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Wholesale
Nedina Gjorgjieva
Nedina GjorgjievaFeb 09, 2022
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12 minutes
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It’s no secret that wholesale is classified as one of store owners’ most preferred supplying methods among others, such as dropshipping. The reasons behind this preference are numerous, but we won’t go into detail since the sale numbers can speak for themselves: as reported by Statista, the US wholesaler sales have reached an estimated amount of around 696 billion USD with an increase of around 4 billion USD within only a one month period. You can only imagine the number of sales made on a global level.
Such incredible figures represent irrefutable evidence of the success of wholesale suppliers, proving that customers are truly satisfied with their services.
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Learn moreBut not all wholesalers contribute to these satisfying numbers. Some might offer you an amazing business relationship, while others may only disappoint you. Therefore, it’s important to bear in mind a few things instead of jumping headfirst. If you’re a newcomer in buying wholesale, chances are you neither have an idea where to start looking nor know what criteria to have in mind when the time comes to start eliminating candidates until you track down the ideal supplier.
To ease things up for you and prevent you from making wholesale sourcing mistakes, we’ve put together a couple of points you should always cover when having a conversation with a potential supplier. We’ll gladly teach you what are the must-questions to ask in order to ensure the supplier you’re interested in would be the right fit for your store.
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The best way to verify that the supplier you’ve chosen to collaborate with is reliable and sells genuine wholesale products is to find out as much information as possible regarding their experience and work history. Wholesalers who have secured a network of loyal clients and have been on the market for some time are certain to be more trustworthy and provide you with better wholesale service.
Of course, you can always do a full investigation by yourself by looking into their website, browsing the company’s name on Google, and reading reviews on Trustpilot. However, it’s even better to ask them directly as they may share details that haven’t been published online which could end up being decisive information.
Besides making sure the supplier has sufficient experience, store owners should prioritize finding vendors for your business that offers new clothing arrivals on a regular basis. For every store out there, the main source of success comes from keeping customers content which is best done when providing them constantly with the latest products.
This recurrent update on items will continuously draw their attention, making them keep coming back to your shop and eventually turning them into a regular clientele.
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Register nowIt goes without saying that product diversity plays a crucial role in retaining customers and averting them from checking out competitors’ stores. That’s why in your search for the finest wholesaler you should never forget to ask potential suppliers about the variety of products they have at disposal and estimate if that amount would satisfy your customers’ needs.
Therefore, don’t rush into choosing a supplier before confirming that they offer a wide-ranging portfolio of brands and products that’ll not only bring you happy and loyal customers but also assure you notable revenue growth. If you are getting into the fashion industry, make certain your supplier of choice covers enough categories of winning dropshipping products for both men and women to be able to meet shopping enthusiasts’ expectations.
In case your niche consists of selling high-end fashion products, it’s of the utmost importance to verify their authenticity as there are many suppliers offering knock-off items that you may end up purchasing without realizing they’re counterfeit goods.
So, when browsing for wholesalers of luxury brands remember to look for suppliers that stand behind their products’ authenticity and would stock your store with genuine brands. One example of a wholesale supplier that ensures 100% authenticity to each product in their portfolio is BrandsGateway.
The product catalog is every wholesaler’s most significant part of their website, giving prospective customers a sneak peek into their inventory, enough to make a general evaluation of the items they’re selling.
However, many business owners may stumble upon wholesalers that offer an extremely limited preview of their catalog, making the rest of the products available only after one decides to use their services. So, try to avoid these suppliers and stick with those who give clients access to check out their merchandise by registering for free like BrandsGateway and their catalog of the latest trending clothing items.
The minimum order quantity can vary tremendously from one wholesaler to another but it mostly depends on the type of products being sold. For instance, expensive products usually have a higher MOQ than those sold at cheaper prices because they’re high-quality authentic products that are obtained from authorized entities.
Thus, it’s best when clients are informed upfront about the MOQ in order to be able to calculate in advance their order expenses and see if they can fit them into their budget.
