Meet the International Alpaca Association (IAA), which is a nonprofit organization founded to protect and promote the image of the alpaca fiber and its derivatives, while ensuring the quality of alpaca products, which is in the interest of all institutions, companies and stores worldwide which have an interest in trading, processing and manufacturing alpaca fiber.

We became the first licensed partner of the IAA in the USA in 2004. Our products carry quality identifier hangtags issued by the IAA. This identifier certifies and guarantees you and your customer of the item's fiber composition. We are one of only four companies in the United States licensed by the International Alpaca Association.

Origin Mark Gold- Guarantees that an item is composed of 100% Baby Alpaca, the softest, finest alpaca fiber available.

Origin Mark Silver- Guarantees that an item is composed of 100% Alpaca Superfine.

Origin Mark White- Guarantees that an Alpaca Blend product contains 70% Alpaca Fiber, (can be blended with wool, silk, acrylic, or other fiber that must be specified on label.)

Hologram Mark- Embedded design designates quality. Can be used with or without the above cards. Can be used alone on small items as a rule, however, the IAA Registration number must appear as well.

We do not share or disclose any account information to any third-parties - ever. Along with the recent website usability updates, we also took the additional steps ensuring our GDPR compliance. 

Don't Rely on Samples

Holiday purchases often are spontaneous. Be sure to be ready when the light bulb goes off (that Uncle Harry would love an alpaca whatever!) Often people don’t want to order an item and risk not having their gift in time. When faced with a special order, often they say, “well, I’ll think about it” and when they walk out the door, so does your sale. Be prepared by carrying some stock of items.

Carry a Range of Price Points

Having a good mix of widely priced products is essential to reach every customer’s price point. Sweaters, scarves, bears, and socks are just some of the necessary items that let your customers find just what they are looking for! Be sure to carry a wide variety of socks, in colors and styles to meet the needs of just about anyone!

Always Be "Up-Selling"

Add on items placed near checkout help boost “up-selling” customers. Socks, key fobs, alpaca figures, can be stocking stuffers and added on at the last minute. Remind customers that they need small items by using signage or filled holiday stockings, for stocking stuffers, secret Santa presents or Chanukah gifts.

Don't Overlook Gifts

Offer Gift Certificates and Gift-wrapping! Make sales easy and a unique experience for your customers to give others. Who wouldn’t love a tour of an alpaca farm and trip through the gift shop for the holidays? How about a unique gift specially wrapped in alpaca wrapping paper with a pretty ribbon? http://www.zazzle.com/alpaca+wrappingpaper.

Carry a Few "Exclusives"

You never know what price threshold customers react to best. By having a few “exclusive” items with price points that are high, you achieve setting a bar for the items in your store. Customers then judge the rest of your items against the high-end pieces. A $149.99 sweater seems high until you see one for $295!

Colors Drive Sales

Women are naturally drawn to Blue, Purple, Green & Red, while Brown, Gray, and White are the least popular! So when selling alpaca items in natural neutral colors, accessorize! Draw in the color seekers by using scarves and gloves or fun socks grab attention. Men are naturally drawn to Blue, Green, Black, and Red, with Brown being their least favorite of all colors, but that is when they shop for themselves. When women shop for their men, the number one color they choose… RED. Blue is next in line followed by Charcoal and dark gray.

Make a List

Remember that there is so much more than just product needed for a successful holiday! Here is a checklist for those overlooked essentials. We'll share with you ours!

(Click the image download your own pdf version)

Even customers who do not admittedly follow trends are most likely subconsciously influenced by them. Trends are what we see in magazines, in stores, in movies, and on the street. Most people won't follow every trend that comes along, but they will follow some. So considering trends when you're selecting inventory for your store can definitely help you be more prepared with what your customers will be looking for.

It's even important to keep track of trends that are not related to knitwear, so that you can give styling advice to your customers. For instance, this fall, we will be seeing a lot of high-waisted flare leg pants and mini skirts. Knowing those proportions, you can prepare yourself ahead of time with recommendations of pieces in your store that would pair well with these styles. Even if your customers will not be wearing flares or mini skirts, your knowledge of trends positions you as an expert and helps your customer place more trust in your fashion recommendations.

