Most common questions and answers:

Q. Do you want to retain my employees during the course of the sale?
A. Yes. In every case it is important for us to retain your employees for several very important reasons. First, we must at all times maintain the integrity of your operation. It is necessary that your past customers are met with familiar faces when invited back into your store as a result of your professional high impact advertising. Second, because of the tremendous volume generated, we will need the extra personnel to effectively manage the dramatic increase in business.

Q. I’ve contemplated doing the sale myself, why should I hire a company like yours to run the sale for me?
A. We have been specializing in this business for over 40 years and in that time have managed thousands of events in venues all over the United States and Canada. High impact promotions, when executed correctly, can be both profitable and exciting. Most retailers have never conducted an event of this nature and rely on our experience to navigate through a successful promotion. In addition, we bring to you the resources; both human and financial that is necessary to achieve your sales maximize potential.

Q. If we have a printout of our physical inventory do you need to take another count?
A. No. We will use a printout of your most current inventory. Your store personnel and our staff will check your inventory together to ensure its accuracy.

Q. How do you determine the value of my inventory?
A. Values are determined together with you and your staff and will depend on the condition of your inventory. It is important to make sure that sets are matched. As an example, if you have a dining table on the showroom floor with only two matching chairs and the other two chairs are in the warehouse, transfer the warehouse stock to the set on the floor. Completing the set will yield a greater return.

Q. Do you supplement the sale with lower quality merchandise?
A. When allowed to supplement merchandise, we are very careful not to change the integrity of the product quality. Generally, we purchase goods from your suppliers and expand the product categories. Upgrading a store is not uncommon and with our strong national buying power, we have the ability to purchase goods at values most retailers are not able to obtain. In summary, we maintain the integrity of the store and generally improve upon it.

Q. How do I know that the discounts you receive from the trade and the media are passed onto the sale?
A. In most cases the retailers are involved in the purchasing process. Any discounts received will be discussed at the time of placing the orders. In addition, all the invoices are sent and paid at the store level. The books and records are open for your review.

Q. I know we get paid for our inventory but do we really make a profit at the end?
A. We would not have prospered over the years unless the sale promotions have generated tremendous net profits that have benefited the retailer. We have successfully run the largest and most profitable promotions in our industry. If you choose our joint venture plan, our financial investment in your sale is quite substantial and we guarantee you no loss. We take all the risks. We invest our valuable time and resources to ensure the success of the sale.

Q. What happens with the inventory if any is left over at the end of the sale?
A. If you choose our joint venture plan we will purchase and remove any inventory remaining at the end of the sale. The store will be left in a ”broom swept clean condition”. In sales other than the joint venture format, any remaining inventory belongs to the company.

Q. I have a bank loan which is secured by my inventory with UCC-1 filings. How do you handle this?
A. We will enter into talks directly with the lending institution(s) on your behalf. GRA will either negotiate an arrangement or satisfy the debt using funds that have been generated from inventory conversion.

Q. How do we handle the State and Federal tax?
A. State and Federal Taxes must be paid in a timely manner. Retailers submit these bills to our on-site operations manager as soon as they are received. The tax bills will be given priority and paid within their due dates.

Q. What happens to sold orders (i.e. special orders or layaways) that were taken prior to your arrival?
A. Sold orders will be prioritized and administered quickly and efficiently. In many cases, the retailer handles these orders on their own. When necessary, we can provide assistance for companies who need to use our credit lines, and staff to help facilitate the completion of their sold orders.

Q. How are customer service issues handled during and after the sale?
A. The majority of customer service issues occur at the time of pick-up/delivery. Because most of the product is in stock we are able to facilitate a rapid exchange. We retain professional refinishers to handle touch-up. In a small number of cases where we cannot satisfy the customer, we offer the option to reselect, receive a price adjustment, or a total refund. For a reasonable period of time after the sale, GRA will offer customer service support.

Q. How do we track the sale promotion’s performance?
A. Every week we generate a profit and loss statement. All the books and records are on site and are always open for discussion and review. The weekly profit and loss statement tracks the performance each and every week.