The location where the supplier’s merchandise is produced can say a lot about the quality of the products. Although many suppliers source their goods from authorized vendors and then sell them to retailers, outlet owners, or eCommerce stores, an even bigger number source them from unreliable manufacturers, some of which are known to have significant disadvantages such as the cons of Chinese suppliers.
Because of that, it’s highly recommended to check where your wholesale supplier sources their merchandise from prior to buying a poor-quality bulk of items.
The whereabouts of your potential wholesaler’s warehouses are another thing clients should take into consideration, especially because it can greatly affect the delivery time. Moreover, in addition to the price paid when purchasing the products, the buyer is also required to cover custom duties for exporting and importing merchandise from one country to another.
That being the case, try to opt for a wholesaler who has warehouses in several places around the world, such as BrandsGateway, which will not only reduce your expenses but also provide you with fast and convenient delivery services.
Another vital thing wholesale suppliers should inform you about is the approximate time it would take for them to deliver your orders. You wouldn’t want to find yourself in a situation in which customers can’t make a purchase of a certain item because your store is out of stock.
Therefore, just like previously mentioned, when choosing a supplier, keep in mind both the location of the warehouses and the time it might take for orders to be handed over to you.
In order for you to be able to keep an eye on your packages, ask your wholesaler if they offer the possibility for you to track your delivery. In that way, you can be kept posted on the status of your order at all times and be notified almost instantly in the case of any shipping delays.
Hence, make sure to pick out a supplier that would provide you with a tracking number, as BrandsGateway does with its clients, so you could constantly be kept updated on where your order stands.
Before trying to figure out delivery costs, order tracking, or shipping time, you need to find out if the potential suppliers you’ve been looking into ship globally or just locally. If they don’t ship to your location, you’d only be wasting your time with them.
You shouldn’t be surprised if you ever come across wholesalers who limit their shipping abilities and offer delivery services only within the countries their warehouses are situated in and sometimes including neighboring states. For that reason, always make sure that you work with a supplier that ships worldwide so that you can build an international eCommerce business.
Being aware of return and refund policies is crucial in the event of having to deal with damaged goods. Thus, it’s important to have a clear understanding of how your supplier manages situations when clients wish to return products or cancel orders.
Some might offer monetary reimbursement, some may provide store credit, while others might give out coupons or discounts. In addition, be on the watch for any hidden fees or additional charges that could be imposed by the supplier.
In most cases, suppliers rarely offer freight-collect services concerning the return of products. In other words, the buyers are the ones responsible for covering the shipping costs when sending items back to the wholesaler. However, there are suppliers that do bear those costs in the event of merchandise that is faulty, has been damaged, or wrongly shipped.
In order to benefit from a full refund in cases like these, suppliers are likely to ask you to provide them with photos of the products concerned and after they’ve accepted your request, they’ll be able to reimburse you for your loss. Therefore, have a good look at the terms and conditions of your wholesaler and take careful notice of the returns and refunds sections.
One more key question to include in your list is regarding the payment methods of the wholesalers you have set your mind on working with. Taking into account the pros and cons of various payment methods, depending on your preferences and possibilities, you might find some of them are less while others are more suitable for your business.
Thus, it’d be wise to opt for suppliers who present clients with the opportunity to choose among different types of payment. In this manner, you’d have the freedom to determine which option would work best for you.
Keeping your store profitable can be a challenging thing to do, especially for newbies on the market, and it might take some time to get the hang of it. In order to make sure you’ll be receiving a decent profit, don’t forget to discuss with your supplier the income you should expect for every item sold.
Select a supplier that offers great wholesale margins which will bring you an excellent financial standing and kick-start your store to stardom. But before that, make sure you know what profit margins you aim for and understand the difference between margin and markup.
When purchasing products in bulk, luxury brands particularly, wholesalers try to abstain from giving discounts. It’s an industry standard that has been around for a long time and suppliers attempt to stick with it. Nevertheless, during the holiday shopping season, chances are you’ll come across discounts for particular categories of products and brands.
