How to Sell to Von Maur Stores and Become a Von Maur Vendor

Von Maur stores offer brand name apparel, gifts, cosmetics, jewelry and shoes from top designers at competitive prices. Additionally, there is an e-commerce site with full services offered online by this retailer located in Davenport Iowa that currently operates stores in 15 states.

If you are considering selling your product to Von Maur, there are a few considerations you must bear in mind.

2. Determine if Von Maur is the right store for your product

Von Maur was established in Davenport, Iowa in 1872 and is known for its wide selection of brand name and specialty apparel; shoes; beauty; home decor and gifts. Additionally, it offers superior customer service through an interest-free charge card, flexible return policy and complimentary gift wrapping – something other retailers often fall victim to overexpansion and volume promotions; this explains its success over decades of department store attrition. Its success stems from placing high emphasis on quality, value and service as its core tenets.

Von Maur has thrived despite the challenges presented by an increasingly competitive retail landscape, expanding into new markets while outlasting larger names like Marshall Field’s, Hess’s, Carson Pirie Scott Parisian and Younkers that have either been acquired or gone out of business altogether. They currently operate 32 locations in 15 states including Wisconsin’s first Von Maur store which opened at The Corners of Brookfield this April.

Pennsylvania will be its next expansion target; South Hills Village in Pittsburgh will become its inaugural store to serve this state by opening in Fall 2024. The location has been carefully chosen so as to be easily accessible off major arteries so as to draw shoppers from a wide geographic region.

Before approaching Von Maur to sell your product, take time to ensure you can meet its production and delivery requirements. Assess whether your product can provide enough of a profit margin to offset expenses such as packaging, shipping and commissions. Please consult their guidelines as often as changes occur –

3. Complete the required Von Maur paperwork

If you want to sell your product at Von Maur, the company will typically ask for an application form. Before filling it out, do your research on them thoroughly – possibly contact someone inside their organization who could move your application along quicker if that helps expedite things further.

Established in Davenport, Iowa in 1981, Von Maur is a department store chain offering brand name and specialty apparel, shoes and accessories from well-known designers. Additionally, Von Maur is well known for its exceptional customer service offerings – such as its interest-free charge card, flexible return policy and free gift wrapping and shipping services.

Von Maur’s first store opened at Chicago’s NorthPark Mall and since has expanded across Iowa with locations in Cedar Rapids, Lindale and Iowa City’s Sycamore Mall. Additionally, in 1994 they established themselves in Chicago by purchasing the former Petersen store in Lombard’s Yorktown Center as its first Chicago location.

Von Maur’s online employment application notes that they are an equal opportunity employer and will not discriminate based on race, religion, sex, national origin/ancestry/age or marital status.

Miller applied online for entry-level corporate roles such as executive training. But, upon hearing that there had already been enough applicants for stock and shipping and receiving positions on day two of its open house interview process, the company refused to hire him.

The company stated that they kept his application “active” for future openings in these areas but never reached out. He filed a formal complaint alleging he was denied employment at the company because of his religion, sexual orientation and national origin.

5. Pitch your product to Von Maur

Von Maur has managed to stay alive in a retail environment where many department store nameplates were acquired or shut down, thanks to its unique customer proposition and focus on quality, value and selection. Based in Iowa City, Von Maur has also proven adept at staying nimble enough not to fall into some of the pitfalls other retailers fell into; such as overexpansion or excessive promotions to drive online sales growth.

Customers come to Von Maur for its expansive selection of brand name and specialty apparel, shoes and accessories as well as beauty products and gifts from national brands like Bobbi Brown, Peter Millar, TravisMathew Hammitt and Lilly Pulitzer. Additionally, Von Maur is known for providing unparalleled customer service, such as offering an interest-free charge card, flexible return policy and free gift wrapping – while its associates receive above-market wages along with excellent benefits in an inclusive workplace setting.

Delivering your product at the appropriate time is of utmost importance. Depending on the season, contacting buyers early in the year when their buying team begins assembling spring/summer collections can help them make informed choices and ask any pertinent questions they might have.

When pitching your product to Von Maur, be sure to emphasize its features, benefits and price point. Be sure that there is an acceptable profit margin that covers packaging, shipping, commissions, marketing and wholesale distribution as well as any carrier invoice correction fees that will need to be budgeted for. All shipments must be sent FOB vendor warehouses located in Arkansas, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky Michigan Minnesota Nebraska North Dakota or Wisconsin.