Planning For The New Year By Reviewing The Last

The start of the new year is a great time to assess what is ahead as well as what you just accomplished – or lacked to, for that matter - in the previous year. Joining you in this should be your employees. To jump start this important review process, a few questions are outlined below to help engage your thoughts, provoke new ones and lead you towards accomplishing new goals in the year ahead.

1. What was the single biggest accomplishment for your retail store or wholesale business in the past year? This accomplishment does not have to be reflective of dollars, but instead it can represent opportunity, steps  taken or anything else you truly believe made the largest impact on your business. Make sure your employees have the unique opportunity to give their individual thoughts on this, as well.

2. What do you believe you failed to accomplish in the past year that you had hoped to? Again, make sure your employees can share their opinions here. Take the time to listen to their thoughts and together, you can evaluate both the strengths and weaknesses of your business in an effort to do better in the coming year.

3. What were the top selling items of your store or brand in the past year?Do you think  they will continue to trend as top sellers in the new year? Either way, did you anticipate they would be top sellers? If not, how did you react to their sales to provide proper inventory? How can you learn from this to do again in similar situations?

4. What items do you think may replace your top sellers from this past year? Are you prepared to chase any items that sell well from a financial perspective, or have you already eliminated wiggle room in your buying budget?  

5. Is your sales team at the level of performance you want them to be? What do they believe they can do to improve their sales and overall work for your business? What do you want them to do to improve? How will you communicate, educate and inspire them to be stronger performers?

6. What new marketing initiatives can you make to gain visibility for your store, your business, your website and your overall brand / store image? Are you prepared to take the extra steps to do this? What are these extra steps?

7. Did you reach your target market in the past year?Who is your target market? Do you believe your audience may have changed since you opened your store or business and if so, how can you react to accommodate that?

8. Are there new layers (new product, new branding, new marketing, etc.) to your business that you plan to add in the coming year? What are they? How will this impact your employees? You? Your time? Your budget? Make sure everyone necessary understands the process.

9. Do you have to give up anything to get ahead this year? What? Are you willing to make this sacrifice? Are you employees prepared? What do you each need to do to prepare for this?

10. What goals do you have for yourself and your business that need support from outside resources? Whether they are vendors, contractors, consultants, photographers or anyone else, make sure you have scheduled times to work with the necessary parties so that you aren’t left chasing them last minute.

Hopefully these questions can help engage you and your entire team to jumpstart the year ahead with excitement and energy to reach the goals you have set for your business. Make sure to take the time to really evaluate last year in an effort to do better this year. Learn from both your mistakes and successes and when necessary, learn from others. Retail continues to be tough, so it’s okay to not be able to do it alone. Work together and hopefully 2010 will be the year you plan for it to be – or better!

Tips For Trade Show Booth Displays

Whether it’s your first trade or your tenth, a national show or a regional one, there are many things to do to prepare for your show. Among the long list of tasks to get ready is to prepare for your booth display. A few helpful tips include the following:

1. Find out your booth space size and if you will be provided a table and chairs. Then decide if you want to use the tablecloth provided by the show, or if you would prefer to bring your own to complement your brand, color scheme and merchandising plans. Some shows don’t have tablecloths at all, so make sure you have one in this scenario, as well. Your table is essentially your “store”, so make sure to take the time to prepare for how you will layer it in your merchandising plans, beginning with the tablecloth. If you need additional chairs ordered based on what they provide, do this in advance, as well.

2. Arrange the display on your table top in levels so that there is depth to your merchandising. The depth will bring attention to your booth and allow for a more creative, more visually appealing display to draw in customers. You can use simple cardboard boxes to add height, but make sure to use fabric or tablecloths to disguise the boxes. Consider using jewelry stands, cake stands and other items that add height and width to your display to help showcase the items in your displays. You don’t have to spend a lot of money here to be effective. In addition, make sure to display the larger items in the back and the smaller items up front so that nothing is missed within the display.