So, stay in tune with your supplier so you don’t miss out on those opportunities.
As previously stated, before cutting a deal with any wholesaler, carefully go through their delivery rules and regulations. Examine the supplier’s shipping policy and see what actions they’d take in circumstances in which the products have taken a lot longer to arrive or, in worst cases, the incorrect order has been delivered.
You know that a wholesaler is worth doing business with when they not only supply clients with excellent products but also have at disposal exceptional customer service, giving store owners a memorable business experience.
Whether it’s about the above-discussed delivery issues, merchandise troubles, or something else, clients should always be able to lean on customer support for any kind of problem that may arise, and in that way, they can keep steady communication with the supplier around the clock.
To avoid any inconveniences, it’s essential to settle the payment terms with the supplier, meaning, to agree on when payments should be installed. Usually, wholesalers have clearly defined payment times that clients are expected to respect. However, for different types of items, there may be different payment terms to be met.
Hence, it’s important to inform yourself thoroughly about invoice deadlines so there won’t be any confusion or unexpected situations.
Last but not least, customer reviews and references exert an astounding influence on clients’ decisions. In a survey conducted by PowerReviews, 98% of consumers said that reviews are an indispensable step when purchasing merchandise, thus, giving them a decision-making role in the purchase process both in the B2C and B2B marketplaces.
So, it wouldn’t be a bad idea to request from suppliers credible reviews you could easily access and check for previous customers and their experiences. To illustrate, wholesaler BrandsGateway supplies interested retailers with such testimonials, furnishing them with evidence that BrandsGateway is legit.
As your store grows and expands, you’ll likely come across new wholesale suppliers constantly. Some of them might emerge immediately as the perfect match, while others might not be up your alley. To be 100% sure that they’re someone your store would benefit from working with, we recommend putting these questions to use when business talks are in progress. Thus, we advise you to have this list on hand so you can come back to it whenever you need to evaluate new partners and verify the reliability and authenticity of their services and company.
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About the Author
Proud bookworm, passionate content writer and devoted Arctic Monkeys fan. Always in the mood for travel and sightseeing.
Buying and selling products with high demand and good margins is a great way to boost profits and keep your bottom line healthy. This article features more than three dozen unique products that you can buy in bulk and sell, plus tips on how to find them. Note that prices for these products fluctuate often and may have changed since the time of publication.
The top factors we considered when selecting the products on this list include:
More than ever, people are choosing to shop online. The number of digital buyers in the US continues to rise, with ecommerce sales possibly setting another record in 2023. With over $1 trillion in ecommerce sales in 2022 alone, the explosion of online purchasing has made business owners shift their approach to finding profitable products to sell online.
Average wholesale price: $2–$5 each
Shoppers of all ages and gender identities wear sunglasses, which are in demand year-round, though more so in the summer months. Smart, fashion-conscious customers are always on the lookout for inexpensive but unique styles to make them stand out. Plus, sunglasses are relatively small and lightweight, making them easy to ship for online sales.
Typical retail price: $15–$30 per pair
Potential profit: $13–$25+ each
Average wholesale price: 10 cents–$5 per pair
Earrings are a timeless accessory that consumers of all ages and genders can wear. And as more people transition to remote jobs and video-conferencing, earrings are one accessory that fashion-forward people can play with.
Many look for fashion earrings that are unusual and unique, whether in size, color, or shape. The more variety you have in your inventory, the more attention your store will receive. Like sunglasses, earrings are in demand year-round, and they’re small and lightweight, so they’re easy to package and ship inexpensively.
Typical retail price: $20–$40 per pair
Potential profit: $19.90–$35 each
Average wholesale price: $13 each
Like most fashion-forward trends, individuality dominates as a key factor for watch sales. People want to stand out and wear accessories that reflect their personality. Unbranded watches that come in different sizes, colors, and shapes are inexpensive and have the potential for a nice profit.