However if you are going to familiarize yourself with any trends, they should be knitwear. The most significant upcoming knitwear trends are chunky knits, turtlenecks, ribbed knits, and oversized scarves.

Below are the top 10 trends for fall that you might find most relevant for your store:

1. 70's Vibes- This is the biggest trend this fall. Everything 70's is in, from flared pants to the decade's signature color palette of burnt orange, mossy greens, rusts, and browns, expect to see the 1970's celebrated to the fullest!

2. Turtlenecks- The turtleneck is a classic that's been reemerging as a trend for the past couple seasons. People seem to finally be ready to catch on, and they will enjoy being warmer and cozier because of it.

3. Giant Scarves- Oversized scarves were all over the runways wrapped in every way imaginable. We at Inca Fashions are particularly excited about this one!

4. Shades of Grey- Hopefully the "50 Shades of Grey" puns will begin to fade away soon, but this classic neutral won't be fading away any time soon. Play around with layering different shades and textures.

5. Ribbed Knits- This trend may be related to the reemergence of the 70's. Ribbed knits were popular and flattering then and they still are now. 

6. Plaid- Expect classic plaid to be huge this fall, especially in oversized scarves and blanket capes.

7. Head to Toe Black- Black doesn't have to be basic, try experimenting with different rich textures, like pairing a fuzzy alpaca sweater with sleek leather leggings.

8. Chunky Knits- We are so happy to see that fashion designers and editors are still pushing chunky knits this season. Reporters have been attributing this trend to the especially freezing temperatures experienced by so many on the east coast over the last couple winters. Bundle up!

9. Furry Feet- Love it or hate it, one of the biggest footwear trends shown on the runway for Fall was fur. If you're considering embracing this one, ask us about our alpaca fur slippers and boots! They are right on trend and couldn't be more comfortable!

10. Gloves- Many are crediting the reemergence of gloves to the classy and stylish Mrs. Amal Clooney. Ladylike gloves were all over the runway and seem to be making their first popularity surge in many years. We'll embrace any "trend" that's both stylish and comfortable!

Image Sources: 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6 / 7 / 8 / 9 / 10 / 11

We hope you enjoyed this quick summary of the biggest trends for Fall/Winter 2015 and that you'll find them inspiring and relevant as you plan out your inventory. As usual, please contact us if we can provide any assistance with stocking your store for its most successful season yet!

Image Source

Before you start placing orders, there are a few more ways you can prepare in addition to identifying your customer:

1. Take down notes about the inventory you currently have stocked. Determine what has sold and what has not. Items still on the shelves likely represent colors, styles, and sizes that do not strongly appeal to your customers.

2. Investigate what your competitors are stocking and selling. Whether there are similar stores close by or you find yourself competing with certain online retailers, pay careful attention to their inventory so that you can avoid stocking items they stock an abundance and ensure that you carry a unique variety of stylish options.

3. Browse through popular magazines, fashion web sites, Pinterest, etc. and save images of items that are on trend and relevant to your store. (Knits are becoming increasingly popular in the fashion industry, so you should be able to find lots of inspiration!) Look for similar items when shopping line sheets, wholesale web sites, and trade shows so that when you have these items in stock, you can frame the photo and display it alongside the product. This serves to foster the impression that your store is aware of fashion trends. It also helps customers envision the product in a different context and inspires them with styling ideas.

Now that it's time to purchase inventory for the season, here are some tips on how to order appropriately for your store:

1. Identify wholesalers offering products that you feel are a good fit for your store. Attend trade shows, read trade publications, network with people who also own stores that sell alpaca. Build relationships with vendors and request to be added to their mailing list so that you'll be the first to be notified when new product becomes available or special promotions are running. 

2. Contact the sales reps for the wholesalers you're interested in working with and request web site info, line sheets, catalogs, and order forms. 

3. Once you are able to browse their available products, use the research you've done to help select new merchandise. Remember to ask your sales rep questions if you have them. What are their best-selling items? Do any items/order sizes qualify for discounts? Can they give you a general idea of which items your competitors have been purchasing? Vendors want to make you and your customers happy, if you succeed, we (the wholesale vendor) also succeeds!