3. Use a power point presentation or other computer aided presentation to help support your product and brand. Make sure there is an electrical outlet close enough to your booth, though, before counting on this. You may also want to bring an extension cord just in case. Don’t lean on this as your only source of excitement for your booth, though. Some people respond to this type of presentation more than others… The catch is you want to reach out to everyone.

4. If your budget allows and the trade show allows it, as well, provide giveaways for the show attendees. Whether you are giving away a pen with your brand details on it or a product sample, most people will love the “free” appeal. The better the giveaway, the better the response, of course. Attendees of trade shows are quick to tell their friends what booths are worth checking out, and sometimes it simply takes a great giveaway to draw a crowd. You can turn them on to your product from there.

5. Have visitors to your booth provide you with their contact information through a raffle. You gain their contact information for follow up opportunities while they gain the chance to win something great. That’s the catch, though… You want to make sure the raffle is worth signing up for. Make your raffle exciting so that attendees will get excited about their chance to win!

6. If the trade show you are attending is for more than one day, it’s a good idea to have more than just yourself in attendance.This will allow much needed assistance in manning the booth for bathroom breaks, lunch breaks and the maintenance of taking care of the display and dealing with attendees over the course of the show. While it’s common for other trade show booth attendees to help each other the best they can, you can’t count on your booth neighbor to be the friendly attendee you may be.

7. Have take away details about your product available. If you are selling to buyers of retail stores, have professional Buyer’s Packets available for them to take away from your booth so that they can review the details later. You should make sure your cost details (wholesale and retail) are available per item, color choices are clear, order details are easy to understand and all other terms you have set up specific to your business are included in these take away details. And of course, make sure your contact details are accessible.

8. If you have wall space available, use it. Don’t waste any space that you may have! Use this to identify any press you may have received, highlight your must have products in a larger scale, display your marketing campaign or  more. Be creative. Just don’t waste the space by leaving it empty.

9. Use lighting to help maximize your booth space. If you have tabletop lighting that can spotlight your key products, brand or image, you will be more effective in communicating your message. Floor lamps can also add depth to your table when used effectively. Make sure you have access to an electrical outlet and it’s always a good idea to have an extension cord packed just in case.

10. Smile, be friendly and say hello to everyone. You never know who may be your next customer. And as for reputations… depending on your retail sector, everyone somehow seems to know everyone at one point or another, so you never want to give a bad impression.

Finally – have fun! To make this happen, it helps to plan in advance. So be prepared and check with your trade show organizing team well before you arrive to avoid surprises, secure your booth space and get any questions you may have answered.

Consumer Shopping Habits – Need vs. Want

Need is only a small part of why shoppers buy things. Want, which is typically driven by emotions, makes up a large part of why consumers choose to purchase things. Because of this, it’s up to you as buyers of your retail stores and designers / owners of wholesale businesses to try and understand both the need and want of consumers today. Balancing the reality between the two and your specific business can help enhance your overall success in sales, allowing you to really capture an audience that stays dedicated to your store or product. The first step in doing this is understanding the difference between products consumers need versus products consumers want.

For example, as cooler weather approaches, consumers start to think about a change of wardrobes and new essentials they will need – or want – to keep them warm. Some consumers already have their staples, such as coats and boats, taken care of and in their closets with no care as to what the new fashions may be. Others, however, may have gained or lost some weight and NEED something new while others want to stand out in the latest trends, therefore WANTING to get a new coat. These examples represent two different types of consumers, though two is just a small example of the many types of consumers that exist. As retailers and wholesalers, it’s important to try and understand just who your audience may be when trying to make a sale. Will he or she NEED to get your product or is it more likely your product will be sold on a WANT basis?