Typical retail price: $22 each
Potential profit: $9 per unit
Average wholesale price: $1 per unit
For the more adventurous entrepreneurs out there, you can try your hand at selling private label cosmetics. YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram have tons of posts featuring makeup tutorials and product reviews. These influencers help grow the demand for cosmetics, and getting your hands on popular brands at a wholesale price can be a lucrative business.
And though consumer spending on cosmetics decreased during the COVID-19 pandemic, there’s a growing interest in personal care and skincare. So, focusing on cosmetics that provide some skincare benefit is a good route to take.
Typical retail price: $5 each
Potential profit: $4 per unit
Average wholesale price: $2 each
Smartphones are now an integral part of people’s everyday lives, and having a phone holder in the car is just another way to add convenience and safety while on the go.
These have been on the market for years, but every day you’ll find new designs with interesting features that your customers will love. Plus, as new phones continue to come out, phone accessories need to continuously adapt for compatibility.
Typical retail price: $18 per unit
Potential profit: $16 each
Average wholesale price: $2 per unit
Wireless phone chargers are popular because they provide more convenience and flexibility. New phone models are compatible with wireless charging, so expect these chargers to become more in demand. Not only are these wireless versions safer, but they also look so cool sitting on your desk.
Typical retail price: $16 each
Potential profit: $14 per unit
Average wholesale price: $3.50 each
School supplies help kids stay organized and provide the tools they need to learn. These products experience a huge annual spike in demand each August, but have selling potential throughout the rest of the year as well.
Items like backpacks and school bags can hold pens, notebooks, and even electronics like tablets. Choose the nice-looking, heavy-duty kind that both kids and parents will like. You can resell them as is or offer personalized add-ons to set you apart from other online school bag sellers.
Typical retail price: $35 each
Potential profit: $31.50 per unit
Average wholesale price: $2.50 per unit
There has always been a market for plain T-shirts, but the demand is increasing as people become more interested in personalized designs. In fact, the market is expected to grow annually by 3.22% through 2027. These heavyweight cotton tees are durable and come in a variety of sizes and colors.
Typical retail price: $6 per unit
Potential profit: $3.50 each
Average wholesale price: $5 each
If you’re into selling novelty items, you might want to try selling toddler backpacks. Choose colorful and textured ones, as these features attract toddler attention the most. Look around for a number of suppliers before you buy to get the right balance of quality and affordability.
Typical retail price: $20 per unit
Potential profit: $15 per unit
Average wholesale price: $24 for 24 units
Bath bombs are a fun giveaway and have a variety of themes you can choose from. You can wrap them individually with drawstring bags that suppliers will include in your purchase.
Typical retail price: $4 each
Potential profit: $3
Average wholesale price: $29.99 for 12 units
Here’s another interesting product idea for resale. Handmade Egyptian perfume bottles are approximately five centimeters tall, and you can buy them in a set with a variety of designs. You can sell them as-is or partner with a local perfume maker and start a unique perfume business.
Typical retail price: $17 each
Potential profit: $14.50 each
Average wholesale price: $1 per pair
Dress socks are in higher demand as the world returns to normal social activities after the COVID-19 pandemic.. Fun designs for dress socks show some personality underneath all the formality, so more variety in the designs will attract more customers. Just remember to hold to a standard in terms of quality so you get repeat shoppers and recommendations for your store.
Typical retail price: $3.50 each
Potential profit: $2.50 per pair
Average wholesale price: $9 per unit
With more people working from home, network enhancements are always welcome. Wi-Fi repeaters come in all shapes and sizes, some even as small and thin as a sleek flip-top phone.
Most Wi-Fi routers can cover only 20 meters per square area, but there are always suppliers who carry units with a wider range at cheap prices. Customers will appreciate being given options, so consider having two or more for variety.
Typical retail price: $37 each
Potential profit: $28 per unit
Average wholesale price: $10 per pair
Mesh running short offer the comfort athletes need while staying active. These breathable shoes are made from organic material, making them all the more in demand. You can get a variety of styles and popular sizes for both men and women as the total wholesale price goes down the more units you order.
