Department stores are popular for their blend of merchandise customers can buy in one place. They range from low-cost stores, such as Walmart and Target, to high-class stores, such as Bloomingdales and Macy's. These stores sell a wide variety of merchandise, from clothing to house wares to auto parts. By learning about department stores basics, you'll be able to find a long list of possible vendors for your goods.

Start by finding a listing of department stores in your area that you can contact. Once you find the ones local to your area, you can branch out and look for mall department stores and upscale department stores. By finding several in, and even out of, your area, you'll have a good list to start your search for potential clients.

1. Look for a local department stores where you can sell your goods.

2. Research the different malls in and around your area, and see what mall department stores are available.

3. Venture out and look for upscale department stores in and around your area.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Sell your items to department stores

Convincing department store representatives to stock your items in their store takes more than just a hard sales pitch. Once you get in with one department store, others can follow suit. However, you need to make sure your company is equipped to handle the high demands of the department store. You also need to make sure you pitch your items to the right store; doing otherwise is a waste of time for you and for the department store representative.

I recommend: Portfolio.com details the information you need to prepare for and sell your items to department stores. Chain Store Guide provides links so you can generate department store sales leads so you can pitch your items to the right place.

Find mall department stores

Many of the major department stores are located in malls. Drive around your area and look to see what department stores are in your malls. You can then research these stores for the merchandise they sell, and find out if they may be potential buyers for your wholesale merchandise. You should look at several malls to get an idea of how many major department stores are in your area.

I recommend: Sears is one of the main department stores found in malls. JCPenney is also a major department store found in malls.

Find upscale department stores

Many department store chains are upscale. If you offer upscale wholesale merchandise, you'll want to add these stores to your list. They aren't located everywhere, but you can search for areas that have them and contact them about your merchandise. You may even want to consider taking a trip to an area that has one or more of these stores to see what kind of merchandise they sell in person.

I recommend: Bloomingdale's is one of the leading stores in department store fashion. Macy's is one of the most popular upscale department stores.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Gather all of the information on departmental stores you can before you determine which stores to contact about your merchandise.

If you're like many small businesses, the influx of new or expanding department stores in your area as well as their growth on-line can cause some anxiety. Their buying power may be greater than yours and their pockets for marketing may be deeper. In order to compete, consider the following questions:

1. Are you providing a service to a niche market not found in even upscale department stores?
2. Are you appealing to tourists and to Internet customers that mall department stores may be missing?
3. Are you making your customers feel more rewarded than a department store chain?

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

To compete against major department stores, identify and appeal to a niche market

You can provide services and items the large department store chains cannot by knowing which services and items might appeal more. Also, customers may be willing to spend more money if they know their purchases are of a quality or type they can't find at the department store chains.

I recommend: If you're interested in targeted marketing, Nielsen Claritas (The Nielsen Company) will assist you in studying the demographics of your area. As well as subscription products, it offers some free and trial services. If you're interested in knowing how others have faired when competing against the list of department stores that's continuously expanding, try some networking of your own. The U.S. Small Business Administration offers many resources, including links that can help you find a mentor.

Appeal to tourists and on-line customers who may want to avoid mall department store outlets

Tourists can shop just as easily in a department store as a boutique. If you live in an area with tourism, take advantage of the influx of tourists by knowing when events are going to take place and then by offering your out-of-town guests a quality on-line shopping site when they are no longer in your area.

I recommend: Eventful, Inc. is an on-line site that coordinates events and people. By plugging in your zip code, you can see what events are happening in your area. If the visiting tourists want to continue to shop from your store, but want to do so on-line and your website needs some work, WebDesigners-Directory or Website Designers List can help you find a website designer. You can search among the thousands of designers listed by location and budget.

Make customers feel rewarded; a personal touch is something a department store chain can't provide

Many business owners wonder how they can compete with the noise, bustle and excitement of mall department stores. As every child who leaves the dentist or doctor's office with a trinket knows, life is more fun with rewards. Consider rewarding your customers and their patronage with loyalty cards and promotional items.