4. The size of your order completely depends on the size and demand of your specific store. But generally, most experts recommend stocking 3-4 units of each size. Of course you can adjust this based on your store and order less of sizes you rarely sell. Buy more of classic items that will sell year-round and regardless of season and less items that are trendy and may not outlast the year.

5. Schedule deliveries to coincide with buying seasons. Most stores begin to stock for fall in August and for spring in February. January and July tend to be the biggest discount/sale months. It's a great idea to start stocking gift items in October, in time for holiday season shoppers. Remember to stock resort (a small selection of warmer weather options and brighter colors) during the winter months for those planning vacations. 

And finally, always remember that we at Inca Fashions Wholesale are here to help you-- we want to see you succeed! We are experts in selling alpaca goods and are available to answer any questions you may have regarding inventory or anything else!

To make smart buying decisions and avoid getting stuck with extra inventory, it's so important to research your market by paying attention to who your current and prospective customers are. Most large stores hire a firm to research and survey the general vicinity of the store, identifying age, gender, annual income, and other potentially relevant factors in the area. But you can get the information you need just by taking a mental note of what types of people are coming through your doors.

Important Factors to Consider:

1. Age: Which age groups are most common within your customer base? Teenagers are automatically going to be looking for different styles than seniors. 

2. Size Matters: Are a significant number of your customers plus-size? There is always a demand for stylish options in the plus-size market. If you feel this demand in your store, stock accordingly. Do you constantly seem to be running out of a certain size? Make note of this when you reorder or buy for the next season. Every size you're out of equals dollars lost. 

3. Budget: What are they willing to spend? We are always working to express the long-term value of buying alpaca to our customers, and we should never stop doing that. But most people have a number in mind that they are willing to spend, period. You should always stock aspirational pieces for the customer who wants to make a special splurge, but if you notice that your average customer will, for instance, refuse to spend more than $200 for a sweater, $80 for a scarf, or $500 for a total purchase, then make sure to stock inventory within their price range. 

4. Who Are They Shopping For? If you get too caught up on the stats of the customers you see and only buy specifically for them, you may be ignoring entire categories of potential sales. For example, if you don't stock men's because you rarely see male customers, then you are missing out on making sales to women who would love to buy for their husbands. Or if your clientele appears to be mostly seniors, and you only buy for them, then you'll never see the dollars they're looking to spend on their grandchildren. Why not experiment with a small section of trendy gift items for the younger crowd and make sure to recommend them to your older customers, encouraging them that you know what teenagers and twenty-somethings are shopping for.

In addition to observing foot traffic in your store, other ways to collect helpful information are through customer information cards, voluntarily filled out by customers, and by scanning your records and receipts for ADS (Average Dollars Sale) and UPT (Units Per Transaction.)

Armed with this research, you can make more informed decisions when buying for your store and please your customers with the relevance of your stock. Next, we'll address how to strategically buy inventory once you've thoroughly researched your market. 

1. From the beginning, choose the right return policy for your store, one that feels like a good fit with your customer service goals. Once you do this, you will have a much easier time standing by your policy.

2. Think about what your customer wants-- probably the same thing you and I would want, to return an item that didn't work and get our money back with as little hassle as possible. Though there are customers who are policy-abusers, (we'll talk about them later), assume that most customers are good, honest people making a genuine return.

3. When it comes to returns, you may feel like you're losing money, but try not to be discouraged. Think long term. Accommodating good customers with your return policy is a worthwhile expense when you consider the value of keeping loyal customers.

4. Don't feel like you have to offer a full refund return policy across the board. It's okay to have exceptions, most stores do. For instance, it's fairly common to make sale merchandise final sale, or to limit the amount of days an item is returnable for a full refund, such as 30 days. I think this is especially reasonable for seasonal apparel, which may be difficult to resell once the season or trend is over. It's also common to only offer refunds in the original form of payment. For gifts or items without receipt, it's common to offer store-credit or gift cards.

5. Publicize your return policy. Visibly post it inside your store, by the cash register, in the fitting room, if possible, even print it on customer receipts. Point out the return policy to customers while they are in store, and try to get in the habit of referring customers to it in a positive way when finalizing a sale. ("And if you have any problems with ____ in the next 60 days, you can return it for a full refund as long as you bring in the receipt!" For items that are exceptions to your return policy: "And you know that these sale items cannot be returned?") You will absolutely deal with less returns and less disgruntled customers if you are clear from the beginning. 