Typical retail price: $25 each
Potential profit: $15 per pair
Average wholesale price: $20 each
Gone are the days when security cameras are limited to being monitored in a fixed location. They can now be connected to the internet, so footage is readily available on people’s smartphones. You can find these products sold for as low as $20 wholesale by most China-based online stores.
Typical retail price: $50 per unit
Potential profit: $30 each
Average wholesale price: $1–$20 each
If your target market is interested in sustainable and fashionable products, then selling vintage and secondhand designer clothes is a great way to turn a profit. Typically, this is easier in an urban setting versus a rural one due to the number of sourcing options and high-income earners. While the gains may vary depending on the item, there’s potential for high profitability.
Heavily-worn luxury bags are trending
Typical retail price: $15–$300+ per item
Potential profit: $14–$280+ per item
Average wholesale price: $50 per 10–50 units
Printer ink cartridges are an in-demand item for both commercial and personal use. And since many people are still working from home, there’s potential for a steady revenue stream for sellers. Plus, since there’s currently a shortage of printer ink, if you’re setting yourself up for success if you can get your hands on them. However, this can also make sourcing a challenge.
Typical retail price: $80 per 10–50 units
Potential profit: $30 per 10–50 units
Average wholesale price: 50 cents per unit
Considering over 97% of Americans own a cellphone, there’s a big market for phone cases. In addition to people needing new cases if theirs break, many consumers like to frequently update their cases to reflect their personal style. Plus, as smartphones become more and more expensive, the need for protection rises.
On top of that, phone manufacturers are constantly releasing new models—each needing its own case. Given the popularity, there are many options for sourcing products, but it can be tough to break into the saturated market.
Typical retail price: $20 each
Potential profit: $19.50 each
Average wholesale price: $3 each
As one of the top beauty and personal care items on Amazon’s Best Sellers list, jade facial rollers are a lucrative product to stock. The natural gemstone materials, combined with skin soothing and aging prevention benefits, can tap into a variety of niche target markets.
Typical retail price: $12 per unit
Potential profit: $9 each
Average wholesale price: $20 per unit
Camping is one outdoor activity that has seen a surge of interest in recent years. This renewed affinity for nature boosted spending in the outdoor market, particularly for camping gear and tents.
Typical retail price: $50 each
Potential profit: $30 per unit
Average wholesale price: $7 each
As the corporate world shifted meetings from in person to virtual, consumer demand for ring lights increased. Already popular with social media users and photographers, the market has stayed consistent since many companies are still conducting meetings through video conferencing. Due to the size and fragile nature of the product, shipping can be challenging. However, consumer interest and high profit margins make this a worthy item to sell.
Typical retail price: $40 per unit
Potential profit: $33 each
Average wholesale price: $10 per unit
The US houseplant market saw a 50% increase in sales from 2019 to 2020, thanks to the number of customers spending more time alone at home due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Now, the sale of indoor plants is expected to continue growing at a rate of 4.87% through 2029.
There’s an infinite number of possibilities when it comes to the style and type of planters you can sell to appeal to any niche—not to mention the potential for high profit margins.
Typical retail price: $30 each
Potential profit: $20 each
Average wholesale price: $4 per unit
People love their pets and want to get harnesses that are comfortable and make going on walks a little bit easier. In the wake of COVID-19 and the huge increase in pet adoptions, dog accessories are more in demand than ever before. Selling a dog harness in different sizes and colors is a great way to help COVID dogs and their owners while lining your pockets at the same time.
Typical retail price: $25–$50
Potential profit: $21–$46
Average wholesale price: $10
As people work from home and trends continue to lean into athleisure attire, workout clothes are becoming a bigger and bigger share of people’s closets. But, people are not looking to only the major athletic brands anymore and are instead trying to find better workout clothing deals online.
Consider adding matching workout sets to your store, and you can even try marketing them as dupes for other major athletic brands to drum up hype.
