Sourcing goods for your business is a constant process. Even if you already have a few steady sources of quality goods, it never hurts to be on the lookout for something new and exciting. And when you’re looking for something new and exciting, a good thing to keep in mind is that sources are often regional. Small producers, wholesalers, and distributors don’t always sell over the Internet, and they don’t always have a national audience—and so when you make that trip to the Smoky Mountains, to New England, or to the Indiana Amish country, you’ll find goods that are highly unique and have a very strong regional flavor that customers from all over the world will find attractive.
Just as an example, the Amish communities in Indiana, Ohio and Pennsylvania are idyllic towns that attract a lot of tourists, and these are wonderful places to vacation. And when you stroll through an Amish community, you’ll discover very quickly that the Amish are highly skilled craftsmen, and very good marketers—their goods are on sale at all the local crafts shows, flea markets, and shopping centers, and it’s not just the Amish that are selling them. Their goods have a tremendous appeal to people from all over the world. Take a stroll through some of the local shops when you visit a community like Nappanee, Indiana, and see what’s on offer; and the next step is to source them direct. That may take a bit of work, since the Amish themselves don’t use computers or telephones, but they’re savvy enough to make sure that people who want their products can find them. They are a small, tight-knit community, so chances are, if you chat up the nice Amish lady with the white bonnet behind the counter, she’ll clue you in as to where you can buy wholesale.
Besides the Amish communities, the United States is full of very attractive and unique regional goods that can be very profitable. How many times have you been traveling, stopped in at a gift shop, and saw something you’ve never seen before, and said to yourself, “Wow, what a great idea!” If you’re in the online retail business, then every trip is an opportunity.
Of course, an advantage of mixing business with pleasure is the tax deduction. You can’t deduct the price of the plane tickets for your spouse and kids, but you can deduct your own if you take the opportunity to conduct business while you’re there.
When you set out to make your summer vacation plans, keep business in mind as well—when you choose your destination, take a moment to consider what regional products you may be able to acquire while you’re there, and whether or not there may be any regional trade shows you can attend.
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