ETD: 702 Web Conferencing; Is there an excess inventory site?;
States Pass Threshold for Streamlined Sales Tax; NMOA Contest; Last
Call for Buyers Directory
E-Tailer's Digest
etd_post@gapent.com
Thu, 10 Jul 2003 06:17:03 -0400
E-Tailer's Digest --- Everything for the Retailer
Issue #0702 July 10, 2003
George Matyjewicz, Moderator mailto:georgem@gapent.com
Published by: GAP Enterprises, Ltd. http://www.etailersdigest.com
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CONTENTS
[1] Greetings
[2] Web Conferencing
[3] Is there an excess inventory site?
[4] States Pass Threshold for Streamlined Sales Tax
[5] NMOA Contest
[6] Last Call for Buyers Directory
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[1] Greetings.
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Hi All:
We have a full issue today, so my comments will be brief.
Our list members came through with some excellent suggestions for
disposing of excess inventory. And some of our member have some more
information on the SSUTA.
For our US members, John Schulte reports on a new contest sponsored by the
National Mail Order Association - 2003-2004 "Made in America" Hot Product
Contest.
And if you are a manufacturer, importer, distributor and/or rep firm you
should note that Tuesday, July 15, 2003, is the final day to register for a
free listing in Gifts & Decorative Accessories' 2003/2004 Buyers Directory
per Quinn Halford and Matthew Kalash
Now, let's get to everything for the retailer.
Sincerely
Dr. George Matyjewicz
Chief Global Strategist, GAP Enterprises, Ltd.
mailto:georgem@gapent.com
http://www.etailersdigest.com
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[2] Web Conferencing
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I've been using Web conferencing lately, and I must say I am impressed. I
suppose all services are similar, so the name is not important (we do use
WebEx). What I find amazing is how easy it is to use, and the resulting
efficiencies.
We did the IIA show in Las Vegas two weeks ago, and came back with a
boatload of leads - 135 visitors (suspects); 35 definite prospects
throughout the US, Europe and South America. In the old days, we would
have to eliminate the 12 non-US leads, and probably those on the left coast
of the US (another 10 leads), which would have meant we really had 13
leads. Now, using Web conferencing, it doesn't matter where in the world
the company may be located, as long as they have Internet
access. Yesterday we did four demonstrations with prospects on the left
coast, and other areas where we would never have reached before Web
conferencing. And last week we demonstrated to five offices of a company
who were on a conference call to us, from UK, Bermuda and three offices in
the US.
I can see Web conferencing being used in many different arenas. For
example, a Chinese manufacturer of giftware would be able to show their
products using the video conferencing feature. The manufacturer could show
the products online while describing the products via telephone. Or a
retailer may offer this service to customers looking to buy special
products. Perhaps a customer support group would use Web conferencing to
support customers, and even pick up added business by pushing new products
or upgrades to the customer while on the telephone.
Has anybody had any experience with Web conferencing that they would like
to share? Perhaps for meetings or product sales?
George
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[3] Is there an excess inventory site?
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Often items appear in our local Big Lots store that were just seen on the
clearance aisle of other local retail stores. You might want to check
with your local Big Lots store to see if they are interested. Can't hurt to
ask.
Tuesday Morning is also an excess inventory store that might be worth
checking out to see if they purchase items from smaller retailers.
Another possible source would be flea market vendors, as they often buy
close out items for resale.
L. Martin
www.decoratenow.net
+++ [Next Post] +++
In my workshops for retailers, especially in the gift or party industry, I
suggest taking inventory that is left after sales and combine like items in
gift basket presentations, either to donate to charitable silent
auctions. This not only shows your willingness to help a worthy cause but
it also shows your creative abilities and the quality of your store's
products. When donated, a beautiful gift basket will extend your stock
investment much further than just getting back the cost. There will be
considerable promotional benefits when your goods are displayed for a group
of potential customers, preferably in your target audience. Plus, with a
donation there is generally a mention in a printed program--more
promotion. And, of course, all donations are tax deductible.
In addition to donations, the packaged gift items can also be displayed as
spur-of-the-moment presents, a convenience you want to offer. Create your
gift baskets, buckets, bowls or boxes, with themes such as "spa,"
"gourmet," "garden party," or "celebration."