Typical retail price: $30
Potential profit: $20
Average wholesale price: $2
Blue light glasses came onto the scene a few years ago as a way for people to protect their eyes from the blue lights of their computer and phone screens. Since then, they have become extremely popular among students and professionals.
As a blue light glasses user myself, I have probably bought six pairs in the past few years, as mine have broken, scratched, or been lost. These glasses are a great item to sell in bulk for profit and will likely yield repeat customers.
Typical retail price: $15
Potential profit: $13
Average wholesale price: $4
Insulated water bottles are something that people seem to never have enough of. In my house, we probably have 20 bottles for two people—we can’t stop buying them. They are also popular souvenirs, branded items, and gifts. With tons of different models, sizes, and colors, there is great opportunity to sell insulated water bottles for profit.
Typical retail price: $20
Potential profit: $16
Average wholesale price: $5
As one of the biggest viral products of 2022, Kewpie mayo can barely stay on the shelves and people are willing to pay a premium to get their hands on the beloved condiment. This Japanese take on mayonnaise is a great item to add to your storefront and will signal your relevance and internet know-how.
Typical retail price: $12
Potential profit: $7
Average wholesale price: 2 cents per candle
As a small item sold in bulk quantities with a short use-life, tealight candles are a great product to sell for profit. While the per-candle profit is relatively low, it is nearly six times the purchase price, so as you sell packs of 20 or 100 candles, your profits will add up quickly.
Market your tealight candles around weddings or events in general as these are some of the most common places where tealight candles are used. If you can get in with an event planner or company, you can guarantee lots of repeat orders.
Typical retail price: 15 cents per candle (typically sold in packs of 20–100 candles)
Potential profit: 13 cents per candle
Average wholesale price: 20 cents per towel
Microfiber towels are a staple in most households and are becoming the standard when it comes to cleaning supplies. Additionally, as it goes with these types of things, there never seems to be enough of them and people are constantly ordering more.
You can sell microfiber towels in packs of five to 20 and in different sizes and colors. You can also market them for cars, electronics, eyeglasses, or for use in other areas (kitchen, bathroom, etc.) to find your niche.
Typical retail price: $1.50 per towel
Potential profit: $1.30 per towel
Average wholesale price: $5
Car trash cans are an increasingly popular feature to add to your car interior, especially if you are carting around kids. With great margins and easy, collapsible storage options, they are a great item to add to your store and start selling for profit.
Typical retail price: $12
Potential profit: $7
Average wholesale price: 75 cents
Everyone gets a standard charging cord with their iPhone, but many prefer a longer option as time goes on. Plus, lightning ports are fragile and break and cords get lost, so people want more than one. They are a great product to add to your store with extremely high margins.
Typical retail price: $12
Potential profit: $11.25
Average wholesale price: $4
Brought on by influencers and claims that silk pillowcases are better for your skin and hair, silk pillowcases are all the rage among Gen Z and millennials. With tons of color options and sizes to sell, they are a great thing to buy in bulk and sell in your store.
Typical retail price: $25
Potential profit: $21
Average wholesale price: $2
People love coffee, and making coffee drinks at home is becoming more and more popular, especially as people are trying to cut extra spending in the face of rising inflation. Handheld milk frothers are a popular appliance that people are adding to their kitchens to help them prepare cafe-level coffee drinks from their homes.
Typical retail price: $10
Potential profit: $8
Average wholesale price: $5–$15 (depending on type)
Shapewear is something tons of women love to use and wear all the time. And, like all undergarments, it wears out over time and needs to be replaced. With the potential for great margins, shapewear is a great product to sell for profit
Typical retail price: $15–$35 (depending on type)
Potential profit: $10–$20
Average wholesale price: 30 cents per bag
Vacuum storage bags are a household staple for many, and are especially popular for college students and urbanites living in small spaces. They are easy to store, widely available, and have evergreen demand as people need to replace or purchase more. You can also offer a variety of sizes.