Once you have identified the type of product you are selling, you can then support it with marketing and merchandising that will help capture the audience you believe it will be sold to. Make sure your sales team, whether as wholesale reps or in store sales associates, are educated on the reasons someone may NEED a certain product as well as why someone should simply WANT that product. In addition, make sure they know how to listen and understand your consumers so that they can help make the sale accordingly, trying to sell it as something someone “has to have” simply because it’s a hot trend or looks great on someone or likewise, because it is something they must have to meet the needs they are looking for. Each consumer is different, therefore each sales pitch may need to be altered and of course, each reason for purchase will be varied. Recognizing these points in a competitive marketplace is important in keeping your business healthy by making smart, educated decisions on your marketing, merchandising, product purchases and more. Listening and reacting to consumer purchasing trends in your business can help give you an edge, as well. Don’t ignore the reality that consumers really are your bosses when it comes to your success. Their decisions as to if they NEED something you sell or really WANT something you have makes all the difference in how your business will succeed.

Why Retailers Should Negotiate With Wholesalers

Alright, so this isn’t what wholesalers want to hear. But the reality is that retailers are taking hits when it comes to the suggested retail prices of many of their products in an effort to get sales. We aren’t referring to annual sales, seasonal sales and special events here, but rather permanent markdowns being taken in an effort to make sales- not just move the final few pieces of what is left from a size run or original order.

What Can Wholesalers Do?

The fact is, the price of many products at retail have gone down in their market value, therefore their wholesale price should reflect this. As wholesalers, if you aren’t already offering incentives, discounts or some sort of savings in your sales to retailers – you should be. Of course, this all depends on who you are. Many wholesalers are doing great or getting by because likewise, the retailers who are selling their product are comfortably moving their product. But if your product falls into the category of not making expected  sales, it’s time to help out your retailers.

What Should Retailers Do?

If you are a retailer who is struggling to make sales, consider how you can help your margins before you bring new product into your stores. Discuss options with your vendors that include discounts, incentives or possibly even product buy backs based on sales – or lack of them. Plan in advance how you will manage the markdowns customers are expecting, but also plan to make sure your customers don’t expect more markdowns to keep taking place. Buy less of more so that customers can’t wait around for what they want to still be there, but for less. And make sure your vendors know you are making these changes to support your business overhead and hopefully they will support you along the way, as well. After all, if they fall into the category of products needing to be marked down, then they should be smart enough to know it’s sell for less or don’t sell at all!

At the end of the day, as a retailer or wholesaler you want your products to sell. By supporting each other to make this happen, you can keep each other happy and ultimately – the final customer, too. But be realistic and be fair. These negotiations aren’t for everyone and retailers should respect that…. Likewise, wholesalers should respect their retailers if they don’t get reorders. Whoever said retail was easy certainly wasn’t working in it during a tough economy! Luckily, the battle is often worth the fight.

Attracting Buyers When You Are A New Wholesaler

First you had the idea, then you developed the product. As challenging as that ride can be, it is often even more challenging to land your product into retail stores.

Buyers across the country and around the world get introduced to new products nearly every day and as a result, can be overwhelmed with the decisions of what to buy and what to pass on. Favoring products they know will sell when it comes to what to bring into their stores often works in their advantage, however most smart buyers also know that introducing new products to their store assortment can also be to their advantage. Luckily, this brings you into the picture. Now the challenge is to stay on their radar so that when decision time comes, it’s you who gets the sale.

A few things to help leverage your product and brand from the enormous amount of competition that is also trying to gain the eyes of retail buyers includes the following:

1. Present your product professionally and with confidence. Make sure that you are prepared to present a polished buyer’s packet to all perspective buyers. It should include your product information, company details, designer details if applicable, retail and wholesale price points, opening order terms, delivery expectations and re-order details. Including photos that are professionally presented within this packet is essential. Color and sizing information as well as case packs are also critical depending on the product you are selling. Many new wholesalers speak up too soon when it comes to reaching out to buyers and as a result, their product is dismissed from the interest of buyers. Don’t let this mistake be your fatal failing.

