List of GOOD vendors

[LadySiren]

I was hoping we could maybe get a sticky post/thread on a single list of good vendors to work with...as a newbie, I'm having a heckuva time finding candy vendors and such. I've dealt with two bad ones so far (Specialty Store Services and CandyDirect.com) and wouldn't want any other newbies to go through the hell I have so far.

Maybe we could break the list into categories:

DVD Suppliers (Ingram, VPD, Waxworks, Navarre, etc)
Store Supplies (Gridwall, racks, impulse displays, signage, etc)
Impulse/Accessories (Movie candy, collectible cards, etc)
Misc (DVD repair machines, anything else that doesn't fit in the above categories)

I'll toss out the first one:

If you're stocking collectible trading cards like we are, Potomac Distribution is a great place to buy them from. We got very good prices on booster boxes, and they have all the major card games like Magic: The Gathering and Yu-Gi-Oh! They also carry accessories like card sleeves and deck boxes.

Just my $.02 worth.

Cheers,

Lady Siren

[lanna5]

Great idea! I buy  my candy from Target though, it's $.89 per box and no shipping charges, and I sell them for $1.50 each. I've been reading some of your posts and it sounds like we have VERY similar stores. I live in a town of less than 1000, so I'm the smallest video store by far . . . . but I love it anyway.

Alanna

[sungifts]

We buy our theatre box candy from Walmart - 88 cents and sell for $1.29 or $1.39 depending on size.  And if you watch closely, walmart will run other candy on sale cheap enough to buy and resell.  A few weeks ago they were selling the king size reeses cups (4 in a pack) for 38 CENTS!!  We bought them and sell for 69 cents.

I have also found a wholesale shop in Texas that carries a whole bunch of candy, especially the novelty kind.  You have to have your sales tax certificate and open an account.

I have found that ordering candy gets very expensive and cuts into profits once you figure in shipping.

[IVR]

88 cents is 10-20% more than we pay and we also get free shipping. We also treat the concessions as a profit center. 70 cent theater boxes sell for $1.99. Theses are impulse purchases and in most cases they are going to be bought regardless of the price.  As a matter of fact we don't even price the candy and rarely does anyone ask the price.

[Thomas]

Vendor list inc, HC if you could sticky it would be great.

[Thomas]

Here, I will maintain a current list of the most used suppliers and distributors. If you have a company that you'd like added to the list, send me a PM and I'll look into getting them added.

DVD & VHS Distribution -

VPD (Video Products Distributors, Inc.)
Jenelle Smith (New Business Development)
(800) 366-2111 ext. 1605
Jeremy Maron (Sales Representative)
(800) 366-2111 ext. 1572

Ingram Entertainment
(800) 621-1333

Rentrak (Revenue Sharing)
(800) 929-8000

Pro Video (Leasing)
(800) 321-5988

Movie Video Traders (New, Used & Disk Repair)
(866)762-4567

Video Group Distributors (New & Used)
(800) 316-6986

Baker & Taylor
(800) 775-3700

Music Distribution -

Aliance Entertainment Co. (A.E.C.)
(800) 635-9082

Ingram Entertainment
(800) 621-1333

Suppliers -

Specialty Store Services
(800) 999-0771

The Video Store Shopper
(800) 325-6867

JD Equipment
(800) 433-3543

[Thomas]

Disk Repair/Polishing Company Contacts

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Seeing as how this is an area that I'm talking to more and more people about, I decided to get all the information in one place for your convenience. If you have any additional information that you'd like to see displayed, please send me a private messate (PM) and I'll edit the post.

Azuradisc -
Azuradisc Inc.
2885 N. Nevada St. Suite #140
Chandler, AZ 85225

Administrative
480-827-8786
info@azuradisc.com

Sales
800-933-4923
sales@azuradisc.com

Technical Support
480-346-0476
support@azuradisc.com

RTI -
RTI CORPORATE HEADQUARTERS
4700 Chase, Lincolnwood, IL
60712-1689, U.S.A.
Phone: 847-677-3000 or
800-323-7520
Fax: 847-677-1311 or 800-784-6733
E-Mail: Sales@rtico.com

Disk-Go-Technologies
Phone Business: 604-514-8236
Toll Free: 1-866-CD-Repair (237-3724)
Fax: 604-534-3897
E-mail Products/Sales: sales@discgotech.com
General Inquiry: info@discgotech.com
Investor Relations: investor@discgotech.com

Venmill
Website: http://www.movievideotraders.com
Email: sales@movievideotraders.com
Authorized Distributor - Movie Video Traders
Joe Michaels - (866)762-4567

[sungifts]

88 cents is 10-20% more than we pay and we also get free shipping. We also treat the concessions as a profit center. 70 cent theater boxes sell for $1.99. Theses are impulse purchases and in most cases they are going to be bought regardless of the price.  As a matter of fact we don't even price the candy and rarely does anyone ask the price.

