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With unique products to scope out and early product peeks to entice, the 2018 Blish-Mize Fall Buying Market offered Blish-Mize customers a great market experience, along with plenty of deals on a number of products across multiple categories.
The buying market, which was held Sept. 20-22 in Overland Park, Kansas, saw the return of the popular Most Valuable Profits (MVP) Event, a Thursday-evening sneak peek that gave customers their first look at the show floor. The MVP Event was a hit when it was first unveiled at the 2018 Spring Buying Market and proved even more popular this fall.
“We made sure to get here in time to see everything on Thursday evening. The early look makes Friday less stressful because you’ve done your research the night before,” says Tim Bowers of Cabinets by Stac Designs in Shenandoah, Iowa. “Plus, it’s a good time with entertainment and no pressure.”
Blish-Mize CEO and president Jonathan Mize was pleased with how customers have reacted to the MVP Event, which began as a way to show retailer appreciation while also allowing a stress-free environment to talk with vendors and fellow retailers.
“Our customers really like the informal social time they get at the MVP Event, and the word-of-mouth reactions we’ve gotten have shown us that not only is it fun for our customers, but the exclusive deals have helped them make buying decisions for their businesses,” Mize says.
On top of the attractions available for Blish-Mize customers, business decisions were finalized as retailers finished their purchases for the coming months. Ken Owens of Century Lumber Centers was able to make the most of his time at the Buying Market thanks to planning ahead, with help from Blish-Mize.
Owens says he has been coming to the Blish-Mize buying markets for over 20 years, and the shows offer a tool to help him make solid decisions for his business.
“No wholesaler better prepares its customers for its market. The materials they assemble before the market, like a list of our past purchases, let you come into the show confident in your plans,” Owens says. “You want to find deals on your staples and find new products to excite your customers. I’ve been to other markets, and at no other market can you be as prepared to make purchases.”
Mize says he’s pleased with how business has gone in 2018. “Overall our company is very strong. We’re facing challenges like a lot of businesses with price increases, tariffs and weather-related issues, but we’ve seen a lot of conversions as independent retailers decide to partner with Blish-Mize. It’s been a great year for us.”
The Fall Buying Market saw numerous new vendors on the floor, including Mywoodwall faux wood wall paneling, Spartan Mosquito bug control systems and Plugfones earplugs that double as earbuds. Mize says Blish-Mize is always trying to top its last Buying Market in the deals it can offer, vendor diversity and entertainment value. The Fall Market offered just that, with a baseball-centered BBQ dinner Friday night, plenty of family-friendly games available for customers while the hometown Kansas City Royals played on a big-screen display.
The Blish-Mize 2019 Spring Buying Market will be held March 21-23 at the Overland Park Convention Center in Overland Park, Kansas.
