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You can't ignore the XXL Home Decor pieces.This trend is big and it stands proud with oversized lamps, vases, sculptures, bowls and other home accessories- key pieces most in demand for interior design this season - especially if one really wants to make a statement.

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B2B businesses - the new online reality

E-tailing has recently emerged as a significant force transforming retail industry—consumers are increasingly shopping online for widest array of goods. The same transformation is still awaited in B2B businesses or else the E- tailing revolution wave may simply decimate the traditional supply chain swallowing these businesses in entirety. With increasing number of B2B customers conducting online search of product features and prices in B2C or specialized B2B websites, it is of utmost importance for B2B companies to chalk out their online go-to market strategies unprecedented numbers of B2B customers beginning the search process online at mostly big B2C and specialized B2B websites, B2B companies are being forced to rethink the fundamentals of their go-to-market strategies.

With even more recent pressure on wholesalers , an integrated wholesalers strategy seems to be the best way. Even if the businesses treat the Internet only as a channel extension to the existing channels, they will eventually realise that the virtual world has much to offer the offline channels and vice versa.

With online presence, clients/customers of the traditional trader/ manufacturer gains by

Comparing price and features of products provided by different vendors

Benchmarking products and preparing specifications of product procurement

Procurement personnel of client can prepare budgets and allocate resources with more certainty

Online presence will become the first point of interaction of a trader/ manufacturer with his client/customer and the success of his business, in years to come, will be how best he engages with them over this medium. Online presence will help the existing businesses expand to new territories and engage with new clients on the one hand, clients/customers who are engaged through traditional channel will much appreciate the online presence and information for their own businesses and to remain connected.

Online presence is also a much easier way to create your own brand and to gain recognition & trust. You can also let your customer knows about your business values, what you stands for and build a greater sense of trust through your online presence.

We are providing here a list of must do activities for B2B companies to do so as to be successful in this new, more complex, and rapidly evolving B2B eCommerce space:

Invest in providing a best in class customer experience: B2B companies needs to benchmark against their B2C counterparts in terms of providing robust online buying experience as well as upgrade their legacy systems and utilize their old data to take decisions to enhance better client/customer experience across channels.

Focus on mobile channel of commerce: With most of the B2B companies reporting that their customers are increasingly switching to tablets/mobiles to research product as well as buy online, it is imperative for B2B companies to embrace mobile and build processes, applications and workflows which eases and facilitates their customers/clients to do trade & commerce over mobile/tablets.

Build omni-channel customers: It is mostly seen that omni-channel customers are the more rewarding and revenue generating customers. It is important for B2B companies to convert their single offline or online only customers to omni channel customers which in turn enhances the engagement and the profits derived from such omni channel customers.

Prepare for across the board competition: Nowdays, in this rapidly evolving trade & commerce structures, distributors and even manufacturers are competing against one another by selling and engaging the customers directly. We are rapidly evolving and approaching a time when most of these companies who are presently cooperating will be selling against one another and all the B2B companies must be prepared to compete in the new reality.

About Ghaat:

Ghaat is a social venture with the objective to connect artisans and producers with the global market. You can source natural, organic & handmade products in mini wholesale at best process through us.Sample and custom orders are solicited.

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#Ghaat #B2B Wholesaler #Indian HandiCraft #B2B Business #B2b Online Business #Why b2b business is more effective from offline business #Difference Between offline marketing and B2b marketing #Impotence of b2b marketing #WoodCombs #jewellery #Kitchenware #Tableware #Scarve #Silk Scarves #Wooden Combs #Handicrafts

11 Motivational Tips To Get Success In Selling

1. A good sales person can sellanything, because in reality what they are selling is themselves. - Anon

2. Nothing happens unless someonesells something. - Anon

3. Anything can be sold on theinformation superhighway. As for how to go about it, you are limited only by your own imagination, and, in this early stage, where the newness of the medium makes even the most standard marketing practise controversial ,acceptance of your role as a pioneer. -

LAURENCE A. CANTER and MARTHA S.SIEGEL

4. Man does not sell only commodities; he sells himself and feels himself to be a commodity. - ERIC FROMM

5. To sell is what the honest writer wants to do , to sell to earn a living to feed his family,or even for the pure satisfaction of selling of having written something good enough to cause the largest number of people to reach into their pockets and give over money they have earned ….To sell , it is only necessary to cap true the human imagination and touch the human heart. -PAUL GALLICO

6. Ad writers forget they are salesman and try to be performers. Instead of sales, they seek applause. - CALUDE HOPKINS

7. I learned a long time ago that selling is the highest paid hard work – and the lowest paid easy work – that I could find. And I also found out another exciting thing about selling – the choice was mine , all mine. - TOM HOPKINS

8. It’s the winning score, the bottom line , the name of the game , the cutting edge , the point of it all….Prospecting, meeting, people , building a flow of referrals, qualifying, presenting, demonstrating, overcoming objections…….they’re all important. But, unless you can close, you’re like a football team that can’t sustain a drive long enough to score. It’s no good if you play your whole game in your own territory and never get across their goal line. So welcome to the delightful world of closing. If you don’t love it now, start falling in love, because that’s where the money is. - TOM HOPKINS

9. A man without a smelling face must not open a shop. - CHINESE PROVERB

10. The qualities that I believe make a good salesman.

Believe in your product.

Believe in yourself.

See a lot of people

Pay attention to timing.

