The Off Price Show 2013

With little more than a month until the doors are opened to the UK’s leading fashion stock event, esteemed wholesale companies and a wave of exciting new exhibitors will display unrivalled offers over two days of invigorating trading.

Following the growing success of past events, the 23rd successful edition of the Off-Price Show has been expanded to incorporate a bigger and better range of stock, including high quality apparel, footwear, accessories with major brands, exclusive lines, sportswear giants, ex-chainstore ranges and niche labels at a massive 70% off normal wholesale prices.

The show is held over the two days on 22nd-23rd September 2013, and in addition to a comprehensive trading platform, there are additional benefits for buyers who attend. FREE Business Improvement seminars will help visitors to fight the current challenges, stay ahead of competitors, gain knowledge and advantageous tips from our expert speakers. There are also quality catering facilities where a selection of food and beverages will be served, enabling a relaxed forum for meetings between visits to the show floor.

Event Director, Buzz Carter, told MTN, “The Autumn show will be excellent for buyers as we have a number of new companies alongside show favourites. We will have the largest sportswear selection for a few years alongside traditional casual and formal fashion wear, together with great designer brands, denim and outdoor wear.”

Other suppliers showcasing this September include Eles Clothing and Trafford Wholesale who can provide a vast range of ex-chainstore stock from the biggest names on the high street.

Leading manufacturers such as Design House have the capacity to supply additional end of season stock, cancelled orders, returns and surplus high fashion apparel that are developed for some of the biggest names in the industry such as M&S, Topshop, Next and Austin Reed.

Major wholesalers will be supplying current and past season stock, from top designer names such as Armani, Gucci and Calvin Klein, while at the sporting end of the spectrum, casual wear giants including Nike, Adidas and Reebok will be made available by long standing experienced suppliers such as Topgrade Sportswear and Ski and Sport.

Award winning, up-and-coming companies such as Room 31 Wholesale prove that with the right stock at the right prices, businesses can continue to flourish despite challenging times, with other successful companies such as Q Clothing expanding.

An expanded edition of the Off-Price Show set to be the best yet its lines to include more childrenswear, and consistently adding exciting new brands. Top quality unbranded imports and cut-label products will also be available as well as companies’ own labels.

This wide variety of products creates an ideal environment for retailers, market traders, wholesalers and ebayers to increase their profit margins and source collections from the best suppliers in the market. The majority of the products will be available from stock or short order. This flexibility means buyers do not have to place large forward orders and can adapt their offering to the seasons’ latest trends at a moment’s notice, while larger retail buyers will also be able to source substantial orders with pieces supplied by the thousands.

All who visit the Off-Price Show will see first hand the great bargains and discounts that are on offer, with an unmissable opportunity to meet new suppliers, network with colleagues and enhance business. Conveniently located at London’s Olympia, the event is situated very close to the M4 (with M25 interchange not far away), and easily reached by overground, underground and bus connections.

OCR Loves All Your Local Markets

In these tough socio-economic times, it is hard enough for the big high street retail names to survive, never mind your local market traders. Oriental Carpets and Rugs has origins in the market, and now as a high quality, branded rug wholesaler, we pride ourselves on our continued and loyal relationship with market traders throughout the country. In fact, supplying to market traders is the life blood of the company, and as such, we as a company would like to fully throw ourselves behind the excellent movement that is ‘Love your Local Market.’
OCR urges the Great British public to go along to their local events and support their indigenous economy. By organising regional events, this is a great way to not only raise awareness of the markets, but to celebrate the uniquely British traditions and trades and to encourage younger generations to experience the hustle and bustle of market life. In this post-modern world we are so used to shopping in soulless, nondescript shopping centres which could be anywhere in the world. Now is the time to go outside and shop in colour; to feel the goods, to socialise, to haggle. All these are forgotten charms from another age pre-internet. Don’t sit in front of a computer to do your shopping, interact with other people in your area, try the local delicacies, touch the regional goods on offer  and come home feeling satisfied in the knowledge that you have supported your local people.
Go to Dewsbury Market, Llanelli Market and all the way to Birkenhead…Local Markets…we salute you!!

Ruth Oxley
Marketing and Branding at Oriental Carpets and Rugs
www.ocr-rugs.co.uk
info@ocr-rugs.co.uk
01782 747713

Scream Wholesale

Scream is a leading wholesaler and distributor of Minimoto Pocket Bikes and RC Toys and they recently lauched their new catalogue at the Spring Fair in February.

Over the years Scream Wholesale has been going from strength to strength. Their continued growth has seen them move into a purpose built warehouse with a state of the art dispatch system to ensure an unrivalled service is provided to you, the customer.

