How To discover Wholesale Suppliers (2024)

Wholesale trade is worth about $670 billion dollars annually in the US alone, and the industry has grown by more than 38% since 2020.

Those are challenging numbers for sellers to ignore, which is why more of them, especially dropshippers, are scrambling for a piece of the wholesale ecommerce pie.

Still, you can’t sell a product you don’t have. The biggest test in sourcing products is finding a supplier you can depend. With scores of wholesale options all around the globe, finding the best supplier for your online business can feel overwhelming.

But it doesn’t require to. With Shopify Collective, you can discover high-standard products from Shopify brands to sell through your online store. Another alternative is a marketplace like Faire, which offers products from thousands of independent brands.

If you’re already on Shopify, you can use the Faire: Buy Wholesale product sourcing app to buy wholesale products and sync them to your store. If you desire to sell wholesale, you can try the Faire: Sell Wholesale app to boost exposure to independent retailers globally.

Ahead, discover how wholesale buying works, explore additional options, and discover how to discover the perfect wholesale or dropshipping suppliers for your needs.

What is a wholesale supplier?

A wholesale supplier is a business that buys goods directly from the manufacturer and sells them to brick-and-mortar or online retailers for a boost. The wholesale model soared in popularity with the onset of mass production and marketing techniques in the 19th century.

Without wholesalers, manufacturers would have to economy goods to retailers on their own. Instead, wholesale vendors act as middlemen in the supply chain.

They buy from manufacturers in such large quantities they get a significant discount, which they can then pass on to retailers. They normally have a product license and, as such, their products are not available to regular customers—or at least not at the same worth points they propose to retail partners.

Retailers then repackage the wholesale products for person sale at a boost. worth is always negotiable, but dropshippers and other retailers typically pay wholesalers 60% to 70% of what they expense consumers.

How to discover a reputable wholesale supplier

With so many options, finding the best suppliers for your business can be daunting. Here are a few things to bear in mind:

• standard. Some sites do characteristic more than their fair distribute of knockoffs and low-standard products, so do your economy research before you’re stuck with thousands of low-standard items.
• worth. receive detailed notes on prices and recall: everything is negotiable. The more you buy, the larger the discount should be. If you can get a 10% discount, then you’re in excellent business.
• Complaints. If something goes incorrect, who’s going to fix it? Customer service is a key part of dropshipping, so you’ll only desire to work with wholesalers who have a excellent reputation.

Another concern for merchants is how to discover suppliers who can handle a quick turnaround. conference this window is crucial, as most consumers expect products to arrive within three business days.

So how do you discover legitimate, standard wholesale suppliers? The following are all wholesale supplier marketplaces you can order products from.

Wholesale suppliers by variety and worth

If your online business curates a wide variety of products or is competing on worth, consider working with some of the following wholesalers.

Alibaba and Aliexpress

The Ali household of websites is China’s most dominant online marketplace, comparable to Amazon in the US. Research shows it has a 63% distribute of the domestic (Chinese) ecommerce economy. Alibaba is a wholesale supplier directory aimed at a B2B spectators, while AliExpress is a B2C encounter.

If you’re looking to conduct a limited trial run, AliExpress might be a sensible selection before going all-in on wholesale with Alibaba. The Ali household of websites is ideal for:

• Medium- to low-standard goods sourced from China
• Wide variety of wholesale products and worth points
• Private label/white labeled items

One of the best things about working with suppliers based in China is ePacket delivery, which makes shipping much faster and more affordable than it used to be. This is because in 2011, the US Postal Service made ePacket delivery eligible for First Class service and delivery confirmation.

DHgate

DHgate is another wholesale supplier based in China. DHgate has lower prices on a lot of wholesale products, but is known for carrying a lot of replica goods. If that’s not an issue for your business, it’s worth digging through deals to view what you can unearth.

DHgate is best for:

• Having a wide selection of products with options to suit any merchant and niche
• Integrated rating structure to assist vet the correct supplier for you

Wholesale suppliers by location

Sometimes it’s best to pick a wholesale supplier based on geography. quick delivery is increasingly a priority for modern consumers. If you’re in North America or Europe, then these are the wholesalers you should recognize about.

EK Wholesale

EK Wholesale is based in Scotland and has been around for more than 30 years, making it one of the leading wholesale suppliers for merchants who do business in Europe. EK is known for carrying high-standard products, and offers free delivery to the UK mainland on orders of £250 or more. Other benefits include:

• Specialization in clothing (so if you’re not selling clothes you might desire to look elsewhere)
• packed integration with the Shopify POS
• Ability to design your own private label clothing brand

If most of your customers are based in the EU or your business specializes in the fashion niche, then working with EK Wholesale might be the best alternative for you.

