Yesterday, I attended the AGHA Melbourne Gift Fair 2024. This premier wholesale event is a must-visit for retailers looking to source giftware products, including Australian-made products, and stay ahead of industry trends. Let me share my personal experience and insights from this year's show.

A Bustling Marketplace of Ideas

The Melbourne Convention & Exhibition Centre was abuzz with activity as I entered the fair. There was so much to see, the exhibitors showcasing their wares; it soon became clear that the four hours I allocated wouldn't be enough to see everything. So I did the best I could.

I was pleased to meet many of my POS software users. They told me they were actively spending at the show, with many expressing satisfaction with the show. 

Australian-Made

This year's AGHA Melbourne Gift Fair 2024 strongly emphasised Australian-made products. Not much was, I think, Australian-made; there were many products with an Australian theme.

Standout Categories

A few product categories caught my eye, which could be valuable for you:

Costume Jewellery

These items have very good margins. Not that expensive to get into either. 

Health and Wellbeing

With consumers increasingly focused on self-care, this category has shown strong growth for years. There is a growing market for wellness-minded customers.

Socks

Surprisingly, high-end socks were a big trend. While it might seem odd, there's a market for premium foot comfort. What do you think? Are fancy socks the next big thing in gifting? Everyone needs socks.

Mixed Feelings on Toys and Games

The children's section left me a bit underwhelmed, not that much there. Many retailers I spoke with mentioned they do better with major brands like Disney regarding toys. It's something to consider when managing your gift shop inventory.

Pricing Concerns

My biggest takeaway? Many items seemed overpriced for the average gift shop. While the fair offers an excellent opportunity to discover unique products and meet smaller suppliers, savvy retailers might consider diversifying their sourcing strategies to balance their inventory by buying directly through the Internet.

The POS Perspective

As someone in the point-of-sale industry for gift retailers, I couldn't help but notice how so many products were set up for POS Software. With a diverse range of products, from small trinkets to larger homewares, a versatile retail POS software system is essential for smooth operations and effective small business inventory management.

Is It Worth Attending?

Despite some reservations, I believe the AGHA Melbourne Gift Fair 2024 is valuable for retailers. Here's why:

• Thousands of unique products under one roof
• Chance to discover fresh, trendy items
• Networking opportunities with suppliers
• Insight into upcoming industry trends

Conclusion

The AGHA Melbourne Gift Fair 2024 offers many opportunities for brick-and-mortar retailers. While it's vital to approach pricing critically, the event provides an unparalleled chance to refresh your product lines, connect with the industry, and explore new retail POS software solutions to streamline your operations.

Have you attended the fair? I'd love to hear about your experiences and the gems you've discovered. Comment below, and let's chat about your retail trade show tips!

Here are some pictures I took of what I thought was interesting.

Why I recommend ditching the middleman in your shop for gifts. 

If you sell gifts, you know the struggle of standing out in a sea of sameness. People looking for gifts often want something unique. Purchasing goods straight from manufacturers can have revolutionary effects. Eliminating intermediaries boosts your profit margins since you avoid paying them and have easier access to uncommon and difficult-to-find products. This approach lets you get a distinctive product range that distinguishes your shop.

Navigating the Challenges of Direct Sourcing

Today, gifts are one category that lends itself to direct sourcing. With wonderful sites like eBay and Aliexpress, you have many products available. Choose products that capture the essence of your store and appeal to your target market.

Sure, there are challenges with direct sourcing, but with the appropriate tactics, you can easily conquer them. Consider that certain products, like newspapers or significant dog food brands, have strict distribution channels, and you must work within existing systems. These systems are not made primarily to help you make sales but for the suppliers to make sales. 

But for a vast range of giftware, the possibilities are endless! You do not need them.

Here are some tips to navigate direct sourcing successfully:

Research 

The Power of Observation

Keep an eye on what sells well in other shops, especially local competitors. This can give you valuable insights into customer preferences in your area. Are there any gaps in the market you can fill with unique giftware? Observing trends and staying ahead of the curve is critical!

Trade Shows

Trade exhibits are a treasure trove for learning about new products and getting to know possible suppliers in person. You can decide on the quality and fit of the product for your target market by actually seeing and handling it. While trade show prices may not be as competitive as direct sourcing, they're a fantastic way to find your next best-seller and initial orders.

Local products

In general, your customers would appreciate you supporting local businesses. If you have many tourists, sourcing locally made gifts can be a brilliant way to attract customers who value unique local products as souvenirs. Another great advantage is that it shortens your supply chain, and you have reduced shipping costs. One downside is if it's local, what is the best way to stop the locals in your area from going directly?

Your current gift suppliers

These can also be good sources of information. After all, they know what is selling now and often know the trends in their particular niche. 