2. Communicate effectively with buyers without wasting their time. Remember that buyers are very busy people between attending trade shows, shopping their competition, placing orders and re-orders, managing budgets and so much more. It’s extremely important that you respect this so that you can value the time you do have with them, whether it’s face to face, on the phone or via email. In doing this, many buyers will respect your attention to their time and as a result, you just may have an edge in their attraction to your product, as well.

3. Be in the right places at the right time. Attending trade shows is a great way to get introduced to retailers who would not know of you otherwise while also giving you an outlet of communication that may be hard to obtain through phone calls and email. But don’t jump onto the trade show bandwagon too late in the game. If you want to be in retailers for Holiday 2009, you are already late. Become familiar with the trade show calendars of your particular industry and make sure you plan to attend both national and regional shows to help launch your product. In addition to trade shows, scheduling in store appointments is an ideal way to get a buyer’s attention. Not all buyers will give new wholesalers this time, though, so make sure to stay confident and keep on trying despite a lot of no’s to your appointment requests. Sending your buyer’s packets via email (PDF files work best) or via snail mail is also a great way to get attention. Just make sure you are on time with the buying calendar. It never hurts to give your product some cushion time, too, since your product is new to the market. Following up on all outlets is essential, as well.

4. Network with everybody and anybody that will listen. You never know where your next account will come from. Be professional and always stay focused on your brand identity, direction and goals so that you don’t get lost in networks that aren’t leading you to your intended purpose. But do take the time and the chance to reach out and meet new people. Chamber of commerce groups are a great way to meet retail owners and buyers as well as national and global organizations, such as the Fashion Group International, that are directly dedicated to your industry. While this takes a lot of time, the amount of people you will meet can greatly impact your brand recognition and interest.

5. Stay focused on your long term plans despite short term temptations. As a new wholesaler trying to position yourself in the marketplace, it can get tempting to set your expectations lower or settle on something just to feel like you are making progress. While compromise and change should be expected, it’s important you don’t lose sight of your brand’s vision along the way. Sometimes saying no, passing on certain retailers or having to change your plans is the best thing you can do in an effort to get the right buyer’s attention. Remember that where you position your product will be important for buyers to know, so make sure you only put it where you think the buyers you want will approve of.

It can be a long and bumpy ride for new wholesalers emerging in the marketplace, but the ride is worth it if you see it through and continue to believe in your product. Be patient, be professional and be prepared in an effort to let buyers know you are ready for business!

Retail Minded Founder Nicole Leinbach Reyhle originally contributed this article to www.Nolcha.com. For additional support with your business needs, contact Retail Minded at nicole@retailminded.com.

Things To Ask Potential Reps

Interviewing reps? Looking for someone new to represent your product? Below are a list of points you should discuss with any potential reps for your brand to help ensure your product and business will be represented accordingly.

1. What is his or her expected commission? Will this rate go up or down based on varying sales?

2. Are there additional expenses to the commission paid out upon sales completed?

3. When do you owe your rep his or her commission? One product is shipped or once product is ordered? Suggested recommendation here is once product is shipped and paid for.

4. How does your rep prefer to be paid? How often?

5. What trade shows do the reps participate in and are they guaranteed as part of their representation?

6. Are there additional costs associated with the rep representing your product at trade shows? If so, what?

7. Are there any other additional details you should be made aware of to help support your rep at trade shows, such as travel expenses or necessary production of line sheets?

8. How does each rep plan to update you on their active, potential and new clients?

9. In general, what is the rep you are interviewing preferred method of communication – email, phone, face to face meetings? This should matter to you since you may also have a preferred method.

10. How often should you expect to hear from you rep?

11. What are the top stores your rep currently sells into? If their territory is large, have this broken down by city or region. Are these stores you are familiar with or want your product to be sold to?

12. What other lines does this potential rep carry? Do they compete or complement with your product line?

13. Are there references from other vendors currently working with this rep that he or she is willing to share with you? There should be!

14. Why is this rep able to pick up a new line? Did they just lose a line or are they looking for more diversification? The details matter here. You don’t want to get lost in a crowd.

