How to sell wholesale products?

Selling wholesale products involves selling goods in large quantities to retailers, businesses, or other individuals who are interested in reselling them. Here are the steps to sell wholesale products effectively:

Determine your niche: Identify the specific market or industry in which you want to sell wholesale products. This could be fashion, electronics, home goods, beauty products, or any other industry that aligns with your expertise and interests.

Source products: Find reliable suppliers or manufacturers who offer the products you want to sell at wholesale prices. You can search for suppliers through online directories, trade shows, industry-specific websites, or by reaching out to manufacturers directly. Ensure that the suppliers have a good reputation, offer competitive prices, and have the capacity to fulfill large orders.

Set up your business: Establish a legal business entity such as a sole proprietorship, partnership, or LLC, depending on your circumstances and location. Register your business with the appropriate government agencies, obtain necessary licenses or permits, and set up a separate bank account for your wholesale business transactions.

Build relationships with suppliers: Develop strong relationships with your suppliers by communicating regularly, negotiating terms, and building trust. Reliable suppliers can provide you with quality products, competitive pricing, and reliable order fulfillment.

Determine pricing and terms: Set competitive pricing for your wholesale products while ensuring that you can cover your costs and make a profit. Consider factors such as the cost of goods, shipping, packaging, and any additional services you provide. Establish clear payment terms and conditions for your customers, such as minimum order quantities, payment methods, and shipping terms.

Create a wholesale catalog or website: Prepare a catalog or create a website showcasing your wholesale products. Include product descriptions, specifications, pricing, and high-quality images. Make it easy for potential customers to browse and place orders.

Market your wholesale business: Promote your wholesale business through various marketing channels. Utilize online marketing strategies like search engine optimization (SEO), social media marketing, content marketing, and email marketing to reach potential customers. Attend industry trade shows, participate in relevant industry forums, and network with retailers or businesses that might be interested in your wholesale products.

Develop a sales strategy: Define your target customers and create a sales strategy to reach and attract them. This can include direct sales calls, attending industry events, sending samples or catalogs to potential buyers, or partnering with sales representatives who can help promote your products.

Provide excellent customer service: Ensure that you provide prompt and professional customer service to your wholesale customers. Respond to inquiries, process orders efficiently, and address any concerns or issues that may arise. Building a reputation for outstanding customer service can help you attract and retain loyal wholesale customers.

Expand your network and adapt: Continuously seek opportunities to expand your network of potential customers and suppliers. Stay updated with industry trends, adjust your product offerings as needed, and adapt your business strategy based on customer feedback and market demands.

Selling wholesale products requires careful planning, effective marketing, and strong relationships with suppliers and customers. By offering competitive pricing, quality products, and excellent customer service, you can build a successful wholesale business.

Hi Rachel,

I noticed that you also sell your products directly from your website. One option might be to connect with some of the channels who offer niche marketplaces where your products might be a good fit. It’s not wholesale but it could provide you with a stream of orders while you continue to work on your wholesale strategy.

A couple of initial ones that come to mind that are mom or woman-owned focused are https://thewmarketplace.com and https://www.handsdown.shop.

Marketplaces like these typically connect directly to your ecommerce platform, pull in your product data, and then send orders directly back to your store through an API. The order lifecycle experience for you is no different than if the shopper had purchased the product directly on your website. Another advantage of these newer marketplaces is that you typically get paid right away, at the time of the transaction. The channel typically takes a small commission which would be similar to the wholesale discount you might offer to traditional retailers.

It does look like you’re running your store on Squarespace Commerce which can be a little trickier as a lot of these marketplaces haven’t yet integrated with Squarespace. Many of them start with platforms like BigCommerce, Shopify, etc. If it’s something you’re open to though it could be worth reaching out to these platforms to see if they support Squarespace or when they might support it in the future.

I know it's not the answer you were looking for but hopefully this helps by showing some alternative options.