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In this Issue: May 2013
Check out this month's articles, and access our entire archive with BONUS content on IndependentRetailer.com
 AFG Expands in Vaporizers, e-Cigarettes and Pipes
AFG Distribution, formerly All Fun Gifts, was founded in 1999, and has grown to become a “One Stop Alternative Wholesaler.” The company distributes more than 8,000 products in 50 categories, and is constantly augmenting its selection of merchandise. AFG Distribution caters to an array of businesses, including tobacco outlets, convenience stores, clothing boutiques, spas and [...] Apparel Trends Live From New York
Twice annually, New York Fashion Week gives retailers insights into which looks will make the leap from couture to pop culture in the coming seasons. Femininity is in, and strong themes in apparel include sculpted silhouettes, ultra feminine hats and gloves, and flowing fabrics. As for color, retailers should stock merchandise in an array of [...] Bling Bejewels Bandages
Boo Boo Bling looks like a piece of jewelry that, when placed on a bandage, transforms it from boring to beautiful. Product developer and Boo Boo Bling LLC president, Rita Sevigny, came up with the idea when she was getting ready to attend an elegant event and a necessary bandage was marring her look. "I [...] China Sourcing Fair Serves Latin & North American Markets
Global Sources' China Sourcing Fair, now in its third year, will be held June 25-27, 2013, at the Miami Beach Convention Center in Miami, FL. The show is the largest China-products exhibition serving the Latin American market, and provides retailers the opportunity to source directly from a wide array of quality suppliers from China, India [...] Continental's Quality Closeouts
Continental Wholesale Company sells a wide variety of quality overstock returns, closeouts, liquidations, and salvaged and wholesale merchandise, including appliances, furniture, electronics, tools, grocery, toys and sporting goods. Continental Wholesale acquires merchandise from several large retail companies, and offers the lowest possible wholesale prices to independent retailers, wholesalers, thrift stores, nonprofits, auction houses, dollar stores [...] eCommerce and Security—Are You Safe?
Small business owners are 100 percent responsible for their customers’ personal information and credit card data. One of the biggest myths is that security is tied solely to credit card information. The Payment Card Industry (PCI) Security Council will be the first to point out that it is as much about the personal information of [...] GENCO Excels in Reverse Logistics
GENCO, a privately held company founded in 1898, offers a comprehensive suite of forward and reverse third-party logistics services throughout North America. "We work with six of the top 10 retailers and two of the top three dot com retailers, and our annual sales are $1.5 billion," says Don Rendulic, director of Marketing and Communications. [...] Gently Brush Away Fuzz & Fur
The Lilly Brush is specially designed with nylon bristles to be delicate, yet effective, when removing lint, pills and pet hair from natural fibers such as wool, cashmere and cotton. Other products that remove pills from clothing are too aggressive, and can make a hole in fragile fabrics, says Henry Strazza, director of Operations at [...] Handy Tool Stores in a Wallet
When it comes to the Pocket Monkey, a credit card size tool that provides the functionality of a pocketknife, necessity truly was the mother of invention. Nate Barr, a mechanical engineer, created the innovative device after he locked himself out of his apartment one too many times. "I lived in the North end of Boston," [...] Kids Brush for a Song
On average, people brush their teeth for 45 to 75 seconds, far below the recommended two minutes. Anish Patel, CEO of Brush Buddies, set out to change that with the creation of a line of toothbrushes that aims to make brushing fun. In addition to the company’s standard, talking and poppin’ toothbrushes, using cute animals [...] LCD eWriters are Eco-Friendly
Improv Electronics has introduced two new Boogie Board LCD eWriter models, the Boogie Board Jot 4.5 LCD eWriter and the Boogie Board Sync 9.7 LCD eWriter. Boogie Board LCD eWriters are eco-friendly, electronic writers that utilize Reflex® No Power LCD technology and enable consumers to join the paperless revolution. Boogie Board LCD eWriters are made [...] Mit's A Hit
The Hit Mit is a double-sided lightweight foam paddle that fits like a glove, making it easy for anyone to play a type of tennis virtually anywhere. Fredi Brodmann, product designer and owner of the Hit Mit, fashioned the product after his patented Brodmann Blades wooden table tennis paddles. With both Brodmann Blades and the [...] Norton Shows Talk Trends
The Norton Shows, all season wholesale markets held in Tennessee’s state-of-the-art Gatlinburg Convention Center, have been the go-to trade shows for apparel, jewelry and gifts since 1987. Tom and Linda Norton own the Gatlinburg Apparel and Jewelry Market LLC and their daughter, Nikke Norton, is the sole proprietor of Norton’s Gatlinburg Gift and Variety [...] Personalized Grilling Utensils make Unique Gifts
With Father's Day just around the corner and holiday shopping not too far down the road, many retailers are looking for distinctive new gift ideas to spark sales. With that in mind, Sportula Products has designed a line of licensed sports and enthusiast based heavy-duty stainless steel grilling tools and accessories that let men and [...] Red Cup is Solo No More
Toby Keith wrote a song about the red Solo cup, a well-known disposable beverage container commonly used at colleges and parties. It was that song that inspired Frank Ritchie, sales manager of Crossover Marketing, to take on the job of creating The Red Cup Buddy, a red plastic cup and cozy in one. There are [...] Self-Defense Products from Safety Technology
Safety Technology is a drop ship wholesaler of a wide variety of self-defense products from leading industry names such as MACE, Pepper Shot, Wildfire and Stun Master. The company also sells hidden cameras, and spy and surveillance systems. Company president Michael Gravette, a Vietnam War veteran, started the company in 1986. For Gravette, his business [...] Six Strategies to Make Your Website a Shopper Magnet
By Pam Neely In the online world, your sales competition is just a click away. What’s worse is that your shopper is impatient, and you have but seven seconds to convince him or her that your website is different from all the rest. Despite these challenges, there are several simple things you can do to [...] SolPals Solar Powered MoonBeams
SolPals produces unique, high quality hybrid lighting products that are eye-catching and popular with consumers. One of its newest introductions, MoonBeam, is a solar powered hybrid nightlight that is easy to use and install. The user attaches the product to any window exposed to sunlight, and it charges during the day and automatically illuminates the [...] Sound Effects for Gifts
Clever kids often become inventive adults, as is the case with Neil Adams, creator of Don’t Shake it sound effects for gifts. “When I was a child,” Adams shares, “I would put pennies and marbles and other things in with a gift so that when the person shook it, they would have a hard time [...]
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