Retail Sales this October, November, and December

Dear Retailers,

For those of you like me that watch the retail numbers like a hawk, you've by now read that the September retail numbers edged up compared to last year.  You can read an in depth article about it here.   Although we don't have all the answers, we do have a good perspective on the wine accessory industry as we work with retailers around the country.   Sales of basic accessories such as corkscrews, wine bags, and aerators continue to show growth year over year with our customers.   A new trend this year is the growth of entertainment products generally used for home and dinner parties perhaps because consumers are spending more time cooking and entertaining at home.

As you prepare for Thanksgiving and the holidays, we would encourage you to create store displays that promote wine and home entertainment.  Show your customers how they can combine wine with the art and decor of their homes to create a really great atmosphere with a variety of products.   Consider displaying a dinner table with cheese plates, wine charms on each glass, and fun cocktail napkins to spruce up the occasion.   Or decanters as a way to present their wines in style. 


What we also found interesting is that retailers are ordering much more earlier than last year.  This tends to show us that optimism for the 4th quarter is high, and that sales before the holiday season in December will remain at least steady through the year.    Traditionally, we find that about 40% of our customers that order in October, end up reordering merchandise in November and December.   We are starting to see a similar trend this year as retailers.

Let's all hope together for a great holiday season!

Cheers,

True Fabrications