by Claudia Bruemmer

Wal-Mart in China is accused of selling ordinary pork as organic pork in the southwestern city of Chongqing. As a result, some Wal-Mart stores will close temporarily. “We have agreed to temporarily close some stores in Chongqing for 15 days. We believe this will allow us to complete comprehensive actions to upgrade the standards in these Chongqing stores,” said a Wal-Mart spokesperson in a statement.

The official Xinhua news agency said late Sunday that Chongqing’s municipal government will shut ten stores. Wal-Mart was fined Rmb 2.69 million (USD $423,548) by authorities in China for mislabeling ordinary pork as organic. Wal-Mart said it sent a task force to Chongqing several days ago to work with the authorities.

Xinhua’s Huang Bo, director of Chongqing’s Industry and Commerce body, confirmed that the ten Wal-Mart stores, and two other stores acquired by Wal-Mart, have been accused of selling 63,547 kilograms of falsely labeled pork over the last two years. Earlier in March, Wal-Mart, which is the world’s largest retailer, apologized for selling duck meat past its expiration date in a store in the Chongqing area.

Wal-Mart China confirmed it was cooperating with the investigation by the Chongqing Administration of Industry and Commerce. Furthermore, some of the company’s employees were detained by the Chongqing Public Security Bureau. The U.S.-based retailer declined to comment on the fine, which was announced by Xinhua, the official Chinese news agency, quoting government officials in Chongqing.

In a statement, Wal-Mart said, “We believe the closure has come about as a result of the recent investigation in some of our stores in Chongqing due to the issue of mislabeled pork.” The company said the store closures would allow them time “to focus on implementing corrective actions.”

Paul French, an analyst at the Shanghai marketing consultancy Access Asia, said large retailers in China have been in trouble before for mislabeling food products, in addition to selling food after its sell-by date. However, he said this was the first time he heard of a product being wrongly passed off as organic.

French explained that, following a scandal earlier this year involving the toxic additive clenbuterol hydrochloride in pork in China, labeling a meat as organic would serve as a way of boosting sales. “People view organic as a guarantee of quality,” said French. “The problem in China is we have no central certification authorities; £1,000 in an envelope will get you the certificate you need,” he added. Late last month, China’s Ministry of Agriculture said it arrested nearly 1,000 people involved in the manufacture and sale of the illegal additive.

In January, Wal-Mart and France’s Carrefour supermarket chain were fined for overcharging on promotional items. After Wal-Mart was found to have misstated prices on promotional items at three stores, it promised to refund consumers five times the difference between the price on the promotional label and the price at the cash register if this happened again.

Wal-Mart’s annual sales in China are only USD $7.5 billion, a fraction of its global revenue of USD $420 billion, although Chinese sales are growing at double-digit rates. Wal-Mart has recently had to deal with personnel changes. In May, both Wal-Mart’s chief financial officer and chief operating officer in China resigned for personal reasons. The company declined to comment on the abrupt resignations.

Google recently announced availability of its Google Trusted Stores program. As shown below, Trusted Stores provides online shoppers with information on retailer performance in shipping and customer service. According to Google Shopping Manager Tom Fallows, the ~50 retailers testing the program since last October experienced a 3.1 percent increase in conversion rates and a 5.5 percent increase in average order size with the Trusted Stores program.

Google’s free Trusted Stores program is now open to all U.S. merchants, allowing them to sign up here. Participating merchants will be eligible for a Trusted Stores Badge (shown below), which opens providing information about the company’s shipping and customer service record and is displayed beside their AdWords ads.

“It’s an ecommerce certification that helps shoppers feel comfortable with buying online even if they don’t know the store they’re buying from,” wrote Fallows. “It gives them a clear and quick way to know that an online store is trustworthy.”

Google is investing substantial resources in the free program for both consumers and merchants. Its purpose is to increase the level of trust consumers have in online shopping. The more money online merchants make, the more they can spend on Google AdWords.

The Trusted Stores program currently provides the following information:

• Shipping Reliability: Google monitors the shipping promises made on purchase confirmation pages and the merchant sends Google tracking numbers when products are shipped. Google verifies how well the merchant meets its promises.
• Customer Service: Google runs its own customer service portal where people can contact the merchant about problems. Google then tracks how quickly problems are solved.
• $1,000 Consumer Purchase Protection: Buyers can be eligible for $1,000 if anything goes wrong with their purchase if they opt in for protection.

According to Fallows, the program will eventually include elements like malware protection and greater transparency for return policies. It will also be offering phone support for consumers to call with problems rather than reporting purchase issues through the online interface.

The Google Trusted Store seal will soon begin to also appear in paid search ads placed through Google AdWords and on product listings in Google Shopping (formerly Google Product Search). Merchants can use the Google Trusted Seal in paid search ads as well as Google Shopping listings.

Implementation Challenge: Google may face a challenge in expanding the program to all U.S. merchants because many small businesses can have problems with the technical implementation and the added workload of providing shipping information on a regular basis.

To address this, Fallows indicated Google is making the integration process as easy as possible, and the company is working with major ecommerce platforms such as Shopify, BigCommerce, Magento and Yahoo Stores to develop push-button integration.

The Trusted Stores pilot program involved 10 million shoppers and an investment of over 1 billion dollars. Trusted Stores will help retailers sell online, bringing Google closer to providing a full-service online marketplace that competes with Amazon and other online marketplaces.

by Claudia Bruemmer

Dollar stores are flush with shoppers these days, and they have a new clientele, people who never shopped there before. For years, most dollar store shoppers were poor people and seniors, but now the affluent have taken to shopping their neighborhood dollar store as well. As reported by the New York Times, affluent households are driving the current growth. In fact, 22 percent of the dollar store market consists of customers making over $70,000 per year, which is the fastest growing segment.

These new dollar store customers are employed and have money, but are afraid something might happen and so they’re trying to save. These are uncertain economic times; the stock market losses alone are cause for concern. Consumer research firms report shoppers are holding back on spending because of the uncertain future. Such conditions bode well for the dollar stores where people fill their cart and spend little money.

The three national dollar store chains are Dollar General, Family Dollar and Dollar Tree; however, there are also the independents and smaller chains like “99 cents only” stores. TopTenWholesale client Wally Lee of JC Sales, is director of marketing and technology for one of the large warehouse suppliers to independent dollar stores located south of Los Angeles. In fact, Mr. Lee was recently quoted in a feature article on dollar stores in the New York Times, wherein he gave some sage advice for entrepreneurs wanting to open a dollar store. Not surprisingly, Lee said a good store manager who loves to talk to people is a must, and he suggested having a Spanish speaking manager in some stores.

