- You have to decide how to present the merchandise to your customers.
Developing and selecting products will be a lot easier and more
efficient if you deal with this decision first. Here are three
examples of different ways to present merchandise:
Many stores organize their Custom Order Collection to target
specific applications or events - sales presentation items;
awards and incentives; freebie giveaways; point of purchase
premiums; items available for co-branding in joint sponsorship
situations; etc., are the kinds of categories they use.
Some stores organize by brand name. We service a network of
700 public radio stations with an Extranet Store which carries
about 30 program brands like Morning Edition, Car Talk, A Prairie
Home Companion and Marketplace. The store features several hundred
products - both staple goods and Custom Order items organized
by brand plus a huge collection of unbranded options suitable
for ad-hoc logo imprints.
Most Custom Order Collections are organized by product category
- mugs and drinkware; totes and carryalls; writing instruments
and desk items; apparel; etc.
The principle involved here is to present your merchandise
assortment in a manner that meets the needs of your customers.
And to meet that need first, with their guidance.
2) Review Options -
Tell your supplier the categories you will use to present your
merchandise and the price points you have chosen for each. Ask
the supplier to help you develop or refresh the product line.
Your supplier will research those specifications and provide
you with catalogs and samples to review. After you have developed
the initial merchandise assortment, this process should be repeated
periodically.
3) Process Selections
- Have a graphic artist make virtual samples by applying
a digital image of your logo to a digital image of each product.
This must be done in compliance with your organization's graphics
standards policies. Review those virtual samples with the departments
you serve. Narrow down the preferred items.
4) Order Prototypes -
Have imprinted physical prototypes of the preferred products
made for evaluation and final approval of product quality and
imprint quality. After posting photos in the Custom Order Collection
of your shopping cart, keep the prototypes on display in your
office.