I recommend: Plastic Printers.com, Inc. sells loyalty cards you can use with your customers, as does Safe-Card ID Services, Inc. ZIH Corp. offers its line of Zebra card printers you can use to make loyalty cards in-house. Target Marketing can help your customers feel special with on-line incentives and rewards, as well as promotional products, including an eco-friendly line.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Get to know your competition by keeping a list of department stores that compete against you. Check their websites often to keep abreast of changes they are making.
• •  Read arts council, chamber of commerce and other local development and publicity publications and online sites to plan for upcoming community events.
• •  Support community philanthropic and educational events to generate good will.

Department stores management education and training is essential for anyone who desires a management position in department store chains. Whether you are thinking of opening your own store or you want to seek out an existing position, you can find the right education and training programs to fit your situation.

Department store management positions are the perfect jobs for someone who both enjoys selling and working with people. Some people in the retail industry start at the bottom, and they work their way to a department store manager position. Regardless of how you get there, the right type of training is sure to give you an advantage for a position. When looking for department store management educational opportunities, remember the following:

1. Seek out individual department store management training programs if you are a recent college graduate.

2. Find workshops to advance your knowledge, skills and position about a major department stores management position.

3. Enroll in school or classes to further your knowledge of the retail and business industries and information about departmental stores.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Learn the ropes through department store chain management training programs

If you are currently in college, or you are a recent graduate, you may be able to find a job in department store management. Stores often recruit directly off college campuses.

I recommend: Check out JCPenney for details about department stores management trainee programs that are offered in your area. Visit Khol’s website for more information on its trainee programs.

Get supplemental training at department store management and training workshops

If you are already employed in the retail industry, you want to advance your skills in order to be first in line for that next available promotion into a management position. The right workshops offer tips, tricks and an education that is sure to give you an advantage over other candidates.

I recommend: Macy's offers a variety of workshops in retail management skills. Check out Wal Mart Stores for additional workshop training opportunities.

Get department store management education through a course or specialized program

If you want to advance to a management position, you can do so quickly with the right education. Though many places offer retail or business programs, it is best to check out the individual classes to be sure they cover what you are interested in.

I recommend: Neiman Marcus offers a program that prepares students for a management position with a luxury retailer. For a different type of department store management training program check out Sears Holdings where students learn about affordable retail brands.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Once you have the appropriate education and training check out job boards for a list of department stores management opportunities and open positions in mall department stores in your area.

Department stores are merchants who sell many products under one roof. Some department stores sell mostly clothes with a men's, women's and children's department, while others focus on merchandise such as bed linens, small appliances and kitchenware. Learn how to break into the department store vendor business. Find a niche market to pursue, and discover how to use targeted marketing to boost your bottom line when you learn these department stores key terms.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Accessories department

Accessories are items that complement a person's attire. Some examples are clutch bags, fashion eyewear and belts. Accessories can be found at many department stores.

I recommend: Macy's offers accessories such as handbags and sunglasses at their department store. Belks offers an accessory department featuring fashion jewelry, watches and tote bags.

Clearance department

A department store's clearance department places all clearance items in one area. Clearance sales offer discounts to sell older stock to make room for the newest styles. This is not the same as close outs since with clearance they will restock the newer versions of the items.

I recommend: Sears offers clearance on many items from computers to beauty products in their clearance department.

Closeouts

Department stores offer merchandise on close out when they discontinue selling the product. They usually deeply reduce the price to move the product out and make room for new items. Most online department stores have a separate close out department.

I recommend: J C Penney offers a close out department online.

Point of sale registers

Department stores use point of sale registers to ring up the purchases their customers make. The registers will have small, add on items for the customers to buy on impulse.

I recommend: Free Download Center offers point of sale registers for department stores and explains why they are different from regular point of sale registers.

Wedding and gift registries

Department stores use wedding and gift registries so people can announce what gifts they would like to receive.

I recommend: Dillard's offers wedding and gift registries including baby showers. Kohl's offers gift registries for weddings, births and special days.