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Department Stores Basics

The simple details of department store chains

By Andrea Buginsky, Freelance Writer
Department stores are popular for their blend of merchandise customers can buy in one place. They range from low-cost stores, such as Walmart and Target, to high-class stores, such as Bloomingdales and Macy's. These stores sell a wide variety of merchandise, from clothing to house wares to auto parts. By learning about department stores basics, you'll be able to find a long list of possible vendors for your goods.

Start by finding a listing of department stores in your area that you can contact. Once you find the ones local to your area, you can branch out and look for mall department stores and upscale department stores. By finding several in, and even out of, your area, you'll have a good list to start your search for potential clients.

1. Look for a local department stores where you can sell your goods.

2. Research the different malls in and around your area, and see what mall department stores are available.

3. Venture out and look for upscale department stores in and around your area.

 

Sell your items to department stores

Convincing department store representatives to stock your items in their store takes more than just a hard sales pitch. Once you get in with one department store, others can follow suit. However, you need to make sure your company is equipped to handle the high demands of the department store. You also need to make sure you pitch your items to the right store; doing otherwise is a waste of time for you and for the department store representative.
Try: Portfolio.com details the information you need to prepare for and sell your items to department stores. Chain Store Guide provides links so you can generate department store sales leads so you can pitch your items to the right place.

Find mall department stores

Many of the major department stores are located in malls. Drive around your area and look to see what department stores are in your malls. You can then research these stores for the merchandise they sell, and find out if they may be potential buyers for your wholesale merchandise. You should look at several malls to get an idea of how many major department stores are in your area.
Try: Sears is one of the main department stores found in malls. JCPenney is also a major department store found in malls.

Find upscale department stores

Many department store chains are upscale. If you offer upscale wholesale merchandise, you'll want to add these stores to your list. They aren't located everywhere, but you can search for areas that have them and contact them about your merchandise. You may even want to consider taking a trip to an area that has one or more of these stores to see what kind of merchandise they sell in person.
Try: Bloomingdale's is one of the leading stores in department store fashion. Macy's is one of the most popular upscale department stores.

 

  • Gather all of the information on departmental stores you can before you determine which stores to contact about your merchandise.

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