Cash flow is another concern. There are retailers struggling to buy in new product and with lending at an all time low, there is little chance of obtaining credit from the banks. For a shop to remain profitable it must be fresh - recession or no recession. And while suppliers will support their customers, the credit crunch will have impacted on how far even they can go to lend a hand.

What's more, with the ever-increasing cost of premises, retailers are often forced to trade from buildings that are simply not big enough. With little space on the shop floor and a healthy demand for product, retailers without a warehouse, or a relatively small one, are faced with a huge problem. How do you display and store the right amount of goods if you do not have the capacity?

The answer to many of these questions can be found at wholesale. Wholesalers act as the middlemen between manufacturers, distributors and retailers. The benefit of using this type of service is that there is often no minimum order quantity or cost. This enables you to buy only in the volumes you need, avoiding the issue of surplus stock and freeing up space on the shop floor for more attractive displays. Many offer a next day delivery service, so you can order smaller amounts much more regularly.

Those retailers struggling with display and/or storage space may feel that they are not meeting their customers' needs - the demand is there but they simply do not have the capacity to cater for it. That's where wholesalers that offer a drop ship service come in, enabling you to use your online platform or mail order catalogue to sell goods that you do not physically have in store. Simply take the order from your customer, place it with your wholesaler and they will deliver - often direct to the customer.

A completely hassle free service‚ it enables you to maximize sales in a way you otherwise wouldn't be able to.