How do small businesses get their inventory in front of the buyers who purchase it? Well, there is a lot of different data but for busy purchasers of retail shops, they prefer to have access to a list of products on a clean line sheet. What exactly should you include on the line sheet?

First the Design

  • Aesthetic Tones and Colors
    It is proven that color and design play a considerable appeal to the buyer as they are looking through your inventory. If the visual allure to how their clients will see themselves wearing or using your products. If everything is just cookie-cutter black and white, there is little to be said about the lure to the beauty or function of your product.
  • Targets your Buyers Market
    Sending your buyer a laundry list of everything you have in your inventory might delay them from jumping in and making the decision to purchase your products if it takes them too long to look through it. Instead, customize exactly what their targeted market is looking for. If they are a jewelry store, there is no reason to send them a list of shirts. Include a cover page that creates a desire to look at your products.
  • The layout is Creative and Brand Focused
    Line sheets could save time and instead focus on what your business needs to succeed. Finding one with templates designed by top designers is a considerable checklist item you should look for when deciding what line sheet company you should purchase from. Allowing someone else’s design strong points to benefit your business so all you have to do is put in a few key items that are well worth the time saved.

Photos

  • Clear and Not Blurry
    If you are selling a product, you want the purchaser to be able to see a clear clean picture of it. If it’s blurry and out of focus, what’s the point? Crop the photo so it is bringing focus to your product. Using a neutral background is a smart clean overall look to consider.
  • Different Angled Shots of your Merchandise – Product is Front and Center
    If there are multiple designs on your product, don’t leave the buyer wondering exactly what they are getting. Waiting for your buyer to play phone tag and ask for more information on your product is not something anyone wants to do. Taking multiple professional photos of your product will guarantee your buyer has all of the visual information they need to make a quick decision.

Price Point and Resale Market Price
The price point needs to be clear. If there are multiple price points on different sizes or color options, then make sure it’s listed. You certainly don’t want to see an order come in for a product for the wrong amount, and then have to go back to the purchaser and have a conversation on prices.

Different Markets Require a Slight Variation in What’s Expected to Be Listed

  • Basic Information for Apparel

Fashion trending varies from season to season. Buyers make quick decisions several months prior to it’s time to display and sell it in the stores.

  1. Season and Year of Apparel
  2. The texture of the material ( wool, cotton blend, chunky knit, denim, etc)
  3. Type of clothing ( long sleeve, short sleeve, turtle neck, crop top, capris, etc)
  4. Item number
  5. Minimum order amount
  6. Colors available
  7. A visual photo of the merchandise and some like to see it worm on a model to display the way it fits.

Electronics

This one is a bit more basic. The information detailed in the description with the photo is important. Here is a list of the basics to include in a line sheet for electronic products. Buyers have a specific price point for a variety of the detailed items below that they are looking at purchasing so if you leave that information out, they are likely to put your products that require questions and conversations at the bottom of the purchasing list.

  • Operating System
  • Model number
  • Network Capabilities
  • Accessories included
  • Processing Speed
  • Touch Screen
  • Size and Dimensions
  • Input Options

Jewelry and Accessories

This is a category where you can get creative in the professional photos taken for your products. If your inventory is targeted towards an upscale boutique, make sure you are taking photos with the type of clientele that will be purchasing it. If your buyers’ clients are more hipster and younger, reflect the clients that will purchase it within an environment they might frequent. Targeting your market is the key to persuading the buyer that the inventory will sell in their stores. In addition to taking the right photos and creating the right vibe and flow to the line sheets, here are other items that should not be missed when laying out jewelry on a line sheet. Some artists like to include a basic bio or inspiration for the different collections they are aspiring to sell. This will draw in potential clients and give the buyers something to give the customers for setting your jewelry apart from the rest.

  • Items Collection
  • Season and Year
  • Item Number
  • Sizes
  • Colors
  • Jewels used
  • Measurements and length
  • Wholesale and Suggested Retail Prices

Never Exclude with Every Line Sheet Product

All line sheets for products should also include the terms and conditions laid out to the buyer to determine how you expect to have your products purchased. Some terms might allow some negotiations depending on how you want to secure the sale. The terms should be included are:

  • Payment received upon delivery or net terms
  • How many they are purchasing or the minimum requirements
  • Shipping costs
  • Warranty
  • Return policy
  • The expected delivery time once the order is received

Line sheets are one of the broadly used tools when marketing to a purchaser for a company wholesale. It is customizable and targeted to exactly what market you are looking to dive into. There is no product inventory that would not benefit from using a line sheet and taking advantage of managing and organizing every aspect of their inventory. Sending PDFs to buyers is done with a click of a button and allows for quick and straightforward correspondence between buyers and sellers.