Security devices and surveillance gear have become big business in the U.S. Insurance fraud, domestic disputes, nanny surveillance and industrial espionage situations all call for sophisticated surveillance equipment and techniques, so your entry into this field by becoming a purveyor of cameras, sound bugs and other monitoring devices couldn't come at a better time. Take advantage of the Internet to put your business online so retailers can find and order from you without the investment required to open a storefront and you'll enjoy healthy profits in an industry that's projected to keep growing.
Hire a professional website designer and explain your business philosophy, product mix and audience so he or she can create a site that will be easy to find and navigate. Make a list of the words you believe surveillance product shoppers will use to find retailers like you and submit these keywords to your designer at your first meeting so your website copy is positioned for search engine pickup.
Set up your surveillance distribution business framework by giving your company a name, setting up a bank account and determining where you will warehouse merchandise. Establish credit card and other banking arrangements so shoppers can pay for goods in a secure environment. Arrange for permits and licenses required by state and local authorities. Rent or allocate space to stock product and repack it for shipping to customers.
Align your first merchandise orders with the launch of your website. Choose cameras with long range photographic capability, night vision attachments, sound capturing devices with long-range pickup and include in your product mix products to help shield investigators working from cars from detection, such as window tinting kits, plexi-glass window inserts, light reflectors, bug-detecting equipment and software written to do background checks and financial searches.
Contact manufacturers of surveillance products to examine the breadth of their product. Compare pricing to get a feel for the markup these firms make when they sell to distributors. Ask about order turn around times, shipping options, financial terms, quantity buys and product assortments that include a range of products for one price.
Run small ads in places your target audience frequents to steer them to your site. Code ads to determine where leads originate. Offer a gift or free shipping for first orders as an incentive to buy from you. Become a knowledgeable spokesperson by making speeches and authoring articles on the importance of surveillance in the 21st century to build your name, reputation and mailing list. Market to your mailing list repeatedly to remind them of new products, innovations and your brand so they think of you first when they need new equipment.
Price your merchandise accordingly. Make deep discounts to attract new customers or mark them up to align with pricing advertised by competitors in your area. Use the traditional markup (known as keystoning) if you're unable to obtain a good range of competitor prices by doubling the wholesale cost.
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