The Wholesale Forums - Business Articles and Resources http://www.thewholesaleforums.co.uk/forum/ A collection of business articles and practical resources to help you and your business. Fresh contributions are welcomed. en Fri, 20 Nov 2009 22:40:58 GMT vBulletin 60 http://www.thewholesaleforums.co.uk/forum/wf_icons/misc/rss.jpg The Wholesale Forums - Business Articles and Resources http://www.thewholesaleforums.co.uk/forum/ Ralph Lauren loses Copyright Case in Australia http://www.thewholesaleforums.co.uk/forum/business-articles-and-resources/72048-ralph-lauren-loses-copyright-case-australia.html Mon, 16 Nov 2009 11:33:01 GMT I have extracted this from a legal journal that I subscribed to for everyone's interest.

American clothes designer, Ralph Lauren, has lost a key copyright case
against a businessman importingcheaper - but genuine - Ralph Lauren
clothes from the US into Australia.

This process is known as parallel importing and the case has helped to
define the limits of using copyright law to prevent parallel imports in Australia.

Ralph Lauren alleged Ziliani Holdings infringed its copyright by importing and
selling clothing with the Ralph Laurenlogo in Australia.

Ziliani argued that the logo was a label and was therefore exempt from the
copyright protection under Australia's Copyright Act. Section 44(c) of the Act
states that copyright in a "noninfringing accessory" to an article is
not infringed by importing that article.

The Federal Court decided that the embroidered version of Ralph Lauren's
logo was a label, stating:
"[a] natural and ordinary English meaning of the word 'label' includes a
brand name, trade mark and the name by which a design or fashion house,
and its product, such as 'Polo' and 'Ralph Lauren' and 'Polo Ralph
Lauren' is generally known.

Brand owners who want to prevent so called grey imports can take heart
from the fact the decision only applies to embroidered logos.

The judgement states that in June 2007, Ralph Lauren and Ziliani Holdings agreed Ziliani had infringed copyright by selling clothes in which the polo player logo was offered in a pattern "which was printed, and not embossed, woven or stitched".

There are ways to minimise parallel importation of products, but it is a
legal minefield. ]]> Business Articles and Resources londonking http://www.thewholesaleforums.co.uk/forum/business-articles-and-resources/72048-ralph-lauren-loses-copyright-case-australia.html Guidelines for opening an account with a Video Games Distributer. http://www.thewholesaleforums.co.uk/forum/business-articles-and-resources/69859-guidelines-opening-account-video-games-distributer.html Sat, 24 Oct 2009 16:12:03 GMT There have been a few posts on here recently asking about setting up accounts with the official distributers for Playstation (Centrsoft) and Xbox (Gem). I thought I would put together some guidelines that may be of use to anyone looking to get into the industry. *First I think its important to... There have been a few posts on here recently asking about setting up accounts with the official distributers for Playstation (Centrsoft) and Xbox (Gem). I thought I would put together some guidelines that may be of use to anyone looking to get into the industry.

First I think its important to point out the following;

Just because Gem & Centresoft are large UK distributers, this does not mean thay are the cheapest. All it means is they are able to supply the volume required by a large retailer/etailer. So if price is your primary concern you may be barking up the wrong tree. If volume is what you are after then its worth setting up an account.

Many of the large online stores such as Zavvi, The Hut, Woolworths, HMV etc. (even some of the larger suppliers on ebay) all send out products (under £18) from warehouses in Guernsey, Jersey or Switzerland. All are exempt from paying VAT and therefore are able to offer more competitive prices. Even then margins are small. It is not because they buy DVDs & Games for £1 and sell them for £9.99. If you are looking for a supplier who is able to offer new releases for a few quid, i'm afraid they dont exist.

Keep an eye out for promotional titles, (Most of the large high street and on line retailers wil have these on promotion, i.e. Feel Good Movies, The Warner List, Disney BOGOF, BBC TV Series' etc)....have a look...... Most of the large suppliers will have access to most if not all these promotional. This is where the money is. Not in new releases as most people think.

Many of the suppliers that i deal with or have dealt with, (Large or Samll) sell titles are pretty much the same price. The only difference is you often get a much more personal service from the smaller suppliers. The larger distributers will nearly always look after the companies who are turning over millions a year before they will look after the humble ebayer or market trader who is only going to spend a few hundred pounds a month.

Opening an account....What's needed.

In Gems own words, this is what they require for you to open an account, and this is pretty standard across the industry.....

Quote:
In order to open an account with Gem you need to be an established retailer with your own retail outlet or an internet retail site. You must also be over 18 and this should be your full time occupation. We cannot open accounts if you have not secured the premises for the shop or if your website is still under construction.

All applications require a business landline number and business bank account as well as trade references.