15. How does this rep plan to help sell your product? Why does he or she think they will be successful at this, specific to your unique product or brand?

16. Are there any terms the rep has in her contract that you should bring to light in your own contract, ensuring you are covering all your bases?

17. How long of a contract does the rep want for you to partner with them for? Are there grounds for terminiation / seperation? An example could be if you set sales goals that were not met during a certain timeframe.

18. How often do you expect to hear from the rep? Some reps don’t touchbase at all unless an order is placed. Make sure your expectations are agreed upon.

19. Does your rep cross territories with any of your other reps? If so, determine which rep gets which area very clearly to avoid troubles later.

20. What will your rep do to “wow” you from the other reps?

The list goes on and on based on your unique product, company, goals and expectations. Make sure that reps don’t just interview you but that you also interview them. A good rep will understand this and should appreciate you being so passionate about your business!

Finally, make sure to set in place your own contract with your rep. They will also have you sign one with them. This is all part of the partnership. Just make sure to read every word and come to agreeing terms on both sides!

If you need additional help in constructing a contract and negotiating what is best for your business, Retail Minded offers this service. Contact Retail Minded today for additional details at nicole@retailminded.com

Ten Reasons To Attend Trade Shows

Whether you are a retailer or a wholesaler, there are many advantages to attending trade shows. While cost is of course an issue since you typically will have to travel to attend these shows and pay for registration fees (though some retailers attend for free depending on the show), there are many reasons to participate in trade shows that include gaining valuable experience, knowledge, product exposure and more.

In no particular order, the below points are valuable reasons to consider attending trade shows.

1. Gain knowledge and exposure to new trends, products and resources that are available for your retail business or wholesale company. This is a great way to learn about what’s hot, what’s fading and what your company needs to have or do right now.

2. Stimulate new ideas and creative ways to support your business despite the economy, past seasons and more. Where you will gain this knowledge is endless – your competition at the show, your general experience at the show and even your participation at the show will make an impact.

3. Meet other retailers and vendors who you can lean on, learn from and possibly gain business from that you would not have had the chance to meet had you not attended that trade show.

4. Learn what your competition is up to without having to go to great lengths since their business information will be easily accessible. Ask yourself how do you compare to your competition and evaluate your strengths and weaknesses to best support your business.

5. Expose yourself to the press attending the trade shows so they know about your business – retail or wholesale. Make sure your business stands out so that they will remember you.

6. Generate leads for strategic alliances and most importantly, potential customers. Collect business cards, refer to the directory and use all other outlets provided to you during the show to create a list of contacts for your files – and your business outreach.

7. Participate in educational seminars, networking events and surveys that only take place at trade shows and will expose you to new people, new business and new ways of thinking for your business success.

8. Get answers right away, whether from a vendor or a retailer, since trade shows allow for immediate communication and easy, accessible outlets of exposure for both vendors and retailers.

9. Become educated on your industry so that you can better support your clients and customers by utilizing all the resources trade shows offer.

10. Have fun. Yes – have fun. Nothing gives a business owner more energy than a good time while working to keep them motivated to want to work more!

Are You Ready For A Sales Rep?

The article below was completed by guest contributer Lara Brynildssen. Lara owns and is the primary sales rep for LJBryn&Co., a Midwest-based independent rep group specializing in children’s gift, toys, gear and apparel. Learn more by visiting www.LJBrynAndCo.com. 

You had a great idea to design and manufacture a line.  You’ve sold it to a few stores in your neck of the woods.  You’ve even gone to a few regional trade shows, or retail expos, and your line sold pretty well, so you forge ahead with plans to expand.

And now you can hardly keep up…  Stores are calling you for re-orders but you’re on the other line and miss the call.  You’re so busy dealing with supply, manufacturing and design details, you don’t have time to promote and sell your line anymore, much less follow-up with existing accounts.

