Wholesale Channels and Choosing The Best One For You

Wholesale Channels and Choosing The Best One For You 

Imagine being able to plan for the entire year in your wholesale business, knowing what revenue you’d have coming in and the number of products you need to make for those orders. What would it feel like to see your products in stores across the country, and instead of worrying about finding retail customers you could focus on product innovation and streamlining operations? This dream can become a reality! All you need to do is maximize your wholesale channels, and I can teach you how!

Join me at a VIP Market Preview or join me for the Inspired Market Mentorship.

But first, let’s dive into the types of wholesale channels!

Wholesale Channel: Local Shops and Boutiques

This one is my favorite and the easiest to get started with! Do you have a friend that owns a shop or a gift shop you frequent often where you know the employees? These are my best customers and continue to order from me over and over. If you know where your ideal customer shops and know your product is going to do well at that store, you can send an email pitch to the store owner or buyer to introduce your brand. Another great way to find the best local stores for your products is by asking your ideal customer where they shop.

The Approach if this is the best one for you

Make a list of stores and do some research to find out who the owner (or buyer) is. Then, create your pitch email explaining to the buyer why your product will do so well in their store. In your pitch email, request to stop by with the product so they can touch and feel it. Pro tip: Ask to do a trunk show in their store to see how well it does before they commit to buying!

Wholesale Channel: Your Own Website

Again, one of the easiest ways to start selling wholesale! To sell wholesale on your website, you’ll need to create a page(s) that is password protected for your wholesale buyers. This will allow them to shop from anywhere they have an internet connection.

The Approach if this is the best one for you.

Design a website on an e-commerce site (like Shopify or WooCommerce) that can grow with you. Then, find the apps that will keep your wholesale pricing and minimums password protected so only your wholesale buyers can see them. This is very important! Pro tip: Create a postcard with your product that stands out. Include information about your website and how to place an order. Send to your dream list of customers!

Wholesale Channel: Online Wholesale Marketplace

It seems like a new wholesale marketplace pops up everyday, so instead of sharing an exhaustive list, I’m going to share a few popular ones I’ve seen over the years. Faire, Abound, Tundra, Bulletin, and Handshake. I’ve only had experience with Faire and the orders come and go. The first order is a 25% commission and the second is 15%. While commission is high on  your first order, this platform gets your products in front of a lot of buyers who can shop at their convenience.  

The Approach if this is the best one for you

First you’ll need to apply and gain approval to be on the platform. You can have a stockist refer you to get closer to that approval! Once you get approved, they will ask for your stockists’ emails and you will not have to pay commission on those orders. Pro tip: Have a list of stockists that you already sell to for a quicker approval process!

Wholesale Channel: Wholesale Trade Shows

When you’re ready to level up your wholesale business, trade shows are the way to go! You will spend the most money but see the biggest return. Of course there are pros and cons, but the wholesale trade show world changed with covid, and it was even changing before. Trade shows are doing more than ever to help with new products coming in and working one on one with the makers to ensure they get all the information they need to have a successful show. America’s Mart in Atlanta has a new resource to help makers stay in front of the buyers that are registered to come through the mart. 

The Approach if this is the best one for you

Find a trade show near you and apply! You will see so many buyers in one place. I can give you the step by step approach in the Inspire Market Mentorship.