We are unable to provide pricing information prior to your account being opened.
In order to proceed with your request to open an account with Gem please can you complete the form below answering all questions fully. Once your account is open orders must comply with our terms and conditions and are subject to minimum order quantities.

If you intend to sell online please make sure you give details of your website address, we do not accept applications from people who trade solely via auction sites e.g. EBay and Amazon Marketplace.
My advice?...

Well I would advise anyone who is just starting out to find 2 small suppliers, build up a strong relationship with them. Find a supplier that has terms that suit your business rather than trying to chase the best price.

When your ready to expand, and think you need a much larger supplier, THEN contact Gem/Centresoft.

Whatever you decide. Good Luck :) ]]> Business Articles and Resources JustCraig http://www.thewholesaleforums.co.uk/forum/business-articles-and-resources/69859-guidelines-opening-account-video-games-distributer.html How To Find The Best Dropshippers! http://www.thewholesaleforums.co.uk/forum/business-articles-and-resources/69854-how-find-best-dropshippers.html Sat, 24 Oct 2009 13:49:32 GMT Firstly, i did not know whether to post this in this section or the dropshipping section. sorry if its in the wrong place. This is just a quick article i found on the net, from salehoo. this i believe can help new and experienced traders find the best possible dropshippers. the article...
Firstly, i did not know whether to post this in this section or the dropshipping section. sorry if its in the wrong place.

This is just a quick article i found on the net, from salehoo. this i believe can help new and experienced traders find the best possible dropshippers. the article highlights many key points in the article, which obviously not everyone will agree with. i have permission to post.

Firstly, It is possible to find a very good Dropshipper on the Internet, but there are also a lot of scammers! Just as with any other source that you find online, you need to take precautions and do your own checks in order to find the very best dropshippers:
  • Do they have any ‘extra’ fees? Genuine dropshippers should only charge you for the items you sell. Avoid companies that require a monthly subscription fee or something similar. however in some cases, such as WorldwideBrands, Paying a subscription fee, could help your business in the long run. Be sure to look for reviews on the company before hand though however to see what their reputations like.

  • Check the age of the site. Online dropshippers and wholesalers go out of business all the time either (a) because it’s a hard business to be successful in, or (b) because they are fraudulent. For these reasons, be very wary of dealing with new sites. Be sure to contact them via phone and e-mail and if neccessary go and visit them directly. IF the company is legit, they shouldn't mind you visiting their premises.

  • Customer service is very important for both you as the seller, having no physical stock and the company you are dealing with, for repeat business. Customer Service is especially important in moments of crisis! – but sadly it is all too often neglected. Sending a test email will tell youa lot about the quality of service You and your customers are likely to recieve.

  • Ask about warranties, guarantees, shipping policies and return policies. Everyone gets returns at some point so you need to make sure that you won’t have to foot the bill. Be sure to get this in writing and signed!

There are several ways you can find the best dropshippers:

1: Searching Online – This is risky, but perseverance may pay off with hidden gems. Searching with keywords such as your product name ‘+ dropshipper’ is a good way to start. Just remember the best dropshippers’ sites aren’t always on the first few pages of results. Why? simply they don't need to be. Many succesful dropshippers already have a loyal customer base who they can focus all their attentions on to be sure of repeat business.

2: Ring the product manufacturer – You can usually find the manufacturer’s name on the item packaging. Manufacturer’s often have preferred distributors and should be able to give recommendations. You can always use email if the manufacturer is located in a non-English speaking country and you are concerned about communication difficulties.

3: Trade magazines: Distributors and manufacturers pay to advertise in these magazines so it’s an excellent way of finding current contact details. An easy way to find trade magazines in your area is to search Yahoo’s Business directory.

4. ThomasGlobal – If you are looking for industrial suppliers and products - anything from boot heels and microwave components to seals and gaskets! – then you will find the excellent online list of distributors, manufacturers and suppliers on ThomasGlobal

5. Paid Directories – As mentioned earlier, although generally i would reccomend staying away from dropshipper sites where you have to pay a fee to see their prices, there are also a number of reputable sites, such asWorldwide Brands - which have an extensive directory of wholesalers and dropshippers. Remember! - many paid directories are scams. It’s not uncommon for users to pay for access only to find outdated links or links to sites asking for more money.

6. Trade shows – Tradeshows are an excellent place to find some of the best dropshippers although they are usually only for established retailers, so you’ll need to be able to show sales figures (unless your business has just started), business cards,ect . However, nothing beats talking to suppliers face to face. :niceone:

When it comes down to it, like in any business there is no getting around the hours that good research requires. Taking shortcuts with your research only means you are more likely to lose out in the end – either because of a scam or because you haven’t found the best prices and are not making enough profit.
]]> Business Articles and Resources wholesaleguru87 http://www.thewholesaleforums.co.uk/forum/business-articles-and-resources/69854-how-find-best-dropshippers.html