Listen to the customers – but realise that what the customer wants is not necessarily what he or she is telling you.

Develop a sense of humour.

Knock on old doors.

Ask everyone to buy

Follow up after the sale with the same aggressiveness you demonstrated before the sale

Use common sense.

I have no illusions that I'm breaking new ground with this list.These are essential, self – evident, universal qualities that all sales people know in their hearts. - MARK H. McCormack

11. The buyer needs a hundred eyes, the seller not one.- ITALIAN PROVERB

About Ghaat:

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Ghaat (@Ghaat_Wholesale) | Twitter The latest Tweets from Ghaat (@Ghaat_Wholesale). Ghaat is a wholesale marketplace where retailers, importers and…twitter.com

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#Ghaat #Handicrafts #jewellery #Kitchenware #Neem Wood Combs #Scarves #Silk Scarves #Tabelware #wooden combs

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After a great response to our article on Being Popular in Trade Fair/Show, we thought it prudent to prepare a checklist for our clients and readers to get the most from attending trade shows. We are preparing the checklist in three parts- before, during and after the trade show and naming...

Unforgettable Trade Show Check-list series Part 1

We all understand that it is imperative to extract the most value from attending any international trade show as any attendance to such shows requires your business to spend substantial resources both money and time. A clear case in point is for how many international trade shows your company send team to attend in a month or how many trade shows your company attends in your international target country in a year. Unless your business or company is huge, the answer to both the question is probably one or even less. Hence it is of utmost important to do justification to your business and trade show which you chose to attend and extract maximum value out of it which requires you to have clear strategy in mind.

We, at Ghaat, are sharing our expertise for what you should do before, during and after the trade show to be sure your attendance accomplishes your business objective. This may help your business to have clear strategy in mind and knowing what you need to accomplish before, during, and after the show is the first step toward success.

Before the show:

· Prepare list of the goals

Ensure you vision and pen down the goals you want to achieve for your business by attending the show. In case you have your personal goals than include those as well with your business goals. Every decision of yours regarding the trade show should be aligned to achieving these goals.

· Read carefully

You should carefully read through the trade show promotional brochures and materials. From these materials and some secondary research identify the vendors attending the event. Through some secondary research you can get primary level of details about the vendors in your business area, their products, services and management. This will help you to get idea on vendors you want to meet and learn about and the clarifications which you might need to get from them.

· List of Vendors and queries

As said in the earlier point you should do, preliminary research on the vendors and it will be great if you can prepare a questionnaire which you could ask from the vendors. This will help save a lot of your time during the event, maximize your vendors meeting and will also ensure that you do not miss any important information/query required from the vendors.

· Decide on time to be spent on the show

You need to decide upfront on how much time you are going to spend at the trade show, and then allocate an appropriate time period to each booth. You should schedule the visit such as to visit the must see and vital After a great response to our article on Being Popular in Trade Fair/Show, we thought it prudent to prepare a checklist for our clients and readers to get the most from attending trade shows. We are preparing the checklist in three parts- before, during and after the trade show and naming it the Unforgettable Trade Show Checklist series.

· Route mapping

The ground of any trade show is huge and it is important that once you have fixed on your appointments and must see exhibitors, you should get a map of the trade show ground and chalk out your or your team’s route. Walking a trade show can be an exhausting exercise and proper route planning can make the entire exercise of visiting trade show productive and efficient.

· Book early

It is important that you book a hotel room

close to the convention center. Generally it is difficult to get the rooms available closer to the convention dates and the rates also sky rocket. Hence booking your room well in advance will allow you to have available rooms with discounted rates.

· Pack judiciously

You need to pack light and ensure that at least you have a comfortable pair of shoes, lightweight clothes and aplenty of business cards, brochures etc for the event. In case you have developed prior leads for the event, ensure you have contact and follow up details of the generated lead handy during the trade show. Also have a lightweight bag or backpack to carry in the trade fair as it is better and convenient to avoid plastic bags which can easily become unbearable and irritating after hours of walking.We hope that the above checklist will help to plan in advance when you or your business is attending any trade show. Watch out for our part 2 and 3 of Unforgettable Trade Show Checklist series.

About Ghaat:

Ghaat is a social venture with the objective to connect artisans and producers with the global market

. You can source natural, organic & handmade products in mini wholesale at best process through us.Sample and custom orders are solicited.

Keep connected with Us :

Ghaat (@Ghaat_Wholesale) | Twitter The latest Tweets from Ghaat (@Ghaat_Wholesale). Ghaat is a wholesale marketplace where retailers, importers and…twitter.com

Ghaat (ghaat) Ghaat | Ghaat is a wholesale marketplace where businesses across globe connects to source natural organic & handmade…in.pinterest.com

Ghaat Ghaat, Howrah, Kolkata. 141 likes · 8 talking about this. Ghaat is a wholesale marketplace where businesses across the…www.facebook.com

Tumblr The article below and the resulting knowledge will help hair stylists, salon owners and businesses dealing with hair…www.tumblr.com

Ghaat.com Our mission "To make it easy to trade and connect with handmade producers & artisans"www.linkedin.com

https://medium.com/@Ghaat_Wholesale

#Ghaat #Neem Wood Combs #Kitchenware #Tabelware #Scarves #Silk Scarves #Wooden Combs #Handicrafts #jewellery

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The article below and the resulting knowledge will help hair stylists, salon owners and businesses dealing with hair products, combs, etc to get better understanding of Neem woode combs. Azadirachtc Indica, or commonly referred to as the Neem Tree is...

