Buying things wholesale is the easiest way to say goodbye to a significant amount of money that you could otherwise save. Whether you’re running a business and need supplies, or you’re just looking for some new clothes that aren’t too expensive, closeout shopping is the way to go.
This can save you a bigger chunk of money than you might think.
Closeout sales exist because companies are either going out of business, introducing new products, or changing their seasonal items. These situations require retailers to get rid of their old goods fast but still make some money on them.
Such special rates don’t stick around for long, which means you have to get good at catching them while they’re available. Here is your ultimate guide to closeout sale shopping.
Different Places to Find a Closeout Sale
The first thing to know about looking for closeout offers is that these can happen at any time within the year, and with little to no warning beforehand.
They aren’t advertised as annual or seasonal sales, but rather begin at short notice and end almost as fast. But, there are some great resources available to help you know when a sale is happening.
Go Online
Nothing spreads information faster than the internet. If you really need to find closeout sales happening right now and near you, begin with an online search.
This will give you the most updated, relevant information. To make your search more effective, narrow down your inquiry in regards to the items you need – like factory closeouts, major clothing sales, or big stores that are going out of business.
General inquiries may take more time to sort through, but they do give you the full range of closeout sale options happening near you.
Don’t forget, though, since you’re already online, you may not need to actually go to a brick and mortar location to take advantage of a store’s closeout. Keep an eye out for online retailers that can ship anything you buy – like the deals available when you buy here!
Listen to the Radio
If you’d rather stay within local range, turn off your streaming devices and listen to the local radio when you drive. This keeps you updated on the latest advertisements happening in your area.
That’s right, people still advertise on the radio – especially those who need to make their inventory move, like businesses running a closeout sale. You won’t hear a closeout announcement every single day. But, this is still a great place to discover a new sale that just started in your area.
Also, since you’re already in the car, take a drive around the industrial side of town and see what you find. If you live in an area that is known to have a few large warehouses or some struggling retailers, you may drive past closeout signs from time to time.
Read the Classifieds
As surprised as you may be to find out radio ads are still around, you may be shocked to realize many businesses still used the classifieds, too. Due to the digital age we live in, though, many news sites have an online classifieds section, rather than distributing these through print as they used to be.
Still, this is a place to find ads of all sorts – from new businesses to those that are going out of work and doing a closeout sale.
Check in with your local classifieds every week or so to see what’s new. You may be surprised to come across the sale you’ve been waiting for to finally stock your warehouse or your closet!
Stay Engaged with Your Industry
The internet, radio, and classifieds are resources that are available to everyone. As such, there’s no telling how many other people will be shopping at a closeout sale you’re excited about.
To get a bit of a jump start on a sale, or access to more relevant goods, look for advertisements within your industry resources. Read blogs that are focused on your line of work. Subscribe to magazines that are all about what you do, too.
Such efforts may give you the edge you need to take advantage of a sale before someone else does.
Important Tips for Closeout Shopping
Speaking of taking advantage of closeout sales, there’s more to closeout shopping than just finding out about the right sales first. To get the most out of this money-saving experience, keep the following things in mind.
Have a Plan
Whether you’re shopping for personal or business purposes, always go into a sale with a plan. Otherwise, you risk being overwhelmed by all the offers and distracted from what you really need.
Take inventory of your closet/assets/inventory – whatever it is that you’re shopping for. Then, prioritize what you need the most versus what you may be able to hold off on right now.
Once you have this list, think of the logistics of closeout shopping.
Where are you going to store everything you buy? How are you going to transport large items, like pallets for your business or furniture for your home?
Stick to Your Budget
While planning, make a budget.
Establish how much money you can spend in total with shopping and transportation costs accounted for. Think of how this breaks down for every item you need.
This way, you have a clear sense of direction while browsing through all the offers available in one sale.
Always Shop a Closeout Sale First
The final tip to keep in mind is the most simple: always shop closeout first.
There’s no reason to buy wholesale if you can get the same things for practically half the cost – or even lower rates than that! All this takes is a little bit of know-how and patience. The rest comes down to using the above tricks to find the absolute best sales.
The Easiest Closeout Search Ever
Sometimes, closeout shopping isn’t limited to a sale. Rather, it comes down to finding retailers that specialize in last-call items and otherwise unsold items.
There are plenty of stores who do this for home decor, personal styling, manufacturing, and business purposes. Click here for easy access to a wide range of closeout suppliers.