How to Sell a Product Wholesale
How to Sell a Product Wholesale
Introduction
Selling wholesale is one of the smartest ways to grow a business. Instead of selling products one by one, you will move them in bulk, bringing in steady income while building long-term relationships with buyers. But the thing is that wholesale is not only just about putting a discount on your product and hoping that retailers will buy. If you don’t have a solid strategy, you could end up losing money or struggling to find buyers.
If you’re serious about selling wholesale and making it profitable, you need to do a few key things right. You need to price your product in a way which is certain that you will still make money, find the right wholesale buyers, and keep them coming back. Let’s go step by step so you can do this the right way.
Step 1: Make Sure Your Product is Wholesale-Ready
Before you even think about selling wholesale, ask yourself: Is my product ready for bulk orders? Wholesale buyers want consistency, good packaging, and a product that will sell in their store. If your product is handmade and takes too long to produce, or if you’re constantly running out of stock, you’ll struggle to keep up with wholesale demand, so it’s not advisable to whole sell such products.
Below are tips to know if your product is truly wholesale-ready:
Scalability – Can you produce enough of your product quickly without sacrificing quality for quantity? Wholesale means delivering large orders on a regular basis, so you need to make sure your production process can handle this.
Packaging & Branding – Wholesale buyers want products that look professional. Does your packaging look like something that could sit on a store shelf? Does your branding stand out?
Demand – Be honest, do people want your product? If you’re already making regular sales on platforms like Orah, Etsy, or Amazon, that’s a good sign. Wholesale buyers want products that already have a high demand.
If your product is not ready for wholesale, you can take some time out, to adjust your production and branding before jumping in. It will save you a lot of stress down the line.
Step 2: Find the Right Wholesale Buyers
Now that your product is ready, the next step is finding buyers who actually want to purchase in bulk. The good news is that there are plenty of businesses out there looking for new products to sell. The challenge is knowing where to find them.
- List Your Products on Wholesale Marketplaces
Wholesale marketplaces are platforms designed to connect brands with retailers looking to stock new inventory. Some of the best platforms to list your products on include:
Orah – An e-commerce platform that helps small businesses connect with ready retailers across Nigeria. It’s a great place to sell wholesale if you want to reach independent shops within a short span of time. It’s free, and you only pay a small agreed commission, after your wholesale products have been sold successfully.
Faire – This is one of the biggest wholesale marketplaces, great for getting your products into small boutiques and stores.
Tundra – This is a commission-free wholesale marketplace, meaning you keep more of your profits.
Alibaba – If you’re looking for large-scale buyers, especially internationally, Alibaba is a strong option for you to try.
These platforms make it easy for retailers to find and order your products, so having a presence on them can help bring in wholesale buyers without you having to do too much local outreach by yourself.
- Contact Retailers Directly
If you want to land wholesale buyers faster, don’t wait for them to come to you—go to them. Look for stores, boutiques, and online retailers that sell similar products to yours and reach out with a detailed, concise, yet personalized email introducing your brand.
Here’s an example of an effective email pitch:
Subject: Your Store(retailer’s) + [Your Product Name] = A Perfect Match
Hi [Retailer’s Name],
I recently came across [Store Name] and absolutely love your selection of [related products they sell]. I believe my [Product Name] would be a great addition to your store. Our products are [go ahead and mention unique features.], and customers love them.
I would be delighted to send you a free sample and discuss our wholesale pricing. Let me know if you would be open to a short chat next week. Looking forward to working with you.
Best,
[Your Name]
[Your Business Name]
[Your Contact Information]
Retailers get tons of emails, so keep it short, personal, and give them something valuable—like a free sample or an exclusive deal, which will prompt them to consider yours.
Step 3: Offer Wholesale Deals Retailers Can’t Ignore
Wholesale buyers are looking for the best deals, reliability, and products that will sell fast. If you want to convince them to buy from you, your offer has to be attractive enough.
Here are some ways to make your wholesale offer irresistible:
Volume discounts – Offer lower prices for bigger orders. For example, “Order 100 products and get a 10% discount.”
First-time buyer incentives – Give retailers a small discount on their first order to encourage them to try your products.
Fast & reliable shipping – Retailers don’t want to wait forever for products to get to them. If you can deliver fast, make sure you highlight that.
Step 4: Market Your Wholesale Business Like a Pro
Even in wholesale, marketing matters. The more people know about your wholesale offer, the easier it is to attract buyers.
- Use Social Media to Attract Wholesale Buyers
Your Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn should not just be for retail customers—let wholesale buyers also know that they can buy in bulk, too. Post about your wholesale deals, share behind-the-scenes production content, and point out the stores that are already buying your products in bulk.
For example, if a boutique just placed a big order, post about it. Get permission to tag them and show other retailers that your products are really in demand.
- Make Use of Website for Wholesale Sales
If you have a website, you can create a special page for Wholesale that includes:
- Who your ideal wholesale customers are
- Wholesale pricing details (or how they can ask about them)
- Minimum order quantities (in case retailers don’t want to buy too much for the first time)
- A simple form where retailers can apply for wholesale accounts
Having this page makes your business look more professional and it definitely makes it easy for buyers to take the next step.
Step 5: Keep Wholesale Buyers Coming Back
Getting a wholesale customer is amazing, but if they only buy once and never come back, then something may be wrong. Your goal should be to build strong relationships with wholesale buyers so that they keep coming back for more orders.
Here’s how to do that:
Check in after their first order – Ask how the product is selling and if they need more.
Make ordering easy – The smoother your process, the more likely they are to come back and stick with you.
A loyal wholesale buyer can bring in consistent revenue for a very long time, so treat them well, and they will keep buying from you.
Conclusion
Selling wholesale is not only about selling in bulk—it’s about creating a business that retailers trust. By making sure that your product is wholesale-ready, finding the right buyers, providing great deals, and keeping your customers happy, you can grow your business faster than ever.
Whether you’re using Orah, Faire, or reaching out to retailers directly, the key is being smart and making it easy for buyers to say yes. With the right strategies, your products will not only be stocked in stores across the country, but even around the world.
[…] must be store-friendly – Retailers will buy at wholesale prices, which is usually 50% of the retail price. Make sure that your pricing structure […]