Evidently, the independents can flourish because they don’t have layers of corporate hierarchy to go through and can make changes quickly as required by the market. So the managers can tweak the inventory, change displays and try a number of different tactics on the fly to see what works without having to get corporate approval.

The independents get a supply of cheap goods from various sources, including leftovers from the corporate dollar stores such as distressed goods, closeouts, overstock, salvage merchandize, department-store returns, liquidated goods, discontinued lines, clearance items, ex-catalog stock, freight-damaged goods, irregulars, salvage cosmetics, test-market merchandise and bankruptcy inventories.

They also get goods from the secondary market coming from retail chains below the dollar-store channel, including unsold merchandise from Big Lots, which sends it down the chain to the liquidation level. To ensure a good supply of quality goods, JC Sales plans to start a pilot program with Via Trading, a wholesale supplier of overstock and clearance merchandise specializing in the sale of wholesale liquidations, wholesale overstocks and customer returns.

The new economy has been a boon for dollar stores and their suppliers, including the wholesale distributors and liquidators. Sales have been increasing with the three publicly traded chains up 5 percent in the first quarter. On the other hand, stores like Wal-Mart have been in decline for the last two years. Because of that, dollar stores are sprouting up all over, despite the fact few businesses are investing in building, equipment or jobs.

Dollar stores thrive because they have low store rents, buy cheap products, employ small staffs and pay low wages. Their profit margins have always been low, and now they must compete for a lower disposable income for most shoppers. As a result, they must innovate to survive and thrive.

That’s where good management can help, which the corporate chains can provide. There’s also an art to displaying merchandise to give the illusion that even a small display of goods looks plentiful. It’s an art to make the store look like it’s packed with merchandise, with high shelves along the walls. All empty space is filled with products or signage and yet it can’t be too cluttered. Last, but not least, the store needs to make it easy for shoppers to stroll up and down the aisles to see everything on display so they can buy on impulse.

LOS ANGELES – Best Time Fashion is one of the largest distributors, wholesalers, and importers of women’s scarves, shawls, and ladies belts in the entire west coast. With the ability to supply the bulk of the west coast market in the USA Canada, Mexico, and South Africa markets with competitive prices, quality, and fashionable designs, the fashion giant has a vast network of suppliers and dealers who can get the best goods every time. Best Time Fashion has been doing what they do best, ever since they started in 2003.

The company has two separate offices operating in both downtown Los Angeles, and also in downtown New York. This is part of the strategy that has brought tremendous success to the company, by providing two platforms in the hottest and most important fashion markets in the USA.

In addition to the company’s approach to putting themselves in the middle of high-traffic areas for  fashion apparel and accessories to make their debuts, it’s also by combining more than 20,000 square feet of warehouse space with various selections of stock, ensuring that their inventories will always meet any customers’ demands. For more information about the selection and availability of items in their catalog of goods, customers and interested parties should always feel free to email the company by following links to their customer service staff, or by visiting other valuable information portions of the site.

On the other side of the country, In Style Accessories NY covers the East Coast of USA, Canadian, Caribbean, and South American markets. Best Time Fashion is a fashion-based, high quality, competitive price, wholesaler and distributor that knows what their customers need for the maximum return on their investments. Not only do they sell these amazing items below-wholesale prices, they also offer such ladies accessories as shawls, ponchos, scarves, and men’s scarves as well. The company is a family-run business, and they operate their offices right in the heart of the thriving wholesale district of New York city, as well as operating a warehouse facility in nearby Brooklyn.

Their businesses were established in 1997, and the company’s experienced and highly skilled staff of fashion professionals will help you find the right merchandises at the right price.

Best Time Fashion will also be available for visitors, during the next major industry exhibition:

WWDMAGIC

February 14, 2011

Booth #74673

Las Vegas Convention Center

In order to continue offering the lowest prices and best service to licensed wholesalers and distributors, only wholesale orders will be allowed with Best Time Fashion, and a resellers permit is required to order from the company. Customers who wish to place orders are advised to please provide a copy of their reseller permit along with the order, to expedite the order process, and to ensure the best possible service right from the start. Orders will be canceled if a copy is not received in three days’ time, or in the even of receiving an order without notification from the ones placing the initial order.

Wholesalers in the pet care industry should know that pet products has been one of the fastest growing niche retail markets for several years now. The overwhelming success of the retail chain Petco is a testament to the economic prowess of puppies and the people who love them, as is the fact that more than half of all American homes have at least one dog or cat.

A more practical eye looking to substantiate this claim should consider that by the end of this year retail pet supply’s sells are expected to top $50 billion.

According to report by the American Pet Products Manufacturing Association it might be time for pet supplies retailers and wholesalers looking to get a bigger slice of that $50 billion to forget about chew toys and hamster wheels. The report was quoted in Specialty Retail magazine as saying that the top four selling categories of pet care products were all what one might call luxury items. Apparently when it comes to Fido’s happiness the sky is the limit for most pet owners.

A quick review of the top wholesale pet supply categories shows a definite trend towards the upscale.

1.Clothing, bedding, jewelry, and accessories. – Agreed, a lot of different items fall into the category accessories but as any retailer or wholesaler knows you have to sell a lot of rhinestone collars to get to the top of the list.

2.Convenience devices such as automatic feeders and grooming appliances. – We love technology, toys, and our pets. Electronically timed feeding appeals to all three.

3.Carrying Cases. – If you haven’t seen the collapsible mesh pet carriers yet, you haven’t been to an airport. These handy carriers went from non-existent to everywhere in just a couple of years. Pet retailers know to keep these items in stock!

4.Natural and organic food and shampoos. – I don’t want pesticides on my food and Fluffy shouldn’t eat it either. We are a culture growing more and more concerned about what we eat; it is sensible that the concern should include our animal companions as every pet store owner should know!

There is one caveat to this report. Although I could find no details that clarified the matter I must assume that the report excluded the sell of regular pet foods. I simply don’t believe that designer bedding outsold Alpo. Regardless of possible holes in the study, pet supply wholesalers and retailers should be taking a good look at toys for pampered pets.

   We are half way through National Sewing Month. But to every crafting ghoul, decorative ghost, SuperMom seamstress and trick-or-treat princess in need of sparkle dust and a feather boa … that means we are six sewing weeks away from the Big H – Halloween.(More Dollar Store products for the Sewing Crowd, below.)

