You are in the wholesale business and want to improve sales? Then you need to create a line sheet. A line sheet is a simple document that contains all the information related to the product mix. It includes relevant information only, no-nonsense at all. A line sheet is an essential tool used by fashion brands and product-based wholesale business. It helps them present their products to potential customers. But a line sheet is effective only when crafted effectively.
In short, create a line sheet that does not suck. It must impress the buyer and convince him to place an order.
Why create a line sheet?
The dream of many aspiring designers is to sell products to major fashion chains. As a matter of fact, every brand wants to sell its products to major retailers in the market in order to earn profits. But you need to raise brand awareness to become successful in the market.
The competition has increased, and the brands need to come up with the winning strategies to stand out. So, making a line sheet has become essential for all the product bases wholesale businesses.
A line sheet is a document that contains information about the product, wholesale terms, and payment terms, etc. It contains all the information a buyer needs to place an order. It includes contact information of the brand so that the buyer can contact easily.
In the product information section, you include the product images and a description. It is important to mention here that you have to use minimum text to describe everything. In fact, be as precise as possible. Then you add the wholesale price and the retail price of the products as well.
Do not forget to include shipping details. Tell the buyer about your preferred shipping company and how long it takes to reach shipment. Also, include information on the payment modes through which the buyer can make payments.
When you include everything in the line sheet, it helps the buyer in making a decision. A well-crafted line sheet can win you sales.
Mistakes to avoid in a line sheet:
Line sheets are important for wholesale businesses, but making them effective is not an easy task. You should be aware of the fact that a disorganized line sheet can cost you sales. So, following are a few things you should avoid while making a line sheet:
- Using the same line sheet everywhere:
One of the biggest mistakes the brands commit is using the same kind of line sheet everywhere. You have created a great line sheet, that’s good! But you need to use it according to the customer you are contacting. Let’s try to understand this in simple words. If you are going to a trade show, then you need a line sheet, which is a more traditional rundown of your products. It would not bear the responsibility to sell your line.
But when you are reaching out to stores, your line sheet must represent the whole product line. It should be effective enough to sell your product line. In both cases, the line sheet is used for different purposes. So, you should be clear about what job you want your line sheet to do.
- Not telling your brand story:
Your brand has a story, and people want to hear it too. But most makes omit their brand story form their line sheet. Sometimes they try to tell their story, but they do so inauthentically, which ruins the entire purpose of the line sheet. You are supposed to use minimum text, but it does not mean that you cannot tell your brand story at all.
You should use a writing style that is authentic to how you really speak. In a line sheet, you should describe your products in a way that tells what is unique about them. The aesthetics of the product images should match the aesthetics of your line. In other words, you need to come out from behind the camera to tell your brand story.
- Not visually harmonious:
The line sheet you make should be visually attractive and appealing. Everything should be aligned perfectly in the line sheet if you want to make a great impression on clients. Having a cluttered line sheet means you are not able to tell your brand story completely.
You should not overlook the design as the visual appearance of the line sheet is also of utmost importance.
- Bad photos:
Pictures speak louder than words. Images you use in the line must be of high resolution. Having bad photos in the line sheet makes you look amateur, and buyers do not want to work with unprofessional people.
Using quality images in the sheet does not mean that you need to invest huge money on shooting alone. There is no need to get fancy here. But make sure that the images are not blurry or unclear. Aesthetically unpleasant photos cannot gran the attention of the buyers.
Use the images with a light or neutral background. If you use colored background images, it will divert the attention of the buyer. You want him to focus on your products only, so make sure that the product images have a white background.
- Confused and unclear:
If you are confused and unclear while making a line sheet, how would you be able to impress potential customers? Your line sheet should make everything crystal clear if you want him to place an order.
Use product images that show the product clearly. The buyer should be able to see how the product looks like from the front, back and sides, etc. Tell the customer about what materials are used in making the product and how the production process is the same across the line.
