Bealls Supplier
A Complete Guide to Selling in Department Stores: How to Become a Bealls Vendor
If you sell products and want to grow into retail, becoming a vendor for a department store like Bealls could change the game for you. Many business owners ignore department stores in favor of trendier retail channels, even though they offer a lot of product exposure, high foot traffic, and the chance to move a lot of inventory.
This guide will show you how to deal with Bealls as a vendor, how department stores work, and what you can do to make it more likely that your product will be on the shelves.
Getting to Know the Department Store Scene
It’s important to know how department stores work in general before we look at Bealls in particular.
Not all department stores are the same. At one end of the spectrum are well-known national chains like Macy’s and Nordstrom. On the other hand, there are regional players like Belk and Bon-Ton that only serve certain areas.
Bealls is a department store that focuses on value and is located in a certain area. That position is important because it has a direct effect on:
Expectations about prices
Choosing a product
Demographics of target customers
Requirements for vendors
Knowing where Bealls fits into the retail world will help you make a good pitch.
Why It’s a Good Idea to Sell to Bealls
A lot of brands only sell to big-box stores or small, niche stores, but department stores like Bealls have their own unique benefits.
1. Many different types of products
Bealls sells a wide range of products, unlike specialty stores that only sell one type of item. Some of these products are:
Clothes and accessories
Things for the home
Things for the season
Products for living
This means that your product doesn’t have to fit into a small group. There may still be a place for your product, even if it’s something unusual, like a hybrid lifestyle product or a crossover category item.
2. More chances with a big store format
Department stores usually take up more space. That means:
More room on the shelf
More types
More willing to try out new products
This is very important for vendors. Larger stores can often try out new brands more easily, especially if the product fits with what customers want.
3. Not as Saturated as You Think
A lot of business owners don’t think about department stores because they think they’re too competitive or out of date. That actually makes things possible.
Because fewer new businesses focus on stores like Bealls, you might have to deal with:
Fewer competitors
More willingness to buy
Making decisions faster than high-end stores
What Buyers Look for in Bealls Vendors
Bealls is easier to get to than high-end department stores, but that doesn’t mean the standards are low. Buyers still look at a few important things when deciding what to buy.
Fit between the product and the market
Bealls is for people who care about getting a good deal. Your product needs to:
Be cheap or seem like a good deal.
Attract a wide range of people
Fit into the current store categories
If your product is expensive or high-end, it might not be a good fit for their main customers.
Pricing Plan
One of the biggest mistakes vendors make is trying to sell high-priced goods to stores that sell cheap goods.
If your product is currently priced as a premium, think about:
Making a simpler version
Cutting down on the cost of packaging
Giving customers a “lite” version of your product
This doesn’t mean lowering quality; it means meeting the retailer’s price expectations.
Scalability
Bealls has stores in many places, so they need vendors who can:
Make sure your inventory is always the same
Meet delivery deadlines
Take care of big orders
If you’re not ready to grow, it might be a good idea to improve your supply chain before you pitch.
Should You Change Your Product for Bealls?
One of the most important strategic questions is this one.
Yes, sometimes the answer is yes.
If your product is too expensive or only appeals to a small group of people, making a different version can help. This could mean:
Using various materials
Making features easier
Giving smaller sizes or bundles
It may seem strange, but changing your product can greatly improve your chances of success in retail.
Look at it this way:
You’re not changing your brand; you’re just adding more products to your line to reach a new group of people.
Department Stores and Specialty Stores
Many business owners think that it’s easier to get into specialty stores. In reality, the opposite is often the case.
Retailers with a focus
Very carefully chosen
Very specific
Very picky
Bealls and other department stores
More general inventory needs
Buying criteria that are more flexible
More willing to try new things
Department stores need a steady stream of new products to keep their shelves fresh because they serve a wider range of customers. That gives new vendors more ways to get in.
How to Sell Your Product to Bealls
To get a deal with Bealls, you need to be smart and strategic.
1. Look into the store
Before getting in touch:
Go to Bealls stores or shop online.
Look into different types of products
Look at the price ranges
Find the holes that your product could fill.
Your pitch should make it clear how your product fits in with what they already have.
2. Make a good offer for wholesale
People who buy things care about numbers. Have the following ready:
Prices for wholesale
Suggested retail price (SRP)
Minimum order amounts (MOQs)
Margins of profit
Make it clear to the buyer how your product will help them make money.
3. Make a brand that is ready for retail
Even stores that care about value care about how things look.
Make sure you have:
Packaging that looks professional
Branding that is clear
UPC numbers
Sell sheets for products
Your brand should look like it’s ready to go on the shelf, not like a prototype.
4. Write a convincing pitch
Your pitch should answer these three important questions:
Why will this sell at Bealls?