Halloween costumes are not just for kids anymore. (Why should children get all the Great Pumpkin’s candy and bootie??) So, those Big and Little trick-or-treaters, who are all thumbs at sewing costumes, will be desperately seeking ready-to-wear Halloween costumes, plus all the Creepy Accessories .

·  Black and Silver Nail Polish
·  Wigs, Hair Pieces, Multicolored Braids
·  Glitters, Sequins (in Pumpkin Orange, Somber Black and Ghostly Greys) and Glues
·  Horrible Masks and Essential Novelty Items (finger stumps, bleeding eyeballs, venomous plastic spiders, and trompe l’oeul Arrow/Axe through the head hats), plus Plain Ole Cowboy, Cowgirl, Witch, Warlock and Frankenstein gear
·  For The Sweet Haul – Bootie Bags, Pumpkin Buckets, Stash Baskets, Candy Bags

Back to the crafty and clever among Halloween revelers …

People scaring up their own creepy creations for Halloween costumes will look to Dollar and Discount Stores  well stocked with Ghoul Goods:

·  Seasonal Fabrics like this stack       printed with pumpkins, witches, black cats, ghosts, faux fur prints and giant harvest moons

·  All the Halloween-themed make-up, hair goods and decorative crafts items listed above for the Last Minute Costume crowd

·  Feather Boas, Clanking Chain Belts, Themed Costume Jewelry and Accessories

·  Halloween Greeting Cards, Invitation Stationery, Balloon Bouquets, Banners and Party Favors

·  Skin Crawling Kitchenware – Halloween print cupcake liners … Cake Pans … Orange and Black Tubes of Frostings and Jimmies (sprinkles) … Cookie Cutters of Halloween and Autumn themes

·  No-Sew Kits – These are iron-on patches, heat-transfer artwork and double-sided glue tapes that require no tailoring or seamstress skills.

Hot Tips: Don’t forget to stock very small costume sizes (babies are part of the party, too) and holiday pet costumes. We’re not making this up: Pet Clothing and Accessories are one of the hottest retail categories around. I know a blonde dachshund who had THREE Halloween costumes last year … two more than me.

Mankind has a long history of living with animals. It is probable that the very first animal domesticated by man was the dog. There is evidence that the dog was domesticated in about 10000 BC although a relationship between early man and wolves date back far further. It would probably be incorrect to describe these early-domesticated dogs as pets. They were more likely hunting animals, guard dogs, and possibly sources of food.The domestication of the cat is a little trickier to date. It was long though that the cat was first domesticated by the Egyptians in about 3500BC but recent archeological work done in Cyprus found a evidence of a domesticated cat-like animal from much further back, around 7500BC. Like the dog it is probable that early cats were not in the modern sense pets but were kept for their practical use of rat and mouse extermination.In either case cats and dogs have been a central part of the human lifestyle for thousands of years. Over time our relationship with dogs and cats outlived their practicality and became one based almost entirely upon the animals comforting presence as companions. Why we have become so attached to our furry housemates is one best left to psychologist and social historians but there is no denying how important a role pets play in modern life. We have even reached a point with pet obsession where celebrities such as Paris Hilton seem to regard them as fashion accessories.A very good example of the depth of our affection for our pets is Stokes Cats. Stan Stokes is an accomplished painter whose canvasses hang in the Smithsonian and several presidential libraries; he now offers original and well-executed paintings of cats in a variety of settings ranging from the canals of Venice to overlooking the Golden Gate Bridge. His impressive collection can be seen at www.stokescats.com.The American Pet Products Manufacturers Association did a study a few years ago that casts an amazing light on just how significant a part of our lives pets have become. The study revealed that there are 65 million dogs and 77.6 million cats kept as pets in the United States. Approximately 39% of U.S. households contain a dog and 34% a cat. In total there are more pets in the U.S. than people. Including all varieties of pets from dogs and cats to birds and fish there are 377.8 million pets in the U.S. as compared to 290 million people. The average dog owner has 1.6 dogs and the average cat owner has 2.2 cats.Each year Americans spend $13.7 billion on pet food. They spend $7.2 billion on pet supplies and over the counter pet medication and $2.1 billion on pet related services such as boarding and grooming. So not including expenditures on trips to the vet and the cost of the animals themselves pet products and care is a $23 billion a year industry in the U.S. alone.A merchant interested in getting into the pet supplies business is faced with a baffling variety of pet related merchandise to choose from. It is not surprising given the size of the market just how many different pet products and service there are. Wholesale pet suppliers carry thousands of pet items ranging from the simple and practical to the elaborate and downright bizarre.Let

There are thousands of suppliers in the wholesale industry, and many of them are reputable and trustworthy, as they deliver value and profitability to their clients on a daily basis. As such, narrowing it down to the top ten is no easy task, but there are a few companies out there who stand out for their exceptional quality, service, and support. Here is a Top 10 List of the companies that made the biggest impact in the industry, in recent months.

www.koleimports.com

As a Dollar Store Merchandise Wholesaler and Supplier, Kole Imports has 25 years of experience as not only a dollar store supplier, but also as one of the USA’s largest wholesale direct importers of dollar store merchandise. They know and understand what products sell best, and they have over 5,000 different items in 35 categories to choose from. While their specialty is dollar stores, it’s no surprise that their items sell well in all types of retail stores, and they also carry many higher-price-point items as well, offered as a wide variety of wholesale closeouts. They want to be your main source of value merchandise for your store, and they are constantly receiving new wholesale items, even making it impossible for them to maintain an accurate print catalog; since they are always buying so many closeouts, and adding new items to their product line. The best way to stay informed of the most late-breaking updates tot heir inventory is through the website’s intuitive and comprehensive interface. It’s a good idea to check back regularly to see what’s new on a regular basis, because new items arrive almost every day.

www.4sgm.com

Four Seasons General Merchandise is a proud member of the community, and has contributed enormously as an importer, wholesaler, distributor, and exporter within the general merchandise industry, both offline and online. Their showroom and warehouses have grown tremendously over the years, and their huge Vernon showroom displays and highlights over 10,000 carefully selected items in more than 50 different popular categories. In 2005, the company began to contain its entire inventory of goods inside a modern warehouse facility measuring over 600,000 square feet, which is the equivalent of nearly 10 football fields! The combination of this extensive storage space, and their seriously impressive purchasing power gained through many years of experience allow them to fulfill all of your wholesale needs. Visit their site often to see what we’ve got in store for you!