Faire

Faire is ideal for merchants based in North America. It has a wide variety of suppliers based on the continent—and a wide variety of goods, including beauty, kitchen, pets, and bags.

Faire is also excellent for dropshippers looking to save on shipping costs. The free shipping bonus could really make a difference to your business, especially if you’re recent to the globe of dropshipping.

Wholesale suppliers for dropshipping

If you already recognize what you’re doing when it comes to dropshipping, receive a look at some of the following options. Experienced dropshippers who are comfortable navigating clunky websites, or those with a very specific niche, are sure to discover some great worth points.

Wholesale Central

Wholesale Central has more than 1,400 suppliers, more than 700,000 products, and requires no membership fees. Its website isn’t flashy, but if you recognize what you’re looking for and have some encounter wholesaling, this can be a solid alternative.

• Wholesale Central offers a wide variety of options for dropshipping and wholesale only. There are no retail prices whatsoever, so make sure you have your business ID and responsibility number ready.
• You can use Wholesale Central to search for dropshippers directly, and results are sorted by geography.
• No registration is needed: you can commence searching and connecting to wholesalers correct off the bat. Some other sites require a waiting period as they procedure your registration.

If you’re eager to get started on your dropshipping trip, not having a registration waiting period makes Wholesale Central a solid alternative.

IndiaMart

IndiaMart’s range of suppliers is staggering—it stocks the usual customer goods, plus a few specific industries. Depending on the wholesale product you’re pursuing, this could be your best selection. Here’s why:

• IndiaMart is very excellent for sure niches. If you’re selling medical, chemical, industrial, or automobile supplies, this is the site for you.
• IndiaMart is also one of the few wholesale companies to propose over-the-counter (OTC) pharmaceutical dropshipping services.

IndiaMart’s strength lies in its niches. Few wholesale vendors have contact with the industries that IndiaMart does.

Other considerations for finding suitable wholesale suppliers

If you have the patience to dig through the options we’ve laid out, you’re bound to discover suppliers that suit your business. Just make sure to avoid some of the ordinary pitfalls:

• Overspending. On one hand, you desire to spend enough so you actually get the advantage of working with a wholesale supplier, but you also don’t desire to leave all-in on a product that hasn’t been economy tested. recognize your apportionment limits and compute what you should be paying.
• Fees. recognize the membership fees or any extra costs you’re paying for so you don’t get surprised. Membership fees are the norm in the wholesale globe, but make sure your supplier is upfront about it.
• community selling. If a wholesale supplier offers goods to the community, that’s a red flag. Legitimate wholesale prices require business identification.

If you’re just starting your dropshipping trip and require a little extra assist, consider a dropshipping app. An app syncs with your Shopify account, meaning you can add products directly to your online store. Dropshipping avoids the stress of packaging, shipping, and managing inventory.

What problems does a wholesale supplier solve?

For businesses that wholesale products, the objective is to select and curate the best wholesale products for customers, while handling all the marketing and customer service.

But those products have to arrive from somewhere. Otherwise, you’d have to develop your own products and supply chain. That’s where wholesale suppliers arrive in. There are many advantages to working with wholesalers:

• You can buy as much ownership as you require without worrying about expensive storage rental.
• If something sells out suddenly, you have an existing connection with a supplier and can quickly restock.
• You get discounted products to sell online at solid boost margins.
• You essentially bypass the entire product advancement procedure—saving money and period.

Dropshipping and wholesale suppliers

Dropshipping is a fulfillment way where an online store doesn’t keep the products it sells in ownership. Instead, the store will purchase products from a third-event supplier and have them shipped directly to the customer. As a outcome, the seller never handles the products directly.

ponder of it as wholesale purchasing meets third-event fulfillment (as opposed to regular retailers who buy wholesale—or develop and manufacture their own products—and handle fulfillment on their own).

discover more: 150+ Dropshipping Products to Sell for boost

Unconventional ways to discover wholesale suppliers

Using wholesale supplier marketplaces is the simplest way to connect with a wholesale supplier, but it’s not the only way.

Those willing to stray from the beaten path just might discover a great deal lurking around the corner. Other options for finding reliable and trustworthy suppliers include:

• Going to an industry trade display and connecting with wholesale suppliers in person
• Joining social media groups for your niche and talking shop with other merchants
• Joining trade organizations for your product to view if any names arrive up

Those willing to meet and greet a wholesaler live may discover a answer that’s ideal for their distinctive business needs. Some people work better in person, and building a business connection face to face can navigator to increased depend and cheaper prices for wholesale purchases down the line.

