If you are content to sell the wholesale sunglasses you purchase from us exclusively online, that's great. Keep doing what you're doing. But if you would like to branch out, we have some suggestions for you. Below are just a few interesting ways to supplement an online sunglasses operation.
1. Co-Op Sales
Let's start with selling your wares at a local co-op. A co-op is like a smaller version of a flea market with one exception: it is operated and maintained by members of the co-op. Every member contributes financially to the cost of renting and maintaining the space. But each member generates their own profit through individual sales.
The interesting thing about co-ops is that you do not have to personally be on-site to sell. Members take turns to manage the retail space. You might only have to put in a day or two every month. On the days you are not there, other members are. All sales are processed through a single register but then distributed to each vendor accordingly.
2. Flea Market Sales for Wholesale Sunglasses
Speaking of flea markets, they are another great non-traditional venue for selling a whole host of retail products. In fact, flea markets all around the country are home to vendors who specialize in cheap sunglasses. Customers expect to find sunglasses at flea markets.
Although you need to be there to sell, the advantage of the flea market is that there is no long-term lease involved. Most flea markets rent space by the day. Others rent by the month. However, flea markets do tend to require that renters be present on the weekends. That is the busy time.
3. Go Mobile
Have you ever seen food carts on city streets at lunchtime? How about mobile food trucks? You could do the same thing with designer sunglasses. You would likely need a permit from your local city or county but getting one shouldn't be hard or exceptionally costly.
The bigger expense would be the cart or truck. But if you could swing it, you could go mobile during peak sunglasses season. You could take your operation to local festivals and community events. You could essentially take your sunglasses to wherever people are gathering at any particular time.
4. Catalog Sunglasses Sales
We have heard stories of retailers selling through digital catalogs that they have developed themselves. They create catalogs in PDF format, then distribute the catalogs to customers willing to act as sales affiliates. The customers show the catalogs to their friends and family members. They earn a commission on every sale they generate.
Sticking with digital catalogs accomplishes a couple of things. First and foremost, it completely eliminates printing costs. Second, it allows you to easily print a new edition as your inventory changes. The thing to remember with a catalog is that pictures and product descriptions need to be compelling enough to grab a customer's attention.
As a bulk supplier of sunglasses, we love to see the creative efforts our wholesale customers undertake to increase their own sales. There are lots of ways to sell designer sunglasses outside of e-commerce and traditional brick-and-mortar environments. If you want to supplement your traditional sales channels, have at it. You are limited only by your creativity.