www.dollardays.com

As the company puts it: “Sold by the case. Priced by the truckload. No minimums!” Customers will find goods at warehouse prices, since DollarDays is the premiere online wholesale distributor and closeout company that helps small businesses and entrepreneurs to compete against larger enterprises who buy bulk below wholesale merchandise products. The company offers products that are sold by the case, and prices of wholesale supplies are as cheap, or cheaper than, most wholesale suppliers who buy in bulk. DollarDays prides itself on being a wholesale supplier who supplies existing businesses buying below wholesale products, as well as helping entrepreneurs open new stores and businesses. A below wholesale products minimum order is one case of any product, giving small businesses the opportunity to quickly turn merchandise rather than having the dollars tied up in inventory. DollarDays offers 135,000 high quality goods at below wholesale and bulk prices.

www.regentproducts.com

This company offers the largest and most diversified assortment of “Extreme Value” consumer packaged goods for retail stores, and it’s because since 1985, Regent Products has become a leading supplier of direct imports, domestic general merchandise, dollar store items, and name-brand closeouts. They are committed to helping customers grow and remain highly successful by offering more than 3,000 items across twenty everyday and seasonal categories, timely shipments and exceptional customer service. Regent Products has built a reputation on competence and experience, with a well-deserved national and international reputation. Don’t delay by thinking about the choice, because the choice is clear. Call to speak with one of their professional and dedicated sales staff associates. to find out why so many retailers and wholesalers depend on Regent Products for a variety of their merchandising needs.

www.flomousa.com

Nygala Corporation is often considered by many industry professionals to be the number one source for premium quality, super value-priced gift and accessory merchandise for the discount retailer. Nygala is the premier supplier of high-quality gift bags and tissue paper, decorative frames, stationery, gift-wrap accessories, seasonal gifts, decorative items, artificial flowers, plush, stationery, and school supplies found in United States today. By continuing to offer a comprehensive retail support program and the widest selection of everyday and seasonal goods anywhere, the company supplies more than 10,000 unique items, and many of these featured items are also produced in one of seven company-owned factories, with convenient access available for local customers, as the company headquarters and East Coast distribution center located in New Jersey, with a distribution center located in California. Nygala Corporation is a proud certified member of the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council, the Women Presidents’ Organization, and the New York/New Jersey Minority Purchasing Council.

okktrading.com

OKK Trading Inc., enjoys being acknowledged as one of the USA’s largest wholesale direct importers of dollar-store toys, stationery and seasonal merchandise. This is a company that is known for carrying a large array of over $1.00 toys, specially designed for retailers. Dollar stores are another one of their specialties, with all items selling well in a variety of retail environments. With over 15 years of experience as a dollar store and retail supplier, they know what sells. Only by providing the highest value product at the lowest price-point, is it possible to provide retailers and wholesalers with consistent service and exceptional value, and they know it. It’s through this commitment to customers that has earned them an international reputation of excellence. In addition to many American customers, they supply companies in other countries as well, and we have experience in shipping internationally.

www.glwholesale.com

With over 20 years of experience marketing and distributing 2,000+ continuity and closeout items including grocery, healthcare, dry goods and beauty care products, Great Lakes Wholesale & Marketing L.L.C. enjoys a reputation with their own successful customers that include hardware stores, dollar stores, discount stores, convenience stores, florists, and supermarkets, as well as a variety of other retail outlets and other wholesalers. This company offers a consistent line of high quality continuity products, at reasonable prices. They achieve this by supplementing their product mix with many exciting, limited-availability closeout items. Over the years, they have learned how to carefully balance quality and value, while helping retail customers capture end consumers on the initial sale, and keep them coming back again and again. Centrally headquartered in Grand Rapids, Michigan, they ship their products throughout the United States, Canada, and around the world.

www.dollarchimp.com

As a premiere destination for wholesale buyers, DollarChimp.com has proven to buyers since 2002 that their relentless focus on customer service, and goals to become the trusted supplier for individuals, small businesses, and international wholesalers has paid off big. Since the beginning, their goal has always been to provide customers with high-quality merchandise and distinctly passionate customer service, without sacrificing on affordable prices. Whether you are an individual buying a few items, a small business owner looking to stock your store, or an international wholesaler with a large order, DollarChimp can work for you. As a team of entrepreneurs and small business owners themselves, they fully understand what it takes to compete against larger companies in this highly competitive and often challenging wholesale industry.

www.internationalwholesale.com

International Wholesale of Southfield, Michigan will show you why they are a corporation that has a strong hold over many aspects of the wholesale business. The most obvious point to consider is their long-term history of over 25 years in the business as one of the premier distributors of dollar store merchandise in the United States Midwest. In addition, they are also a master distributor to secondary wholesalers. With more than forty employees on their core team, a full fleet of trucks, and more than 130,000 square feet of warehouse space, these are professionals who have the knowledge, expertise, and solid capability of handling even the most unique needs of any business. They have also established relationships with vendors to get the best deals for clients. With approximately 2000 everyday staple items carried, supplemented by closeouts, name brand merchandise, and seasonal items. Big or small, this dealer can fulfill the needs of any business.

And the last company of the Top 10 List…

It’s anybody’s game, in this fast-paced business, and you might find your own company listed here before long, if the principles of smart selection and value consciousness always apply! There will be another Top 10 List before long, and the featured companies that make the numbers in the future will undoubtedly be the ones that have been providing the highest level of excellence in the industry today.

by Claudia Bruemmer

It’s the middle of summer and the weather is getting warmer by the minute. That makes it time to shop for t-shirts in every style and color for barbeques and many other summer activities. You can get a great deal on bulk t-shirts at The Adair Group because this wholesale supplier gives buyers a Best Price Guarantee.

The Adair Group can give you the best prices on bulk t-shirts, fleece and polos. They carry trusted brands including Gildan, Hanes, Anvil and more. We interviewed co-owner Jordan Adair and asked what gives Adair a competitive advantage. “We ship quickly and provide a very easy online shopping experience for our customers,” said Adair. “In fact, our company has been around for three generations, so customers can benefit from our many years of experience,” he added. “Another thing,” said Adair, “we buy in bulk, which gets us the lowest prices from manufacturers, and we like to pass those saving on to our customers.”

We asked Adair what he felt was the company’s greatest strength. “We primarily sell first quality closeouts and slight irregulars, which we inspect and certify for quality,” said Adair. “Because we buy in bulk by the truckload, we are able to negotiate the best deals with manufacturers, and in turn pass those saving on to our customers,” he added. The Adair Group prides itself on its top-notch customer service and fast shipping. In fact, web orders typically ship within one business day from the time the order is placed.

