Owned by the Yeh Family, Oriental Art Supply (OAS) has been in business for near 5 decades! Bringing the 500 year old tradition of Chinese Brush Painting to countless students, aspiring artists and appreciators of Chinese and Asian art and culture.
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Inspired by an absence of high quality Chinese art supplies and instruction for Western students, OAS was created to offer all the tools necessary to experience a lifetime of joy, artistic expression, and creative development through the study of Chinese Brush Painting, Calligraphy and Sumi-e.
Join Our FamilyWholesale trade is worth about $670 billion dollars annually in the US alone, and the industry has grown by more than 38% since .
Those are hard numbers for sellers to ignore, which is why more of them, especially dropshippers, are scrambling for a piece of the wholesale ecommerce pie.
Still, you cant sell a product you dont have. The biggest challenge in sourcing products is finding a supplier you can trust. With scores of wholesale options all around the world, finding the best supplier for your online business can feel overwhelming.
But it doesnt need to. With Shopify Collective, you can discover high-quality products from Shopify brands to sell through your online store. Another option is a marketplace like Faire, which offers products from thousands of independent brands.
If youre already on Shopify, you can use the Faire: Buy Wholesale product sourcing app to buy wholesale products and sync them to your store. If you want to sell wholesale, you can try the Faire: Sell Wholesale app to gain exposure to independent retailers globally.
Ahead, learn how wholesale buying works, explore additional options, and learn how to find the perfect wholesale or dropshipping suppliers for your needs.
A wholesale supplier is a business that buys goods directly from the manufacturer and sells them to brick-and-mortar or online retailers for a profit. The wholesale model soared in popularity with the onset of mass production and marketing techniques in the 19th century.
Without wholesalers, manufacturers would have to market goods to retailers on their own. Instead, wholesale vendors act as middlemen in the supply chain.
They buy from manufacturers in such large quantities they get a significant discount, which they can then pass on to retailers. They normally have a product license and, as such, their products are not available to regular customersor at least not at the same price points they offer to retail partners.
Retailers then repackage the wholesale products for individual sale at a profit. Price is always negotiable, but dropshippers and other retailers typically pay wholesalers 60% to 70% of what they charge consumers.
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With so many options, finding the best suppliers for your business can be daunting. Here are a few things to bear in mind:
Another concern for merchants is how to find suppliers who can handle a quick turnaround. Meeting this window is crucial, as consumers expect products to arrive within three business days.
So how do you find legitimate, quality wholesale suppliers? The following are all wholesale supplier marketplaces you can order products from.
If your online business curates a wide variety of products or is competing on price, consider working with some of the following wholesalers.
The Ali family of websites is Chinas most dominant online marketplace, comparable to Amazon in the US. Research shows it has a 63% share of the domestic (Chinese) ecommerce market. Alibaba is a wholesale supplier directory aimed at a B2B audience, while AliExpress is a B2C experience.
If youre looking to conduct a limited trial run, AliExpress might be a wise choice before going all-in on wholesale with Alibaba. The Ali family of websites is ideal for:
One of the best things about working with suppliers based in China is ePacket delivery, which makes shipping much faster and more affordable than it used to be. This is because in , the US Postal Service made ePacket delivery eligible for First Class service and delivery confirmation.
DHgate is another wholesale supplier based in China. DHgate has lower prices on a lot of wholesale products, but is known for carrying a lot of replica goods. If thats not an issue for your business, its worth digging through deals to see what you can unearth.
DHgate is best for:
Sometimes its best to pick a wholesale supplier based on geography. Fast delivery is increasingly a priority for modern consumers. If youre in North America or Europe, then these are the wholesalers you should know about.
EK Wholesale is based in Scotland and has been around for more than 30 years, making it one of the leading wholesale suppliers for merchants who do business in Europe. EK is known for carrying high-quality products, and offers free delivery to the UK mainland on orders of £250 or more. Other benefits include:
If most of your customers are based in the EU or your business specializes in the fashion niche, then working with EK Wholesale might be the best option for you.
Faire is ideal for merchants based in North America. It has a wide variety of suppliers based on the continentand a wide variety of goods, including beauty, kitchen, pets, and bags.
Faire is also good for dropshippers looking to save on shipping costs. The free shipping bonus could really make a difference to your business, especially if youre new to the world of dropshipping.
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If you already know what youre doing when it comes to dropshipping, take a look at some of the following options. Experienced dropshippers who are comfortable navigating clunky websites, or those with a very specific niche, are sure to find some great price points.
