It is no secret that purchasing your goods in bulk from a wholesaler is an effective way to save your business money. However, deciding which wholesaler in the United States to use can be challenging, given the sheer number you have to choose from.
To make things easier for you, we have rounded up a list of the 5 best wholesale marketplaces, complete with their pros and cons.
The Top 5 Wholesalers in the United States are:
- Bwanaz – buy & sell wholesale marketplace with hassle free service
- Alibaba – multinational conglomerate company
- Costco – offering fast delivery
- Michaels – supplies online or at a store
- Importers Direct Wholesale Co. – operating since 1998
Bwanaz
Website: www.bwanaz.com
California-based Bwanaz has been in the wholesaler industry since 2017 and has already accumulated a huge following. Some of their major partnerships include Microsoft, Walmart and Bloomingdales. Their passion for supporting local businesses and choosing to only work with the highest quality manufacturers, as well as their wide range of products, are largely the reasons for their success.
Product categories:
- Apparel
- Jewellery
- Beauty & makeup
- Furniture
- Bags
- Pet supplies
- Food & drink
- Gaming
- Gifts
- Homewares
- Fitness
Pros:
- Free membership
- Free shipping
- Wide range of products
- Product images
- Solid returns policy
- Available worldwide
- Minimum order of $50
- Product recommendations
- 3-month free trial for new sellers
Cons:
- Not as many product categories as some other marketplaces (e.g. no vehicles).
Alibaba
Website: www.alibaba.com
Alibaba has become one of the globe’s biggest wholesaler marketplaces since its launch in 1999, and has garnered millions of users across nearly 200 countries. Alibaba is constantly evolving, with their new mobile application and language translation services. One of its most useful features is its popular product filter, which showcases the top trending products worldwide. This can help small businesses stay current in today’s competitive marketplace.
Product categories:
- Electronics
- Packaging
- Vehicles
- Apparel
- Machinery
- Jewellery
- Gaming
- Beauty & makeup
- Fitness
- Chemicals and plastics
- Furniture
- Textiles
- Bags
- Pet supplies
- Food & drink
- Gifts
- Homewares
Pros:
- Financing solutions
- Discount coupons
- Inspection services
- Available worldwide
- Filter products by popularity
- Detailed product and supplier information
- 24/7 customer service support
- Wide range of products
- Free membership
- Solid returns policy
- Minimum order of $50
- 3-month free trial for new sellers
Cons:
- High minimum order quantities and costs
- Costly seller subscriptions.
Costco
Website: www.costco.com
Costco is a name that needs no introduction, though we’ll give you one anyway. Launched in 1983, the American giant is dominating the global wholesaler landscape, with 770 outlets worldwide – 3 in Sydney alone. While they are known predominantly for their bulk grocery services, they actually offer a vast range of products, from insurance to pharmaceuticals.
Product categories:
- Apparel
- Beauty & makeup
- Appliances
- Furniture
- Food & drink
- Pharmaceuticals
- Office products
- Homewares
- Baby
- Pet supplies
- Books
- Toys
- Tires and vehicle supplies
- Jewellery
- Glasses & watches
- Sports gear
- Outdoor supplies
- Gaming
- Gift cards & tickets
- Insurance
- Travel
- Funeral
- Electronics
- Seasonal & holiday
- Gifts
Pros:
- Huge range of products
- Large number of outlets
- Points reward system
- Cheap membership – $55 annually
- Good returns policy
- Discount offers
- Available worldwide
- Low minimum order – $35
- Good customer service support
Cons:
- Membership fees.
Michaels
Website: www.michaels.com
While you might not have heard of them, Texas-based Michaels is actually the oldest wholesaler on this list. Michaels has been around since 1973, and its success lies in its focus on selling arts & crafts goods. Their products are high-quality and available to bulk-buy, which makes them a favourite with teachers, gift stores, hobbyists and artists alike.
Product categories:
- Art supplies
- Jewellery and beads
- Floral
- Décor
- Party
- Baking supplies
- Frames
- Fabric
- Papercraft
- Wedding
- Seasonal and holiday
- Teaching supplies
- Knitting and crochet
- Kids
- Crafts and hobbies
Pros:
- Bulk-buying
- Free membership
- Free shipping on orders over $49
- Order tracking
- Good range of arts and crafts products
- Tax exemption for small businesses
- Good returns policy
- Teacher, military and seniors discounts
- Solid customer service support
- Creative project ideas
Cons:
- Not as wide a range of products as other wholesalers.
Importers Direct Wholesale Co.
Website: www.idwco.net
Importers Direct Wholesale Co. (IDWCO) was founded in Los Angeles in 1998 with a focus on the alcoholic beverage market, selling premium, world-class wine, spirits and other alcoholic drinks at affordable prices. Their range of products is impressive, making them an excellent choice for bottle shops and bars.
Product categories:
- Beer
- Vodka
- Wine
- Tequila
- Brandy
- Sparkling
- Whisky
- Cognac
- Liquor
Pros:
- Wide range of alcoholic beverages
- Easy-to-use website
- Bulk-buying
- Available worldwide
Cons:
- Prices not listed on their website
- Membership fees and other information not supplied on their website
- Poor online presence.
Conclusion
Your decision on which wholesaler to use will depend on various factors, such as the products you are looking to buy and how competitive their prices are. That being said, when it comes to selecting the best general wholesaler overall, it is hard to beat Bwanaz. Their wide product range and their exceptionally low minimum order price make them highly competitive despite only being new to the market.
Before choosing a supplier, the first thing you should do is decide how you want your orders to be fulfilled. Some wholesalers provide dropshipping (in which they take care of the entire order fulfillment process), whereas others offer self-fulfillment (in which you are responsible). Alternatively, you might opt to work with a third-party fulfillment company. Make sure that the wholesaler you select can work with the order fulfillment method you want to use.
Once you have decided which order fulfillment method you want to use and have selected a supplier, it is important that your first contact with the business is done professionally in order to have a smooth experience. Ensure that the first contact you have with the wholesaler is productive; their service team may be quite large, so ensure that you get the name of the person that you speak to and introduce yourself properly. This will make it easier to speak to the same person next time and establish a good relationship with them.
Keep in mind that it is often possible to barter for better prices. Whilst some wholesalers will provide regular discounts to their clients, you may have to show them that you have something to bargain with. This might be through introducing them to new markets, mentioning competition, consolidating purchase orders or bundling different types of products.
Cameron Dickerson is a seasoned journalist with nearly 10 years experience. While studying journalism at the University of Missouri, Cameron found a passion for finding engaging stories. As a contributor to Kev’s Best, Cameron mostly covers state and national developments.