on your office get-up, then wear flats. That’s the most causal; you can get without looking unprofessional.

  • Stilettos


Stilettos

Why Not: Those pointy-heeled shoes do give the wearer at least 4 inches of extra height, but who want to look like they’re wearing a murder weapon in the office? Those shoes don’t only look, but can be very uncomfortable to wear, which should be something career women should avoid. I mean, while it is true that they need to look stylish in the office, they also need to feel comfortable, which is, in fact, the main consideration.Not to mention they make that clicking sound on floors that disturbs everyone at the ofice.
 

What to Wear Instead: If fashion and professionalism should be balanced, the kind of shoe you should consider from the wholesale shoes inventory would be pumps. Pumps have heels, which give the wearer additional height, but also look professional and powerful, not to mention they look right with power suits and office clothes.

Image source: EtsyCitrine's BlogeBay
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Wednesday, February 12, 2014

Commandments for Social Media Use for Businesses

Like all other businesses, your wholesale shoes venture could benefit from the hottest thing in the world of online marketing – social media. But there are some rules, actually commandments that you’d need to abide by to keep these platforms on your side. Here are some of them:

Image source: IT Edge News

Thou shalt blog.

Blogging updates information. A new piece of information is always welcome for reactions and comments. These comments are the ones that would make or break your company. Good comments would provide more chances of being known through sharing of your blog. Not updating your blog would let readers forget your store ever existed.  So to protect your company, better have interesting blogs released in a timely manner to make people hungry for more.

Thou shalt create authentic profiles.

There are a lot of fakes online and one must be careful not to be identified as one. Have a site that is credible. Make it look professional. Also showcase your products at their best. If you are selling shoes, then you need to blog about wholesale shoes that would inform customers about your promotions. These are sure ways to let customers know your store is legit.

Thou shalt have a dedicated person or team running your platforms.

Having a dedicated team running the platforms that you have utilized would ensure that the said media are well cared for. Your team would respond to queries and address complaints. They can also deal with any kind of problem that can arise like a server that is down or a site that is not accessible. These technical problems are best handled by experts in the field of social media.

Thou shalt not use social media to fight with anyone, even with trolls.

Fighting does not amount to anything. When you fight online, it would mean that your company would stoop to their very low level. It is better to ignore negative trolls. As for negative comments, try to address the problem and provide suitable explanation that would not out you and your company is a bad light. Explaining your side is good, but never whine nor complain and just stick on how the problem can be solved. Sarcastic and snarky are images that don’t bide well with how your company should be viewed as.

Thou shalt diversify your content being posted on various platforms.

Posting on one platform is not a good idea. This would limit your influence online. Not everyone would be using a particular platform anyway so better choose the social media that have plenty of users. It is better to post in different social media for wider influence than one medium with a limited one plus popularity of social media is unpredictable, one minute it is popular, the next it isn't so to be on the safe side, use different platforms.
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Wednesday, February 5, 2014

Get Your Shoe Vocabulary In Check

Women’s shoes wholesalers have to be in-the-know of all terms pertaining to wholesale shoes for women. You can't really have a business like this without knowing what your products are. So, get your women's shoes vocabulary by reading below: 

Ankle Strap
A style of footwear with a strap attached at the rear end of the shoe that encircles the ankle.

Ballerina Flat
ballet-style flat shoe that is good for everyday wear. These wholesale shoes can be dressed up or down, depending on the occasion. Its versatility makes it a best-seller.

Boot
A style of footwear that extends above the ankle and above. This type of wholesale shoes sells out fast!

Bootie
Known as a shootie or a shoe-boot, this is a boot that has the style of a shoe that does not go beyond the ankles.

D’Orsay (“door-say”)
A type of pump with one or both sides cut.

Espadrille
A rubber-soled sandal with and a woven rope or a similar material covering the wedge or the sole area.

Kitten Heel
A tapered low heel with a narrow base.


Mary Jane
A low-heeled shoe characterized with a strap that goes across the instep. The Mary Jane will  never go out of style, so be sure to stock up for your wholesale shoes business.

Moccasin
A slip-on shoe with a soft leather bottom with visible stitches.

Oxford
A low-heeled shoe that covers the entire foot with laces tied over the instep.

Peep Toe
A style of footwear characterized with a narrow opening at the front, slightly showing the toes.

Platform
A shoe or a sandal bearing a high and thick sole, usually with high heels to adjust to the thick sole. Women love this type of wholesale shoes because it gives them height without the pain.

