Finding wholesale suppliers

[Jons999]

Understanding that buying and reselling product is the easiest way to make money, how do i go about finding wholesale suppliers that i can buy from? I can go online and order cell phone cases from china for 1.5 cents each but im not looking to try to move 2,000 items one at a time. I want to sell quality brand name product with good profit margins but when i look into setting up wholesale accounts most companies have huge minimum order quantities as well as tons of rules on how and where you can advertise and sell there product and for what price. The wholesalers that arent as strict dont have very good wholesale pricing that i could profit from. Any of you guys out there that are reselling either online or in brick and mortar stores, how did you get started?

[WadeP]

I dont know about overseas contacts or cell phones but once I got my FFL, the distributors found me.

[fidalgoman]

I can get you anything you want but like you said, it’ll be by the container. Be very, Very, VERY careful in dealing with the Chinese.Their sense of moral conduct very often will not reflect yours. It’s CYA all the way. You might TRY contacting those sell by the container contacts for distributors here in the US. You’ll pay more, but that’s the way it is. The closer to the source the better the deal usually. Just be careful,things are often not what they seem.

[back2basics]

Go to Colon, Panama or anywhere near the canal. Fill a container and ship it back. Be careful though as there are lots of seedy characters down there chomping at the bit to take a gringos money. Best to find trustworthy local contacts and make it work for everyone involved. Be mindful of import restrictions, especially with hardwoods.

[Markster]

Go to Colon, Panama or anywhere near the canal. Fill a container and ship it back. Be careful though as there are lots of seedy characters down there chomping at the bit to take a gringos money. Best to find trustworthy local contacts and make it work for everyone involved. Be mindful of import restrictions, especially with hardwoods.

I agree with this completely. In your start-up costs include at least 3 trips down to Panama before you even plan to fill a container. You've got to get a few relationships built and a certain level of trust before I'd drop any substantial cash. Just my two cents...

[Axzys]

The easiest way to start for many people is to start with an established drop ship company. Many of the internet sales sites are based on this. You do not need to hold inventory or have a brick and mortar presence. There are a number of companies that do this; with some good, and some bad. A Google search will show you the companies as well as what people have to say about them. Take a class from the small business administration or your state small business group. There is a ton of paperwork, forms, and bureaucracy with running a small business. You want to make sure you are protected and doing everything to stay out of trouble. Do your homework up front, and save yourself a lot of pain down the road. A high percentage of small businesses fail. They do not plan to fail, they fail to plan.

[Mervo]

I got started with a fistfull of cash and asked a select group, "who wants my money." The key is finding a rep of the company and getting in with him/her, once they believe you can pedal the product and not default on their loan (net terms you set up with them 10k opening order @ 3% net 90) they will allow you to purchase this 'X' amount of product. However, as you said, most companies want an opening purchase of a substantial amount so that they know you're invested in the business, and their product.

[Goodspeed(TPF)]

Understanding that buying and reselling product is the easiest way to make money, how do i go about finding wholesale suppliers that i can buy from? I can go online and order cell phone cases from china for 1.5 cents each but im not looking to try to move 2,000 items one at a time. I want to sell quality brand name product with good profit margins but when i look into setting up wholesale accounts most companies have huge minimum order quantities as well as tons of rules on how and where you can advertise and sell there product and for what price. The wholesalers that arent as strict dont have very good wholesale pricing that i could profit from. Any of you guys out there that are reselling either online or in brick and mortar stores, how did you get started?By working hard knocking on doors making phone calls and sending emails. Emails are very impersonal for myself, I much prefer to see you in person or at least receive a phone call from you. Don't even get me started on text messaging. So, I suggest making some calls and set up some appointments. Also, having CA$H (or verified funds) REALLY helps in making deals "right now".

[Al Lipscomb]

My initial thought is that you need to decide what you want to sell and then learn that industry and your market.

[Tom S]

Al nailed it. Also, depending on the product/products you choose, I would rather buy directly from the manufacturer of said product rather than a distributor/wholesaler.

Selling Tier 1 type of product and buying containers from China or South America seem to be contradictory. Not dissimilar from buying AK's from Russia with the intent on turning them into a Tier 1 product. Sure it can be done, but not a price/profit that the market will bear.

[Josh Ward]

My initial thought is that you need to decide what you want to sell and then learn that industry and your market.


This !!!

Along with my retriever training business I also own a company that sells related tools and equipment as well as outdoor type stuff, hunting equipment, optics, ect ect. Best to deal direct with the manufacutrer if at all possible. We still use wholesellers for lost cost low margin type items, but the bigger ticket products are all bought direct.