Do you own a Gift Store or Sell T-Shirts and Have the Same Stuff as Everyone Else?

I had some time to window shop while in Edmonton. I wanted to buy some unique stationary and journals. What I found though was every gift store on Whyte Avenue sold similar if not the exact same merchandise. The result of going to the exact same trade show in Edmonton to buy new products. The only thing differential about them was the decor. They all carried something the same as another store just down the way. In today's world of Internet shopping there is lots of unique gift items out there and wholesalers willing to sell it to businesses.

If you purchase items in bulk from sites like Cafepress and Zazzle you will get bulk discounts. At cafepress you get 35% off if you purchase 15 of the same product. Zazzle discounts after one purchase and it doesn't have to be the same item.

Then there are wholesalers who have websites that provide you with great prices on a variety of items.

The point I'm trying to make is, you need to look outside of local buying trade shows and salespeople to bring in unique items people can't get just anywhere. Another great source of unique products would be local artists or etsy.com for one of a kind items.

When stocking the shelves you need items people will buy and will turn over on a regular basis, however, you need unique items as well - take 10 000 villages for instance. This is a wonderful store because every time you go in there is something different, so people go back to find other unique items.