Neem as combs

The article below and the resulting knowledge will help hair stylists, salon owners and businesses dealing with hair products, combs, etc to get better understanding of Neem woode combs.

Azadirachtc Indica, or commonly referred to as the Neem Tree is commonly found in found in tropical Asian countries, primarily India and Burma and it has become a paragon for its magical medicinal properties. It is from the same lineage as Mahogany tree and the most fascinating thing about this magical tree is that each of it’s part from root to fruit can be used to cure illnesses. United Nations has also declared the Neem tree as the "Tree of the 21st century" for its amazing beneficial properties.

Brief History about Neem

Since centuries, Indians have known for its natural pest control properties. On the basis of traditional knowledge, Indian farmers have been using neem leaves as insecticides and to improve storage of grains. E.g. through mixing grains with neem leaves.

Almost the entire Neem tree is completely free from insects and pests. Reason being, presence of active compound 'Azadirachtin' (tetranortriterpenoids), which plays the role of growth regulator or anti-feedant. Neem terpenoids are mostly concentrated in the oil, though they are present in almost all living tissue parts of the plant.

Uses of Neem

As said earlier, almost all the parts of the neem tree can be put to use, not only as an excellent source of pesticides, but also to provide good animal feed, fuel and timber. E.g

The wood of Neem tree is aromatic. It seasons well when it is sawn still wet. It can be worked both by hand and by machines and hence are used to make beautiful wood carved home décor products like sculptures, show pieces etc. However, it does not take polish well. Neem timber is resistant to termites and woodworms and has long been used as firewood.

Neem leaves also possess excellent medicinal properties and can also be fed to livestock when mixed with other animal feed. Neem leaves are sometimes used as fertilizer in rice fields in some states of India and in some other countries leaves are used in tobacco and tomato fields. These can also be used to protect stored woollen and silk clothes from insects.

Neem oil is most commonly used for soap production. Soap made of Neem can be of great health. Neem Soap is of immense health use if the general hygiene properties of Neem is properly utilized. Such medicated soaps with neem odour are proved to have very effective anti-germ properties. In Germany, Neem oil is used in herbal hair oil, hair tonic, and nail oil.

Wood as combs

It is a common practice to us wooden combs in case the person has curly or long hairs. A wood comb can be very effective for detangling hair. Wood comb is highly recommended for curly or long hair that may get caught in plastic combs since the teeth generally are not as thick. Wooden combs are also naturally hypoallergenic.

It is easier to hold on to wooden combs than plastic combs which can slip. Wood combs are generally suitable for all types of hair and are also considered stylish and have personal effects aligned to a wooden comb.

One of the significant benefits of wood comb is that they last longer than plastic combs. The attractiveness and flexibility of wood comb is a strong point to buy for the consumer either for himself, for friend and for family. A comb made of wood feels better on scalp and once a consumer switches to wood comb – it is difficult to go back to plastic ones. No doubt inspite of huge influx of plastic and Chinese made cheaper combs international trade and imports of combs made materials like wood, horn etc have continued to sustain itself.

Neem wood used for Combs

Nowadays Neem wood is handcrafted to make beautiful combs which have immense health benefits. Such Neem Wood comb signifies fortune, health and happiness. In China it is a common culture, to gift wooden combs to friend s which means 'see you everyday'.

Neem combs are hair and scalp friendly and it assists distribute oil all through the end when a person applies oil to hair-. Here are few benefits of Neem Wood Comb:

Gentle on hair and scalp.

Controls hair loss and dandruff.

Gives relief to itchy scalp.

Handcrafted and eco-friendly. They are non-toxic and not harsh on hairs.

Natural, non-invasive and herbal way of keeping hair healthy.

Thanks for reading the article, Ghaat Team

Ghaat is a social venture promoting handmade products of artisans and producers from rural India in global market. Designers, retailers, importers can buy natural, organic and handmade products in wholesale from us at most reasonable prices.

#Ghaat #Neem wood combs #kitchenware #tableware #scarves #silk scarves #wooden combs #handicrafts

Creating sustainable communities with handmade products–financially, economically & socially

All communities get impacted by global trade, directly or indirectly and many of these communities become and are highly dependent on this. Most, if not all, of the products we consume have components which pass through multiple numbers of countries, hundreds of processes and countless number of hands. This impact of global trade on communities especially on producers and artisans of handmade products and crafts inspired our team to start Ghaat and assist this sensitive and insecure community in marketing their products to the global market..

A significant portion of Indian population lives in rural and far flung areas where they have little opportunity for or exposure to modern trade, business, education and jobs. They primarily rely on farming and traditional ways of life and have good experience and skills in traditional art and craft forms. The arts and crafts produced by these craftsmen are unique, varied, traditional and worthy. Such art forms require considerable time, adroitness and it is only because of the significantly lower labor cost persisting in rural India that these products are available in markets at lower prices. However as the modern ways of life increasingly influences the lives of millions in rural areas by exposure to quality education and internet, these art forms and skills will become increasingly rare & scarce and will drive up the cost of handmade products from rural India.

However it is not easy to manage a supply chain from craftsmen and artisans to consumers from USA, UK, Germany etc. We started by focusing on specific countries (with high demand) and on specific product categories (fast moving handmade products which are uniquely crafted in India). Also we started by partnering with recognized and well awarded artisans only. This gave us access to wider art forms, quality control, strong direct partnerships with the artisans and more certainty in supply chain management.

