WHOLESALE:
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Wisconsin Group!!
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Allow us to introduce ourselves! We are
The Wisconsin Group, an
organization comprised of small businesses who manufacture, sell, and
represent quality products "Made in Wisconsin" and beyond.
Our
mission is to promote smaller wholesale business in Wisconsin and beyond
and gather a group together who will have power to promote and sell their
products.
Trade shows are nothing new to these business people,
but when the economy started slipping it was time for a change. Founder
Galen Klisiewicz saw a new way to be effective and give small wholesale
business and the gift and floral shop retail industry a chance to improve
how business was being done. “I have been in business for over 30
years and had my ups and downs. I have seen businesses want and waste and
not care about the customer. I have seen far too much from China and other
countries and not enough from USA. So I wanted to see a change. The cost
of shows for a young or new entrepreneur was staggering. A 2-day trade
show was $1,000.00 or more to do. "
"The second problem I saw, was the
manufacturers were not coming because of costs, so the buyers were also
staying home. I wanted both worlds to come together and to be strong. It
made sense to bring the gift show to the customer, kind of the way we used
to be, door to door, and give wholesale businesses the chance to compete.”
The Wisconsin Group was formed in January 2009
when Lori Domzil, a
Sales Representative in the wholesale business, joined Galen to start
establishing rules and guidelines for the trade shows. The first
handpicked members joined the group and became the advisor team that would
now have the task to jury in new businesses. New businesses who wanted to
get involved in gift show wholesale were contacted.
Less than 30
days after its start, the web page was up and running and the first two
shows were scheduled. The show was on the road. Wisconsin Rapids and Green
Bay were the very first shows for The Wisconsin Group.
The theme
for this business group was primarily "Wisconsin made" and being a Wisconsin
business. As of now, we have branched into 4 states for vendors. We have
branched from Wisconsin to beyond, offering others in different states the
opportunity to join! Buyers come to this show by invitation, and as of
this date there are over 2,000 buyers from 5 different states.
Shows have changed from where we started, and are now making our
home in in two locations Warrens and Madison, WI .
Galen said, “2011 adds more of
a challenge as we have limited room at every show”. Our client base has
grown and waiting businesses are on a growing list. With harder times and
more individuals wanting to branch into their own business we are here to
meet the needs and keep the economy moving. Joining forces together and
really helping each other is the only way to really be strong.
The
Wisconsin Group offers its members good shows with a high attendance of
buyers and a much lower cost of doing business. It also offers its invited
buyers high quality and USA products from smaller more interesting
manufacturers.
Galen states “this is a win-win situation.”
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The Wisconsin
Group