Typical retail price: $3 per bag
Potential profit: $2.70 per bag
Average wholesale price: 40 cents
Lint rollers are another great product you can buy in bulk to resell for profit. People need them for cleaning up their clothes and furniture and replace them often. They’re also extremely popular among pet owners, and have some of the highest margins on this list!
Typical retail price: $4
Potential profit: $3.60
Average wholesale price: $1
Self-defense is important, and many people carry pepper spray keychains for a convenient and discrete defense option against both other people and animals. They are a great, small item with high margins and wide availability. You can also sell them in a variety of colors and quantities.
Typical retail price: $12
Potential profit: $11
Finding wholesale suppliers for unique products to buy and resell can be a challenge. There are many options to choose from, and it’s more complicated than purchasing products as a consumer. So, we put together five helpful tips for finding the best things to buy and sell for profit to get you started.
If you want to start a retail business—or any business for that matter—focus on your interests. You’ve already spent a great deal of time researching the best sources of related products for yourself and building connections with like-minded people. As a business owner, this puts you in the best position where you could sell better than other sellers. So, tap into your personal passion, skills, and expertise and make use of resources that are already available to you.
Search for less-obvious product opportunities that customers don’t think they want or need until you introduce them. Start by going through your social media feeds (Facebook news feed and even Pinterest pins are great starting points) and make a list of all the cool, interesting products.
Once you have your list, you can start searching for these unique products on online stores that sell similar items wholesale. Alibaba is the world’s largest business-to-business (B2B) marketplace of unique merchandise you can buy in large quantities at wholesale prices. Browse and find products or suppliers that you like, and reach out to them via email or chat to get a quote.
At the end of the day, we are all consumers, and this simple fact can help you brainstorm for products that are potentially profitable. Think of one small annoyance you experience every day and ask yourself what kind of product would be good to have so that you’re no longer bothered. You can also look into reviews of popular, everyday products and look for common complaints from customers.
Start your search by focusing on products that improve a popular product’s features or an opportunity to improve a buying experience. Your goal is to present a solution to a problem that customers experience every day.
The key is not just to pick up on a trend but to recognize a trend early and turn it into a business opportunity. Remember that you need to answer customer demands while there is low supply, and being present in the market early will not only allow you to rake in the sales but establish yourself as a leader as well.
Here are some website suggestions where you can check for trending products:
The idea here is to explore up-and-coming product trends then find private label products you can sell while you only have a few competitors. And because you’re working on ideas that are about to become popular on their own, advertising and marketing can be as easy as being active and creative on social media.
One way to find out what your target customers want is to know what they usually search for online—you can’t go wrong selling products that match high-volume search queries. Understanding keywords and organic traffic is an important factor when looking for the best things to buy and sell for profit.
These tools can help you find popular search terms related to products to buy and resell:
Online marketplaces also have their own search functions, which means lots of keyword data that you can use for your research. Keep an eye on the number of searches per month and overall competition for those searches.
If you want to start a product-based business, you need to source the right products. Finding a supplier that fits your business needs can be a lengthy process; however, your efforts will be worth all of the time spent.
These steps can help you source the best products with the best partner.
Let’s say you’ve narrowed your list of potential products to sell down and all of them seem so enticing with their very low wholesale cost that it’s making it hard for you to decide. Remember that shipping products to customers is one of the biggest expenses in a retail business, so it’s crucial that you factor this in in your decision making.
The following are the different shipping methods available to retailers:
Keep in mind that the size and weight of your products may make shipping more expensive. Complex products, like ones that are fragile or have moving parts, also have a higher risk of getting damaged in transit and therefore a higher risk of being returned.
There are lots of places you can source products to buy in bulk and sell online or in your store. Click through the tabs below to read about some of the best options.
Alibaba is the leading platform for wholesale trade and connects buyers with suppliers from all over the world, with a strong supplier network in China. Alibaba has a variety of wholesalers that cover nearly every product category imaginable.
