Whether you are just starting out in business or have been established for some time, finding a new supplier or brand to provide you with great products to resell in your online store can be tricky.
Positively, there are many ways that you can get started. Here is a brief guide to help you decide what the best route is for you and your online business.
Starting a New Online Store
If you are just starting out with a new online store – your first step will be to decide whether you want to sell your own product or source from an external suppliers. If you are selling your own product then you will need to do some research into which items you should choose to produce. You may want to look at a range of different products and choose the ones that you think are the most popular with your target audience.
There are many options available, from toys and fashion to beauty and health products. Choosing which one to focus on first can be tricky as it may not be possible to get all the necessary products to start with. However, if you choose a niche that has plenty of demand, you could easily create a great business with a loyal customer base.
For those of you who want to source your products from external suppliers, you will need to do a lot of research. This is because you are looking for someone who will provide high quality products at competitive prices. It is very important that you look at a variety of different wholesale suppliers so that you can make sure that you get the best deal for your online store.
Price is just as important as quality
Furthermore, you will want to ensure that the supplier has a strong reputation in the industry and will be reliable to work with. Your business will require some initial capital to get going and it is likely that you will need to take out a loan to fund it. Before you apply for a loan, it is a good idea to research the market. This will help you to find out which products sell best and what people are looking for.
You can also see whether there are any particular products that are selling well right now or if there are specific products that you should be offering.
Research Research Research
If you are looking at providing your own product in your online store then you will need to do more research into what you need to produce and where you can find these resources. This is because you will need to have a good understanding of how products are made and what it takes to turn raw materials into finished goods.
You need to do as much research as possible before applying for a loan. This is because a successful business requires plenty of planning and preparation.
For those of you who want to start out with an external supplier, you will need to look at the different products that they are already selling. You will want to compare them to your own product so that you can ensure that they are similar enough that you could provide a good alternative to your target audience.
You will also want to ensure that they have the necessary resources and skills to create your product. As such, this is a good opportunity for you to evaluate whether the supplier is the right one for your online store business.
When you are looking for wholesale suppliers you will need to make sure that they have all of the necessary resources and skills to make your products. This is because if you can’t find a supplier who has all of the necessary resources and skills then you will need to find someone else. However, if you do find a supplier that has all of these things then it is a good sign and you should be confident in choosing them.
The first thing you will need to do when you want to find a supplier for you online store is to ask around. You may want to start by asking your friends and colleagues if they know anyone who can help you. Join community groups as they can be extremely helpful in directing you to the right people.
The best place to find wholesale suppliers for your online store are listed below:
1. B2B Platforms:
AKA Business to Business websites such as B2B HUB, which is an online wholesale directory platform that offers a large list of Australian wholesalers and suppliers to choose from, along with other helpful B2B information that can assist you navigate through the wholesale industry. The best thing about B2B HUB is that it is Australian.
2. Amazon:
Amazon is another popular site that you can use to find products to sell. You can also buy your own products on Amazon as well as selling products. The best thing about Amazon is that it allows you to sell almost anything. As such, you should be able to find products that are relevant to your business.
3. eBay:
eBay is one of the biggest marketplaces online. It allows you to sell almost anything and you can buy almost anything on the site as well. The downside is that you need to be very careful when buying and selling on the site. This is because you will have to deal with a lot of dodgy sellers who do not always send what they promise.
4. Alibaba:
Although international, it is worth mentioning as it is one of the biggest marketplace platforms and most popular on a global scale. It is a Chinese website so you can imagine that the prices would be extremely competitive. It also has a range of products from a variety of different industries. It is also very easy to use and it provides you with an overview of products that you can choose from. Although this may all sound wonderful, you do have to be extremely careful.
Steps to take once you have found the right wholesaler to supply you with products
1. Negotiate:
Once you have found the supplier that you want to buy your products from, you should make sure that you negotiate the price of the products. You should also make sure that you have a good understanding of the products that you are buying for your online store. This will allow you to negotiate the best possible price.
2. Quality check:
You should be sure that the quality of the products that you are buying is high enough so that you don’t have to worry about any potential issues with them later down the track. The last thing you want are unhappy customers over something that could have been avoided.
3. Buy now:
If you decide that you want to buy now, you should ensure that you pay for the products immediately. This will allow you to avoid any problems with the product, such as product availability, meeting launch deadline etc.
Conclusion:
As you can see, there are many different websites you can start with to find the most suitable wholesalers or manufacturers for your online store. Although finding the right products is the most important, it’s not the only important thing. You will also have to consider where you can get the best support to help you during this crucial process. Choosing a wholesaler that can provide products along with great support and service can help make or break your business.