With so many wholesalers selling t-shirts, we wonder what differentiates this company from its competitors. The Adair Group maintains a very deep inventory of its top items, primarily t-shirts. “My grandfather was wholesaling apparel in the 1950’s,” said Adair. You can’t stay around that long without doing right by your customers. We like to keep up with the times. That’s why we made our website very user friendly and keep it updated all the time with new products,” said Adair.

The Adair Group carries the following products:

• Adult T-Shirts
• Polo Shirts
• Ladies T-Shirts
• Kids T-Shirts
• Golf Shirts
• Tie Dye
• Pocket T-Shirts
• Long Sleeve T-Shirts
• Fleece Sweatshirts
• Fleece Hoodies

We’d like to call your attention to an informative video on the site that shows you the difference between irregulars and TagCertified irregulars. Adair is very selective and only purchases from manufacturers who perform a multi-step process to grade their irregulars, selecting only top grade merchandise. They never purchase seconds, which are shirts that may have holes. Adair performs its own quality control process before shirts meet their criteria as TagCertified by randomly unfolding and visually inspecting a good percentage of their shirts. They also examine every Internet order before it’s shipped. So, buyers can be confident they are getting quality goods at a very good price. “Cotton Prices have gone up, which is making goods more expensive,” said Adair. “We have done our best to keep our prices as low as possible and I feel our customers appreciate this,” he added.

Below is The Adair Group’s Promise to Customers:
• High Quality
• Low Prices
• Convenient Ordering
• Secure Checkout
• Fast Shipping
• Customer Satisfaction

Adair’s Returns Policy states if customers are not satisfied with their order, a full refund minus shipping charges will be made if the merchandise is returned within 30 days in its original packaging. No merchandise is accepted without a return authorization, and they don’t accept returns on decorated or washed garments under any circumstances.

Minimum Orders are $50.00, which does not include shipping. Shipments outside the state of Georgia have no sales tax.

While many merchants have been disappointed with ecommerce sales since the downturn, Jordan Adair thinks 2011 will be better than 2010, and the company goal is to always improve year over year.

Company Information:
The Adair Group
1379 Logan Circle, Atlanta, GA 30318
Email: info@theadairgroup.com
Phone: 1-800-537-4232

Dollar Stores Hot Sector in Retailing

Dollar stores are one of the hottest high-growth sectors in retailing. This sector includes the one-price general merchandise stores and closeout stores and is responsible for sustaining the current momentum in retail sales.

Dollar stores have posted some of the highest growth rates across retiling in recent years, largely due to rapid expansion, solid sales gains and increasing consumer interest in this type sales channel. This retail sector has increased in sales growth since 2001 and is forecast to continue growing as dollar stores continue to make inroads into mainstream retailing.

Another Decade of Growth for Dollar Stores

A study by Retail Forward estimated that enough untapped and under-penetrated geographic markets exist in the U.S. to support another 15,000 dollar store retail outlets. Besides the new store expansion opportunities, the sales gains by existing stores factor into this growth equation.

Leading players are driving store traffic and upping transaction size by adding more high-turn consumables and improving in-store presentation. They are also investing in the infrastructure (facilities, distribution networks, technology, and personnel) to help manage bigger businesses.

Retail Change Agents

You could say that the dollar stores have become retail change agents because they are changing the way America shops. They’re changing the competitive landscape and the way bulk merchandise suppliers view this retail channel.

Changes in Shopping Habits

Dollar stores are gaining in popularity and market share as consumers recognize their price/value/convenience proposition in increasing numbers. Retail Forward’s proprietary consumer database indicates that the percentage of U.S. household shoppers patronizing dollar stores goes up monthly. This is a clear indication that the sector is making its way into the mainstream shopping patterns of American consumers. It means that formats such as conventional supermarkets and drug stores will likely lose market share to the dollar store phenomenon. To fight defection, more conventional players will integrate dollar concepts into their own stores.

Changes for Suppliers

By taking consumers and market share away from competitive retail formats, dollar store retailing is creating the opportunity for more suppliers to cash in. More manufacturers will align with the one dollar store sector to develop new products, dollar store items, bulk merchandise or special packaging that meet the specific needs and specifications of these retailers.

The dollar stores include: 99-cent stores and/or independent dollar stores selling general merchandise. Manufacturers who advertise with TopTenWholesale and affiliates primarily specialize in general merchandise, off price goods, closeouts, and novelties. Retailers can find these wholesalers on TTW and resell the goods to dollar stores both on- and offline.

Anhui Light Industries Int’l. Co., Ltd. (ALIC) is a large-scale business enterprise offering a product range so diverse and far-reaching that there is little chance that you or your household hasn’t in some way gotten acquainted with any of them. The name may be unfamiliar to the west, but ALIC has for years been silently working with many of the world’s famous brands including Nestle, Coca-Cola, Fila, Quiksilver, Macy’s, and Vodafone, among others.

For more than 25 years, Anhui Light Industries has provided high-quality products and wholehearted service in line with the company motto, “with customers, by customers, for customers.” Located in the beautiful green city of Hefei, Anhui Light Industries Int’l. Co. Ltd. boasts of a large-scale trading system, a solid trading base, and an open-minded and flexible character. It has proved itself a leader among domestic exporters, thanks to a stable marketing network and an outstanding commercial reputation.

According to sales manager Stewart Zhou, “We concentrate on supplying the best service together with the high quality and inexpensive products for  customers abroad, as well as offering the best solution to sourcing and pricing, walkthrough and feedback.”

Products by Anhui Light Industries Int’l. Co., Ltd. caters to all types of consumers – from individuals to wholesale buyers. The company deals mainly with the trading of light industrial products, medicine and health products, chemicals, and foodstuff. One of its busiest departments is in the export of garments and apparel, with its own line of footwear, headwear, garments, and home textiles, some of which are showcased in the photos below.

ALIC also trades on machinery and electronic products, boats and ships, green energy products, vehicles and construction machinery, vehicle accessories and parts, electronic gadgets, household items and furniture, office appliances, paper products, outdoor gear, sanitary ware, bags and suitcases, gifts toys, glassware, and so much more. Anhui Light Industries Int’l. Co., Ltd. exports to over 160 countries and regions worldwide. Annual sales is at $250 million.

Anhui Light Industries Int’l. Co., Ltd. controls several popular brands including Lily, Carefree, Holiday, Flying Crane, and Happiness – brands that have been enthusiastically supported and recognized by the China Ministry of Commerce itself.  ALIC has repeatedly received recognition for its excellent products and wholesale management, including the recent “Brand Marketing Innovation” award during the 22^nd East China Import & Export Commodity Fair.