Action plan

Importing Made Easy: Exploring Global Treasures

The internet has revolutionised product sourcing. Some Global e-commerce platforms like Alibaba and eBay connect you directly with manufacturers worldwide, often at competitive prices. Most welcome the opportunity to work directly with retailers and love larger orders. This is where your trusty POS system comes in handy! Use sales data to identify popular gift categories and target manufacturers specialising in those areas. Then, write to them and tell them your requirements. You will find you have just opened the door to products at better prices than you get now.

Here are some additional benefits of online sourcing:

• Wide Selection: Explore a seemingly endless variety of products from all corners of the globe.
• Convenience: Browse and order from the comfort of your shop.
• Consumer Protection: Many online platforms offer buyer protection guarantees so you can shop confidently. Popular payment methods like PayPal and credit cards also provide additional security.

Consider factors like shipping costs, customs regulations, and minimum order quantities when importing. It is vital to start small and build relationships with reliable suppliers.

Overall, I think you will find eBay easier to work with, but Aliexpress will have better prices. Both have heaps of products, here is just the catalogue listing of Aliexpress.

A Small Retailer's Success: The Phone Case Story

To illustrate the power of direct sourcing, let's look at the story of one enterprising retailer. He owned a newsagency and noticed a gap in the local market for phone cases while trying to buy a phone case for his son.

Researching the Market

Not one to miss an opportunity, he did his homework. He started investigating what was selling well in some shops in a major shopping centre. He decided that while phone accessories would be complicated, the cases would be doable.

He then researched the best-selling phone models in Australia and identified the top brands. He asked his customers what they were interested in phone cases.

Armed with this market intelligence, he was ready to explore direct sourcing channels.

Tapping into Global Markets

John turned to the global e-commerce platform eBay, where he connected with wholesalers. After carefully vetting potential suppliers, he placed his first order for a curated selection of phone cases.

The initial order was a calculated risk, but his instincts proved spot-on. The unique and eye-catching phone cases were an instant hit with his customers.

Building on Success

Encouraged by the positive response, they have continued to expand their phone case offerings.

By filling a market gap, he created a profitable revenue stream that set their business apart.

Curating a Winning Selection

Ultimately, the key to success in giftware is offering a curated selection that resonates with your target audience. Use your knowledge of your local market and customer preferences to choose high-quality, meaningful products that will make people say, "Wow!"

Use your computer data to analyse what is selling in your shop to find the most popular gift categories with your customers. This valuable information lets you focus your direct sourcing efforts on the products that sell. 

With a combination of direct sourcing strategies and the power of our POS system, you can unlock a world of unique gifts, boost your profits, and create a truly special shopping experience for your customers.

Take your gifts to the next level.

I shared a video on gift wrapping and got so many comments that I thought I should explain.

In my grandfather's shop, grandfather was very good at wrapping gifts. It is an art to do it right. It does not take long to learn and once you can do it well, it is very quick to do. It certainly helps to sell your products. In this time of year is an important part of your offering which adds value to your store. We used to have queues with people waiting to get him to gift wrap their purchases.

This video shows how quick it can be done and how good it can look.

This video will show you how to do it. It explains step by step really well. The instructions are clear and I like the different camera angles that show clearly what she is doing. 

Also note that this woman is not wasting paper because she is using the exact amount that you would use. See how good the finished product looks. 

Give it a try.

If you want to get into gifts, its a good idea.

There are a series of gift fairs being held now in Melbourne.  The biggest by far is Reeds. 

As they are all being held in the same spot for the consumer, it may as well be considered one big show, and it is huge. Over a 1,000 stands, the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre is just full as are the showgrounds. 

As we have many clients in gifts using our POS software, I always check out this show. Always get ideas.

Here are some points to consider if you do decide to go.

* If you are seriously interested in gifts in your shop, it is the place to go. You will undoubtedly meet many new businesses and connect with a few existing ones. What I do like about these shows is that often you can meet the senior people in these organisations.  Consider it a chance to network so come with many business cards.

* Many places have minimum orders unless you are prepared to buy big, the odds are many places will not deal with you. If you like something first say your budget on these products and say I will go up if it works and see what they say. Be prepared to walk if the answer is NO.

* The prices are generally from what I can see not terrific but they are fair. I doubt you are going to pick up real bargains. Consider the show more a chance to buy seeder stock and get ideas. If you want the good prices, you need to go on the net and go to the overseas gift shows but to do that you need a decent gift business turnover to justify it.

* You will gain an understanding of your market. See what sort of suppliers handle it and how many.

* Know your products well and know your price points. With so much stuff you need to be prepared as you do not have time. Remember with gifts you need to specialise.

* Look for new things, there are many innovative ones there. Here is my daughter looking at a balloon with lights that she just could not let go. She made me go back to see it again.

* Market day is Wednesday, that is the day many stalls will be looking to get rid of stock that they brought specially for the show.  If you are going to pick up bargains at the fair that is the day, particularly if you are looking for something expensive for the house say a real Persian carpet. It may be your chance to get it at a discounted wholesale price. If so you will need to wait for the show to end to pick it up.