The Allure Of Specialty Grows
As I look forward to visiting the Atlanta Market and Las Vegas Market shows this summer, I am intrigued with the amazing selection of truly special products made domestically and abroad that are present and available to be purchased by the numerous specialty stores that are thriving across this country. The growth in international trade has brought us products made in the smallest villages in remote areas of the world as well as products made by foreign factories that only recently found there way to our shores. We also have access to imaginative creations made by domestic artisans whom have found a market bolstered by the increased demand for such unique creations. I think you will find that many of these products are not widely distributed because the volume available is usually not plentiful enough for large e-commerce platforms. This enables the margins to stay healthy, and helps retailers to maintain reasonable price points.
Many of the products we see at the summer markets have a story behind them, which would often be overlooked by the merchants and suppliers alike. But, with the rising purchasing power of the younger generations whom have the power of knowledge present with the technology held in their hands, it is quite likely that these consumers will be better informed about the products they seek. If we really want to see these products sold, however, we should take an active interest in articulating the unique and thoughtful decoration, detail, and utility that has yielded a purposeful and attractively designed product at point of purchase. We should make sure that store employees that interact with customers are familiar with these stories, or we need to ask our vendors to invest in point of purchase signage that can call out the special attributes or include a QR code that consumers can scan to attain the information for themselves. If we go to more effort to enforce what makes a product special, I think the allure and desire to buy will grow along with our actions. It will also help you set your store apart as a destination to find unique and good quality products.
On the coming pages we have done our best to pass along some knowledge about some of the new, the fascinating, and the truly unique products that can be found across the Atlanta Market Campus this summer.