An additional tip that will better bring back your costs and clear your
sale table is to make your sale a "Two For The Price of One".
Also from my seminar: Make sure your sale table looks as organized, neat,
fresh and appealing as one with brand new merchandise. Display these items
as you would treasured objects. Do something outrageous and offer gift
wrapping on sale items.
And do not leave sale items out long enough for customers to see them on
many consecutive visits. Sale items that are displayed for too long,
suggest "slow traffic" and take on an “unwanted” cast.
If you have large amounts of appealing items that are low-priced ($1-5)
call a good customer with school-age children, say a soccer mom, and offer
these items at wholesale to be used as a quick fund-raiser. These creative
and thoughtful gestures go a long way for customer goodwill.
Your best strategy, though, is to create and donate those auction baskets!
If you have further questions you can contact me directly.
Best of luck,
Patty Sachs
Presenter of Seminars for Retailing Excellence
www.speakerswritersplus.com
partysachs@prodigy.net
+++ [Next Post] +++
You have a few choices. One would be to make a deal with a site such as
Overstock.com and just sell them everything in bulk and let them sell it on
their site. I don't know your inventory, or their willingness to take any
of it. And there may be more sites in the same business who would be
willing. You can view a listing of the DMOZ directory that best fits these
types of businesses here:
http://epage.com/Top/Business/Wholesale_Trade/Liquidators
Now, if you just want to post your content for sale and you don't like
auctions, then it sounds like you are asking if there is a fixed price
site. Sounds like classifieds to me. The classifieds model is even older
online than the auctions, and you have a huge number of choices here. You
can use Yahoo! Classifieds for only $7.95 per ad for a 21 day ad and I'm
sure get great exposure. Or, you could use (my site) EP.com Classifieds
and post each ad for free. You can upgrade your ads for 50 cents per week
and have it shown throughout the AdConnect network. We'll help you set up a
bulk upload process as well if you would like.
Brad Waller | VP, Business and Affiliate Development
http://EP.com/ | http://EPage.com | http://AdConnect.com
_________________________________________________________
Classified Ad Affiliate Program: http://EP.com/b/csp.html
Content for your Web properties: http://EPage.com
Hosted Classifieds and Auctions: http://AdConnect.com
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[4] States Pass Threshold for Streamlined Sales Tax
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George: You left out the most important part of Hardesty's essay:
"Affect on Online Sellers. Under the Agreement, as under current law,
online sellers that do not have physical presence in a state cannot be
compelled to collect tax. However, Agreement supporters are hoping these
sellers will come forward voluntarily to collect the tax. Certain
incentives are contained in the Agreement to encourage them to do so. Also,
supporters are hoping that a simplified sales tax system will help the
states in their efforts to win Congressional or Supreme Court approval of
the power to compel remote sellers to collect tax."
CMA
+++ [Moderator's Comments] +++
I get this information from an announcement from them. This time I went to
the site and pulled the entire article, since it appears to have met the
threshold:
The Streamlined Sales and Use Tax Agreement (SSUTA) takes effect when at
least 10 states, accounting for at least 20% of the population of states
that impose a sales tax, have enacted the provisions of the agreement. With
the enactment of SSUTA provisions in North Carolina, the states now appear
to have met the threshold. Now, the process moves to the project’s
Governing Board, which must certify whether each state is in compliance
with the SSUTA. For a number of the states the effective date of the new
law is mid-2004. Therefore, there is no rush to complete the certification
process. More important is to complete certification of automated tax
collection systems, one of the most important features of the new tax
regime. There is much left to do. However, the first big hurdle is met.
20 states have now passed SSUTA legislation, and it seems likely that the
new tax laws will greatly simplify tax compliance for multistate sellers.
With simplification, the states have a powerful argument when they go to
Congress this fall to ask for expanded power to compel remote sellers to
collect tax. Currently, a seller must have physical presence in a state
before the seller can be compelled to collect sales and use tax. If a
seller agrees to comply with the SSUTA, then the seller must collect the
tax in any state that is a member of the SSUTA. However, sellers cannot be
compelled to join the agreement, and it is unclear whether the current
benefits of joining the SSUTA will induce a substantial number of sellers
to voluntarily agree to join. Congress, on the other hand, can give states
the power to compel compliance.