With patience and persistence of our team, along with the motivation of our artisans and producers, we were able to develop the product line, set up our B2B portal and connect with various retail partners in North America, Australia and the UK. We provide and aspire to provide sustainable economic opportunities to our artisans and producers who are primarily women living in poor rural areas.

From our small journey till now, we have realized as the economic development kicks in and the communities are exposed to modern trade, they take responsibilities and lead activities for development of their community and economy.

A sustainable environment is also critical to our mission which requires focusing on how we do business and the upstream supply chain. This is especially challenging as it involves analysis and audit of upstream processes which requires high resources, somewhat difficult for a venture of our size. The scope will include raw material sourcing, production processes, packaging, shipping, and even product life cycles. E.g. to produce dokhra or metallic jewelry, our artisans generally source raw materials from local traders. However if we want to minimize the impact on environment from mining of these metals, we will need to understand and trace the mines producing the metal, mills purifying the metals and the processes undertaken by them. As we understand that environmental sustainability is equally important as social and economic feasibility, we have identified that we will need to invest in learning the environmental impact, establish parameters around sourcing materials and focus on higher areas of impact by taking progressive measures each year.

However we understand that it will be difficult to make some of the art forms and products completely safe for environment. There is a conflict between supporting communities through job creation and environment protection. We have decided to start by supporting the communities and slowly use our trust, relationships and better understanding of the product & practices to make environmentally sustainable products. Thus in subsequent phases we will begin the process of adoption of materials more suitable to the environment in communities and will also help the artisans with research, logistic, finance and experts to help with the transition. This will help us in making some contribution to our goal of sustainable productions.

Majority of our carbon footprint is and will be related to shipping products from India to different parts of the world via air freight to expedite delivery. We are trying to have better inventory management especially by globalizing our warehousing capabilities to reduce our carbon footprint.We are closely monitoring our sales in different geographies to strategies and develop our global inventory and warehousing management capabilities.

For a product to be considered sustainable it is essential for us to understand not only how the product is made but also what happens to the product at the end of its life. At Ghaat, would love to see our products dissolve into nature through composting, which then provides our planet the ability to recreate the resources. The key to making products completely compo stable, it is important to use natural materials and not combining them with non-natural materials in such a way that they become inseparable. For instance, while the cotton we use is compo stable, adding a zipper makes the item non-compo stable. Our team is researching and developing different ways to create bags without artificial accessories like plastic or metal. One example includes a yoga mat bag that has knotted fabric buttons instead of zippers.

We believe that the next phase of sustainability evolution will see more involvement and communication between buyers and brands on environmental and social sustainability of the products. This will lead to a larger shift in global production and consumers are going to be more aware of the practices and consumers are going to endorse these practices through social media and other communication channels. We hope that we commitment and creativity we will be able to build a strong foundation of social, economic and environmental sustainability.

Ghaat is a social venture started by young entrepreneurs and professionals with the objective to connect artisans and producers with the global market. Ghaat.com is a growing B2B online trading marketplace for natural, handmade and organic goods produced in rural India and serving the world’s small and medium sized businesses.

Do visit our site and contact us in case you want to sell at Ghaat or buy from us

Tags: Ghaat, wholesale fashion jewellery, wholesale indian jewellery, handicrafts,

#Ghaat wholesale fashion jewellery wholesale indian jewellery handicrafts

Being Popular in Trade Fair/Show - Ghaat

We, at Ghaat attend and participate in trade shows and we thought it will be useful to share insights on the way to extract maximum value out of such shows and fairs.

We have written the article on the basis of our experience and we believe this will be useful for wholesale traders & suppliers.

1. Ship your products - avoid carrying them yourself :

It will be a mistake if you try to carry your products on the airplane as – 1. You may be charged heftily for exceeding predefined check in baggage limits 2. The amount of inconvenience it will case to you to carry the luggage 3. Chances of products being broken, lost increases It is better if you engage a multi modal transport logistics company which can get your products insured and ship them to your desired location.

2. Shipping – earlier the better :

Packaging, shipping, complying with trade formalities etc take time and there is always the risk of delay lingering in the entire process. The best practice is to ship the products in advance because you will never want to miss the precious trade & business days.

3.Products –selection with precision :

Generally traders especially inexperienced ones, bring all the products to the trade fairs. However a standard8’x10′ booth is quite small. This causes two issues to the trader

· Buyers are overwhelmed as the large number of products cannot be arranged properly and your stall looks a bit cluttered · Loss on two way transport for unsold goods

It is better to pare down your display collections to only your most popular items, and display those products beautifully and creatively. For example, in case you are in wholesale fashion jewellery and make similar designs with different stones/beads, offer those items with different stones/beads and make sure you have time to make them in each of those stones as they will show better.

4. Label –will make products saleable:

Some traders do not label prices of the products and instead carry rate charts/indexcards to refer to prices of products. This is not a good practice as:

· Customer has to ask for price of each product causing inconvenience to him · Customers get the notion that the prices are not fixed and should be bargained · Trader cannot cater to higher number of customers as a major chunk of his time is spent on pricing queries and negotiations It is far better to tag each item with the price, so when people pick something up the price is right there.