ALIC is especially keen on further broadening its wholesale distribution market, sending sales representatives to trade fairs and exhibitions abroad year after year. Check out the company and their products at the SOURCING at MAGIC trade show, to be held in Las Vegas from August 20 to 23, 2012. Register for this event now!

Anhui Light Industries Int’l Co., Ltd.
Contact person: Mr. Stewart Zhou
Address: 19 Meishan Road, Hefei, Anhui, China

Tel no:  0086 551 2299407 / 2823031
Fax: 0086 551 2299291
Email: pengxiang_zhou@alic.com
Website: http://alic.com

To apparel wholesalers and retailers, a recent Fortune magazine headline on the rapid spread of off-price product sourcing was not cheerful:

Discounters Lose Their Edge
Department Stores Venture Into Off-Price Territory

More Sales

More Discounts

Macy

That warning headline by Suzanne Kapner used her surprise as a clothing bargain hunter at finding the exact same women’s jacket, at the exact same low price, in two very different clothing stores: (1) “upscale” Bloomingdale’s Department Store, and (2) deeply discounted, “off-price retailers” like Loehmann’s and T.J. Maxx.

Should smart buyers and sellers of off-price inventory be worried about this trend, which Fortune’s Kapner says is “bad news for discounters, who lure customers on their pricing edge alone?” (That’s our emphasis added.)

And, will more “upscale” department stores, now venturing into off-price product-sourcing territory, “only become a bigger headache for discounters,” as the Fortune article warned?

Discounters Don’t Have To Lose Their Off-Price Edge

· Off-price Buyers Are Still Ahead. Fortune’s Kapner pointed to December sales, which said most department stores had double-digit drops, while discount merchandisers didn’t lose as much business or had sales only “flatten.” Does that sound like all-bad discounter news?

Explained Kapner: Retail analysts said off-pricers would have done better than “flat” sales if they were not competing with “upscale” department stores who entered off-price territory. So, even if we notice more competition from department store buyers in the value-priced, off-price merchandise market, “flat” sales are still ahead of “double-digit drops.”

· Not All Discounters Are The Same. According to retail sales data for Holiday 2008 generated by the MasterCard payments network: Total retail sales were down between 5 and 8%. The steepest drops were recorded in Apparel – up to 21% for the general category and a 23% drop in women’s apparel sales — compared to same-period sales in 2007.

But that gloomy statistic is an average; and averages dump every seller into the same bin.

For example: Average Declines buried the fact that the steepest drops in Apparel sales occurred at higher priced department stores, like Bergdorfs and Saks. Discount chains that did not drop by double digits, but held steady or registered increases, include TJX Companies (parent of the T.J. Maxx discount chain) and Ross Stores. Nor did double-digit doldrums hit all retailers. Look at teen-focused apparel retailer Aeropostale (sales rose 12%), and niche-targeted independents like Hot Topic, who stocked tie-in clothing and accessories for the teen entertainment blockbuster Twilight and saw holiday sales increase by 4.3%.

Successful clothing buyers and sellers offer discount pricing AND trendy inventory AND value to their target customers. Averages don’t tell the whole story.

· Discount Pricing, Customer Service, Value All Work Together. What’s wrong with this picture?

“Offering similar-priced goods in a nicer environment than the hand-to-hand combat associated with discounters gives them a leg up … “ (from Are Discounters Losing Their Edge?)

Did you find it?

Successful off-price buyers and sellers, during economic good times and down times, build personalized services and relationships with their customers. Personal mailings. Advance notice of Special Sales. Holding specialty items or hard-to-keep-in-stock styles (like plus-sized romantic clothing styles) for targeted customers.

Those are not the trademarks of “hand-to-hand combat” shopping experiences!! They’re called CRM – Customer Relationship Management.

· Off-Price Product Sourcing Levels the Field. Wholesalers and retailers, buyers and sellers of any size or product category – apparel to toys, fashion accessories to personal electronics, Dollar Store inventory to specialty clothing – can compete with the right product sourcing strategy. Key to successful sourcing is buying in the right marketplaces in order to sell at the right price points.

1. Search for suppliers by your targeted key word needs at trusted wholesale and manufacturing auction, listing and directory networks. Examples include Top Ten Wholesale , Manufacturer.com (Buyer/Seller exchanges; Source direct from manufacturers), and Wholezilla.

2. Access hundreds of sellers who specialize in the off-price marketplace and offer trendy product categories at 50-to-70 percent below wholesale, at established value price trade shows. Examples include Off-Price Specialists Show and Value Price Expos , depending on your inventory needs.

3. Keep up with industry, retailing and online marketing trends … without trying to scan everything out there. Sign up for Google or Yahoo! Product Alerts. Subscribe to weekly digest eNewsletters or, more time-efficiently, register for automatic alerts, such as RSS feeds at specialized industry sites. Examples: Off-Price Network, Internet Retailer, TopTenWholesale Newsroom and Top Ten Wholesale Blog and WholesaleU Blog.

Ross Stores are old school retail. They have a limited market without an international reach, no online shopping, and their running costs are going to rise once the minimum wage is raised in California, where 25% of their stores are based.

jolynneshane.com

Yet while these are all reasons why their stocks should drop, when you take their market niche into consideration, they are all reasons why they should do well.

Their competition is getting tougher.

Department stores such as Macy’s, seeing declining sales, have started to break into the discounted apparel business. Stores in the same areas are directly competing for customers.

Studies have also shown that customers are saving more instead of spending, leading to a decline in sales. Even though spending did increase, the rate of saving increased more.

The minimum wage in California has been increased to $10 per hour, so one-fourth of Ross stores will see an increase in operating costs compared to other stores in Florida, Texas and other states.

Even though Ross Stores markets to younger people, they do not have an online store. This means that they definitely lose some customers to stores that do have an online presence. Customers increasingly want the convenience of finding deals online and not having to go into stores.

While similar stores such as TJ Maxx have opened stores internationally, Ross Stores has continued to only expand in the United States. This means they are missing out on extra revenue.

These are all reasons why their stocks should be falling, but there are many things working in their favor.

While it is true that Ross might not have the market share of other stores such as department stores, they do have other advantages.

The bigger stores have a higher margin, so when sales are down, they have more to lose. Ross operates on a smaller margin and more efficiently, so they are not hurt as badly by lower sales.

For the minimum wage increase, their operating costs will increase, but their target customer base also has more money to spend. It has been shown that increased income leads to more purchasing.

By not having an online store, Ross can keep their costs low.