Where do you get your candy?  Free shipping would be great!  People usually don't ask us for a price either.  We keep the candy right in front of the checkout counter - at kids eye level - so they bug their parents for it!

[IVR]

Adam Gottlieb
CCSI - Corp HQ
National VP of Sales
516.739.8777 X 1225
516.742.7761 fax
www.ccsicandy.com

[D8O8]

Hi everyone,

I have been reading as much as I can on this site and find it SO very useful.  Thanks to all!
A bit about myself - I have just opened my first business.  It is a very small DVD and video game rental store in a very small town. (I have been open since Dec 27/05 and my customer base is up to 305 as of now) That sounds so small compared to all of your stores but hopefully I can make a "go" of this.
I have encountered a bit of a glitch that maybe someone can help me with...   I DESPERATELY need posters and do not know where to turn to as I do not deal through a distributor (on this note, I tried but I was told that as I only require 2-4 copies of any title that I should just go it on my own)
Anyone have any leads? I would appreciate any feedback.
Thank you,
Debbie

[amanda]

what distributor told you that?? Entertainment One (formally Video One) is the leading distributor for canada. They can put you on the 'poster list' and you will get rolls of posters with everyone order you place. The shipping is a flat rate of $8.50 no matter if you get 1 movie, or 20 movies and 3 rolls of posters. Their prices are higher than walmarts, etc.
The Winnipeg branch phone number is  (204)694-6007/ 1-800-665-1330

The knowledge base on this forum has all the numbers for you to phone to receive posters, etc from the studios, all though, some require the last invoice from your distributor. Heres the link http://www.videostorecentral.com/kb.php?mode=article&k=3

[D8O8]

Entertainment One is who I was speaking with.  I have been in contact with a guy there a number of times since Aug/05.  He's been so helpful with any questions that I have had, they even sent me a catalogue at one point but through our discussions we decided that they wouldn't do me very much good in the money saving department.
I spoke to him today in fact to see if I could get posters from them (or directed to any place else)  
I only need 2-4 copies of any one title so for example - today he said how much did you pay for FLIGHTPLAN - here it would be $30.00 for you.  I got it at Walmart for $18.83.  I was hinting at hooking up with them just for the posters for goodness sakes but - no go!  Ultimately I know it is my choice to  use Ent. One but is it a good idea just for posters?
I'm going to try your link Amanda, thanks
I'm too new to this and to be honest I've got so much going on as far as learning all the bookeeping, payroll, GST, RST ect.... my head is spinning!!
so again, thanks for any and all the help.
Debbie

[D8O8]

Entertainment One is who I was speaking with.  I have been in contact with a guy there a number of times since Aug/05.  He's been so helpful with any questions that I have had, they even sent me a catalogue at one point but through our discussions we decided that they wouldn't do me very much good in the money saving department.
I spoke to him today in fact to see if I could get posters from them (or directed to any place else)  
I only need 2-4 copies of any one title so for example - today he said how much did you pay for FLIGHTPLAN - here it would be $30.00 for you.  I got it at Walmart for $18.83.  I was hinting at hooking up with them just for the posters for goodness sakes but - no go!  Ultimately I know it is my choice to  use Ent. One but is it a good idea just for posters?
I'm going to try your link Amanda, thanks
I'm too new to this and to be honest I've got so much going on as far as learning all the bookeeping, payroll, GST, RST ect.... my head is spinning!!
so again, thanks for any and all the help.
Debbie

[tonypotenza]

30$ geez, i guess when ur new u dont get that big of a discount, we get 28% if i rmemeber correctly (that makes 24.96 for flightplan), and our walmart is bad, so bad, flightplan was 24.83 on tuesday

[j4kp07]

Ingram Entertainment has a marketing package for posters.  About $190 per year for monthly deliveries.  Give them a call.