5. Stall- creativity & beauty :

It generally takes some time to set up your stall and arrange the products creatively and beautifully. At a minimum you should allow yourself 6 hours to setup your stall completely.

6. Lighting – More the better :

The organizer at any trade fair will provide you some lighting for your stall. But is always better to add some more and give your stall a sparkle. It is definitely worth the investment to make your stall stand out.

7. Booth signage – Nice & professional :

You may opt for logo signs made up on poster-board and they look nice and professional. There are also removable custom logo decals that many people use which look better and more professional. They stick to the booth paper nicely and give a clean finish and presentation to the booth.

8. Accessories- carpet and table cloths :

In case it possible for you to bring your own carpet then it is better to do so. Many stall owners at international fairs use sea grass and sisal on the floor which generally suits designs really well and looked really clean and nice. It is also better to bring plain tablecloths to cover the tables that comes with a booth package.

9. Shelf and display :

Planning shelf and display of products is very important. Ensure products are orderly arranged, are uncluttered and easy on eyes. In case you use white background in your store, then the display of products look more organized and orderly.

10. Pricing pays :

It is of utmost importance to carefully price your goods at the wholesale level. The mantra is to keep your buyer’s needs in mind first and foremost. Some of the important things which you may keep in mind are:-

· Give reasonable prices. People will be interested to buy the products only when they think they can sell the products for a nice profit. · Don’t make pricing too complicated and differentiated for all the products. For similar products quote a uniform price even though the costs vary a bit.

11. Rude Buyers – handle with acre :

There are some rude and strange buyers you will encounter in the crowd. Some may throw your products back on shelf in disgust after hearing the prices or some may be rude on you or some may even be vulgar. The question is how to tackle them? Best strategy, ignore them and laugh the incident off. Don’t take anything personally that a rude buyer might say. Most people were really nice!

12. Night time – relaxing time :

Ensure that you bring a sheet (plastic or otherwise) that is long enough and wide enough to cover the front of your stall at night. One may also bring large clips to attach the sheet to the top bar as well as the sides of the stall. One should not worry or be reluctant to leave their products at the booth because, but generally there is good security at the wholesale trade shows.

13. Invoices & Order sheets :

Design your invoices and order sheets properly so that · You are able to write up an order quickly.

· Ensure that default and standard text like business name, contact details etc are pre-filled and pre- printed and you don’t need to write them.

14. Stand up :

At all times be standing in your stall. This is very important. Though it is extremely tiring but it’s necessary to welcome a buyer who may be right around the corner. That is why it is important to bring someone to assist you in the trade fair. One person can sit while the other stands. An assistant also helps when the days are longer with no or less traffic.

15. Cheer up and Enjoy the show!

In the trade show you are showing your had work, skills & accomplishments. It is not easy to get to a wholesale trade show and hence it is important that you should be happy and proud of yourself. Your energy and happiness also rubs on your customers who will find communicating with you far easier and worthy. Our advice is you need to enjoy the trade fair, feel good about yourself that you’ve done a great job.

Ghaat is a wholesale platform where retailers, buyers and importers all over the world source unique natural, organic & handmade items directly from producers. In case you want to procure from or sell through our network please connect with us at Ghaat.

Tags:

wholesale fashion jewellery

wholesale indian jewellery

jewelry wholesale suppliers

#wholesale fashion jewellery #wholesale indian jewellery #jewelry wholesale suppliers

Starting up with your Handicraft business

Ghaat

It’s time to do something for your own, be your own boss, take risks and make your satisfaction level high to higher. If you are looking to do so, then you may opt to start your career with handicraft product. In this article we are going to discuss a brief about handicrafts and how you can make it a successful hobby.

Why handicraft business:

The handicraft products have been increasingly in demand in the global market because of many people who love to personalize their stuffs and tourists who love cultural items for souvenirs. Indian cultural diversity and heritage provides a unique and huge resource for developing craft products. According to the national census of handicraft, undertaken by the National Council for Applied Economic Research the value of handicraft product last year was increased by 20.72 percent to US $ 2.78 billion during the period of April to January 2013-2014. The Indian handicraft industry is a $1.4 billion worldwide and Indian contribution in the world market is 1.8%. The total exports of craft items from India Rs. 6,000cr (2013-14) and Ghaat.com are a one of the leading wholesale exporter in the global market.

Handicraft Products from India:

It is important to select the product for sale. You must assess the demand of products in domestic/foreign markets and also if you can produce or procure such products at cheaper and competitive prices locally. Handicraft product can be broadly distinguished into following categories:

Metal ware

Wood ware

Hand printed textiles

Embroidered goods and Shawls

Carpets

Bamboo products

Zaria goods

Fashion jewellery

Painting & earthenware

Jute Products

Marble Sculpture

Bronze Sculpture

Leather Products and

Other miscellaneous handicrafts

The Demands of Handicraft Items:

The industry of handicraft is showing signs of significant growth in the future because there are a lot of people love the idea of having a personalized things with original handicraft items that are mostly functional, attractive, and more affordable than paintings. In addition to that, tourists are now buying unique and functional cultural stuffs rather than souvenirs for friends and family. This is why starting a handicraft business is an excellent idea today. Indian handicrafts are World famous for their unique and eye pleasing designs and creations.

Indian Handicrafts and Gifts Industry: a rapidly growing industry with a turnover of US $ 1.9 million to US $ 2.3 billion in the last decade.

A consistent annual growth rate of more than 20 percent over a 10 year period from3. 6% to a respectable 10% share in global handicraft exports.

