Whilst there are retailers and wholesalers already struggling to get through a tougher year in 2009 and concerned about the selling season ahead. The switched on core of the industry will be concentrating on being better focused and better organised to fine tune their efforts and their retail sales results. 

Retailers, if you’re thinking about planning your summer 2009 gifts and homewares products retail sales, it’s always better to start early. 

Those serious retailers, particularly that huge slab of Australia’s retailers that are just a day trip to Homebush, will be already planning their trip to the inaugural July Home & Giving trade Fair at The Sydney Showgrounds in Homebush NSW. 

Retailers know that the better performing Importers and wholesalers who are again bringing in new products for the 2009 summer season, those wholesalers that always have new stock that sells well, will be among those exhibiting at Sydney’s July Home & Giving Trade Fair. They will be changing with the right strategy and exhibiting in Sydney, the biggest Australian retailing hub, instead of backing off with old stock and low confidence or sticking with a provincial fair in Brisbane that continues to shrink. 

February Home and Giving Fair surprised a lot of participants who expected a bigger slowdown, when in reality we still have high employment in this country. The RBA and the IMF are already saying recovery will be better and/or sooner than initially expected. 

Retailers that don’t plan and get among those ordering that new stock which is in the pipeline, may be among those forced to buy more of that older, slower, stock that some wholesalers have plenty off. 

Whilst quite times mean big ticket items are on hold for many consumers, small luxuries and nick knacks are far too much of a temptation for many to resist, particularly whilst times are not that bad and predicted to get better. So stick to the low price point items, stick to what you know and to well established wholesalers who know what sells and above all, keep plenty of fresh new stock in front of your customers. Give them a good reason to make the plunge, a purchase that they can’t resist.