One of the biggest challenges faced by small resale businesses is finding reliable, high-quality stock at great prices. Paying over the odds for inventory means that margins will be slim, or that the economics of the business won’t work at all. However, you won’t find these deals at your local retailer. You need to look in the right places. From local suppliers to liquidation pallets from big companies like Amazon, here are the best places to find bulk merchandise bargains.
Amazon Overstock Pallets
Even massive companies like Amazon sometimes end up with inventory that they can’t sell. On top of that, they have to deal with returns and items that get damaged. To get rid of this and recoup some of the money they spent on the stock, Amazon uses a network of specialised businesses to help them liquidate it. These sell Amazon overstock pallets onto resale businesses and can usually be found online.
Liquidation Websites
While Amazon tends to work with dedicated partners to liquidate its excess stock, there are also independent websites that sell products from retailers like Target and Walmart in bulk. The prices can be 50% or more below retail, although some operate via auction, so you will have to outbid others. You also have to be careful because some sites sell “mystery boxes” where you cannot be 100% sure what you will get.
Wholesale Marketplaces
When using liquidation sites, you can only buy what they have available at the time. If you want to be able to source specific items on demand, then wholesale marketplaces are a better option. These are websites like China’s Alibaba, where you can buy all kinds of goods in bulk at prices close to their manufacturing costs. These usually vet suppliers and let customers leave reviews to make it easy to find trustworthy businesses to buy from.
Local Wholesale Distributors
The best deals are not always found online, especially if you are looking for heavy or fragile items that make delivery a challenge. If that’s the case, you would be better off looking for local wholesalers or cash-and-carry warehouses. You have to transport the items yourself, but this can save you a lot of money. It can also save you time compared to ordering from overseas. You will also be able to inspect the items in person.
Conclusion
Behind the retailers that most of us interact with everyday lies a whole other marketplace where lots of bargains can be found if you’re buying in big numbers. If you want to start or resupply a simple resale business, the places recommended above are where you should start looking.