Pump
A slip-on type of shoe with no fastenings, usually having any heel height. Another women’s wholesale shoes classic!
Sandal
A type of footwear fastened by straps.

Slingback
A style of footwear with a strap attached at the rear end of the shoe that encircles the heel.

Sneaker/Running Shoe
A comfortable and lightweight shoe with a rubber sole, usually used for athletics.

Wedge
A heel that follows the shoe’s contour, extending from the back of the shoe to the front, filling the entire shank portion; heel may be of any height.
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Wednesday, January 29, 2014

How to Keep Your Brick and Mortar Business Afloat

The most common trend in business nowadays is to make it big online. Everyone’s goal seems to gain a huge following for their e-business sites, which means brick and mortar businesses may not get the attention they badly need. So, how do you return the fervor not to mention more customers to your physical store?

Here are some ways to be Successful in your Brick and Mortar Business:   

brick-and-mortar-business

Fight fire with fire by getting customers online to your store.

A lot of businesses have setup online stores without seeing the need to have a physical store to sell their goods.  If you are on the other side of the fence and have a brick and mortar store and don’t have an online one, then it is time to go for it.  Going online is the trend for retail stores nowadays.  You can use social media sites like Facebook and Instagram to sell your wares.  It is simple, easy to use and best of all, can reach out to a lot of your potential customers.

Give customers more reasons to visit your store.

Marketing your products online is one way of enticing your customers to visit your store.  You can use your online accounts to market what you have on your store.  You can also post promotions on your wholesale shoes online or have additional discounts for store purchases so that people would know and have a reason to visit your store. 

Make coming to your store more convenient. 

Make sure your store’s location is somewhere where people can easily go to.  Before settling down on a location and dealing with the owner for the rent, check if the place is easily accessible by transportation.   Also, check on the surrounding areas if it is beneficial for your business.  If the place has existing foot traffic on going, then the location is good.

Provide visiting customers the total shopping experience.

A great shopping experience is something that you can offer which online stores can’t.  Work on this and make this your ace for your shoppers.  Giving your shoppers the chance to try out the pairs on your wholesale shoes, shirts and dresses is an experience that will make the shoppers go for your products.  People want to touch and feel what they are buying.  You can also offer some refreshments like drinks and cookies for your shoppers. 

Image source: DezeenCanada.com
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Wednesday, January 22, 2014

Display Your Shoes the Right Way

For those who love to shop on wholesale shoes sites, having to store footwear can be a challenge. Where do you keep your hundred or so pairs? Would you need a separate closet or room just for shoes?

Here are some options you can use to store and display your shoes:

Level shelves


What they are: This type of storage is the open type of storage. It can be directly placed against the wall or you can buy one that is already pre-assembled.  It can come in different lengths and widths.

Pros:  You can stack up as many as you want if you have a big space to place it. 

Cons: Installing it can be quite a challenge.  You would need a leveler as well as a drill to be able to install it properly.  Not being able to do so might cause the shelf to be unbalanced. Also, since it has no cover, your shoes can be seen and dust can easily gather around it.


Closets or Cabinets

shoes-cabinet

What they are: This type of storage is a closed type and can come in different heights and sizes.

Pros: You can keep your collection that you got from the wholesale shoes sale away from the people.  It can also protect your shoes from being a dust magnet.

Cons: You would have to clean the shoe before storing it in the closet and making sure that it is dry.   You also need to freshen up the closet once in a while to get rid of the smell.


Individual clear boxes

clear-shoe-box
What they are: These are usually made of plastic so that you can see the shoes stored inside the box.

Pros: You need not open each box when looking for a certain shoe as you can see which pair is  in what box.

Cons: It can be quite expensive especially when you got a lot of shoes from the wholesale shoes section.


Tilted shelves

tilted-shoe-shelf

What they are: These are shelves wherein the storage level is tilted downwards facing the user.

Pros: You can easily see the shoes that are lined up because the shoes are facing you.  Choosing the perfect pair of shoes to go with your outfit is easy and can be done in a snap.

Cons: It may need a lot of wall space where it can be placed against.  Also, since it is open, dust can settle in the shoes which means you need to clean everything once a week.


Suspended shoe racks

suspended-shoe-racks

What they are: This type of storage is one that you can hang in your closet or a space provided you have a rod where you can hang it. You can even hang it behind a door!

Pros: It can be mobile and you can change the location easily.

Cons: It can only store a limited number of shoes because of the limited design it has.  Also, transferring the whole thing to a different location may need some work as you would have to bring down all the shoes first before you can transfer the contraption.

