When it comes to running your online retail business, you can’t afford to leave anything to chance. From determining your niche to setting prices, you have dozens of decisions to make about your merchandise. None of these decisions is an important as finding a reliable wholesale supplier for your e-commerce store.

Your product line will change as trends emerge and consumer preferences shift. You may even change tact altogether and pivot into another product niche. As your business evolves, you may make these and many other changes. You can find success after every course correction as long as you begin with one, all-important foundation: a reliable wholesaler.

What Is a Wholesale Supplier?

For every widget and gizmo out there, there are dozens of manufacturers. As a new online store owner, you can’t possibly maintain a relationship with the many manufacturers of the products you sell. That’s where a reputable wholesale supplier comes in.

A wholesale supplier buys products directly from manufacturers and sells it at a discounted rate to retailers like you. The more items you buy from the wholesaler, the larger the discount you receive. You can then sell these products to your customers at retail prices for a profit.

Is Wholesale the Same as Dropshipping?

Wholesale and dropshipping are different ways to supply products to your online store.

With wholesale, you purchase products in bulk, which are then shipped to you. You’ll need to inventory, store, and, eventually, package and ship these products to customers.

With dropshipping, customers make a purchase through your online store. You then place an order with your dropshipping provider, who packages and ships the product directly to your customer.

In addition to differences in the way products are handled and shipped, wholesale and dropshipping differ in the way you make money. Keep in mind, also, that some wholesalers can also serve as dropshippers.

When purchasing your inventory via wholesale, you get a larger discount on products, which, in turn, you can sell for a larger profit to customers. Keep in mind, though, you’ll have higher costs associated with storing and shipping inventory. Also, you may be left with inventory that doesn’t sell.

When purchasing your inventory through dropshipping, you’ll pay more per item, resulting in a lower profit margin per sale. Also, you depend on the dropshipper to ship products to your customers correctly and on time.

How to Find a Reliable Wholesale Supplier?

Whether you’re looking for a wholesaler or dropshipper, you’ll need to find a reliable supplier that sells quality products. After all, your reputation depends on your product’s quality and your company’s reliability. In many ways, your wholesale supplier holds your reputation in their hands.

Perform an Internet Search

Obviously, you can perform a Google search for a wholesale supplier for your product niche. And while an internet search will bring up several options, you need a method for determining which ones are worthy of your brand’s reputation. When you find supplier names that interest you, perform another search with the company name followed by “scam.”

Below, we have some additional ways you can separate the wheat from the chaff when it comes to reliable wholesalers.

Tap Into Your Network

As an online entrepreneur, you should be attending local networking events, traveling to conferences, and joining online communities for business owners. You can tap into your network you’ve nurtured from these events and organizations to find reliable wholesale distributors.

Search Supplier Names in Online Directories

Several online supplier directories can give you company names and their information. Many of these directories require a fee. However, you may be able to access them for free at your local library or university. Also, some sites offer a free trial period.

It’s important to note that many companies operate as a subsidiary of a larger corporation and the parent corporation’s name may be listed in these directories.

● Dun & Bradstreet provides analytics, risk assessments, and creditworthiness information about businesses.

● Wholesale Central is a paid directory of wholesale products and suppliers.

● Blue Cart lists several searchable directories of wholesale suppliers according to industry.

● Alibaba is an e-commerce platform for B2B companies.

● Global Sources is another platform for B2B trade.

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How to Find a Reliable Wholesale Supplier for Your E-Commerce Store?