Wholesale Central has more than 1,400 suppliers, more than 700,000 products, and requires no membership fees. Its website isnt flashy, but if you know what youre looking for and have some experience wholesaling, this can be a solid option.
If youre eager to get started on your dropshipping journey, not having a registration waiting period makes Wholesale Central a solid option.
IndiaMarts range of suppliers is staggeringit stocks the usual consumer goods, plus a few specific industries. Depending on the wholesale product youre pursuing, this could be your best choice. Heres why:
IndiaMarts strength lies in its niches. Few wholesale vendors have contact with the industries that IndiaMart does.
If you have the patience to dig through the options weve laid out, youre bound to find suppliers that suit your business. Just make sure to avoid some of the common pitfalls:
If youre just starting your dropshipping journey and need a little extra help, consider a dropshipping app. An app syncs with your Shopify account, meaning you can add products directly to your online store. Dropshipping avoids the stress of packaging, shipping, and managing inventory.
For businesses that wholesale products, the goal is to select and curate the best wholesale products for customers, while handling all the marketing and customer service.
But those products have to come from somewhere. Otherwise, youd have to develop your own products and supply chain. Thats where wholesale suppliers come in. There are many advantages to working with wholesalers:
Dropshipping is a fulfillment method where an online store doesnt keep the products it sells in stock. Instead, the store will purchase products from a third-party supplier and have them shipped directly to the customer. As a result, the seller never handles the products directly.
Think of it as wholesale purchasing meets third-party fulfillment (as opposed to regular retailers who buy wholesaleor develop and manufacture their own productsand handle fulfillment on their own).
Learn more: 150+ Dropshipping Products to Sell for Profit
Using wholesale supplier marketplaces is the simplest way to connect with a wholesale supplier, but its not the only way.
Those willing to stray from the beaten path just might find a great deal lurking around the corner. Other options for finding reliable and trustworthy suppliers include:
Those willing to meet and greet a wholesaler live may find a solution thats ideal for their unique business needs. Some people work better in person, and building a business relationship face to face can lead to increased trust and cheaper prices for wholesale purchases down the line.
Once youve found your ideal wholesale supplier, its time to reach out and take the next steps.
Before you pick up the , ensure you have the necessary business license and tax documents on hand. You wont be able to place an order at some companiesor even get their attentionwithout this information.
Rules for dealing with certified wholesalers vary from state to state. (Do your research.) Wholesale suppliers often have a special product license, meaning they legally cannot do business with consumers, only other businesses.
When you do call, here are key questions to ask:
Ask clear, direct questions that will help you find answers to your most important questions.
Im thinking of maybe starting a dropshipping business sometime soon is the type of vague that a busy wholesaler might just ignore. But straightforward questions that show you mean businesssuch as, Whats your best price for 250 units per month?are more likely to get a reply.
And rememberoftentimes, you can negotiate with wholesale suppliers. Dont be afraid to push back if the numbers theyre quoting wont work for your margins.
Youve done all the homework and are almost ready to come to an agreement with your wholesale supplier. But before you sign that contract, here are a few more things to check:
Next, here are some special considerations for popular products available to wholesale, along with some things youll need to keep your eye on before placing a large order.
When selecting among top wholesale suppliers, its important to consider what kinds of products youre selling. While two suppliers may be roughly the same for general merchandise, one may be the ideal supplier for a specific niche. Here are some tips for specific wholesale items and industries.
When youre looking for the right wholesale watch or jewelry supplier, make sure the wholesaler mentions the following key information. If they dont, you might want to keep looking for another supplier.
Fashion is highly popular among dropshippers, and the possibilities are constantly changing in line with the latest trends. A couple things that can make or break a fashion wholesaler are:
Learn more: What Is Print on Demand and How To Start a Business ()
Selling coffee online has an easy entry point, with its own considerations:
Sourcing a supplier feels like a roadblock: You cant open an online store until you have something to sell. But its never been easier to find a reliable wholesaler of quality products (who also delivers on time).
Find a well-reviewed wholesaler whos familiar with your niche, get a few samples, negotiate a price, and open that online store.
The best wholesale website depends on the type of products you are looking for. Some of the most popular wholesale websites include AliExpress, DHgate, Alibaba, and Amazon.com.
Many wholesale suppliers dont sell to consumers directly, either by choice or by law. To benefit from wholesale prices, youll likely need to take a few steps toward starting a business, including opening a business bank account and getting an employer identification number (EIN).
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