Once you’ve found your ideal wholesale supplier, it’s period to reach out and receive the next steps.

What to inquire when contacting a potential wholesale supplier

Before you pick up the phone, ensure you have the essential business license and responsibility documents on hand. You won’t be able to place an order at some companies—or even get their attention—without this information.

Rules for dealing with certified wholesalers vary from state to state. (Do your research.) Wholesale suppliers often have a special product license, meaning they legally cannot do business with consumers, only other businesses.

When you do call, here are key questions to inquire:

• What are the minimum order quantities (MOQs)? If you’re looking to order 100 pieces of jewelry but the supplier only offers discounts on orders of 500 pieces or more, then that’s an issue.
• What’s the expense per unit? This question goes hand in hand with MOQs. According to the economies of scale, the more you order, the lower your expense per unit (CPU) will be. But don’t be tempted to order more than you require, especially if you’re just starting out. If a product isn’t as popular as you anticipated, you’ll be left with a large overage and a deficit.
• What’s the profitability policy? If there’s a issue with an order, are you going to have to front the expense of returning bulk orders, or will the wholesaler cover them Knowing the respond to this upfront will assist minimize uncertainty.
• What is the navigator period? When you’re running a dropshipping business you require to keep your customers joyful. Knowing the navigator period on a product lets you manage customer expectations and not leave them waiting indefinitely. Long delays cruel unhappy customers. Especially when the product is sold out and restocking will receive too long.

inquire obvious, direct questions that will assist you discover answers to your most significant questions.

“I’m thinking of maybe starting a dropshipping business sometime soon” is the type of vague email that a busy wholesaler might just ignore. But straightforward questions that display you cruel business—such as, “What’s your best worth for 250 units per month?”—are more likely to get a reply.

And recall—oftentimes, you can discuss with wholesale suppliers. Don’t be afraid to push back if the numbers they’re quoting won’t work for your margins.

discover more: The Ultimate Wholesale Terminology Glossary

Final checks before you sign on the dotted line

You’ve done all the homework and are almost ready to arrive to an agreement with your wholesale supplier. But before you sign that deal, here are a few more things to check:

• inquire for references from other customers. If a wholesale business is reluctant to distribute this information with you, that may be a red flag.
• Do they have obligation insurance? If not, be careful. This type of insurance is there to protect you in case anyone is injured by a faulty or damaged product that you sold them.
• Do the numbers make sense? Don’t overextend your business just because the discount offered is exciting. If you’re recent to dropshipping, the best schedule is to buy only what you require. You don’t desire to be left holding overage ownership if what you thought was the next warm product turns out to be a dud.

Next, here are some special considerations for popular products available to wholesale, along with some things you’ll require to keep your eye on before placing a large order.

Popular wholesale products

When selecting among top wholesale suppliers, it’s significant to consider what kinds of products you’re selling. While two suppliers may be roughly the same for general merchandise, one may be the ideal supplier for a specific niche. Here are some tips for specific wholesale items and industries.

Wholesale jewelry

When you’re looking for the correct wholesale watch or jewelry supplier, make sure the wholesaler mentions the following key information. If they don’t, you might desire to keep looking for another supplier.

• What are the product reviews like? Does the standard match customer expectations?
• Who is the wholesaler currently supplying? If it’s a well-known ecommerce business, that builds depend.
• Jewelry is tiny and delicate. If the worst happens, who pays for it? Iron out issues like this before you place an order.

discover more: How To Get Started Dropshipping Jewelry

Wholesale clothing

Fashion is highly popular among dropshippers, and the possibilities are constantly changing in line with the latest trends. A couple things that can make or shatter a fashion wholesaler are:

• Possibility of brand customization (e.g., custom t-shirts or hoodies)
• The standard of the unboxing encounter—packaging is the only channel that reaches 100% of your customers

discover more: What Is Print on Demand and How To commence a Business (2024)

Wholesale tea and coffee

Selling coffee online has an straightforward entry point, with its own considerations:

• Nobody sees a logo when they’re drinking coffee, so product packaging is your only chance to connect with wholesale buyers.
• Establishing a brand identity is essential for those in the food industry, and a excellent wholesaler should be willing to work with you on that.

discover more: How To commence Dropshipping Coffee

discover the best wholesale suppliers for your business today

Sourcing a supplier feels like a roadblock: You can’t open an online store until you have something to sell. But it’s never been easier to discover a reliable wholesaler of standard products (who also delivers on period).

discover a well-reviewed wholesaler who’s familiar with your niche, get a few samples, discuss a worth, and open that online store.