A: Going Out Of Business Sales that utilize DWS’ Retail Liquidation Program have typically generated total sales equal to 100% of total inventory cost (many sales generate over 100%). Each merchant’s situation and goals are unique. Therefore, the results of your sale may vary. It will depend, most, on your inventory cost and your margin. It will also depend on the age, condition & mix of your inventory; the quantity and quality of your fixtures, furniture & equipment; your customer base; your location; your competition; the reputation of your store; the timing of your sale; and how much you have prepared for and participate in your sale. After discussing your particular situation and your specific goals, we will give you a more accurate estimate of the results you can expect for your sale. Contact Us Today!

A: DWS’ fee for conducting your Going Out Of Business Sale is determined by your inventory cost, the length of your sale, and, depends most, on the results of your sale. After discussing your particular situation and goals, we will give you an accurate estimate of our fee. Contact Us Today!

A: This is explained, in detail, in our contract with you. To receive a copy of the contract, contact us.

A: You pay DWS nothing. Your consultant will work for you, on site, for 12 days before you pay DWS anything. To get your sale started, you pay only the Opening Day direct mail advertising postage. You can write a check or you can use a credit card.

A: Only the Opening Day direct mail advertising cost. This cost is part of the advertising budget which will be prepared by your sale consultant and approved by you.

A: The length of your sale is determined, most, by your total inventory cost and your margin. It will also be affected by: the age, condition & mix of your inventory; the quantity and quality of your fixtures, furniture & equipment; your location; your competition; the reputation of your store; and the timing of your sale. If your sale is too short, your discounts cut into your profit. If your sale is too long, your overhead cuts into your profit. To receive the maximum return on your inventory, the timing of your discounts is crucial. Your consultant will advise you on that timing throughout your sale. We will start your sale with a target date to end it. However, as the sale progresses, your consultant will advise you on the best time to end your sale. After discussing your particular situation and specific goals, we will determine how long your sale will take.

A: Now may be the best time to run your sale! Timing is crucial! After discussing your unique situation, we can help you determine the best time to run your sale. Contact us, soon!

A: It depends on how ready you and your store are when your consultant arrives. To maximize your sales and avoid problems, you must be prepared! We cannot emphasize this enough! We will advise you on what to do as soon as your sale is scheduled. Your consultant will arrive at your store 1 week before your sale begins to help you fine tune and finish your preparations. We recommend that you close your store 1 or 2 days prior to the Opening Day of your sale to make sure that everything is ready.

A: No! Since your merchandise is already marked with a regular price, your sale will use DWS’ “Sale Price Charts”. These charts will be positioned throughout your store within easy reach of all of your merchandise. This will allow your customers to quickly and easily determine the percentage discount and actual sale price of each item in your store. DWS’ “Sale Price Charts” will save you the time, money, manpower and hassle that would be required to tag and re-tag your merchandise each time your discount changes.

A: We need, at the very least, 10 days to 2 weeks before your sale begins. Ideally, we would like to have as much as 3 to 4 weeks, or more! Having ample time to prepare will ensure that Your Going Out of Business Sale is a great success! Contact us, soon!

A: Yes. Your sale will be conducted by an experienced, independent retail management consultant who will work directly with you each week, in your store, to help you plan, implement and manage Your Retail Liquidation Program. Your consultant will have more than 15 years of retail management experience as a previous store owner or store manager. Many of them are former clients. All have extensive experience managing retail liquidation sales. Your consultant will arrive at your store 1 week before your sale begins to help you fine tune and finish the preparations for your sale. He will work with you and your staff until your sale is finished.

A: No. For years, we used a prize game to attract customers to our sales. Over time, we have learned that they are unnecessary. Customers will come to your store because you’re going out of business. They will keep coming back because they know that the merchandise will be discounted more as the sale progresses. Prize games are expensive. You have to purchase prizes, and someone has to be paid to administer the game and mail out notices. Running a game diverts attention away from merchandising your store, waiting on buying customers, and selling your inventory, fixtures & equipment. If giving away prizes would make you more money, we would still be doing it.

A: Your Going Out Of Business Sale will utilize direct mail and newspaper advertising. Your sale may also use TV and radio. If you currently utilize the internet to advertise your business, your sale will be advertised there, too. Your consultant will evaluate the advertising media to be used and will discuss the options with you before your sale begins. Your sale will use a direct mail postcard (paid for by you as part of your advertising budget) to invite your customers to the opening day of your sale. We have learned that postcards are more likely to be read than a letter. And, sending a postcard is less expensive. If you feel that sending a letter to your customers would be more appropriate than a postcard, we will use your letter. Your sale will also use a direct mail postcard to market your fixtures, furniture & equipment to other retail stores in your region. The fixture postcard will be provided by DWS at no extra cost to you.

A: The national average of advertising costs for going out of business sales is 4% to 8% of the projected sales. Your sale’s advertising costs will average 2% to 6% of your projected sales. Your consultant will prepare an advertising budget for your approval before your sale begins. Your consultant will also work directly with your advertising representatives, write all ad copy, and will provide all camera-ready artwork at no extra cost to you.

A: Depending on how many employees you already have on staff, extra help may be needed for the first few days of your sale. We will advise you on this when your sale is scheduled.

A: We recommend that you inform your employees 5 to 10 days before your consultant arrives. In addition, we will advise you on how to retain your employees for the duration of your sale, and we will put you in contact with a federal program that can assist you and your employees in retraining and finding other employment.

A: Your sale will utilize a very effective direct mail advertising program to help you sell your fixtures and equipment. This service (a $1,500 value) will be provided by DWS at no extra cost to you. In addition, your consultant will help you list, price, advertise and sell your fixtures and equipment. In many previous sales, the money generated from the sale of fixtures and equipment has paid for DWS’ fee.

A: Before your sale begins, we recommend that you continue to order your everyday selling items. Once your sale is scheduled, we can advise you on how you can make more money during your sale by purchasing off-price merchandise.

A: By using DWS’ Retail Liquidation Program, very little, if anything, is left.

A: Some towns, counties and states require a permit and some do not. In some cases, you may need to apply for and/or receive a permit 10 to 30 days prior to starting your sale. We will help you with that process.

A: We will provide “Accounts Receivable” form letters that you can use to inform your receivable accounts of your intentions and to collect past due accounts.

A: We will provide “Accounts Payable” form letters that you can use to inform your creditors of your intentions. In addition, we can put you in contact with a company that can significantly reduce your vendor debt.

A: DWS does not pay for endorsements. We are endorsed by store owners whose endorsements we have earned , , . the best way to get an endorsement. We have also been recommended by regional and national representatives of national franchises. If you would like to receive a list of satisfied store owners that endorse DWS, Contact Us!

A: Thoroughly review the brochure. Then call us so that we can discuss your particular situation and specific goals. We will answer all of your questions and address all of your concerns. Then read the testimonials of retailers, like you, that we have already helped. At your request, we will provide you with their names and phone numbers so that you may speak with them directly. Call them and ask questions.

A: You can call us or e-mail us and we will gladly answer all of your questions and address any concerns that you may have. We want to give you all of the information that you need to make the right choice for you. We look forward to helping you make Your Retail Liquidation Sale a Great Success!!