The Internet Tax Freedom Act (ITFA) expires in November of 2003, and
Congress must meet to decide whether to renew it, or let it lapse. States
will use the debate surrounding ITFA renewal to press the case for expanded
power to compel remote sellers to collect tax. The states will point to the
progress made in simplifying state tax systems. They will also point to
massive state deficits, which are aggravated by increasing amounts of
online sales that go untaxed. It seems doubtful that Congress will grant
states full power to compel remote sellers to collect tax. However, some
limited power may be given. This can include, for example, the power to
compel tax collection by “clicks-and-mortar” companies (affiliated
companies that have stores in a state, and which sell online e.g., Barnes
& Noble).
Details at...
http://ecommercetax.com/doc/070903.htm
+++ [Next Post] +++
Here is a website that explains SSUTA, for those members who have been
following this issue. According to this article, only after the threshold
is met, will the states then begin asking the federal government to enact
legislation. It also explains the difference between "sales tax" and "use
tax," which is at the center of the SSUTA issue.
From
<http://www.nolo.com/lawcenter/ency/article.cfm/objectID/87F6DD43-E6F2-4DFE-BCDB8E2E85DFF80B/catID/806B7BA0-4CDF-4221-9230A3135E2DF07A>
"Under a state-led initiative known as the Streamlined Sales & Use Tax
Agreement (SSUTA), 40 states and the District of Columbia banded together
to simplify their sales tax codes in order to make sales tax collection
easier. Under SSUTA, the collection of sales tax still remains voluntary.
However, if ten states representing 20% of the U.S. population vote for the
rules, the organization will pressure Washington D.C. for federal legislation."
And from http://www.e-fairness.org/issue/su_tax.htm :
"The U.S. Supreme Court's 1992 decision in Quill Corporation v. North
Dakota held that states cannot require sale/use tax collection by
out-of-state sellers that do not have a physical presence (or "nexus") in
the state of the buyer. While the seller is not obligated to collect a
sales tax on the transaction in states where the seller does not have
"nexus", the purchaser is obligated to pay an equivalent "use" tax to his
home taxing jurisdiction. This requirement for the purchaser to pay a use
tax is widely unknown, often ignored, and rarely enforced. Because the
government does not require e-tailers to perform the same collection role
as the traditional retailer it has, in effect, sanctioned sales-tax-free
Internet sales."
"...legislation was enacted in 1998 to impose a 3-year moratorium on new
Internet access taxes and on multiple or discriminatory taxes on electronic
commerce, and on November 28, 2001, legislation was signed that extended
the moratorium for an additional 2 years."
From information garnered from these sites, it appears that while some
states are changing how they collect sales and use taxes (to be SSUTA
compliant and thus persuade the federal government to take action), federal
legislation is still required to affect the Supreme Court's ruling
regarding sales tax collection from retailers that do not have a physical
presence in the state.
L. Martin
www.decoratenow.net
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[5] NMOA Contest
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Hello George: I hope all is well with you an yours, especially with all you
worldly travels.
We are now launching our 2003-2004 "Made in America" Hot Product Contest.
Our search for unique and interesting products that can be sold via mail
order methods. Details here: www.nmoa.org/contest
Best regards,
John Schulte
President and Chairman
National Mail Order Association
Email: schulte@nmoa.org
Tel: 612-788-1673
www.nmoa.org
Direct Marketing Discussions at: www.DMchat.com
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[6] Last Call for Buyers Directory
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All gift and decorative accessory manufacturers, importers, distributors,
and rep firms are reminded that Tuesday, July 15, 2003, is the final day to
register for a listing in Gifts & Decorative Accessories' 2003/2004 Buyers
Directory. Listings are free. Go here
<http://www.giftsanddec.com/index.asp?layout=static&page=story&doc_id=114743&webzine=GDA&publication=GDA>
to download a registry form. Complete the form and fax it to the number
provided. Your company will be in good company when it's in the Buyers
Directory, the industry's most-used reference tool, both online and in print.
Quinn Halford, Editor In Chief
Matthew Kalash, Editor
Gifts & Dec Direct
http://www.giftsanddec.com
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