Having a reliable and trustworthy wholesale supplier is the basis of having a successful online store. The global market is huge, so regardless of what you sell, you’ll be able to find a suitable supplier. However, just because there are a lot of options out there doesn’t mean that they’re easy to find. In this guide, you’ll learn how to find the best supplier for your needs so that you can really take your business off the ground.
How reliable is their shipping?
If you can’t count on timely shipping with no hitches, it’s better not to go for that supplier. Shipping needs to be a well-oiled machine, as your whole day-to-day operations depend on it. When you’re talking to a new supplier about their shipping process, you should ask them a couple of questions.
Do they use an independent company for shipping or do they have their own team? Do they use tracking technology? How does their scheduling work? How are the items packaged and stored for transportation?
The more transparent the supplier is, the more you can trust them. Shipping is the most essential part of getting your products where they need to be, so you need to ensure that the process runs smoothly from beginning to end. It’s an especially good sign if the supplier uses tracking technology, as that means you can be on top of your shipments any time.
Do they have good customer service?
Finding a good supplier isn’t just about getting good products. It’s also about clicking, openly communicating, and knowing you can fix any issue instantly. If your potential supplier doesn’t have a customer service team, perhaps it would be better to look for someone who does.
They could be the best supplier in the world, but mistakes and issues can happen unexpectedly. Having customer service representatives standing by will allow you to get back on track more easily. Your concerns should be met with understanding and a concrete plan on how the problem should be fixed.
Whether you talk to the customer service via phone, chat, or email doesn’t matter as long as they actually hear what you have to say. Of course, it’s always a good sign when a supplier has multiple ways of contacting their customer service. Make sure to check the working hours on their website and talk to the potential supplier about this aspect of their business before you make any deals.
How much will you have to spend?
Buying products in bulk guarantees you get the cheapest price available, but prices vary from supplier to supplier. Think about your budget and how much you’re willing to spend on a quality supplier. To get a better sense of the market prices, you can always ask around first and talk to multiple suppliers.
However, be ready to be flexible on the price. This is because the price should reflect the quality of service you’re receiving, not just the quantity of the products. It’s worth it in the long run if you pay a little more, but know that you can count on the supplier to honor your deal every time you make it.
As well as that, the quality of the products isn’t the same with all suppliers. Those who have higher-quality goods to offer will often ask for a somewhat higher price. Of course, you don’t have to go for quality straight away— it all depends on the final aim of your business.
If you’re aiming towards building a brand, though, it may be worth it to work with someone who has higher quality products to offer. Your customers will come to expect the same quality or an increase in quality over the years, so choose wisely.
What variety of products do they offer?
How much variety you need will depend on the type of products you want to sell in your store. For example, those who have a fashion brand will want to look at only the best clothing wholesale suppliers that have a lot of different designs and pieces of clothing to offer.
If you sell more than one type of product, it’s even more important to find someone that can offer variety. In this scenario, the more types of products you’re able to get from one supplier, the better, as it means your business model will be less complicated.
When you have to work with more than two or three suppliers at once, it’s easier for things to go wrong and for deliveries not to be made on time. This can also drive the cost of operations up. So, when you look at a new supplier, pay special attention to the variety of products they offer.
How much experience do they have?
It’s always better to work with someone with a lot of experience in the industry. Suppliers who have worked in the same industry a while will have their business operation figured out from start to finish. They’ll have a better grip on their storage and inventory and you can expect there to be no hitches in the process, as all the kinks have been worked out.
When it comes to dealing with customers, an experienced supplier will know how to talk to you and how to tweak their operations to meet your needs and deliver the results you want. You can talk to them more openly about the partnership and you’ll know what to expect from the first day working together.
If you’re looking for something reliable and long-term, it’s always better to go for a supplier with a long-standing reputation and many years of service under their belt.
Conclusion
As you can see, there are a lot of things to take into consideration when looking for a wholesale supplier. It might take longer for you to find your perfect match, but that shouldn’t discourage you. When you’re looking for a long-term partnership, all the pieces have to fall in together easily for you to have a successful business endeavor.