6. During the return process, try your best to make it as positive of an experience as possible, even if inside you are overwhelmed with frustration and disappointment. Keep your tone calm and friendly. Customers who are making a return are not normally cheerful, they may even be obnoxious and rude. Your demeanor may help calm the customer and will definitely make the experience more pleasant for them.

7. Many people making a return in store are in a hurry. Pleasantly surprise them by keeping the transaction as quick, simple, and painless as possible. Ask them once, "Why didn't this item work out for you?" and then move on, there's no need for an inquisition. To avoid backing yourself into a corner with a wishy-washy decision, have a clear policy and apply it. Keep the paperwork simple.

8. In the same way that returns are inevitable, so are those difficult customers who deliberately try to take advantage of you. In general, you should try to err on the side of being a little lenient. But there might be people out there who you really don't care to do business with. As a store owner you are entitled to make this decision. If a customer has been a consistent problem, simply tell them: "Clearly we are not making you happy and we don't think we'll be able to do so in the future. Thank you for your business and we hope you find another store that will make you happier."

9. On making exceptions to your return policy, my best advice is to be very careful. I can guarantee you from personal experience, that once you start this, you will lose control and it's very difficult to get it back. Most customers who are asking for something outside your stated policy are purposely testing you. The key is to decline with respect, empathy, and kindness. Try to refrain from being judgmental or accusatory. Only make exceptions when it feels right, trust your gut instinct and always specify that, "this is our policy, but we are happy to offer you a one-time exception today."

10. Obviously returns aren't ideal, but try to remember that anytime a customer comes into your store is an opportunity to make a sale and offer an excellent, memorable customer service experience. If a customer doesn't seem to be in a hurry, remind them that they're free to browse and go ahead and make some suggestions of items that might work better for them.

After years of working for major retail companies, this is some of my best advice regarding returns. Just remember to always look at the bigger picture and that a positive customer experience is of the utmost importance! This is especially true in the social media-obsessed society we live in today. One customer experience that ends up on Facebook or Yelp has the power to make or break your reputation, so just try your best to make every experience a good one! Making every customer feel valued, respected, and cared for goes a long way so don't forget to extend this idea into your return process. And who knows, maybe that person returning a gift that didn't fit quite right will end up falling in love with alpaca and becoming one of your best customers!

First of all, many people are unaware that alpaca, in addition to being cozy and warm in the winter months, is also the perfect match for springtime. Make sure to remind your customers of alpaca's almost magical thermal properties. Alpacas, native to the Andean region of South America, are raised in a climate with vast temperature swings, ranging from -4 degrees at night to 70+ degrees during the day. Over thousands of years, their fleece has evolved to adapt to their environment. Alpaca wool holds pockets of microscopic space with the ability to hold air inside, heating via the animal's body warmth, or insulating against the heat of the sun. Because of these properties, alpacas keep comfortable and safe no matter the temperature, never getting too hot or too cold. 

These thermal properties work for humans too, so when you wear alpaca, you are less likely to become uncomfortably overheated. As you know, once someone experiences alpaca for themselves, they will be a believer for life. So as we head into these warmer months, make sure to remind your customers that alpaca is a year-round must-have!

Another selling tip I recommend is to familiarize yourself with the season's trends as much as possible. Even those who consider themselves trend-resistant need to update their wardrobe once in a while, and making recommendations on colors and styling will position you as an expert. To get you quickly up to speed, we gathered up the...

Top Five Trends of Spring 2015

1. Soft Neutral Colors- The top color shown on the Spring 2015 runways was white, often paired with blue, black, or close-to-white neutrals like stone. A palette of whites, creams, stone, beige, and blush is right on trend and perfectly relevant to the beautiful natural shades of alpaca. Other on trend accent colors are blue (from the iciest shade to cobalt) and sunny yellow.

Sources: 1. All Saints Spring '15 // 2. Loewe Spring '15

2. 70's Chic- The 70's are back this season in a very big way. Expect to see a lots of suede, fringe detailing, and flared, mid-rise pants. When styling your customers, keep the 70's in mind, from colors to silhouettes. 

