Articles & Guides
65 articles on wholesale buying, selling and industry strategy
Before buying stock for Amazon, test the product at a price you might actually get
The gap between a supplier price and an Amazon listing price is not your profit. Test the exact product, likely selling price and complete cost before committing.
Free delivery is not free: setting a wholesale order threshold that earns its keep
A £300 order may be cheaper to serve than a £500 one. Product margin, picking work and the delivery route matter more than basket value alone.
One shelf, three sales channels: how to stop selling the same stock twice
A wholesale order, a website checkout and a marketplace sale can all reach for the same ten units. Clear reservation rules prevent three promises becoming two apologies.
The 5% supplier discount that can leave you worse off
Doubling an order to earn a lower price can be expensive. Compare the complete buying cycle before calling the discount a saving.
Buying liquidation pallets: price the saleable stock, not the retail-value headline
A pallet advertised at £8,000 retail value can still be a poor £1,000 purchase. The useful number is what you can recover after sorting, selling and dealing with the rest.
Batch traceability for wholesalers: linking receipts, stock movements and dispatches
When a supplier queries one batch, can you find who received it? Keep the reference connected as cartons open, stock moves and orders leave.
Split shipments: deciding when a partial wholesale delivery is worth the extra cost
Sending available goods early can help, or create a second bill for little benefit. Ask what the customer can actually use before splitting the order.
Packaging trials: how to compare protection, packing time and delivery cost
A cheaper carton may create a dearer parcel. Test packing time, transport charges and arrival condition before calling the change a saving.
Supplier scorecards: measuring delivery, quality and claim resolution fairly
A useful supplier scorecard explains the work behind the price. Measure real deliveries and claim resolution, then agree something concrete to improve.
Goods receiving: how to reconcile shortages, damage and supplier paperwork
Ten cartons can still contain a shortage. Record what actually arrived so stock availability, supplier claims and invoice checks start from the same facts.
Slow-moving wholesale stock: how to choose between keeping, bundling and clearing
Before discounting familiar cartons on a quiet shelf, find out why they stopped selling, and give the next plan an end date.
Wholesale returns: building a process for damaged, faulty and unwanted stock
A box in the returns area needs a decision, not just a location. Connect inspection, stock status and the customer’s credit.
Cycle counting: how to improve stock accuracy without a full shutdown
Changing eight items to five fixes the balance, but not the cause. Use regular counts to find out why your stock records drift.
How to create product data that wholesale customers can actually use
If customers keep asking whether the price is for one or a box, the catalogue needs work. Make product data answer the useful questions.
OEM or ODM manufacturing: choosing the right route for a product
Your design or the factory’s existing product? Look beyond OEM and ODM labels to the development work, rights and responsibilities involved.
Pre-shipment inspection: a practical briefing for wholesale buyers
“Check the quality” leaves too much open. Give an inspector the detail needed to decide whether this batch is ready to ship.
How to approve a manufacturing sample before placing a production order
The sample looks good. Can the factory reproduce it? Turn approval into a clear reference for the batch you are about to buy.
Is SAP the Best Option for Automating an Independent Wholesale Business?
SAP can connect a wholesaler’s purchasing, stock, sales and accounts. But which SAP product fits, and when would a simpler system be a better buy?
Managing backorders without losing wholesale customers
Customers can sometimes work around a delay. Give them clear choices, credible dates and a next update they can rely on.
Dropshipping supplier service levels: what to agree before you launch
Someone else sends the parcel, but you own the customer conversation. Test the dropshipping service before promising it on your website.
How to compare 3PL fulfilment quotations without missing hidden costs
A low pick fee is only one line on the bill. Follow real orders through a 3PL’s charges to see what fulfilment will cost.
LCL or FCL shipping: how to compare the full container decision
You need not fill a container to book one. Compare the full journey without letting freight savings push you into unwanted stock.
Choosing a freight forwarder: questions to ask before booking
A forwarder earns its fee when the journey becomes difficult. Compare the complete service and find out who will handle the exceptions.
How to calculate landed cost before comparing wholesale quotations
A £6 product can cost £7.50 by the time you have saleable stock. Follow the costs before choosing between quotations.