Just because there is a demand for it, is it something that will fit into your shop? Petrol sells in large quantities but would anyone think to go to a gift shop to buy a litre of petrol?
Ty’s Beanie Babies – small soft toys (‘plush’ to the trade) in the shape of various animals – were in huge demand around the time of the millennium. The trade stands were the size of a tennis court and you could not see the stock for the crowds of people, but there was nothing New Age about them and they would not have fitted into my shops, so I did not buy them.
Beware of getting onto the tail end of a craze or fad. At one time trade stands selling New Age music were really buzzing – the following year they were quiet. A few years later it was balls of bath salts which fizzed up when dropped in the bath, but sales are now very flat.
If a product is on the trade stands of various wholesalers, but is something you sold several years ago and now no longer do, consider re-stocking it. Everything comes around again eventually and now may be the time.
Equally, if you have been selling something for several years, do not keep stocking it out of habit. If figures are down:
◆ relocate it;
◆ ‘freshen’ the display stand, perhaps with new designs of the same line;
◆ or get rid of it.