The industry is expected to triple its export turnover to rs. 6,000cr by 2015-2016.

Created around 20 lakh new job opportunities.

Starting a Handicraft Business:

You have three options in starting a handicraft business. 1) Produce your own products 2) Sell other’s products 3) Do a combination of both the options. In case you want to sell the product you produce, then you can contact with us (Ghaat). Also, if you want to sell handicraft products in retail than also you may contact us, for sourcing good quality, unique and natural handicraft product in a wholesale market price. Nevertheless, before you engage in this kind of business, you should know whether or not people will be attracted and buy your products, understand the business itself as well as the basic bookkeeping, managing, advertising, and purchasing. Keep in mind that whatever business you will start, you should be able to have enough knowledge about the business so that your business can grow successfully. We suggest that if you are new or you just start your business then first you start your business as retail. After gaining some reputation in market, than start to produce your product and sell into market because it reduces your risk level. This will help you get an understanding of marketing issues like recent demand of the product, product attractiveness, product packaging, pricing strategies etc.

Establishing business and associated compliances :

Location is also an important factor for handicraft business. The facility where you will establish your handicraft business must be suitable to the terms of services, size, safety, and security. Obtain the necessary papers and documents needed to operate your business. If you will be leasing a place, consult with a lawyer before signing any agreement. Make sure that your business will not disturb and affect the neighborhood so that you will prevent any problems later on.

Selling your Finished Products:

Of course, you can absolutely sell your finished products from the studio. However, specialty crafts may be sold in department stores or retail stores especially if they are of limited quantities. Just be careful if you sell on consignment basis. The prices of your handicrafts should be based on cost approach and comparative approach. Then, you just choose the price within the range of prices from these two approaches.

Maintaining good buyer’s relation:

Maintaining good relations with your buyers is of utmost importance and ensures that you will be getting more business from those buyers. After delivering the products always ask for feedback and suggestions. This will give an impression on the buyers that you believe in providing customer satisfaction. NOW is the right time to start your handicraft business and we at Ghaat are there to help and assist you. We are engaged in wholesale fashion jewellery, wholesale indian jewellery and are a leading jewelry wholesale suppliers.

Starting up with your Handicraft business

Why handicraft business:

Handicraft Products from India

· Metal ware

· Wood ware

· Hand printed textiles

· Embroidered goods and Shawls

· Carpets

· Bamboo products

· Zaria goods

· Fashion jewellery

· Painting & earthenware

· Jute Products

· Marble Sculpture

· Bronze Sculpture

· Leather Products and

· Other miscellaneous handicrafts

The Demands of Handicraft Items

· Indian Handicrafts and Gifts Industry: a rapidly growing industry with a turnover of US $ 1.9 million to US $ 2.3 billion in the last decade.

· A consistent annual growth rate of more than 20 percent over a 10 year period from3. 6% to a respectable 10% share in global handicraft exports.

· The industry is expected to triple its export turnover to rs. 6,000cr by 2015-2016.

· Created around 20 lakh new job opportunities.

Starting a Handicraft Business

You have three options in starting a handicraft business. 1) Produce your own products 2) Sell other’s products 3) Do a combination of both the options.

In case you want to sell the product you produce, then you can contact with us (Ghaat). Also, if you want to sell handicraft products in retail than also you may contact us, for sourcing good quality, unique and natural handicraft product in a wholesale market price. Nevertheless, before you engage in this kind of business, you should know whether or not people will be attracted and buy your products, understand the business itself as well as the basic bookkeeping, managing, advertising, and purchasing. Keep in mind that whatever business you will start, you should be able to have enough knowledge about the business so that your business can grow successfully.

We suggest that if you are new or you just start your business then first you start your business as retail. After gaining some reputation in market, than start to produce your product and sell into market because it reduces your risk level. This will help you get an understanding of marketing issues like recent demand of the product, product attractiveness, product packaging, pricing strategies etc.

Establishing business and associated compliances

Selling your Finished Product:

Maintaining good buyer’s relation:

NOW is the right time to start your handicraft business and we at Ghaat are there to help and assist you. We are engaged in wholesale fashion jewellery, wholesale indian jewellery and are a leading jewelry wholesale suppliers.

Global trade of Imitation Jewelry (Part 1)

Jewelry is a handsome way of gifting yourself or appreciating a loved one how much you appreciate him or her. A consumer buys jewellery with a lot of personal touch and affection and we as retailers are helping or counseling our customers to make that important choice for may be a very special event of his her life. As we move along with the millennials, we see that the customers want an array of designs to make that important selection and the selection is based on his or her personality and tastes. As our millennials are netizens jetting across nations, we see that the consumer tastes have also become transnational with an Italian preferring an Indonesian ring or an American preferring ethnic Indian necklace. The tastes are varied and with exposure sites like ebay, ghaat, amazon, consumer demands have increased which are often fulfilled as well.

Dealing in global wholesale fashion jewellery has been a lucrative business for jewelry wholesale suppliers around world. In this article we will focus on global trade and major countries involved in this trade. In subsequent articles we will delve deeper into the challenges and the opportunities for your business.

Global Market and Volume

All this has resulted in increase in global trade of imitation jewellery from $1.95 billion in 2009 to $2.66 billion in 2013. However the rate of growth in global trade of Imitation Jewelry has gradually declined in the past 5 years.

