7 min. read
How to find Wholesalers in the UK?
At present, it’s very challenging to operate a small retail shop, eCommerce, or online shop, especially to sourcing the product from the right place at a competitive price. If your competitor purchases the same products cheaper than you, you will definitely lose from the race of business within a short time. If you operate an e-commerce store or a physical shop that sells UK-made products, then you must know how to find a good wholesale supplier in the UK. In this article, we have given comprehensive guidelines for finding Wholesale suppliers in the UK
What is Wholesale Supplier
Wholesale suppliers sell products or goods in bulk quantities to retailers, businesses, or other organizations. Most of the time, wholesale suppliers are third-party business entities that purchase goods from manufacturers and sell them to other small retailers or business owners. Sometimes, manufacturers play the role as wholesale suppliers. They do not operate stores & not sell directly to consumers. These suppliers typically offer discounted prices per unit because of the larger volume of goods purchased. Wholesale suppliers typically deal with bulk orders.
How to find Wholesalers UK
We have identified several effective methods to find wholesalers in the UK. In the following discussion, we will delve into each approach in detail, providing comprehensive insights to help you in your search for reliable suppliers.
1. Find From Distribution Channels
A product can go from the manufacturer to the retailer in various ways. Wholesalers serve different markets. When you understand your industry’s supply chain and distribution channels, you can find it easier to locate a suitable wholesale supplier for your business. Various kinds of wholesalers include the following:
- Jobbers: These businesspeople deliver products daily to local brick-and-mortar stores and grocers.
- Exclusive Distributor/Importer: A firm may have the sole importation and distribution right to a product in a particular country. Some companies might sell products directly to retailers. Others sell the goods to smaller local wholesalers who then sell to retail stores.
- Regional Distributor/Wholesaler: These are regional wholesalers who take deliveries to boxcar-sized lots and then sell to local wholesalers. The wholesalers then sell the products to local enterprises.
- Manufacturers: Retailers can buy some products directly from the manufacturers. For instance, boutique stores usually purchase products from small manufacturers, including those owned by one individual.
Some retailers buy enough goods to bypass jobbers. In smaller industries, importers can sell directly to the retailers. All industries have unique distribution channels that can differ by region, product, or country.
When you first start as a retailer, you will purchase products from smaller wholesalers at higher costs. When your volume gradually increases, you can get better pricing or move up the supply ladder to larger wholesalers.
2. Wholesale Directory, or Phone Book Listings
Start contacting wholesale distributors by either using the list you got from the manufacturer, a wholesale directory, or phonebook listings.
To receive a quick response from wholesalers, reach out to them specifying your preferred regions and minimum order requirements. To find the right wholesaler based on your business, remain honest about what you are seeking, and do not try to make it sound larger than it is. Also, feel free to inform the individuals you are speaking with that you are performing research and comparing competitors too. This way, you can get better prices, even if you are a small retailer.
3. Find Wholesale Supplier Online Like Pro
If you perform a search for wholesalers online, do not just search for general distributors or wholesalers. Make sure you include keywords from your niche or products. Try model numbers, product names, and brand names. If you find that a potential distributor lacks a readily available phone number or email address, you can perform a WHOIS search to find the website owner’s contact details. When searching for wholesale suppliers online, it’s important to evaluate their ratings, reputation, and customer feedback. Not just that by finding many potential wholesalers in the UK, you can compare them better and have an idea of what the typical industry prices are, and obtain competitive quotes. Using this technique we have found the 15 Best Cosmetics Wholesalers in the UK
4. Business-to-business (B2B) marketplaces
Large B2B marketplaces are available online where you can purchase products in bulk at low prices. One of the largest B2B marketplaces for importers, manufacturers, and wholesale distributors is Alibaba.com. Other marketplaces include:
- Alibaba
- Amazon Business
- Global Sources (USA)
- eworldtrade.com
Search for online wholesalers in U.K that serve your region. Industry-specific marketplaces are also available. They can either serve one nation or retailers in many countries.
5. Professional Wholesale Suppliers Networks
The more experienced retailers in your niche or industry can be a great source of information regarding wholesalers. Yet, some retailers might not be eager to provide competitors with supplier information. Therefore, invest time in networking to build connections and trust to help you find suitable wholesale suppliers for your business.
Online forums can be a good source of information. By participating in the forums, you can get advice from other individuals with experience in your industry or market. You can also build your professional connections by subscribing to industry newsletters, building your LinkedIn profile, and joining small business networking groups to build professional connections.
6. Trade shows
Trade shows can help you build and grow your business. They are meant for retailers to connect with manufacturers and distributors. Trade shows are exhibitions where distributors, manufacturers, and wholesale dealers showcase their products. Retailers attend the events to learn about new products and create connections with wholesale distributors. When you have time, attending a trade show can enable you to vet many different products in person. Furthermore, the representatives from every wholesale supplier can answer your questions. Every industry has a trade show. You can search for upcoming trade shows in your area online by date, industry, event name, or state.
7. Find Manufacturer
If you do not find wholesaler suppliers using the previous steps, sourcing products from manufacturers is the only solution for you. The main benefit of sourcing products from manufacturers is you can eliminate middlemen from the equation. If you usually sell branded products, you can go directly to the product’s manufacturer.
Request the product’s sample so you can inspect its quality to ensure it is something you wish to sell. The manufacturer may sell some products to you based on their minimum order requirements. If you cannot meet the minimum order requirements, or the manufacturers only sell through established distribution channels, request them to give you a list of reputable wholesale suppliers you can contact.
Regarding supply chains, when more steps are involved, there are more links present. At times, this is called “margin stacking,” where every business linked with the supply chain takes some part of the profit. When you go through fewer people, your costs can be lower, and you can make more profits.
FAQ
Can I purchase products at wholesale prices when I don’t have a business?
Yes, you can buy products wholesale without a business license. You can buy them as a consumer. You can look for the products you want through business-to-business online marketplaces, check local event listings, and browse online forums.
Which is the largest wholesaler in the UK?
Bookers/ Booker / Booker Groups Booker is the leading wholesaler in the U.K. Tesco acquired this wholesaler that serves over 400,000 customers in different industries like general stores, independent retailers, pubs, restaurants, and bars, among others. Booker offers cash and carry and delivery.
Which payment options do suppliers and wholesalers accept?
After settling on a supplier, you need to determine which payment options are ideal for your budget, and how you can plan to negotiate. When raising money to buy wholesale stock, the options available are like those of purchasing anything else for your business. You can arrange a loan, pay upfront, use a credit card, or get an overdraft from your bank. The requirements and size of your business and the wholesale distributor you are dealing with can heavily influence the option you choose. Yet, typically, retailers use overdrafts to cover wholesale purchases.
Can I get a warranty from a wholesaler?
Warranties are written guarantees that a product’s manufacturer issues to its purchaser promising to replace or repair it within a specified time. Reputable wholesalers usually offer refunds or exchanges for faulty products and can replace any faulty stock. However, they are not legally bound to replace such stock as high street stores are required to do.
Conclusion
Working with wholesalers regarding bulk buying for resale in U.K. is a viable and fine business model that anybody can start to pursue and achieve success. It is a simple way to start building a brand that can excite consumers and bring in revenue daily. To succeed, you must prepare well. You should put in the effort to research and find an excellent wholesale supplier and then price and brand your products well. You now know the answer to the question of how to find wholesale suppliers in the U.K. Locating suppliers that are an excellent fit for your business is a critical decision that can help you to succeed.