Online stores benefit larger retailers because of the costs like shipping and keeping inventory on hand. Unlike large scale operations like Amazon, Ross discounts their products so heavily that it wouldn’t benefit them to sell online.

Though some people worry that going online too late will hurt the business, for the short-term, they will do better with purely physical stores.

As for the international market, it doesn’t make sense for Ross to expand overseas when they still have regions of the United States to break into.

For now, what they are doing now is working for them and their target market. Making big changes would probably hurt business more than help it. Old school can still work for some companies.

Header image via thetimesweekly.com

Back in January, Macy’s announced that it would be closing 40 of its stores nationwide, which caused CEO Terry Lundgren to lose his job. Alternatively, Ross Stores has now announced that they will be opening 31 new stores, adding to the 90 stores they have already opened this year.

This proves to be a very interesting contrast between the two companies.

Currently, Macy’s has 730 stores after the closure of the 40 by the spring of this year. The company had stated that it wanted to operated excellent stores in their best locations to serve both local customers that walk in the doors and those who order from across the country. Macy’s acknowledged the changing retail landscape as one of the reasons for this change. Macy’s also stated that the stores were closed because they were not product or not in locations that were considered to be robust shopping areas.

In the opening of new stores at the same time Macy’s was closing, Ross Stores stated that they would open 24 Ross Dress for Less stores and seven dd’s DISCOUNTs across the country in 15 different states in the summer of this year. The company, at the time, had 10 stores in the new Midwest market as well, including four stores within Wisconsin. The company hopes to grow to 2,000 Ross Dress for Less stores, and 500 dd’s DISCOUNTS locations in the next few years.

Both companies show different sides of the economic coin, with one closing stores because of an out-dated business model, and another thriving as people look for new ways to save money, with added conveyance.

header img via huffingtonpost.com

In September 2015, there were more than 30 fake Apple stores in one of China’s electronics districts (Chinese town of Shenzhen). Today, there are a third less.

img via uk.businessinsider.com

Now some of the storefronts host unauthorized stores that carry local smartphones, like Oppo, Xiaomi, Huawei and Meizu. Sales of the iPhone have supposedly dropped to half since October.

Fake Apple Stores First Exposed

27 year old American blogger, Jessica Angelson, first brought the fake Apple stores in China to light on her blog “BirdAbroad” while she was working in Kunming for a public health organization. When visiting one of the stores, Angelson said of the employees that even they were under the impression that the stores were real!

It was also revealed that “Some employees in fake stores in Shenzhen told Reuters that they were buying the iPhone 6S and 6S Plus from the US and Hong Kong as well as China, and smuggling them across the border into the mainland.” – Business Insider UK

Apple Itself Causing Fake Store Closures

While the drop in sales may indicate that the stores closed due to lack of interest in Apple products, it is also important to consider that Apple has possibly taken action against a number of illegitimate sellers. Another fact that may contribute to the drop in sales at these fake stores is that Apple has been expanding their real stores across China.

They now have 33 retail stores in China, with the intention of having at least 40 this year. When it comes to numbers, Apple still has some catching up to do. In the United States, Apple has 53 retail locations in just California. The fake Apple stores’ numbers also coincide with the product releases. The stores are more popular around big releases, such as the iPhone 6s being released in September of 2015, as demand for Apple products grows.

Counterfeit stores have been a problem for years. Officials in China ordered for the shut down of several fake stores, but never shut down the industry completely.

header img via uk.businessinsider.com

Department stores are being killed by the influx of discount stores. Research shows that 2 out of 3 Americans prefer to shop at discount stores over department stores, due to trying to find the best price, rather than to pay full price for what they want or need.

When the American nation was in a recession, our consumers began to gravitate more and more to discount stores. Even once the economy stabilized somewhat, consumers continued to return to discount stores like number 1 ranked TJ Maxx over the larger department stores. Many consumers just don’t want to back to paying full price for their items.

Two-Thirds of consumers account for off price buying, at discount stores according to a study by the NPD Group, an industry research firm. Consumers buying activity has hit the clothing marketing industry really hard. Hardcore apparel purchasers, or off price buyers represent 75% of all apparel purchasers across many retail channels, according to the research by the NPD Group.

This report bares bad news for high end clothing marketers such as Nordstrom, Macy’s and Kohl’s. While all 3 stores do have off price brands, they still make less profit off of their deeply discounted apparel. This is causing their sales to dive at their high end, full priced apparel stores.

The NPD Group goes on to state that Macy’s store sales have fallen 7.4% in the most recent fiscal quarter. Nordstrom took a much smaller downward slide at 1.7%, and Kohl’s slid down by 3.9%

The shares from the three stores researched, Nordstrom, Kohl’s, and Macy’s have lost a great percentage of their stock pricing.

Both Macy’s and Nordstrom’s have lost roughly half of their value within the last year, while Kohl’s has lost around 40 percent of their value. A chief industry analyst for NPD, Marshal Cohen has stated, “Off-price retailers, being second only behind online sales in terms of the growth rate. These retailers resonate with fashion for cost-conscious consumers, while making the higher end retailers feel as if they are being stolen from.

Visits to off-price retail shops have increased by 4% in the 12th month that ended in April 2016. It is clear that consumers are looking for better deals, and knowing that they can find the deals they are going to off-price retailers, to shop for their needs and wants according to Marshal Cohen. While searching for discounted merchandise, consumers are saving more money by spending less on clothing.

header img via racked.com

Amidst the ongoing battle of declining traffic and sales, Target is slated to open several small stores in predominantly urban centres where millennials live. From New York City to Pennsylvania and California, these smaller, focussed stores, will target (excuse the pun) college students to young parents.

In a location geared toward students of the University of Minnesota, items such as ping pong balls, beer, twin sized bedding and mini household items like ironing boards – all college essentials – are all in stock.

With Amazon Prime making it easy for city dwellers to get their essentials within a day or less, Target wants to come in a get a slice of the pie.  

The new stores will be less than 50,000 sq ft and when compared to the average Target store of 145,000 sq ft, you can easily see the difference. The new locations will pop up in spaces which may once have been occupied by small neighborhood retailers.

Chief Executive Brian Cornell sees another major benefit these smaller stores have by using the locations as a pick up spot, “as opposed to getting that ugly sticker from UPS or FedEx that says ‘oops I missed you…’

Mr. Cornell went on to comment about the outlook of these stores into 2017, 2018 and beyond, “It brings us into neighborhoods where we don’t exist today and where there is demand for our brand.”