Scream have invested vast time and resources into their dedicated online ordering system where you can comprehensively manage your account with themselves. It has LIVE up to date to the second stock levels, so you can see exactly what they are carrying at any specific moment in time.

The site also has numerous hi-res pictures for all the products, which means you can lift any images you require for your own use. Scream also have a LIVE MSN chat option here, which allows you to talk to the sales staff who will be able to help you with any enquiries.

The wide range of products available at Scream include; Radio controlled helicopters, Boats, Toy cars, Pro and electric cars, trucks and truggys, Nitro cars, trucks and truggys, Brushless pro, Trains and slots, Ride on toys, Scooters, Electric quads and bikes on and off road, Petrol bikes and quads and Large petrol quads.

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Birmingham’s Wholesale Markets on the Move

Bimingham City’s Wholesale Markets are on the move with two locations on the edge of the City currently being looked at, The Hub, Witton, north west Birmingham and LDV, Washwood Heath, north Birmingham. There are many traders who have some fear about the move, however it will provide a secure future for all the markets.

Birmingham City Council’s Deputy Leader, Councillor Ian Ward, said: “The future of a wholesale market in Birmingham will be secured for the next 60 years, if Cabinet agrees the recommendations of officers on 25th March. I do not believe that there won’t be a wholesale market in the city and I made a commitment to secure its future many months ago when I first came into office and spoke to the traders.

“The indication is that we simply cannot afford the investment needed to continue with a wholesale market on the current site. Any solution needs to be affordable to both the city council and the traders, which is why the report will recommend moving the wholesale market to Witton or Washwood Heath.

“I know this is not what the traders want to hear, but we are in challenging financial times and the difficult choice is simply that if we want a wholesale market in the city of Birmingham then we need to consider the relocation proposals.

“I understand that there is a close relationship between the wholesale and retail (open, indoor, rag) markets and believe these recommendations, to be considered by Cabinet, will secure the future of all markets.

“I have talked to traders from both the wholesale and retail markets, not only about these proposals, but also about doing what I can to develop the city centre site for the retail markets and increase the footfall from the Bullring.

“And I have committed to the traders to visit the site next week to further understand their business.

“We have no statutory duty to provide a wholesale market, but we recognise that it is important to the local economy and the food supply chain, which is why the report will propose relocation to either The Hub, in Witton, or LDV, in Washwood Heath.

“Years of tradition will be upheld by providing a modern and fit-for-purpose wholesale market, but the traders have to work with us to secure its long-term future. The current wholesale market has reached the end of its economic life and it is recognised by everyone involved that it is too big for current and future needs.

“I know this isn’t the traders’ preferred option, but neither did they rule it out. Refurbishment or redevelopment of the current site simply isn’t affordable in the current financial climate. Whatever Cabinet chooses to do will be supported by taxpayers’ money so we have to ensure value for money, and as well as being affordable to the city council, it has to be affordable and sustainable to the traders themselves.

“However, we need to understand that wholesale markets across the country have been in decline over the last 20 years – here in Birmingham occupancy has declined to a 30 per cent vacancy rate in just the last few years.

“Yes, there is still a demand from both tenants and customers for these facilities, but they have to adapt to meet the changing market place. For example, no other wholesale market in the UK is co-located with its retail food markets and very few are based in city centres. Having the market outside the city centre would provide better transport links, particularly considering that the majority of the traders’ business comes from either outside of Birmingham or from the suburbs rather than the city centre.

“While a number of options have been carefully considered and costed, following extensive consultation with traders and customers, I believe this is the best option for both the survival of the wholesale market and for the continuing transformation of the city centre.”

Five options were taken forward for full evaluation:

15 year refurbishment;

30 year refurbishment;

redevelopment to include a new wholesale market;

relocation to Witton;

and relocation to Washwood Heath.

Detailed evaluation has considered: financial impact on the city council; job creation; whether it was fit for purpose; location and relationship with wider city regeneration.

The City Council have listened to the traders about how a new market should be designed and, subject to the Cabinet decision, they intend that as the two schemes are developed as part of the full business case they will involve them in that process.

The two relocation options are:

The Hub, Witton, north west Birmingham

The proposed new market would be constructed on a site of about 15 acres. Incorporated alongside the new 190,000 sq ft market would be 400 car parking spaces, warehousing and waste management facilities. The city council would continue to manage the markets but would consider ways in which it can involve the wholesale traders in its management to reduce costs. The new market would be expected to be operational by April 2016.

LDV, Washwood Heath, north Birmingham

The proposed new market would be built on a site of 14.5 acres. In addition to the new market the site would include warehousing, waste management facilities and extensive car parking. Whilst the city council has the option to manage this facility, the developer has offered to undertake this as well and this is something to be consider, taking into account the traders’ views.