Also, tell him about how you pack things and deliver. You should be clear about the payment terms. Make them crystal clear in the line sheet to avoid any miscommunication. Tell the customers how they can place an order. A line sheet should make the entire buying process easy for the buyers, so craft it accordingly.
Set the prices carefully. In short, you need to create a line sheet that contains clear information about the product line. There must be no ambiguity at all.
- Think from a buyer’s perspective:
You are making a line sheet that will be bringing more and more customers. So, it must answer to all the buyer’s questions. You can do this by putting yourself in the buyer’s shoes. If you will think from a buyer’s perspective, you would be better able to understand things. You would be able to figure out how your brand is different from others. Also, you will find what is new and exciting about your products.
In this way, you would be better able to understand how to display your products in a way that will sell.
The buyers and store owners are busy people, so do not make them work juts to review your line sheet. Do not send them a hundred massages to ask to review your line sheet. It seems highly unprofessional, and no one wants to work with unprofessional people. Another important thing you should keep in mind while making a line sheet is that it is a document that does not do the marketing of your products. In simple words, a line sheet is not a marketing tool.
Line Sheet Software:
Thanks to the internet and technology, that has made things easier. Now you can make a line sheet even without hiring a graphic designer. Are you making it for the first time? No problem! The product line sheet example available online will help you download the best template.
There are different line sheet software available online. The software you use to make a line sheet should have the following features:
- Professional templates:
Line sheet templates make things easier for you, but make sure that you are using professional templates. To get access to professional line sheet templates, you may need to create an account. The buyers take the line sheet seriously that is made using professional templates.
- Speed:
The software you are using to create a line sheet must be efficient enough to make sheets quickly. It should be user-friendly so that you can quickly upload, review, and print a line sheet. You do not want to lose any clients, so the speed of the software matters a lot. Make a line sheet quickly and make changes if necessary.
- Import products:
The software you use must have the feature of importing the products directly from the website. If you have a website, it will become quite easy to make a line sheet as you will be able to import your existing specs straight into the software. How cool is that?
- Diversity:
You divide your products into groups, so use a line sheet that makes it easy for you.
You should use software that allows you to brand your sheets to reflect each niche. For example, if you are a fashion brand and want to make a line sheet for different industries, your software should help you do that.
- Easy to use:
If you are making a line sheet for the first time, it can be difficult to choose a layout and align everything accordingly. So, you should choose software that is easy to learn and use. Obviously, you do not want to spend money on learning software, so make sure the software you use is easy to learn.
Advantages of creating line sheets:
Line sheets are an integral part of wholesale business as they allow the brands to gather their product information in one place. It allows you to make a great impression on the buyers who are interested in buying your products. But making a line sheet is a time-consuming task. If you hire a freelance assistant to outline your products, it will cost you a huge amount. If you hire a graphic designer to make your line sheet, it will double your expenses. You will have to pay every time you need to make changes in the line sheet.
So, the best solution to this problem is to use software to make a wholesale line sheet. You can save time by using the templates available online. The best thing about using these templates is that you can make changes easily at any time. However, make sure that you give the expiry date for the information included in the lien sheet.
Do you even need a line sheet?
You might be thinking that do I even need a line sheet in my wholesale business. Well, every product based wholesale business needs a line sheet to present its product mix to the buyers. Having a line sheet means you are ready to present your mix to potential buyers at any time. If you need a customize line sheet to cater to the needs of a particular customer, then make a few changes in the line sheet, and here you go.
The line sheet is an integral part of the wholesale business as it helps them raise brand awareness. It shows how professional you are and bear in mind that people love to work with professionals.
Conclusion:
Line sheet templates make things easier and save your time too. But you should be aware of the basics of making a line sheet. You must know what information to include and what not. You should know that a line sheet must be a short document, and it should not exceed more than one or two pages.
Line sheets templates may be expensive for you but think of their benefits. You would be making sheets without hiring a graphic designer. You would be able to make changes without any difficulty. So, do not mind paying for them. Guess what the best part is? This software are specifically designed so they will guide you to the next information you should include in the line sheet. It means if you are making a line sheet for the first time, you would be able to do it.