Los Angeles, Nov. 4, 2011 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Over the last year, segments of the consumer goods liquidation industry have seen a significant increase in consumers starting their own small businesses reselling products on the secondary retail market.
Via Trading Corporation, wholesale liquidator and five-time Inc. 5000 honoree has experienced this first-hand, noting an 88% increase over 2010 in customers who say they are starting out in the secondary market resale business.
The company’s data suggests that consumers are choosing to invest into their futures with hands-on enterprises like setting up online, flea market and discount store businesses reselling merchandise for a profit.
These businesses allow new startup owners to have more control over their finances by reducing the impact of a potential loss of employment and reducing the dependence on a fixed paycheck. Working from their homes, garages or out of a local swap meet, consumers-turned-entrepreneurs begin to build capital in small increments with little overhead costs.
As shoppers look to save money by finding better deals on common household items and personal necessities, the demand for outlet-priced products and places to buy them is at an all-time high. Wholesalers like Via Trading are stepping up and filling the need for low-priced wholesale lots of consumer goods and making them available to small resale businesses at a fraction of their original value.
The company attributes its significant increase in new startup numbers over last year both to the ailing global job market and economical climate but also to its targeted business development strategies.
Taking over returned, overstocked and liquidated inventory from the nation’s biggest name department stores, the company offers affordable wholesale lots to individuals and established businesses alike. Operating out of a 240,000 sq. ft. warehouse in Los Angeles, California, the company welcomes visitors and encourages local entrepreneurs to select their merchandise and pick it up in person to avoid incurring shipping charges that would come out of potential profits.
Via Trading utilizes its newly redesigned e-commerce liquidation website to supply businesses with wholesale lots at the click of a mouse from virtually anywhere in the world. Buyers view pictures, descriptions, prices and videos of products before they buy, and receive their merchandise to their door within a few days where they begin recuperating their investment and turning a profit.
The website, ViaTrading.com, features extensive small business resources to aid startup entrepreneurs in successfully setting up their new ventures including information on Small Business Associations in their area, financing small businesses, finding local business development centers and information on how to best resell liquidated merchandise in 10 different secondary resale channels (including eBay, yard sales and discount stores). "We feel that it’s not just about getting products into peoples’ hands," says Nathania Stambouli, Marketing Manager. "It’s about making sure they know what to do with it and that they use the right techniques to get the most out of their investment."
Via Trading also holds monthly auctions and discount events to further enable new startups to acquire deals on their products, and maintains an open-door policy welcoming visitors six days a week and offering a myriad of resources and advice.
Lydia F. experienced the company’s developmental approach first-hand. "As a new single mother to support myself and my daughter, I created an at-home business via the internet. Via Trading was a key contributor to making my business a success. I have built a customer base for the products and services received, which I could not have offered without their help."
Leonardo C. agrees, and states "My sister and I started as swap meet vendors but recently changed our business model to an eBay business based on Via’s suggestions. This change allowed us not only to increase our traffic by reaching a wider audience, but we have been able to increase our profits by two or three."
Allowing new entrepreneurs like Lydia and Leonardo to start, grow and live off of their new resale businesses is one of Via Trading’s goals and the company strives to consistently develop new offerings and services to maintain this outreach.
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Los Angeles based Via Trading Corporation is a wholesale liquidator of general merchandise from the nation’s leading department stores, specializing in supplying resale business with inventory at a fraction of its original cost. Via Trading has been ranked by Inc. Magazine for five consecutive years as one of the fastest growing companies and consumer goods companies in the USA. (2011 Rankings include 2,807th Fastest Growing Company in the USA and 143rd Fastest Growing Consumer Goods Company in the USA).