Woodlands

...what do you do with them?

Right now I have a bunch of discontinued lotions that I'm selling sample packs for $2 and putting bottles into plastic jars for $.50-$1 depending on the original price. But dang, the previous owners have 10+ bottles of stuff that just isn't going to move. Does it eventually discount away or does your local Goodwill make $$$ off it?

My distributor has a buy back program but the previous owners hadn't bought anything in a year so this stuff is past "buy backable".

sunsally

You do yourself more of a disservice trying to sell it for 50 cents and getting clients used to only paying that much then you would to either throw it away, or give it away free.

__________________



Ann Wiggins Noe
VP of Leasing

anoe@highlinecapital.com

Direct line - 720-562-0450

Woodlands

Thanks - I think that's my next step.

I was going to give it away but my theory was that then they would think it was worth nothing. The items we're selling for $.50 are small tester pots we still have the big bottles for so I was hoping that if they liked the one time use, they'd buy the bottle. We only put out 1 tester per brand so they don't try to buy the tester every time - plus I can see on the computer that they've bought the tester and it's one per.

So far on the discontinued items, I've found lotions are like college or prep school books - they change one little thing, discontinue the previous year and voila, there's basically the same thing under a SLIGHTLY different name the next year. I sold a woman 2 $2 packet samples and she ended up buying the "next year's" bottle of the same stuff.

I think my charity store is going to have a lot of tanned people though, lol.

Thanks again!

sunsally

Exactly!

So go through what you have. Open up the bottles and smell them and look at the consistency. Try the packets yourself of the ones you have bottles for. If the product is ok (not spoiled - most will last years and years in salon temps) and you think you can sell it - sell it at "normal" prices or put in a promotion where if they buy a sample and like it, they get the price of the sample (or 2x the price of the sample) off on the bottle if they purchase it by the next visit (since you can track - gives them time to see if they like it).

50 cents has less 'value' than free IMO. Free signals it has a value, but you are going to let them try it out of good will or as a sales promotion. 50 cents says "If it doesn't sell at this price, I'll throw it in the garbage!". Plus, then they wonder why OTHER packets cost $6-8 or why a bottle of the stuff is $50!

Another idea for those you don't want and don't have bottles for - Bundle them together -- 4/$10 or 10/$20. A bargain shopper will snatch them up - and you have cleared out the stuff you don't like without all your customers thinking it is flea market time.

__________________



Ann Wiggins Noe
VP of Leasing

anoe@highlinecapital.com

Direct line - 720-562-0450

spraytannedjenn

Maybe get it free when they buy a package of tans (we sell in minutes) or if they sign up for an unlimited package with EFT.

eileen

Start a customer email list on the front counter. Sign up for email only specials and get a free packet of lotion or get a packett of lotion for half off maybe.

Being new you want to build a new email base that is current. :)

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"under exposure to UV rays is as dangerous as overexposure....this is D life" eileen

Woodlands

Excellent ideas - thanks :)

caribbean tan man

free with 3 month package. time to lock them in

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someone PM me when a good tanning topic is posted. :lol:

engfant

That or just sample it out for $4/cup or so.

__________________
"And shut your mouth pussycat e fammi un macchiato, pronto!"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UhHhXukovMU

bronze_bombsheL

when we have excess sample pckts we bunch them together and make a goody bag. you can hand them out around town to promote business, or sell them for a couple buck. they will move quickly.

you have already gotten some great ideas. i like the one where you buy a package and maybe get some samples for free.