Talking about liquidation merchandise is one thing, but visiting a supplier warehouse is life changing! OK, maybe not life changing, but it’s dam exciting! This is just what Renee and I did on our fact finding trip down to Southern California a few months ago. We traveled down to visit a few of our longtime friends within the liquidation and Off-Price industry. Our first planned stop happened to be Via Trading in Lynwood, California.
Via Trading is a large wholesale liquidation company that offers pallet and truckloads of wholesale name brand liquidation merchandise. If you haven’t heard of them, please come out from under the rock you’ve been living under. Via has a gigantic 240,000+ square foot warehouse filled with pallets to view and inspect – holy cow! I thought I’d need a canteen and pack mule just for the warehouse tour, but it wasn’t too bad after all.
Nathania Stambouli, marketing manager at Via Trading, was gracious enough to give Renee and I the tour, showing us hundreds of pallets that were ready for purchase. The warehouse contained dozens of merchandise categories including apparel, shoes, cosmetics, general merchandise, electronics, furniture, hardware, tools, home décor, and other assorted lots. You name it, Via probably has it. If they don’t stock it onsite, they can source a load direct from dozens of shipping points across the country. Phew…..I’m exhausted just thinking about the product sourcing opportunities you and I have working with Via Trading.
Here are some really cool things about Via Trading:
Account Managers – Via assigns an Account Manger to each and every buyer. The Account Manager is like a host that helps a buyer locate profitable merchandise suited for specific retail channels. If you’re an eBay seller, the Account Manager is going to talk with you about pallets and truckloads that will represent the best bang for your buck. Obviously, a load that would work best for a flea market vendor is not going to be offered to an eBay seller. Via is committed to turning new buyers into repeat clientele; they do this by building an educational relationship between Account Managers and buyers. Via knows if you’re successful with a load, you’ll be back for more.
Reception Area – C’mon, I thought I was getting ready to “see the doctor” in Via’s well-appointed reception/lobby area. While waiting, we enjoyed the fish tank, refreshments, an internet kiosk, product literature, couches, etc., etc. The only thing missing was live entertainment.
The Load Center – this is an online feature that you log into to view loads available in the warehouse and loads that are ready to ship nationwide. Each load advertised lists a manifest, shipping FOB point, and value/cost figures.
Crazy Saturday Sale – This event takes place at least once per quarter, and features deep discounts on over 500 wholesale liquidation lots. Signup for Via’s email newsletter and you will receive advance notice of each upcoming Crazy sale. Prices are so low, you might lose your mind. Side note: Nathania reports Via Trading cannot be responsible for your mental health after attending one of these events!
Live Auctions – Live, exciting, and exclusive! On the first Thursday of each month Via Trading holds on-site liquidation auctions. The auctions feature both New Overstock and Customer Return wholesale lots with an incredible opportunity to walk away with amazing prices on merchandise!
Commitment To Education – have you seen Via’s buyer resource center on the website? You need to click a few clicks and check it out. Via offers articles and resources to help the new and seasoned liquidation buyer run a successful business. Did I mention FREE in person and online webinars? Via hosts educational on-site classes, along with comprehensive video webinars for those not close to the facility.
Bilingual – Se habla espanol? Via Trading cuenta con personal bilingüe. I don’t know what I just said, but hopefully you do.
If you’re going to “walk down the aisle,” and buy secondary market goods from a liquidator, Via Trading is ready to fully commit to your success. And besides that, they are a great bunch of……[wait for it]….. real people. A shout out to Nathania and Alain, thanks for the hospitality shown to Renee and I, we had a great time visiting with you!
Before we left Via, I negotiated a 10% discount for readers of The Liquidators Guide! How cool is that? Just register for the Via Trading newsletter to get the discount. Please check with a Via Trading Account Manager for coupon limitations, if any.
Rob Cyr on Via Trading:
