Forums: Discussions for entrepreneurs and small business.

Hello!  Calling all current wholesale vendors and experienced online retailers:

    I`m working on a business plan for an online retail storefront, but I`m worried that wholesalers won`t want to sell to me. 
    Having been indoctrinated into the land of brick and mortar specialty stores (where I currently work), these questions keep nagging at me: What if the manufacturers I want to buy from don`t want their products sold online?  What resistance is there from handmade and specialty wholesalers, who currently depend on brick and mortar stores, to online sales?  Or do they have a choice - as a retailer with all the credentials, can I buy from them and put the products on my online storefront and not even have to mention to them where my storefront exists?  Or is that considered in bad taste within the industry?? Or would most welcome me?  In other words, is selling specialty items online even a viable business idea if I can`t get any product????

Here`s the background leading me to ask these questions:  I`m currently a manager at a small specialty store located beside a major tourist attraction.  The proprietors have been wonderful, teaching me everything they know about retail, as they know that I want my own store one day.  I studied online retail marketing & related topics when working on my Master`s.  I see starting a home-based online retail store through a major online retail outlet (such as ebay or amazon) as the logical next step in my growth as a fledgling entrepreneur.  The store I envision will sell products from small manufacturers of handmade, `green`, or otherwise unique products that are seldom found online -- at least not in as big a marketplace as I plan to expose them to.  I do NOT want to grossly undercut the competition, I just want a piece of the total pie, and in the process to help broaden consumer exposure to these awesome products.  Then I will take my knowledge and experience from that venture and... eventually... I`ll have about 5 businesses going, both online and on the main drag ;)

Your thoughts are greatly appreciated!!!
~CAllison

Hi Callison.

Why don`t you pick up the phone and start calling the manufacturers of products you would be interested in. They should be able to tell you exactly what they will and will not do.  I believe most of them would want information from you, and want to know how and where you plan to sell their products. 

Janie

well I know aveda will ONLY allow their products to be sold online through their website, were not allowed to sell online. The best were allowed to do is show products then get an affiliate share with a link, a real  bummer.

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He who gets greedy like a pig, gets slaughtered like a hog!

CAllison,

I don`t know what type of handmade specialty items you are talking about, however as a manufacturer of handmade products I would wholesale to a person like you with a few considerations (ig. quantity per month, hand made takes time and I wouldn`t let you be too much of my business, minimum pricing, and shipping, would be a couple other considerations).

I`d say your hand made shops are probably pretty small and would be willing to have an outlet anywhere online or otherwise.

just my thought

Stan

As an independent sales rep of high-quality, all-natural, eco-friendly, philanthropic products (or as others call me, a `green` rep), I have to say that it`s going to vary from company to company.

The wonderful thing about green companies (which it sounds like you will focus on) is that they are trying to change the world, one small step at a time...therefore, the more exposure, the better....brick & mortar, internet, or bricks & clicks businesses (which sounds like what you will have).  However, none of them would want to see their goods sold through ebay..even an ebay store. If you had your own website through which to sell these, this would usually be acceptable...or some might be open to amazon.com.

I do represent one company that does not want their products inundated on the web, so only a few websites (1-2 in each market type) will be privy to carry their products (and therefore, they will have a bit of exclusivity).

You should definitely be upfront with vendors as to where you will sell their products, as this will eliminate problems on down the line just in case they didn`t want the goods there. I agree that calling  them to find out is a good idea.

A popular, classy website is a great customer for a vendor...in my opinion, it would be worse if you were taking the products to a flea market.. no one wants that.

The web is the present & the future. Most vendors realize that.  

Other companies may differ, but the above is based on my experience from the 10 or so lines I represent.

I hope this helps.

You are going to find a lot of vendors who do not want their products sold by online only retailers, especially eBayers. We have found the best place to find vendors who will deal with you, the online only retailer is WorldWide Brands One Source. WorldWide Brands is an eBay Certified Solutions Provider who pre-qualifies thousands of wholesalers who will do business with you. They are definitely worth checking out!