The majority of Alibaba’s suppliers are located in China, so you are likely to find products at lower prices than you would from North American suppliers. However, you will often have to wait longer for your products to get to you. Additionally, it can be more difficult to vet supplier reliability. To help with this, Alibaba allows suppliers to become “Verified,” meaning they passed the factory/warehouse assessment.
Not only that, but Alibaba also offers trade assurance for any orders you place on the site, ensuring that the items you ordered are “produced to the quality you expect, paid for securely, and shipped on time.” Alibaba customer service representatives can help if that’s not the case.
Trade shows are large events where suppliers come together to showcase their products and retailers shop for goods to sell in their stores. For retailers, trade shows are a great way to see products in person, learn about the merchandise, and network with other business owners in their industry. Some trade shows even offer educational opportunities, like panel discussions and expert speakers.
Most trade shows target specific industries and require prior reservation to attend, so check out our guide to the Best Retail Trade Shows in 2023 (+ Calendar Download) to view your options and get planning.
Tundra is a free wholesale marketplace where suppliers from North America can list their products for retailers to shop. It has a wide variety of products and prides itself as a one-stop shop for small business product sourcing. Tundra also does not charge transaction or commission fees, so the price you see on a listing is what you will pay—no hidden fees.
Another great perk from Tundra? The majority of its merchandise comes without a shipping fee. Not only that, but Tundra also offers financing options, order tracking, and cash back opportunities.
Like Alibaba, DHgate is one of the largest wholesale marketplaces with the majority of its suppliers coming out of China. You can find almost anything on DHgate, and there are rarely order minimums. The marketplace, however, is known for counterfeit items, so we recommend exercising due diligence when placing an order—look for reviews, number of orders, and message the sellers. Rest assured, though, DHgate will hold your payment in escrow until you click “Order Received” in your dashboard, giving you time to file a dispute.
Tip: Shipping times vary widely between sellers, so look at the estimated delivery date before placing your order.
DHgate doesn’t have any membership fees, but you can boost your membership level as you place more orders. Once you reach VIP status, you get access to phone support.
Etsy is an online marketplace for independent artisans to list their products for people to shop. While Etsy is known primarily as a B2C marketplace, it is also a great place to find unique, artisan goods at wholesale prices. You can do this in a few ways:
Handshake is Shopify’s wholesale marketplace where wholesale sellers with Shopify stores can list and sell their wares. Handshake specializes in artisan goods, with Shopify hand-selecting the vendors that can list on the site based on reliability and trend cycles. Currently, there are about 1,500 brands on Handshake, and there are typically no order minimums, and never any additional fees.
One great thing about Handshake is that it charges no commissions or fees (for brands or retailers) other than monthly charges to run Shopify and credit card processing fees.
As with product sourcing, there are lots of options when it comes to where you can sell your bulk resell items. View the top platforms for reselling items for profit and follow the links to learn more about getting started.
Interested in dropshipping? Read our guide to How to Start a Dropshipping Business in 10 Steps in 2023.
Click through the questions below to get answers to some of your most frequently asked questions about things to buy and sell for profit.
You can make great money by flipping products to resell on marketplaces like Amazon or Etsy. Actual profits will depend on order volumes, but there is potential for your margins to be up to 10 times more than your wholesale purchase price.
The easiest products to resell are easy to store and ship, easy to source and restock, and in high demand but not part of a completely saturated market.
You can find products to resell on wholesale suppliers, trade shows, and online marketplaces like Alibaba or Tundra.
You should sell products that are small and easy to store and ship, products that are easy to source and restock, and products that are in high demand, but their market is not completely saturated with vendors.
There are lots of products that are profitable and can yield margins or double or even triple their wholesale price. A few include:
While it’s always ideal to sell products that generate the most profit, it’s important to be mindful of product quality and promote a positive brand for your business. Use our list of ideas and tips for finding the best products to sell for profit to keep you ahead of the competition.
Ready to start buying and selling for profit online? Make sure you have an impressive online store that will keep customers coming back again and again. We recommend Shopify as our top-recommended ecommerce platform for small businesses.
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