Many gift companies overlook a promising niche for their products: hospital gift stores. The advantage to having wholesale accounts with these retailers is they are always in demand, since people are constantly needing medical aid. Although it is a steady market to distribute your products to, breaking in takes a good deal of planning.
Obtain a tax ID number and assumed name certificate for your business. In all likelihood, you will need to collect taxes on the items you distribute, unless the hospital gift store is a nonprofit or has a resale permit.
Make a list of the hospitals, hospice care centers, birthing centers and other similar medical care centers in your area. Make sure to get the contact information for their gift shop, and of course, check to be sure that they do indeed have a gift store.
Take clear, quality photos of your items and make brochures. You can print brochures inexpensively through companies such as VistaPrint and PsPrint.
Develop a line of products that is well suited for a hospital gift store. Ideas include humorous "get well" cards, all-natural or organic bath and body gift sets, naturally scented room sprays or sachets, and nourishing hand balms for nurses.
Establish wholesale policies, such as turnaround times, payment methods, account requirements, delivery methods and costs, returns policies and processes, and restocking fees.
Develop a wholesale or distributor pricing list to give to the hospital stores. Standard wholesale prices are 40% to 50% off retail prices. Distributor prices are typically 60% to 70% off retail prices--reserve distributor pricing to hospital gift stores that buy a very large quantity of items.
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