It can be seen that though the CAGR growth rate during the period 2009 to 2013 has been 8% but the annual growth rate has consistently fellen during this period. Hence though global trade of imitation jewelry is a billion dollar opportunity but it comes with challenges of stagnating growth.

Major Importing Countries

The major importing countries of imitation jewelry are United States of America, United Kingdom, Germany, France, Italy, Japan, Australia, Belgium, Hong Kong China, Canada and Spain arranged on a decreasing order contributing 66 percent of the total global import market. The major importers of Imitation Jewelry are provided in the graph below:

All these countries are important markets to sell your products. However it is important to understand that all these are not growing at the same rate. So as a seller you need to focus on emerging and growing new economies as well. We have listed the top 10 growing imitation jewellery countries importing minimum $10 million worth of imitation jewellery annually.

As a trader you would also like to keep track of emerging opportunities in these countries

In the subsequent articles, we are going to explore more on global trade in wholesale fashion jewellery, wholesale indian jewellery and more. Keep reading and be connected.

Ghaat.com is among the leading wholesale jewellery suppliers and a marketplace for handicrafts including wholesale fashion jewellery, wholesale indian jewellery.

Popularity of tabletop, decorative accessories on the rise

Though some consumers may still feel cautious about making large purchases after the sting of the Great Recession, vendors of tabletop products say the category is riding high thanks to the status of accessories as affordable impulse purchases. A retail customer may waver about whether to shell out money for a new sofa, but vendors find she won't hesitate to refresh her home with new decorative accessories or tabletop products.

It is definitely an important category, and compared to wall art, it's more affordable and an easy way to make a transformation in one’s home. You can have one piece that doesn't break the bank and can add a lot to someone's décor.

According to a study, decorative accessories comprise the largest portion of the home accents universe at 35%. Vendors say they see growth in both accessories, such as vases, candleholders, boxes or sculpture, and functional tabletop, like serveware, glassware and dinnerware. Decorative accessories have a strong outlook as people get back to nesting and refreshing, even if they can't afford to do a total renovation, they can certainly spruce up with decorative accessories. A manufacturer who produces about 44% functional tableware and 13% decorative accessories among other home décor products, reports business is growing fast. They have everything from the soft goods to the dinnerware to the beverageware that goes with it, the flatware that goes with it, the candleholders, etc.

Trends - Design & Pattern Driven

In functional tableware, solid colours are a thing of the past. Consumers today are drawn to anything design-driven. Interesting patterns are likely to excite consumers, particularly when they're buying on impulse. Here global artistry is a great design direction as it is a dynamic mix of colour, texture and pattern, but not matching. It's very eclectic and really appeals to younger consumers in particular.

There is also a demand for oversized decorative accessories. Though some customers still gravitate toward traditional styles, there is a movement toward cleaner and sleeker contemporary products. Tableware with a bit of novelty to it tends to grab attention. Dinnerware adorned with geometric and ikat designs are strong sellers. Then, there are manufacturers specializing in Italian design, so pieces embody a more traditional Tuscan aesthetic, but the company plays with shape to suit both modern and classic tastes. These pieces are not 'your mother's dinnerware. The point is, the table is a place for entertaining and expressing one's creativity in the kitchen as well as the presentation on the table. It's sophisticated but not stuffy. Handmade Italian dinnerware, pottery and ceramics are among popular items and so are gold tableware and glassware. Among colours are nice reds and yellows alongside fresh colours like turquoise and coral.

Channels -Independent Retailers, E-Commerce, etc.

Many vendors sell their tabletop and decorative accessories products across a wide array of channels. Independent retailers and specialty stores are major distribution channels. Some sell to interior designers and department stores, and others note e-commerce and hospitality as growing channels. In fact, manufacturers sell all over- retailers, e-commerce, hotels, restaurants and even decorators. Many view the tabletop category to be an opportunity for add-on sales at furniture stores. In addition to entertaining and bridal registries, manufacturers see furniture stores now wanting to set their tables so that when the customer comes in and sees how it looks, they envision it more in their home than just a plain table.

Vendors also emphasize the importance of display in maximizing tabletop and decorative accessories sales for retailers, be it in-store vignettes or lifestyle photos online. Showing consumers how accessories will look in their homes rather than lining products on a shelf is crucial to establishing an emotional connection between the customer and the product. The bridal market continues to be a sales driver for functional tableware, but that sector too is evolving. The reality of consumer preferences is that people don't formally entertain anymore and they are buying things that are casual, fun and easily consumable and affordable.

Opportunities

Manufacturers are noting the prominence of home entertaining continuing, igniting a need for new, fresh serveware, glassware, barware and accessories to enliven consumers' homes. Even though the economy is starting to come back, people staying at home is still a big factor. People are looking to entertain at home and invite friends over and still feel good. They're back investing in feel-good things for their home. Accessories are seen as a new growth opportunity category. If you put a decorative piece, whether it's a bowl or a charger or a tray, onto an existing piece in the house, all of a sudden it's got a completely different look. So, people are taking pieces that traditionally would be in a front foyer or a living room and adding them to different areas in the house, with strong possibilities for non-traditional areas of the house.

The marketplace will always need tabletop products, but vendors have to be willing to think outside the box as design tastes change in order to succeed. Dinnerware, serveware, drinkware and barware - the things that drive the tabletop business - are fundamental to the way people live, so vendors have to be positive about that alone. It's always going to be an opportunity. But the market changes, people change, their habits change, and one has to try to be a little bit ahead of them.

