Whether you sell games and puzzles for toddlers, teens or adults, ensure your merchandise captures their imagination (and boosts your bottom line) by keeping up with the latest industry news. Not only will your research help you build an enticing inventory, but it will also let you find products from reputable wholesale game vendors.
Discover sources that keep you in the know and in touch with game and puzzle vendors, manufacturers and other retailers. The articles and discussions can help you determine what board games, brain teasers or party games will be the hit of the upcoming season. To gather games and puzzles news and trends to influence your buying, merchandising and pricing decisions, you can:
1. Study news stories on everything from company developments and the state of the industry to the hottest strategy games and classic card games.
2. Attend trade and consumer shows to see new games and puzzles in action, discover display ideas and get first-hand opinions from customers and other retailers.
3. Participate in game and puzzle industry organizations to network with other retailers, develop new business strategies and interact with game vendors and company representatives.
Read a variety of articles to help decide what board games and puzzles will become best sellers
In addition to hearing about product releases and reviews in consumer game magazines, you can also get industry news and learn upcoming game and puzzle trends from online sources like blogs, game websites and manufacturer forums. Look for information like company closures, what mind puzzles and games have the most buzz and what classic board games will reemerge as favorites.
Visit trade shows to see new products, get merchandising ideas and find wholesale game vendors
Conventions allow you to play with new games, discuss pricing with vendors and find out how other retailers are advertising their wares. These events can also help you make buying decisions. If you're trying to decide which themed jigsaw puzzle designs to order, for example, study several exhibits to determine the hottest trends and characters for the upcoming season.
Join groups to keep your games and puzzles business ahead of the competition
Participating in an organization for retailers or game enthusiasts not only gives you a constant source of industry news and connections to manufacturers and wholesalers, but it also gives you a reliable source of feedback. If you're on the fence about ordering a jigsaw puzzle game line from a new distributor, for example, use a group's online forum to obtain information on its reputation, and ordering and return policies.
- When attending a trade show along with the general public, discuss the latest games and puzzles with parents and children. Their opinions on which puzzles, games and educational toys are worth the price and appeal to both their entertainment and education needs can help you decide what new products to order and what trends to avoid.
