There are several different ways that a buyer at UG can find new product: submission through our online product suggestion site, New Goods, emailing product directly, entering a design challenge, at a trade show, or by finding product through their own searching (i.e. blogs, web, shopping, friends, craft shows, flea markets, co-workers, etc.). If the buyer thinks the merchandise may be right for the assortment, your merchandise will then go through the sampling process.
Ways to Submit New Merchandise
New Goods: Go to ‘Submit your Product’ in the footer of the UG website or click here.
Tips for Submission:
- Make sure to fill out the form completely to the best of your ability.
- Provide clear images of your product.
- Include a link to your website, if available. The buyers will look at your website to see if other products could be a potential fit.
- Anyone can submit a product!
Ideas and Designs/Product Development (PD): UG has an in-house development team that works with different designers and artists to manufacturer goods exclusively. Contact the merchant team or email New Goods at newgoods@ugoods.com if you have a great idea.
Sample Requests
After submission, the buyer will review product and request a sample if they think the item may be right for the assortment.
Please do not send a sample unless a buyer has requested that you do so.
*Note that UG does not pay for samples.
- Important Information – At the same time a sample is requested, you will also be sent a form with questions pertaining to your product. It is very important that ALL information is as complete as possible. These questions are crucial in deciding what is right for the UG assortment and product will not be reviewed without the completed form.
- Quality of Sample – The sample should be exactly what will be produced and sent to customers.
- Packaging – All samples should come in final packaging (see Packaging Guidelines). If it is impossible to send in final packaging, photos of the packaging or a detailed description should be given to the buyer. Product will not be accepted into the assortment without a clear understanding of how it will be packaged.
- Variation – If the item is handmade, recycled, or upcycled, UG understands that there may be some variation in the production pieces. If this is the case, please send at least 3 samples that best show the variation from one extreme to the other. If accepted into the assortment, UG will photograph the different products so that customers’ expectations can be met.
- Returning Samples – Vendor must provide a UPS call tag at the same time product information is given or sample is sent in order for a sample to be returned. Samples can be returned to the vendor upon request. If the vendor fails to send a UPS call tag, they will be sent a reminder email when the sample is no longer needed by UG. If a call tag is not sent within 3 business days of the reminder email, the sample will be donated.
Sample Meeting
After receiving the sample and product information, the buyer will review the item. If it is right for the assortment, they will present it at the weekly merchant sample meeting. UG buyers review all samples as a team before a final decision is made. If the decision is made not to bring a product into the assortment, you will be contacted and your sample will be returned if requested. If the decision is made to bring the product into the UG assortment, the merchant team will begin the process of collecting additional information and preparing the product to go live on the UG website – this is called the “Pipeline.”
Item Lifecycle
If accepted to the assortment, the merchandise will go through the UG pipeline which is a series of steps to set up product in the UG administration system and website. At that time, a merchant will reach out to you for new item set up paperwork (please see New Item Set-Up for details):
- Existing Vendors: UG requests item specific info and testing documents to be provided
- New Vendors: the above will be needed as well as a signed Vendor Code of Conduct, signed Vendor Terms and Conditions, and other documentation depending on the type of product being produced
Once the merchants receive all paperwork, the information received will be recorded and electronically filed. The approved item will be passed to the UG Creative and Purchasing teams who will write copy, take photos and send an initial purchase order.
Once copy and photos are ready, and inventory is received (if it is not Drop-Ship), UG will make your item live on the website. From there, our Purchasing team will keep an eye on sales and request additional units to support 4-6 weeks of sales at a time. Depending on the rate of sales, as well as the retail price and profit margin, UG may consider an item for one of our catalogs – at that time, the merchant team will contact you with more information.