Who is the customer you’re trying to reach?
What sets this product apart?
Keep it short, based on facts, and focused on what the buyer needs, not just the features of your product.
Things You Shouldn’t Do
When trying to become a Bealls vendor, be careful of these mistakes:
Not paying attention to price alignment
If your product doesn’t meet Bealls’ price expectations, it’s unlikely to be accepted.
Making Your Product Too Complicated
Department stores usually do best with products that are simple, useful, and cheap.
Only Going After Big Names
A lot of business owners only pitch to big stores like Nordstrom or Macy’s and ignore smaller chains like Bealls, which means they miss out on great chances.
Not being ready
Customers expect professionalism. A conversation can end quickly if the information is not complete or the prices are not clear.
Going Beyond Bealls
Bealls is a great place to start, but don’t stop there.
Once you’ve made a product that fits the prices and layout of department stores, you can grow into:
Chains in a certain area
Retailers that sell at a discount
Department stores that sell things at a discount
This strategy allows you to scale faster and diversify your retail presence.
Expert Insight: What You Can Learn from Working in Retail
Karen Waksman, a retail expert and the founder of Retail MBA, says that people often don’t give department stores enough credit.
Based on her work with product brands around the world:
It’s usually easier to break into department stores than niche stores.
They are more willing to try new things.
They have a lot of potential to make money.
What did she say? Don’t forget about them, especially if you’re having trouble getting into specialty retail.
Last Thoughts: Is Bealls the Right Place for Your Brand?
Becoming a vendor for Bealls can help your product business grow, but you need to be on the same page for it to work.
You fit well if:
Your product is either cheap or flexible.
You can make a lot of things at once.
Your brand appeals to a wide range of people.
If your product is too high-end right now, think about making a second version that is more affordable for stores that focus on value.
Main Points
Department stores have a lot of options for different types of products.
Pricing and accessibility are important to Bealls because it is a value-driven store.
Changing your product can greatly improve your chances of being accepted.
It’s usually easier to get into department stores than specialty stores.
A strong, professional pitch is very important.
Getting into retail doesn’t always mean getting the biggest name. Sometimes, the best thing to do is to go after the right retailer, and Bealls might be just the right chance.
Bealls Department Store Vendor
Bealls Family of Stores-Bealls, Bealls Outlet and Burkes Outlet – operates over 500 department and outlet stores in Florida and the Southern United States from their headquarters in Bradenton; still owned by their founding family.
E.R. Beall has refined a family philosophy first established in 1915: ‘Feed the business, don’t take money out.’ This approach has supported continued growth through both recessions and boom times alike.
Beall’s Outlet
Beall’s department store in Florida offers all the latest fashions in apparel, home, and beauty for all members of your family, in sizes that span petites to juniors plus. Plus, Beall’s Outlet provides value priced designer collections.
Beall’s witnessed significant patriotism and growth during World War II. E.R. Beall made great strides toward both, paying off all debts incurred to purchase back the company in 1944.
Beall’s is set to launch Bunulu stores, located in outdoor lifestyle centers and malls. These new shops will showcase in-house brands from Bealls as well as coastal-inspired merchandise; additionally, these new shops will carry popular name and style products as well as accept credit cards and gift cards – this change will occur across 23 states; additionally, Burkes Outlet stores have been renamed Bealls by Bealls Inc.
Beall’s Department Store
Beall’s continued to thrive despite an unfavorable retail environment during this period, shifting their traditional ads toward customer loyalty and word of mouth advertising, redirecting their budgets toward new private brands and opening Bealls Outlet stores across Sun Belt states.
Beall’s sells shoes and apparel for men, women and kids across 500 department and outlet stores throughout Florida and the southern United States. Beall’s headquarters are in Bradenton where Robert Beall opened his first store in 1915 with his entire savings invested in merchandise priced under five dollars priced on empty wooden packing crates as display tables he called The Dollar Limit store – this became an incredible success story that survived both boom times and Depression until finally paying off all debts in 1944.
Beall’s Home Furnishings
Beall’s Home is a new concept from Bealls Inc, the family-owned parent company of Bealls Florida, Bealls Outlet and Burkes Outlet stores. Operating 500 retail locations across the southern and eastern United States, Beall’s Home specializes in apparel and accessories for all the family – such as shoes and jewelry – at discounted prices as well as offering discounted home products at attractive discounts.
Beginning as a dry goods store known as Dollar Limit on Old Main Street in Bradenton, Florida in 1915, founder Robert Beall quickly established himself in the community by helping to bring spring training baseball to Manatee County.
Bealls recently unveiled Home Centric, an affordable brand offering quality home furnishings at great value. Home Centric can be found in some Bealls Outlet and Florida stores and customers can earn Coast2Coast Rewards by using one credit card across both brands.
