Finding the right wholesaler for your online business requires consideration of the factors that make conducting business effective for you. There are different considerations for different online companies, so taking time to go over the most important areas for your business is critical. To help you navigate this process, here are six tips for finding a wholesaler for your online business.
1. Establish Strong Connections
Networking is part of increasing sales for your online business, so be sure that the wholesalers you partner with understand the importance of having a clear association and connection to your products and the people who sell them.
Your ideal wholesaler will have connections with the product or materials you need. If you are selling wholesale sterling silver rings, you want a wholesaler who has worked with artisan jewelry companies or silver manufacturers.
2. Understand Your Price
Knowing where you stand in terms of the best price for wholesale distribution services requires that you consider the various costs associated with supplies, orders, packaging, shipment, and other variables like raw materials.
The style of product sourcing may also play a role in determining a total price that leaves you with a fair return. Until you have a reasonable understanding of this number or general range, you’re not ready to find a wholesaler. Be prepared to negotiate with wholesalers that meet your expectations. You may need to meet in the middle in order to work together.
3. Determine Your Location
One of the benefits of online businesses is that location does not matter for the most part. When it comes to finding the right wholesalers, however, location is still something to consider. Determine the areas you need to look for the right distributors. Depending on what you’re selling and where you are shipping your products, the ideal wholesaler may or may not be local to you.
Finding a wholesaler who provides services to locations within your area or to your customer base (whether they are local or not) will be essential to your productivity. Hiring wholesalers who have to go out of their way to reach different locations and travel extended distances will likely charge more for their services and may not be the best fit for your business.
4. Can You Work Together?
As with any business relationship, you have to make sure that you and the potential wholesaler can rely on one another to carry out your shared and independent business objectives. If you don’t have a good feeling that someone is the right fit, trust your intuition and choose someone else to help you manage your business. You need someone who is trustworthy as you are trusting them to deliver the materials and products you need to make your customers happy.
5. Consider Using Manufacturers
If you are selling brand products, contact the manufacturer directly to see if they will ship their products to you directly. You may be able to cut costs and not end up needing a wholesaler at all if the manufacture sets you up with one of their distribution channels.
6. Take Your Time
Don’t settle for any wholesalers or manufacturers who make tending to your budget, location needs, and working arrangements difficult. As a business owner, you owe it to yourself to work with those you really trust and can establish solid working relationships with.
The Bottom Line
Finding the right wholesaler for your online business requires patience and contemplation. The right wholesaler or manufacture is out there. You just need to look! Take your time with the search, and the rest will fall into place.