Source : Home Accents Today

Popularity of tabletop, decorative accessories on the rise

Understanding the Millennial Consumer Mindset

Change in traditional behaviour & consumption pattern

Millenials are focussed on amassing life experiences rather than tangible objects, forgoing large financial commitments in order to pay down debt and increase their savings. This shift in spending priorities will define their generation for decades to come. Traditional milestones of adulthood are crumbling because of changing values and curbed economic opportunities. The result is a generation living very differentky than their parents were at similar ages. Brands that insist on tying their marketing strategies to traditional values and outdated rites of passage are missing the mark, and potentially inadvertently alienating masses of convention-defying Millenials.

Collective focussed values that resonate strongly with Boomers such as duty, integrity and fa,ily are not valued as highly by Millennials. On the flip side, inward-looking and experience-oriented values matter most to this generation.

Marketing to the millennial consumer

Most brands are missing the mark when it comes to marketing to the millennial consumer, ages 19-36, according to the recent CEB Iconoculture report “Inside the Millennial Mind.” Whether the millennial consumers lives by a YOLO (“you only live once”) mentality or not, there are still 75.7 million millennials, which makes it the largest generation by population size—and one that wants to spend money. The average millennial earns an average of $60,000 a year and have an estimated purchasing power of $1.68 trillion.

In a recent Forbes article, Katie Elfering, consumer strategist for CEB Iconoculture, said that the disconnect happens as brands try to push major life events like getting married, buying a home or starting a family,which may have driven the Baby Boomer or older generations’ purchasing habits—but may not be top of mind with this generation. Instead, millennials are more interested in paying down debt and have more life experiences (time with family, music festivals, travel), instead of getting married or buying a car.

“Millennials grew up in an expanding world of choice and options for just about everything they ever needed or wanted,” said Elfering in the report. “Because of this, they view life very differently. They don’t see just see one path available to them—they see limitless possibilities to make their life their own. As a result, they are misjudged and misunderstood —called narcissists or assumed to be in a state of perpetual stunted adulthood. In reality, it’s because a lot of these aspects of adulthood aren’t as available as they were in the past and, more importantly, because they know they have a lot of alternative options for what a dulthood looks like.”

Focus on millennial moms Millennial Moms are spreading information on a wide range of products and services. Nine in 10 or more of them are sharing information about apparel, retail stores and groceries/food and beverages. What may come as a surprise to some technology sector professionals is the degree to which these women share information about electronic devices and products or services for digital devices. Additionally, Millennial Moms are more likely than average moms to spread information about several categories.

Some products categories of which they are exceptionally good info-sharers are financial investments and life insurance. Despite their relative youth, Millennial Moms are savvy when it comes to products that protect the financial wellbeing of their families.

Millennial Moms are experiencing motherhood from a much different perspective than older moms. They are twice as likely to be single – whether that is by choice or circumstance – but yet just as likely as the average mom to be the majority income contributor in a multi-resident household.32% are single/never married/not cohabitating with a partner (vs. 16% of moms in general). Approximately six in 10 are married or living with a partner (61%). 33% are the majority contributor to their household’s income (vs. 26% of moms in general). 89% live in households of 3 or more people (as do 87% of moms in general).

Much is portrayed about Millennial Moms frantically but adeptly juggling motherhood and careers. However, our study indicates that when it comes to employment status, homemakers have a slight edge over full-time workers. With such diverse daily experiences, it is not surprising that Millennial Moms are more likely than the average mom to feel overlooked by advertisers.30% are employed full-time and 35% are self-identified homemakers. 42% believe that “most advertising and marketing is not geared toward women like me” (vs. 36% of moms in general).

Making the millennial connection Millennials are more focused on discovery and happiness than more of the collective-focused values like marriage and having a family, which marked the Baby Boomer generation. Firms need to take more time to understand what compels this generation to spending, according to the report, and should be gear marketing strategies to where their values lie instead of where the status quo expects them to be. “Many brands feel that connecting with millennials is extremely difficult,’ said Elfering. “But, in reality, connecting with millennials is pretty straightforward. In fact, we’ve narrowed it down to three key strategies that brands should keep in mind when engaging millennials. First, understand and speak to the values that drive them – happiness, passion, diversity, sharing and discovery. Second, understand their realistic lifestyles and experiences and find ways to amplify their reality. And, finally, make sure they feel informed and involved, not just marketed to. By following these three strategies, brands will find more opportunities available to them to gain this generation’s affinity.”

Source : Weber Shandwick; CEB

Ghaat.com (www.ghaat.com)

We are members of Export Promotion COuncil for Handicrafts in India and are engaged in global trade of handmade products from India. Ghaat is an online platform where businesses, retailers & importers procure natural,organic & handmade products directly from producers & artisans of India.

sourcing from India made easier

Sourcing handmade made easier-Looking for business partners. Ghaat is a social venture promoting Indian handmade items including jewelry in global markets. We are also members of Export Promotion Council for Handicrafts (EPCH) and are a leading import-export company of handicrafts in India.You can get further details of our company at www.ghaat.com. We are looking for business partners in UKto tie up for our jewelry products (AD jewelry,Bead jewelry, Jute jewelry etc). Ideal partners will be wholesalers and retailers having experienc in jewelry business for minimum 2 years. In case interested, please send your details at [email protected]

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