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Colette: The biggest question on everyone’s mind in home-based internet business is “where do I find products to sell?” Well, you find them right here on our show. Every week we interview a genuine wholesale supplier that we have fully verified and listed in OneSource at worldwidebrands.com which you can use for your own home-based internet business. Today we’re speaking with Tim Veldman, Owner of ICA Cycle. You can find them online at www.icacycle.com.
Colette: Tim, welcome to the show.
Tim: Thanks for having me.
Colette: It’s wonderful to have you on the show. I’m taking a look at your website right now and you got me all excited. Motorcycle products, I love it. So, can you tell our listeners a little bit about your company?
Tim: Well, yeah. Basically, as you see it in front of you, it’s a niche market, Christian motorcyclers. It’s based on the Ichthus, or the Christian fish, and it’s just kind of a modern derivation of the fish adding wheels and a handlebar to make it look like a motorcycle.
Colette: That’s very unique, very niche. There are a lot of sellers out there looking for niche type products. What kinds of products do you have available?
Tim: Again, as you can see on the website, or if other people head there, we offer a lot of clothes, just because that’s a huge draw at motorcycle rallies and online.
Colette: Would you say more men or women like your shirts?
Tim: Well, it’s basically male, but the girls are catching up.
Colette: (Laughter)
Tim: There are more girls buying motorcycles every day and so, of course, we try and keep an ear to that and there are a lot of ladies, too, getting on the back of a bike with their husband as it turns into kind of a family sport.
Colette: Now, I understand you’re a light bulk wholesaler?
Tim: Right, and we do everything we can to work with retailers. So we don’t even have a minimum quantity that they have to order and we just started a buy back program as well. So the only risk, really, is shipping. People can buy as much or as little as they want. We suggest buying at least a case which is usually right around 3 dozen shirts, depending on the shirt, just to make the shipping efficient.
Colette: Now, what would you say are some of the most common questions that sellers ask you about your products?
Tim: Does it sell? Every retailer is just concerned about getting it out there and, fortunately, the symbol speaks for itself. You know, if you see it and you think it’s novel, then of course it sells, because we all know that novel new stuff definitely moves. The biggest, I guess, issue with the product is the demographic. That’s it power point, but that’s also, I guess, it’s weakness. And so I always caution retailers, because it’s obviously not a magic product, you’ve got to have the right demographic. But if you’re in a demographic, if you can find Christian motorcyclers, then the question, will it sell? is pretty easy to answer. Of course, they love it because it’s theirs, it’s new.
Colette: You know, you bring up such a great point, and that’s what niche is all about. You know, you’re targeting a certain audience.
Tim: Mm-Hmm.
Colette: And even if you’re just selling motorcycle products or motorcycle equipment, we were just talking on an earlier segment about up-sells and cross-sells. Having these kinds of products that you have on your site is a great up-sell and a cross-sell that an existing merchant who is selling other motorcycle products can offer. See now, this is a tool that you can use with up-selling and cross-selling.
Tim: Right.
Colette: It’s a great product, great product.
Tim: And a lot of motorcycle retailers, I think when they do try and do a cross-sell, a lot of the cross-sells that they’re going to try and do often become offensive or kind of restrictive, because there are a lot of skulls. You know, a lot of the shirts are very restrictive to who’s going to buy it, and so when you’re trying to hit the biggest demographic you can of motorcyclers, a lot of times those motorcycle stores have a hard time finding merchandise that’s appropriate for a cross-sell. Now, of course, this is not offensive. It’s definitely a niche, but it’s something that can be carried beside any other motorcycle product.
Colette: I would have to 100% agree with you on that one. I definitely recommend taking a look at ICACycle.com. They’ve got quite an extensive array of different apparel, all with this wonderful logo that you’ve put together. And, once again, like you said, it’s a niche. You can go after it, go after that traffic that you’re not actually going to right now. Stretch your horizons. That is our show for today. Tim Veldman of ICA Cycle, thank you for joining us.
Tim: Thank you.
Colette: Once again, you can find their company online at www.ICACycle.com. Don’t forget, if you want to stay up to date with the latest product sourcing tips, access free spotlighted suppliers, and even find local tradeshows in your area, then sign up now for your free subscription to the product sourcing newsletter at ProductSourcingNews.com. Join us again next week. I’m Colette Marshall.
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