What’s the answer?  You’re still just starting up.  You’re short on time but you’re short on money too.  You can’t afford to hire any full-time sales employees, yet the business plan you wrote for the bank shows monthly sales growth. How do you grow your sales if you’re just keeping your head above water running your new business?

You hire independent sales representatives.   A rep’s primary responsibility is to sell your products.  A sales rep isn’t a magic bullet to increasing your sales—and finding the rep that’s right for you isn’t always easy—but if you want to increase your sales volume, assembling a team of reps throughout the US and Canada might be the solution.  

Think about it this way:  Say you have 100 accounts.   Right now, individual buyers call you to place orders and re-orders.  Depending on what part of the country they’re in, and what part of the country you’re in, you need to be accessible for order-taking 12-14 hours a day, in addition to the business of running your business, marketing, etc.  By assembling a network of regional reps, you increase your sales (over time) but minimize your sales-related workload.  Now you’re dealing with 8-12 reps instead of 100 accounts.  Your reps take on the business of the day-to-day contact with your existing accounts.  They’ll also introduce your line to their existing account base and, before you know it, you’ll need an assistant to process the influx of new orders!

Are You Ready For A Sales Rep?

I’m going to tell you flat out that if you’ve designed a tee shirt line and have a collection of 6 or 8 tees that have done pretty well when you’ve sold them at your local Mom2Mom or craft show, you’re not ready for a rep—yet.  How can you get your line ready for a rep—and the increased sales that go hand in hand?

There are several things you need to have up your sleeve to be ready to hire sales reps, primarily:  a constant stream of new products.  Reps sell, and buyers generally buy, in a two-season cycle, even if your product is the perfect, seasonless boutique item.  If an account buys your line in Fall, they’ll want to see new products from you in the Spring.  I’m not asking you to re-create the wheel every 6 months. Buyers do want to be able to recognize your unique brand.

What I am saying is that if you sold pink and yellow tank tops and short sleeve tees in the Spring, for the Fall buyers want long sleeves, different colors, new graphics and maybe a jacket.  Your best sellers like “I’m a Big Sister” or “Princess” might always stay the same—and that’s OK.  Don’t stop producing your best-sellers till you see their sales dip.  Work with your rep to market those original designs as the core collection of your brand and supplement them with new seasonal designs twice per year.  If you aren’t always designing and manufacturing new products, you won’t be able to keep up with the cyclical demands of your buyers.  Plus, a rep won’t show your line if there is nothing new to show.

Why will the rep stop showing your line?  The primary reason a rep gets an appointment with a buyer is to show fresh, new products.  Buyers are always on the hunt for the latest and greatest to showcase in their boutique and reps love to be able to say confidently, “This is a fantastic line.  Check out the new samples they just sent me.”

It’s not always a plus to tell buyers that you’re in 100 stores in California and that distribution is the reason your brand should be in their store too.  What’s more enticing to a buyer is to hear from a rep that your brand has great sell-through and a fantastic track record of designing and shipping new products.  After all, your buyer is making an investment bringing in your brand.  If your brand sells well, that makes her job easier.  She keeps buying your products every season when the rep calls to say your new samples just arrived.  If your brand doesn’t sell well or never has new products, that costs your buyer time and money because she has to research, buy and set up a new vendor to replace your brand.

What else do you need to have all buttoned up before starting your rep search?  A few easy basics:

• A sales pitch defining your unique brand
• Wholesale line sheets or a catalog
• Wholesale order form
• Easy-to-navigate, high-quality, professional website
• A basic understanding of how reps work and get paid
• Defined expectations for your reps, i.e. road work, tradeshows, a permanent showroom, opening new accounts and servicing existing accounts
• Time to build a relationship with your rep

This isn’t an exhaustive list because all reps work just a little differently.  The keys are:  define your brand’s product cycle, define why you need a rep and then search till you find the rep that will help make your brand a shining star in your industry.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT – Good Fortune Soap

This  week’s featured bath  and body product is Good Fortune Soap.

