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It is my honor to announce that our August Buyer Of The Month is Tracee Dennison from GVA-Michigan. I sat down with Tracee to get her opinion on a variety of subjects.

Nate: Thanks for taking some time out of your incredibly hectic day to sit down with me. I’ve known you for a while, but how long have you been in the adult industry?

Tracee: 12 years.

Nate: Wow, so you’ve seen the industry go from VHS to DVD to wherever we’re at now. So what brought you to becoming the buyer for GVA-Michigan?

Tracee: Interesting question, after spending about a year as a part time clerk Annie offered me the manager’s position in our Paineville, Ohio store. She taught me how to merchandise actually. She also saw how in tune to my store I was and let me start ordering stuff on my own for my location. My sales went up and she believed that I could do that for our entire chain. I have her to thank for the opportunity.

Nate: So you worked your way up the ladder to get to where you are. I think that’s so important to have dealt with the customers so you can understand their mentality. What do you think are some of the important skills required to be a good buyer?

Tracee: You have to keep up with the constantly changing market. You also have to know what sells in what area also. I have very diverse locations in my chain so what may sell in southern Ohio probably won’t sell in a city like Detroit.

Nate: So you keep yourself informed about the industry and the buying habits of your customers…smart. That way you know better than anyone what works for you, I’m guessing you get a lot of salespeople calling you telling you what THEY think will work for you. How do you manage that onslaught of calls, emails, etc. that you receive every day?

Tracee: What a question. Honestly, I know what I want to buy so I have to be frank, there are certain companies I just know that I will never buy from so I will occasionally entertain their calls but most of the time I don’t return the calls or emails. I barely have the time to deal with the companies that I do business with.

Nate: Yeah, I always hear about buyers being overwhelmed with calls and they just don’t have time to get to everything. What about the various tradeshows, do they give you a chance to catch up with everyone all at once?

Tracee: I am glad you asked me that. Honestly shows are great for getting together face to face but if a vendor really wants to see how my chain runs, they should come visit my stores. Then they have a hands on idea of what I do, how my stores run, and what sells where. Wouldn’t it be cheaper for the vendors to come spend a couple days with the company instead of paying $10,000 for 20 minutes? I think a lot more can be accomplished in this manner but that is just my opinion.

Nate: I agree. The tradeshows can be good for new business, but nothing compares to sitting down with someone in their environment and having them show you how they do business. It definitely helps me understand what direction we need to go in with a store. Speaking of stores, recent trends suggest that sales are down for brick and mortar stores. Are you seeing that, and why do you think that is?

Tracee: I am seeing that. I think it is a combination of the internet and the economy. People can barely buy groceries or gas these days let alone Pirates 2. It’s definitely not like it used to be.

Nate: That’s so true, porn isn’t a necessity. I can imagine especially in places like Michigan and Ohio where so many manufacturing jobs have been lost, it’s got to be tough for the people there. Well, let’s hope things turn around come November, no matter the outcome. So let me ask you, how do you go about keeping yourself informed about what’s going on in the adult industry?

Tracee: AVN.com, PornNewz.com, and word of mouth.

Nate: Yeah I hear those PornNewz guys “got it going on”. Do the kids today still say “got it going on”? Anyway, I know retailers read PornNewz, but other studios do as well. So what could salespeople do to make your job easier?

Tracee: Stop calling me so much! J/K(kinda;)

Nate: Well I’m sure they are just calling to say hi and to hear your lovely voice. So let’s be serious here for a minute, do you feel the adult industry is going in the right direction?

Tracee: Well, that depends. If you’re talking the video side, I am going to say no. There IS TOO MUCH FLOODING OF THE MARKET! That’s why I have a hard time giving most new companies a shot because I am not going to waste my budget on a product that is unproven. Now the novelty side of the business is going in the right direction. They are bringing products to the market that feature well known people like Carmen Electra (stripper pole) and Sue Johansen which in turn bring the shy housewives to our stores to shop. The packaging is also getting ALOT better however, I think that people would rather see a toy in person and that keeps brick and mortar alive.

Nate: That seems to be a common complaint from stores and buyer…too much product. What would you say your biggest complaint from a buyers perspective?

Tracee: Well, that goes back to the flooding of the market. There is too much product out there and a lot of it is CRAP! I hate unhappy customers and I don’t want them coming back to my stores returning DVD’s that aren’t up to their standards. Like I said, it is hard enough to get them to spend money so when they do I want them to know that they can get quality product from my stores.

Nate: Awwww you actually care about the consumer…that’s so rare in our industry! Well Tracee, thanks so much for the great insight from a buyer. I’m proud to name you our very first Buyer Of The Month. Feel free to let us know anytime there’s info you want us to pass along to our readers as it relates to GVA Michigan!

Every month PornNewz.com names a Store Of The Month, Buyer Of The Month, Clerk Of The Month, and Manager/Owner Of The Month. Think you know of someone who should be considered, email me and tell me why! Thanks for reading!


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