Finding a suitable wholesale supplier

The difficulty of finding good wholesale suppliers is due to the great importance that they will have in the business.

Why? Because your wholesale suppliers are practically business partners. Depending on the quality of the supplier and the relationship you achieve, you can boost the growth of your business or get a big headache.

Therefore, we will show you different ways to find the best wholesale suppliers. We'll also show you how to avoid big trouble.

1. Search online for wholesale suppliers (for example on Google) 

It seems obvious, but you can use Google to find wholesale suppliers from all over the world; however, you will have to search a lot.

Why?

There are hundreds of thousands of wholesale distributors around the world. Therefore, it is very unlikely that you will find the best wholesale supplier for your store simply by searching for "clothing wholesalers".

Helps change search terms. For example, you can try adding words like "hippie" or "hippie chic."

Search: "hippie chic clothing wholesalers"

Make your search as specific as possibleAnd don't be afraid to scroll through the search results pages.

The main disadvantage of this method is that it takes time.

Many wholesalers sell to all customers who call, so it is important to know the sales and distribution or exclusivity policies.

It's also worth noting that wholesale providers often have terrible websites. Some of these websites appear to have been created in the 1990s and have not been updated since then.

Many legitimate wholesale providers simply don't care about their internet presence because they have such a healthy business with other means of marketing.

2. Find wholesale suppliers at trade shows

A trade show is an exhibition where manufacturers, distributors, and wholesalers display their latest products.

Retailers attend trade shows to discover new products and make connections with wholesale suppliers.

It's great if you have time.

In just a few days, you can browse countless products in person. You don't have to wait for samples to arrive in the mail.

Plus, representatives from each wholesale provider are available to answer your questions.

Almost every industry has trade shows.

3. Contacting manufacturers directly

All you need to do is find out which company makes the product, in this case,Kimago. Then go to their website and look for a contact form or phone number to call.

After contacting some of the top manufacturers in your industry, you should be able to identify the top wholesale distributors.

There is also an advantage to this method.

Most wholesale suppliers carry many different products from a variety of manufacturers. This means that you should be able to quickly source a selection of products in your niche.

This strategy doesn't work well if you're looking to source generic products produced by many manufacturers, such as off-brand women's clothing.

4. Find local wholesale suppliers

Before searching for a wholesale supplier in China or India, why not see if there is a large wholesaler in your country?

This strategy will reduce shipping costs and delivery times.

Also, you can inspect the products in person. It's also much easier to develop a close personal relationship with your wholesale supplier if you can meet face-to-face on a regular basis.

To get started, simply use Google to search for "[su ubicación] [productos]wholesaler".

In the example below, we searched for "clothing wholesaler in Valencia Spain" and immediately found a few companies worth calling.

A local wholesale distributor probably won't have as wide a selection of products to choose from.

Still, if face-to-face relationships, low-cost shipping, and local sourcing are important to you, this may be a good way to go.

5.Use a wholesale supplier directory

Supplier directories are usually organized by location, market, product, niche, and more. This makes it easy to find the best wholesale supplier for your store.

And that's not all.

Most wholesale supplier directories vet companies before listing their details.

In other words, they go to great lengths to weed out bad suppliers so you can spend your time finding the best wholesale supplier for your business.

These supplier directories are also a convenient way to brainstorm new products and stay ahead of trends.

You can search in your search engine: “Wholesale Suppliers”

Tips

• Understand the distribution channels of your industry

There are many ways a product can go from manufacturer to retailer. Not all wholesalers serve the same market. Understanding the distribution channels and supply chain for your industry can help you find the right wholesale supplier for your retail or online business. The different types of wholesalers include:

Manufacturer: For some products, you can buy directly from the manufacturer. Boutiques generally buy from small manufacturers (sometimes just one person).

Importer/Exclusive Distributor: A company may have the exclusive right to import and distribute a product in a certain country. Some may sell directly to retailers, others sell to smaller local wholesalers who in turn sell to stores.

Regional Wholesaler/Distributor: There are typically regional wholesalers who receive truckload-size lots and sell them to local wholesalers, who then sell to small businesses.

Contractors: These people make daily deliveries to local grocery stores and physical retail stores.

Some retailers move enough volume to bypass middlemen, or perhaps in a smaller industry, importers sell directly to retailers. Each industry has its own unique distribution channels, which can then vary by product, region, or country.

Have a productive first contact with a wholesale supplier

Start contacting wholesale distributors, either using the list you got from the manufacturer, phone book listings, or a wholesale directory. You want to know:

• Your minimum order requirements

• Your wholesale unit prices

• The region they supply

You can make this initial contact by phone or email, then follow up by phone if you need more information or want to move on. To find the best possible match for your business, be honest about what you're looking for and don't try to appear bigger than you are.

Don't be afraid that the people you talk to will know that you are researching and looking at other competitors as well. This can help you get better prices, even if you're starting small.