While some, such as Mr. Cornell are positive about the smaller stores, there are still some analysts who believe this is a limited growth opportunity: “A store in downtown Manhattan is interesting, but is it scalable?” said Barclays analyst Matthew McClintock. “Wal-Mart couldn’t make it work with a better logistical network. It makes you wonder how Target is going to succeed.”

This isn’t the first time a big box retailer is taking on smaller stores, Wal Mart tried and failed earlier this year with their “Wal Mart Express” experiment. All 100 of the stores ended up shutting down.

header img source

Retailers have been shutting doors left and right from East, West and all over the United States. Arguably, a big driver behind that is the success of Amazon. Ironically, retail is expected to rise, but only if brick and mortar stores can take steps to drive foot traffic to their particular store. Even so, that is not the best plan of action for all companies; some have decided to take their business solely online. Read on to find out the best elements of the consumer experience to add to your own store to best compete.

Have a Digitally-Integrated Business to Some Degree

It is a prerequisite to have a digitally-integrated business. The percentage of business that will be conducted online with vary from company to company. For some, including many department stores, have announced focusing more on online offerings and closing a percentage of their physical locations. As long as e-commerce and m-commerce is up to par, that can be a smart move. Then the focus can remain on the physical stores that have shown promise of growth. Another option, is going the route of The Limited, which revealed they will be moving to a strictly e-commerce platform. An example of a company with an incredible omnichannel platform is Warby Parker. Coincidentally, they are doing the opposite of many retailers are and moving their strictly online store to brick and mortar will some selectively placed retail locations.

Create an Experience

We live in a digital society that still craves in-person interaction. So, how do you best deliver the best experiences across platforms? Online, customers want to see reliable and fast customer support, personalized content, and offers relevant to each consumer. Instead of relying entirely on demographics alone, using comprehensive data based on previous purchases, searches, etc will enable a site to better engage with each individual. The online store needs to feel like it exists to make life easier.

For a brick and mortar location, the store needs to be able to pick up where the online site leaves off. For example, Home Depot and Lowes have seen a 23 percent rise in retail the recent quarter partially due to their in-store experience. Both stores have associates that have created an environment of helpfulness. When a homeowner has a lighting issue or need help picking a paint color they have a safe space to go in and ask for solutions on products and course of action. That in turn, makes them irreplaceable and keeps the store going strong. Other retail locations can find their niche and how they can make themselves indispensable to their customer.

There is no one size fits all solution to finding the best path to compete in the hostile retailer environment. For some companies and online-only approach is best, for others a marriage between the two is key. Either way, a strong digital approach cannot be ignored. Thorough research on customer needs and data showing what channels drive most success can pinpoint the best plan of action. This way, you can avoid getting “Amazoned” before its too late.

Whether it is Dollar General, Dollar Tree or Family Dollar… discount stores are one of the hottest retail spaces in your local strip mall. And, actually now in the entire retail sector. In fact, off-price general merchandise stores and closeout stores are helping sustain momentum in retail sales.

Amid a soul-crushing year for retail, discount stores have opened more stores than closed them and many of them have been erected in new markets. According to reports, as of February 3, 2017, Dollar General has 13,320 stores and Family Dollar/Dollar Tree operates 14,200 stores  in the U.S and Canada. The previous year alone they opened around 500- 600 new locations in the previous year.

Reaching new customers

These stores are not resting on their laurels; they are at work planning the extension of their reach within not just the discount sector of the market but beyond. One way in which they are doing this is through establishing new locations as freestanding locations. They are trying to get out of the strip-mall stigma. Also, they are opening in smaller markets and aiming to be the first off-price retailer in that area says Randy Blankstein of the Boulder Group. He also told National Real Estate Investor Online, that most markets can only bear one dollar store. This makes being the first one a top priority.

Calling the Millennials

Now dollar stores are not just trying to reach more of the same customer in different locations, they’re looking at a different demographic entirely- the Millennial. Dollar General has come up with two different store concepts. DGX has been through experimentation since 2016 in Raleigh, North Carolina and Nashville, Tennessee. This store is about half the size of the standard store and is appealing to the younger customer with high-volume checkout lanes, to-go goods for immediate consumption and “limited assortment of grocery offerings, pet supplies, candies and snacks, paper products, home cleaning supplies and an expanded health and beauty section.”

Dollar stores have had a share in the market from the beginning, but really gained traction during the recession. What’s interesting is that consumer behavior would predict that since wages and jobs are up that customers would forgo the discount stores to resume patronage at many of their old higher-priced stomping grounds. It seems though that there still is uncertainty around the financial landscape that have been pushing consumers to remain frugal with their spending. That coupled with the rise of e-commerce, may keep them afloat since they are more immune to the online shopping experience. All in all, off-price retailers may just be the unlikely savior of retail.

Privacy is a sensitive topic. Increasingly, consumers have been ditching it for the sake of convenience. We now live in the time of auto-pay, and Alexa knows the ins and outs of our daily lives. Not so long ago, we feared e-commerce’s use of cookies to make personal recommendations based on our observed interests.

The Price of Personalization
Digital personalization technologies offer practical ways for businesses to capture and control client data. They intended to deliver personalized customer experiences and decrease returns. In a data-driven world, amid security breaches among significant brands, customers still show little reluctance regarding e-commerce. Sensitive information such as their card transaction, website visits, movements, and location are frequently collected to build up a picture of their habits and preferences.

For those who prefer shopping brick-and-mortar, they will find their habits tracked even online as recognition technology finds its way into stores. As retail stores grapple with theft issues, a Racked report reveals that stores could be using facial recognition technology to track consumers in a bid to apprehend shoplifters. A National Retail Federal survey data quoted by Racked says offline stores lose around $48.9 billion annually to thieves.

Facial Recognition in Brick-and-Mortar Stores
To prevent loss, some retail stores turned to companies like FaceFirst and StopLift. This technology allows companies to upload images of people they wish to monitor, such as those who have stolen from their stores previously and other suspects. Once in the system, the FaceLift technology recognizes a shoplifter the moment they enter a store. FaceLift claims it has brought down theft by around 34% in stores.

While minimizing theft is a noble feat, there are concerns regarding technology. Computerworld.com reports that face recognition is 100 times more dangerous than all systems of identification regarding the potential for privacy violation. Unlike a fingerprint, wrist vein scans, iris scans, and other biometric data which require permission to capture, the facial recognition technology does not. They just need a photo.

Pictures are easy to obtain. Retail companies regularly photograph clients using video cameras and intelligent software. More so, it is incredibly easy to connect images to names. Once complete, the information can be used to track clients easily. A name can easily lead to a home address, phone number, and a substantial amount of other data, putting the consumer at risk.