Thread: Where to buy wholesale??

Hi guys, thinking of setting up a side project for an ecommerce store. I have just one question though...

Where exactly do you buy the items you intend to sell. eg, if im selling shoes, who actually supplys me with the crate full of shoes i can sell on?? This is all just an idea at the moment so Im a bit green.

Help much appreciated!!!

It depends on what you want to sell...

If you were looking to sell "branded" goods, then the main distributor would be a starting point.

If it's "generics" then there are plenty of marketplaces out there that specialise in putting businesses in touch with exporters from various parts of Asia etc

ok, 100 points jump to mind instantly:

1. If you dont know where to source the product are you sure you know enough about the industry to compete?

2. The internet has different models - affiliate and drop-shipping are probably for you - BUT (and this is a big but) - you need to know how to get traffic. If you want to own a shoe store but dont know where to buy shoes then I'm guessing your jumping in with lots of enthusiasm but little know-how

3. I have a rule for web businesses - just cos you can, doesn't mean you have to. In other words, just cos you can build a shoe store, doesn't make it a good idea. There are thousands of companies in Ireland selling shoes. I know shoes was an example. Chances are that if there is no shoe sites (which there are) - then there is a reason

4. Billions of people - and I've met most of them - have this idea (wtf) - "Build it and they will come". This doesn't happen. People never believe me. I have their analytics to prove it. If I look into my crystal ball here's what I see "When you see the first design for your new site you'll be so bowled over by it that you won't believe how millions of people will just happen upon it and they'll refer it to their friends and then within 8 hours of going live you'll being making offers for Google..." no seriously, you probably will argue that if it just "ticks over, maybe it'll generate a couple of grand" ...yip, it's that easy, just tip away. Ain't gonna happen

5. There are very few sites that dont have big advertising money - or are not run by SEO's/online marketers - that just tip away and make money. Ask any web business owner here - it's a business - put nothing it, getting nothing back. Put loads in, you might do ok.

But dont listen to me. Go build your site. If you have customers, you'll find a supplier. HAve fun. I will say this - DO setup a website, do learn, do fret about bounce rates, visitor traffic, Google SERP's. Do this before you spend big money. Then go and do it again but do it right. Best honest advice I can gives ya

You can try selling goods via dropshipping.

I have a good list of suppliers who will dropship (not a list really, I know these guys personally)

Let me know what type of products you are interested in selling online and I will see if I know anyone who can help with supplying.

Try a company called china green in dublin to help you

Originally Posted by dropbop

You can try selling goods via dropshipping.

I have a good list of suppliers who will dropship (not a list really, I know these guys personally)

Let me know what type of products you are interested in selling online and I will see if I know anyone who can help with supplying.

Would you have any contacts in the health supplements or other sporting goods areas?

Good advice Link8r! People and indeed web professionals can be quite naive when it comes to setting up the online presence. I get people\friends coming to me all the time.. "I have this Idea" syndrome...

Originally Posted by link8r

ok, 100 points jump to mind instantly:

1. If you dont know where to source the product are you sure you know enough about the industry to compete?

Is it ok if i put up a link suggesting a wholesale site where Expand.ie can find reputable shoe distributors and at the same time get lessons on how to set up his dropshipping/affiliate business for free? I just started using them in November 2009.

Its gonna be an affiliate link btw

Originally Posted by dapo

Its gonna be an affiliate link btw

No, that's not ok