Beall’s Furniture
Bealls Home Centric has stores across the southern, western, and eastern United States offering an ever-evolving selection of brand name home fashions, artisan creations, gifts and stylish treasures from around the world sourced by Bealls’ buyers – its buyers search the globe in order to bring fashionable treasures and one-of-a-kind finds directly to customers. Most Bealls loyalty members (Burkes Outlet loyalty members are eligible as well) can use their MORE rewards at Home Centric.
The company was established when its founder opened a small dry goods shop on Old Main Street in Bradenton known as Dollar Limit in 1915. He quickly became deeply immersed in his community, helping bring spring training baseball to Manatee County and opening many schools as a result of this business venture.
His sons quickly adapted to new technologies of the 1970s, and Bealls became one of the first retailers to advertise in newspaper circular inserts. That decade saw their growth explode; and today CEO Matt Knopik runs an empire consisting of over 550 stores under Bealls, Bealls Outlet, Burkes Outlet and Rugged Earth Outfitters brands.
Beall’s Appliances
As the department store industry has declined over time, Bealls has retained a regional focus by working with brands that appeal to Florida residents and visitors. Established in 1915, this Florida-based chain now operates over 600 department and outlet stores statewide and remains an integral part of local communities as an employer and major social partner.
Bealls is owned and operated by Beall’s Inc, which operates department stores, outlet stores, Burke’s Outlet stores and Rugged Earth Outfitters throughout Florida and beyond. Headquartered in Bradenton, the company employs over 18,000 workers.
Beall’s Appliances provides kitchen appliances, small appliances and furniture to enhance any home in Florida. Additionally, their services help maximize value for your investment. With multiple locations throughout Florida – use their retailer locator tool to locate their product closest to you!
Beall’s Lighting
Robert M. beall founded this family-run business over 100 years ago and was deeply involved with his community – helping bring spring training to Florida, taking part in Florida’s boom years, losing his store during the Depression only to repurchase it once debts had been paid off.
Bealls now provides products tailored to Florida residents and visitors. Their Bunulu stores are small and bright spaces designed to reflect Florida’s lifestyle; for instance they feature Tervis Tumbler with in-store displays as well as work with designers to produce kitchenware and patio furniture which reflect these designs.
Beall’s EDI services are provided by SPS Commerce, an experienced provider with proven results in building retail connections for suppliers. SPS Commerce’s services assist retailers in improving accuracy and efficiency in their e-commerce operations.
Beall’s Flooring
Bealls offers an assortment of flooring and surfacing products designed to suit every lifestyle, ranging from carpeting and hardwood flooring to tiles and laminates. Furthermore, their floor care products and accessories help keep homes clean and healthy. In addition, bealls has its own department store chain called Home Centric that features luxurious finishes like stone cash wrap walls and custom flooring; Home Centric stores feature brand name merchandise at substantial savings as well as being designed specifically to appeal to customers in warm-weather states.
Bealls Florida stores offer merchandise that resonates with both residents and visitors. Their in-house designers have even created kitchenware and patio furniture collections to complement the designs of Venice-based Tervis Tumbler company.
Beall’s Hardware
Beall’s Hardware offers an assortment of home and garden products, such as lawn and garden equipment, tools, and supplies. Headquartered in Florida with over 80 stores statewide; additionally it also has an online storefront where customers can make purchases.
As a Beall’s Store Operations Manager, you will work in partnership with the Merchandise Management team to deliver on guest service goals by interpreting sales reports to identify opportunities and developing strategies that drive results. In addition, you will support operations, POS system, computer network and maintenance within your store while leading your team in executing promotions and merchandising programs which include meeting store and divisional presentation standards as well as product replenishment/resetting duties across store locations – this role requires a flexible schedule.
Beall’s Pets
Beall’s Pets offers pet beds, toys and supplies for sale as well as food, treats and grooming products for sale. In addition to selling supplies for their furry clients, Beall’s Pets also provides veterinary services including treatment financing solutions so families can afford care for their furry family member.
Beall’s is adding vibrant colors, wider aisles, and natural lighting to the shopping center near Bruce B. Downs Boulevard and State Road 56. Their new store will serve thousands of homes from Northwood and Meadow Pointe neighborhoods.
Beall’s MORE Rewards program enables customers to save 10% when making in-store purchases by enrolling with them and weekly sales on swimwear, apparel and other goods are hosted. Orders over $50 qualify for free shipping. Furthermore, customers may find discounts online on home and kitchen items which may only last while supplies last.
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1. Product Distributors – How to Work with Distributors!
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In this training, I will discuss some of the things to think about when approaching a retailer to sell your products and become a vendor. Hope it helps! 🙂
Karen Waksman,
Retail MBA
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