Retailers across the country are set to benefit from the new www.GiftTrader.co.nz website, which will give them access to order from a huge range of bulk gift and homeware products at clearance prices.

More than 600 Importers, manufacturers and wholesalers who have exhibited at a NZ Gift & Homeware Fair are able to list and sell clearance stock on the www.GiftTrader.co.nz website. Retailers who have recently visited one of the NZ Gift Fairs will get free membership allowing them to access the site and the full range of clearance product listed, snatching bargains for their store and customers.

The Gift Trader concept came about from a mix of research, conversations with retailers and suppliers, and some good old-fashioned Kiwi problem-solving.

Brent Spillane, director of New Zealand's popular NZ Gift Fairs, says XPO Exhibitions developed the trading platform to benefit both retailers and their suppliers. "Selling 'end of line' stock can be an issue for many suppliers. Filling up the last few empty shelves are an issue for some retailers. www.GiftTrader.co.nz is a platform to solve that problem."

Brent Spillane says the website will free up exhibitors to bring more new product to the Fairs. "Research shows that buying 'new' gift product is the main motivator for the thousands of New Zealand retailers who keep visiting the NZ Gift Fairs. Exhibitors can now sell their older lines via the www.GiftTrader.co.nz website - which frees up their cashflow to invest in new product ranges to display at the NZ Gift Fairs."

"Transactions can happen anytime of the day or night. The online service is free for New Zealand retailers only to use - it's a benefit of regularly attending the NZ Gift & Homeware Fairs. Retailers use their current NZ Gift Fairs login and password to get access."

And the site is expected to draw a large amount of genuine retailer buyers. In March 2011 XPO surveyed 460 retailers, with a resounding 73% responding that a website that allowed any retailer to purchase end of line products from any NZ Gift & Homeware exhibitor would benefit the industry, and that they would themselves use such a website. 

Since then XPO has presented the concept to more than 30 suppliers and collated feedback to refine the system. It's been all about keeping it simple. Retailers will be able to order different product from multiple suppliers at one time. Orders are confirmed and sent via email to both supplier and retailer. Retailers (and suppliers) are also able to view their order history online.

"The XPO team will be demonstrating www.GiftTrader.co.nz to visitors at Autumn Gift Fair 2012. It'll be well worth taking five minutes with a demonstrator to see how easy it is to buy."

For the first 90 days after Autumn Gift (located at the ASB Showgrounds March 4-6 2012) listings are free for NZ Gift & Homeware exhibitors to sell their clearance stock on Gift Trader. Once the trial period is over Gift Trader suppliers will pay an annual fee to block list up to 25 clearance product items at any one time.

"Exhibitors are able to sell large quantities of end of line product swiftly to retailers, who will benefit from special deals and easy ordering. "We are expecting many thousands of clearance items ready for retailers to buy online by the time Autumn Gift & Homeware Fair is here in March," says Brent.

All retailers need to do to gain access to www.GiftTrader.co.nz is attend one of the Gift Fairs each year to keep their registration up to date. It's just another reason why retailers benefit from visiting the NZ Gift & Homeware Fairs.