Image Source: houzz.comHome Posh
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Wednesday, January 15, 2014

Footwear on the Red Carpet

The awards season has begun! That means the entire fashion industry is having a field day again, with all the trends and events going on. Of course, aside from the gowns and accessories, footwear are also in the spotlight, which is why wholesale shoes businesses should be alert.

So, what shoes rocked the first “legit” event of the year, the Golden Globes?

Emma Thompson

Image source: Mirror

What the shoes were: Emma Thompson definitely surprised the people when she walked down the stage barefoot carrying her shoes on one hand and a martini glass on the other.  She wore a peep-toe high-heeled Christian Louboutin shoes which is easily recognizable because of its signature red soles.

Rating: 8 in terms of going with the dress. 10 for the acting during the awards proper.

Did it work?: Wearing a Christian Louboutin does not disappoint especially when you have an established shoe brand on your soles.  It worked well with her dress as well as with getting the audience’s attention during her wacky moment during the awards show.


Emma Watson

Image source: Tom and Lorenzo

What the shoes were: The shoes that Emma Watson wore during the Golden Globes were definitely a pop of color that broke the monotone red color of her outfit.  The cobalt-blue suede heels were a refreshing sight to see and no one could pull it off elegantly other than her.

Rating: Definitely a 10 for style and drama.

Did it work?: It worked well for the overall dramatic look of the outfit.  What she had was something that only she could pull off well. It looked like a plain red gown with a high slit and bow in front but the drama of the dress could be found at the back. This was what caught the attention of the fashion police as it was probably the most expensive apron created.  She definitely stood out from the crowd that night with her stylish look and outfit.

Drew Barrymore

Image source: Vogue

What the shoes were: Drew Barrymore wore a pair of red high heeled open toe shoes in red that definitely matches her Monique Lhuilier floral piece from the designer’s Spring 2014 collection.

Rating: 8 for the cuteness factor.

Did it work?: The red open-toe high heeled shoes, which you can see often in the wholesale shoes business, worked well with the floral outfit. The frock was decorated with floral embellishments that were in the red color palette.  It made Drew look refreshing to the eyes of the audience and it showed her glow radiating from within most probably because of the baby bump she was proudly showing off.

Paula Patton

Image source: Daily Mirror

What the shoes were: She matched her floor-length gown with Charlotte Olympia “Paloma” platform heels which was definitely of the same shade of the gown.

Rating: 5 due to the over the top ruffles that proved to be a distraction

Did it work?: The whole outfit definitely caused a stir when she walked down the red carpet.  Although it was something that hugged and showed off her great figure, the oversized ruffles ruined the look for her.  It was something over the top and not a lot of people were happy about of her choice of outfit for this year’s awards.

Zoe Zaldana

Image source: Fabsugar

What the shoes were: Christian Louboutin in almost the same shade of pink that accented her glamorous outfit made by Prabal Gurung.

Rating: 8 for stylish and simple elegance that the outfit had

Did it work?: The pink Louboutin definitely worked well with her outfit. It was almost, if not the same shade of the pink accent of her outfit and Bottega Veneta clutch.  The whole look spoke of simple elegance wherein one is showing off just enough skin and leaving the rest to the fantasy of the viewer.
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Wednesday, January 8, 2014

Flats are Back

As the spring edition of the New York Fashion Week 2014 proclaimed, it seems that flat shoes are back in vogue. Many designers used flat shoes to display their expensive and elegant designs in their fashion shows, even those who are into haute couture. For businesses into wholesale shoes for women, this is the perfect opportunity to move flat shoe stocks. On the other hand, for fashionistas who don’t really love being in heels all the time, this trend is a welcome treat.

flat-shoes

So, here are some pointers for those who want to join the bandwagon and wear some flat shoes. After all, just because it’s trendy doesn’t mean anybody can just wear them without careful consideration of some factors!

How to Wear Flat Shoes               

Skirt length is important

flat-shoes-and-skater-skirt

Flats are worn best with short skirts that are at least an inch above the knee. With short skirts, you will still be able to create the illusion of having longer legs even without the help of height usually provided by heels of your footwear. While wearing flats with short skirts is very chic, pairing flat shoes with very long skirts is the exact opposite. The combination of long skirts and flat shoes will not give you a flattering silhouette.