Sources: 1. Alberta Ferretti Spring '15 // 2. Emilio Pucci Spring '15

3. Bare Shoulders- In the past few seasons, midriff-baring looks have made a major comeback. This season, we're seeing an exposed midriff being replaced by exposed shoulders. (We are much more in favor of the exposed shoulders look!) Tops with shoulder cutouts are very popular, but this look can also be achieved with sleeveless tops and by wrapping a pashmina over a tank or strapless top in such a way that the shoulders are exposed. 

Sources: 1. Christopher Kane Spring '15 // 2. ADEAM Spring '15

4. Head to Toe White- This is a trend that's been building over the past few seasons and is feeling as fresh as ever. You can go strictly monochromatic by pairing a bright white top with bright white bottoms or play with slightly different shades. I always love an ivory or cream sweater with bright white jeans! Including a lightweight knit piece, like a sweater or a scarf, keeps the look feeling summery while remaining texturally rich.

Sources: 1. Trussardi Spring '15 // 2. Thakoon Spring '15

5: Gingham and Floral Prints- These traditionally feminine prints have sometimes bordered on saccharine, but they provide just the right amount of sweetness amidst the current fashion backdrop. Both gingham and florals feel fresh for the new season in on trend color combinations and larger scale prints. Encourage your customers to layer these prints with a coordinated solid color cardigan or scarf to balance out the look, keeping the print from being too overwhelming.

Sources: 1. Michael Kors Spring '15 // 2. Lela Rose Spring '15

We think this season's trends are perfectly complemented by the luxurious softness of alpaca in its beautiful natural shades as well as the colors that are currently trending. Please let us know if we can aid you in stocking your store for spring and help ensure that your customers will find the perfect choices for the upcoming seasons!

At Inca Fashions, we are very open about our commitment to respect our environment and we try our best to work with factories who also value the ethical treatment of our planet and those who call it home. One of the factories we are proud to have worked with over the years, Inca Tops Alpaca Yarns, recently unveiled their brand-new eco-factory. 

We want to share this exciting new development with you, our wholesalers, to help you better educate your customers about the production of Inca Fashions garments. It is widely recognized within the fashion industry that consumers are becoming increasingly interested in where their clothes come from. Sharing specific facts and stories with them helps build trust between the customer and the designer as well as the customer and the retailer.

In 1965, Inca Tops was founded in Arequipa, Peru with the underlying philosophy of harmonizing its production processes with nature, long before this concept was on trend. Their original company slogan, "Working with Nature" has guided the factory through its many expansions over the past fifty years.

To accommodate the growth of Inca Tops and its other in-house companies, in 2011 they acquired a 43,000 square meter site with the purpose of building a new factory employing ecological principles, particularly with regards to generation of energy and recycling of water. The new factory, called Planta Zamacola was completed by the end of 2014.

The factory's operations manager, Michael Sanchez explained that "we identified the need to heat water for our scouring operations as the major cost and area where contamination most frequently occurs when using traditional fuels such as diesel or oil in boilers." So for the new factory, they decided to harness a natural resource that there is no shortage of in Arequipa-- sunshine. More than 1,200 solar panels have been installed on the factory's rooftop, providing 80% of the energy needed.

For the remaining 20% of the energy required by the scouring process to heat water to a higher temperature than can be produced by solar panels, Planta Zamacola utilizes natural gas. This energy source is economical and clean with regards to emissions.

Inca Tops has also built an onsite water recycling plant that filters the solid wastes from the water, drying and compacting remaining solid waste for use as a fertilizer for an in-house vegetable and herb growing project.

Speaking of that project, Planta Zamacola includes many features that go beyond what you would expect to find at a manufacturing factory. Some highlights are a recreational area for employees, which includes a grass football pitch, roaming space for a small herd of alpacas, and a garden where lettuces, radishes, mint, oregano, rococo, and chili peppers are grown for use in meals prepared for the factory's around 700 employees.

Another inspiring feature of the new eco-factory is the intentional use of natural light over artificial lighting. By locating the company's fiber classification department on the second floor of the factory, close to the roof, operatives experience an improved environment for grading fiber, examined exclusively by daylight.

