It goes without saying that wholesale trade is big business, but be warned: big headaches are not far away if you can’t find a trustworthy wholesale supplier for your business.
Finding a quality wholesale product supplier is easier said than done, with the ability to source products from all around the world and having many options to look for them at your disposal.
In this article, we’ll dive deeper into what it takes to find a quality wholesale product supplier and what to look out for.
It is by no means a complete guide, but a reference article that can be considered a good starting point for your research efforts.
What is a wholesale supplier?
Wholesale suppliers (traditionally) are the ‘middlemen’ between the product manufacturers and you, the ambitious retailer.
Manufacturers like their products to be bought in bulk, because they need to produce and sell large volumes in order to keep their activities in the factory lean and profitable.
Of course, they could just as well sell their products directly to you or the customers, but as you and the customer probably are not looking for the order quantities the manufacturer is hoping to sell in one transaction, this is where a business opportunity arises and wholesale suppliers step in.
As the next logical step in the supply chain, wholesale suppliers can buy large quantities of product in one transaction, which they, in turn, sell in smaller quantities with a bit of markup to you, the retailer.
This way, the manufacturer does not have to focus his efforts to market their product to end consumers, which means not having to deal with considerable marketing costs.
In return, this lets the manufacturer focus on their production line and relationship with the wholesaler.
If you can find a quality and trustworthy wholesale supplier and establish a good, professional relationship, this can be a tremendous lifeline for your newly established retail business.
A wholesaler can help you bridge the gap between you and the manufacturer; in sales and transactions of course, but also in future product development requests.
How to find quality wholesale product suppliers?
Now you know why finding a quality wholesale product supplier is important, you’re ready to start looking for one.
We might give you a proper heads up here; be ready to email and call a lot. This early stage is known as intensive (desk) research as you are sourcing the internet and other resources to steer you in the right direction.
However, it is good to point out that you are certainly not limited to the internet for your research.
In any case, it can be great to also consider attending trade shows and get yourself a couple of trade publications, in order to start networking with relevant, like-minded people that can let you benefit from their own network of colleagues and acquaintances in the industry.
However, to get the most out of your research, consider all the options down below here to map out your shortlist.
- Trade shows
- Trade publications
- Peers
- Online research (niche social media groups)
- Joining trade organizations
Key questions to ask your suppliers
Whenever you are ready with your shortlist of possible wholesalers of your favorite products, it is recommended to temper your enthusiasm and stay focused on the end goal of finding a truly trustworthy and quality business partner.
A way of establishing trust is of course transparency.
You want to be able to answer all relevant questions you might have about your possible candidate upfront and with the maximum possible transparency.
Often, you can find out a lot yourself by searching for answers to a few important questions, some of which (but are not limited to the ones) we have described here down below:
- Does the supplier have a track record?
- Does the supplier have a dedicated support representative?
- Is the supplier certified with international standards?
- Is the supplier expert in your industry?
- Does the supplier have fair policies?
If you can’t find any relevant information on a question, do not be reluctant to email or call the sales representative of the wholesaler.
Pay attention to the tone and frequency of communication especially.
Does it take a long time, for example, for the sales rep to respond? Do they give clear and concise information to answer your questions in a helpful manner? All this can point out that you are dealing with a professional and organized wholesale company or a rather unprofessional and disorganized company.
It’s best to find out with which one you are dealing, before placing that large quantity order.
Here at Nastah, we’re proud of being one of the leading wholesale rubber gloves supplier and manufacturer in Malaysia.
It goes without saying, that we do our absolute best to answer your questions fully and in a timely manner in order to provide as much transparency as we can.
Conclusion
We hope we’ve pointed you in the right direction when it comes to selecting a trustworthy, quality wholesale supplier.
As mentioned, this can be a long, tedious process that requires a lot of due diligence. You might have to get creative to find one, by not relying on sourcing the internet exclusively, but by going out there and meeting people via trade shows and industry meetings.
The second important phase of research requires you to get satisfying answers to any relevant question you might have upfront.
If you find that the wholesale supplier is not completely transparent on any of these questions, you might wonder why they are not. If so, ask them again and give them the chance to correct it.
If you still do not get a rewarding answer, remember that there are still a lot of manufacturers and that finding that trustworthy, transparent business partner will benefit you and your business for years to come.
About Nastah
Nastah Industries has been designing, manufacturing, and supplying reusable unsupported natural rubber, nitrile, and neoprene rubber gloves for the general household and industries since 1987.
With a 15,000 square meter facility based in Prai Industrial Estate, Penang, Malaysia, we are known for our expertise and experience in producing high-quality rubber gloves. We carefully oversee the design, material selection, manufacturing, and finishing process to ensure each product meets the highest industry standards.
Recognized around the world for quality and service, we have been supplying 30 million pairs of rubber gloves annually to multiple industrial sectors in over 50 countries worldwide, including the US, the UK, Europe, the Middle East, Japan, Korea, China, and Vietnam.
Get in touch with us if you’re interested in learning more about what we have to offer or would like some professional advice from one of our experts.
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