Choosing the right pants

flat-shoes-and-sequin-pants

When wearing pants, flats are best paired with capri pants or cropped pants. You may also wear pants that are longer but the length should just be enough to graze the top of your foot. If the hem of your pants even just grazes the back of your shoe, it will make your look more on the shabby rather than chic side. Slightly flared pants as well as straight cut pants also work well with flats especially those that have pointed toes. Tight pants such as skinny jeans and leggings may also work well with flats but this combination offers more misses than hits especially for those who are too skinny.

Get the current styles and avoid being dowdy

flat-shoes

If you are into buying wholesale shoes, it is best to know first which are the latest styles and go with them. Choosing styles and designs that are out of season will be such as waste as they will just end up in making you look dowdy instead of being on top of the trend. Find out as well the embellishments that are hot for the current season, whether these are metal buckles or bows made from lush fabrics. The colors and materials used can also determine whether a pair of flats is dazzling or dowdy.

Image Source: lookbook
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Monday, December 23, 2013

Welcome 2014 with a Bang! Tips for Small business and Startup Entrepreneurs

Another year means another set of challenges. And while most of us are busy wrapping up our year and celebrating everything we had in the past, it’s also the perfect time to think ahead and welcome a new beginning.




New trends, new economic activities, new business goals – the year ahead has a lot in store for us, but whether or not it can work to our advantage depends on how well we prepare for the best. If you are a wholesale shoes business owner or a start up shoe retailer, starting the year right can affect the direction and the success of your business in the next year. Make 2014 your best year ever by planning ahead, learning from the past, and keeping yourself updated about the industry.

Here is short of list of things you can do to keep your business running at full speed this year of the horse.

1. Have a Clean Slate

Welcome the New Year with a clear mind by getting rid of unfinished business before the year ends. Pay your employees, settle dues and bills, and clear out seasonal inventory. Make sure all your transactions are completed and time bound projects are finished before planning for the next set of activities for your business. This will help you gain more perspective and clearer view instead of carrying past problems to the next few months.

shoes-store

2. Get rid of clutter in your store

After the chaos and the stress of the Holiday season, allot a certain day or time when you can close down the store for a round of thorough cleaning. You can get rid of clutter, throw away discarded boxes and clear shelf away from damaged shoes or . After all the unnecessary items are taken away, you will surprised how much your shoe store has and you can have more space for new collection.

3. Update tools and equipment

Do you have tools or other items in your store that need to be replaced or repaired? Take time to update your shoe display shelves or window display to suit the season. Check the conditions of equipment being used to ensure safety and security of your store. Make sure your wholesale shoes business is ready to accommodate new customers and improve the quality of service to further your brand in the year ahead.

Look forward to a more fruitful and successful days ahead and prepare your business for the challenges of the coming year.

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Friday, December 20, 2013

Getting it Right: How to Handle Haggling Customers

Holiday shoppers always want to find a good deal. With the economic issues in the country today, shoppers are giving more and more value to their money and are finding ways to save as much as possible. Some money savvy customers even come up with different creative ways to save like shopping at online stores or haggling for a lower price.


wholesale-shoes


Coming face to face with a haggling customer requires good negotiating skills. If you are into wholesale shoes store business or retail store industry, haggling the right way is necessary to protect your sales and engage customers at the same time. While this can be a little daunting for business owners and startup entrepreneurs, it can also be used to turn one time customers to loyal patrons. 

Here are some tricks to help you get the best out of haggling customers.

1. Negotiate your way

If you are setting up a booth at a trade fair or charity events, be prepared to face haggling customers. Find a way to put yourself on equal footing with your customers by resisting low-ball offer but by coming up with favorable price, instead. Don’t just turn away from customers who offer low price but courteously decline by highlighting the value of your products. 


2. Know when to give in

When you’re faced with hagglers, it’s best to know when to negotiate and when to just simply give in. If you see an opportunity to gain loyal customer, then you can freely cut off small amount off your price or offer better deals instead. Work hard to negotiate a better price but learn when to just let your customer walk away happily with their savings.

3. Think quality

One of haggler’s favorite strategies is finding flaws in the product they want to buy. Don’t instantly give customers the chance to offer low price by highlighting the value of your items. Mention the quality of the materials used in the shoes you are selling and the competitiveness of your pricing compared to other retail store.

4. It’s not about the money

Most of the time, they are not really after the small amount that they are going to save. Sometimes they haggle to enjoy the feeling of having something to say about the price of the products they want to buy. Instead of just negotiating with your customers over a small price off, you can also throw in extras that will cost you less than dropping your price. When they finally realize that they are getting the best deals from your store, they can happily walk outside your door and come back for more.

How about you? How do you handle hagglers in your wholesale shoes store or retail store? 

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