With this new location, the company has also gained transport advantages. Near to the main airport, the dispatching and receiving of samples, machine parts, and supplies uses less time and resources. Peru's main highway, the Panamericana Del Sur also runs close to the factory, allowing deliveries from the alpaca farmers in the altoplano area of the Andean highlands to enter the site without having to navigate the increasingly traffic-congested center of Arequipa.

Inca Tops' general manager, Roberto Fioretto sums up this latest chapter in the Inca Tops Story by connecting the company's eco-friendly developments back to the alpaca itself: "Our group has always recognized that the alpaca is an extremely sustainable animal which is more efficient than goats, sheep and cotton in terms of the amount of water it consumes as well as pasture. This efficiency is essential to the families that farm them in the altiplano region of Peru where life is harsh and unforgiving. One important aspect related to the animal's efficiency and sustainability is the fact that it does not degenerate the land on which it lives. Its impact is minimal, meaning that the same area can be used in a continual manner. Just the fact that the fleeces of this animal come in around 25 natural colors - more than any other fibre-producing animal - is yet another example of ecological credentials, as this means that tops and yarns can be produced without the need to dye."

In an age when so many fashion designers go to great lengths to conceal the factories where their garments originate, places often characterized by unhealthy working conditions and unhappy workers, we are proud to be able to share a behind-the-scenes look at our factories with such pride and transparency. 

Hopefully this information will be a useful aid to you in talking with your eco-conscious customers. We are always happy to support our stores with helpful, quality-reenforcing product knowledge. Please feel free to contact us anytime you or your customers have questions regarding Inca Fashions!

Images courtesy of Inca Tops, Info courtesy of Inca Tops News, an excerpt from an article published in Issue 68 of TWIST Magazine.

Usually at the beginning of a new year, we experience a natural instinct to cleanse, to clean out and reorganize our homes. Let this instinct extend into your store. The first step after the crowds die down is to just clean. Get on top of all the little things that slipped through the cracks during the busy season. Dust, refold your sweater stacks, vacuum the floor, steam product that is looking a little sad. Even if these basic tasks feel mundane, they bring a sense of freshness to your store. The customer feels this as soon as they enter your doors. 

By the time February rolls around, your usual customers are getting bored. Most likely it is still too early to buy for spring, yet everything in your store just feels like the same old stuff. Hopefully at this point you are refreshing your inventory with a new shipment, some bright new colors. But please don't stop here-- you've got to brainstorm. Do everything you can to make the "same old" product appear shiny and new! 

This can be by simply switching up how product is displayed. You know those sweaters you've had hanging on a rack since October? Try facing them out, roll up the sleeves, maybe throw a colorful scarf on top! Or those scarves folded in a stack? How about hanging them? Maybe you've displayed alpaca throws on the left side of your store since you opened, so move them to the right side! Help your customer to see something in a new way, even if they've walked by it a dozen times before! It is absolutely amazing how effective this can be! Trust me, I've seen a stack of sweaters sit through a whole season untouched, the same sweaters that when hung in a different spot in the store, managed to sell out in a weekend! It's your job to move that product. Don't give up, if something doesn't sell one way, try again the next day! Use all the extra time you have to exhaust your options. 

Also, don't underestimate the power of props! Shoppers love props! Think outside the box here. Search for some vintage finds at local antique stores and flea markets. Natural, aged textures provide a great complement to the organic, handmade nature of alpaca apparel. Those old crates hanging around in the barn would be perfect for displaying rolled up sweaters, gloves, or beanies. An old ladder or window frame begs to show off neatly folded scarves and blankets. Think about unused furniture or household objects you have sitting around, an old table or cabinet could be the perfect thing to add visual interest to that empty corner of your store.

Another great way to freshen up your store pre-spring is by breathing new life into your visuals. You have to start by inviting customers into your store. Change up your window displays, place a big bouquet of tulips on your entry table, hang a new wreath on your front door. Draw them in with something they haven't seen before! The fact that you cared to bring in some Valentine's Day decorations or little touches of springtime inspires your customer to feel like shopping. Put the same care into decorating your store that you would into decorating your home.

I hope this post gave you some inspiration to keep your store feeling fresh and new. These little things really do pay off. Change up your product displays and visuals as often as possible and you'll find your customers coming back to check in more and more often! Happy merchandising!!