What a name. Good Fortune. Who doesn’t want more of that? With Good Fortune Soap products, you will be wanting more of what they have to offer. Founder and soap creator Jennifer Jack wanted to change her corporate driven life and create a new lifestyle that left her feeling satisfied and happy while also enjoying what she did. Based in Tennessee, Jack founded Good Fortune Soap and applied her graphic design and photography background to help launch this exciting, affordable and unique soap brand. With a studio open to the public in an old family dairy barn in Athens, Tennessee and her mom working with her, Good Fortune is now sold in 5 other states outside of Tennessee and it won’t be long until Good Fortune has a home in many more stores – maybe even yours (strongly suggest you taking a peak at it).

While soap is the specialty at Good Fortune, there is more to offer. Body oils, lip balms, lotions, candles and more make up this natural assortment of bath and body products. Soap is the key peice to this mix, though, and my favorite is their surprisingly refreshing Faucet Soap. You can use this soap without water, with water and just about anywhere you want. It comes in a waterproof bag and a mesh sack that makes using and traveling with Faucet Soap super easy. On top of all that, it only retails for $10 and is so generous in size compared to what a lot of other soaps out there offer for $10 bucks! Finally, my favorite part are the amazinng  scents you have to choose from – Apple Jack, Red Apple Lavendar and more. There is even a soap with citronella to act as a repellant to bugs… How genuis is that? This soap is as versatile as it gets. Don’t believe me? Check it out for yourself.

Learn more about Jack and Good Fortune by visiting www.goodfortunesoap.com. For wholesale and press inquiries, please contact Good Fortune at sales@goodfortunesoap.com. Opening orders are available in small quantities, so don’t be shy! Get in touch today!

Through our IN THE SPOTLIGHT section, we offer retailers and wholesalers the opportunity to link together by being introduced to each other as well as general consumers. If you would like to be considered for IN THE SPOTLIGHT, please email Retail Minded at nicole@retailminded.com.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT – Garden Girl

This  week’s featured bath  and body product is Garden Girl.

A 3 minute or less face cleansing and caring routine? Yeah right. Or so I thought… turns out, Garden Girl was right. Their easy, step by step guide to take care of your beautiful face left me surprised and satisfied. As someone who wants every spare minute to get more work done, taking 3 to wash my face didn’t seem realistic. Turns out, it felt great and now my skin feels great. Even better? Looks great, too!

Garden Girl is fresh from Mother Nature herself. Free of chemicals and paraben-based perservatives, Garden Girl is an exciting new line of natural skincare product founded by Kristin Miller of Massachussets. Mom of two boys, Miller works with experienced skincare experts to ensure that Garden Girl is both soothing and healing to your skin. Free of added frangrances yet refreshing with natural fragrance, this product line is a must have for all retailers looking to introduce a natural, earth friendly, body friendly product  line to their stores. There is face care and bath and body care to choose from – including a delicious Vanilla Body Butter that my body can’t get enough of! If you are looking for a skin pick me up, pick Garden Girl! Still aren’t sure if it’s for you? Check out this list of testimonials from customers who are raving about Garden Girl – http://www.gardengirlskincare.com/testimonials.html.

Not only do their products work great, but their packaging is crisp in design – no doubt a great feature for shelve appeal in your retail store! Add a group of  products together and it makes a great gift! Another fabulous FYI about Garden Girl is that they offer gifts, party favors and more for weddings and corporate gifts. Learn more by  visiting their website or contacting them directly. Please visit www.gardengirlskincare.com for more information that will make your skin crave natural care. You can also contact founder Kristin Miller directly at kristin@gardengirl.us for wholesale, press inquiries and all other questions regarding Garden Girl.

Through our IN THE SPOTLIGHT section, we offer retailers and wholesalers the opportunity to link together by being introduced to each other as well as general consumers. If you would like to be considered for IN THE SPOTLIGHT, please email Retail Minded at nicole@retailminded.com.

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