SBDC and ANCA Help Small Businesses Prepare to be Wholesalers

CANTON, NY (09/12/2016)(readMedia)-- Small businesses in the local area have a new opportunity to expand by selling their wares at wholesale to stores and retail outlets around the region.

Following a successful seminar last year, the SUNY Canton Small Business Development Center (SBDC) and Adirondack North Country Association (ANCA) will be presenting "Strategies for a Successful Wholesale Show" from 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 27, in SUNY Canton's Richard W. Miller Campus Center Room 212.

Since selling wholesale is a new venture for many local artisans, crafts people and food producers, the two agencies are gearing up to help area businesses prepare to sell their goods at Buyer Days North on Sunday, Oct. 23. Buyer Days North is hosted by ANCA and the St. Lawrence County Chamber of Commerce in conjunction with the chamber's retail Craft, Food & Wine Show at Clarkson University's Cheel Arena in Potsdam.

"Many participants in the Craft, Food and Wine show have been successful at the retail event year after year," said Brooke Rouse, Executive Director for the St. Lawrence County Chamber of Commerce. "For the second year in a row, we will also provide them the chance to step into the wholesale market."

As a wholesale show, Buyer Days North presents a great platform to make contacts and sell to buyers from a number of retail establishments in one place. Those hoping to enter the wholesale market successfully must be prepared in order to avoid costly mistakes and make the most of their wholesale opportunities. Workshop topics will include how to evaluate if wholesaling is right for your business, how to price items for wholesale, setting wholesale policies, how to prepare for a wholesale show and booth design tips.

By partnering with ANCA, the chamber is able to offer a wholesale trade show with a proven track record. "ANCA has been hosting Adirondack Buyer Days for 30 years, drawing buyers from gift shops, restaurants, museum shops, farm stands and other independent retail outlets across Northern New York and New England," said Lauren Richard, Buyer Days Show Coordinator for ANCA "The show is a great opportunity for vendors to access new markets, and for retailers to buy directly from artisans and learn the stories of their unique wares."

"Strategies for a Successful Wholesale Show" is targeted to vendors participating in ANCA's Fall Buyer Days and the chamber's Craft, Food & Wine Show, but is also open to other businesses that wish to learn about wholesaling. The workshop is free for vendors who are registered and paid for the Craft, Food & Wine Show. Cost is $10 for members of ANCA and the St. Lawrence County Chamber of Commerce as well as SBDC clients, and $15 for all others.

Registration can be completed with ANCA online at http://bit.ly/2clIZx0.

For further information on the Fall Buyer's Day contact ANCA at (518) 891-6200. For information on the Craft, Food & Wine Show, contact the chamber at (315) 386-4000. For information about the wholesale workshop, contact the SBDC at (315) 386-7312 or email sbdc@canton.edu.

About the Small Business Development Center

The SUNY Canton SBDC offers free direct counseling and a wide range of management and technical assistance services. Small business advisors help start-up companies develop business plans, assist existing businesses prepare to expand or offer industry specific resources. Business planning services are provided free of charge. It is one of 1,000 Small Business Development Centers to provide no-cost business consulting and training to more than a million existing and startup small businesses each year, creating and retaining 156,000 jobs.

About SUNY Canton

SUNY Canton is Northern New York's premier college for career-driven bachelor's degrees, associate degrees and professional certificate programs. The college delivers quality hands-on programs in engineering technology, health, management and public service and recently received number one rankings in library resources, library services and tutoring services in the SUNY Student Opinion Survey. The college's faculty members are noted for their professional real-world experience in addition to outstanding academic credentials. SUNY Canton OnLine offers hundreds of flexible and convenient courses as well as ten exclusively online bachelor's degrees. The college's 15 athletic teams compete as members of the NCAA Division III.

-www.canton.edu-