ArtShine: What is Wholesaling?

Friday, October 7, 2011

What is Wholesaling?

Wholesaling is distributing the sale of goods or merchandise to retailers for resale purpose. Wholesaler buys goods in bulk quantities from either manufacturers or importers, and then sells in smaller quantities to retail stores.

As an Artist or a Designer you can also choose to be a wholesaler where you can sell to retailers in a large quantity.

For an artist you could print your artwork and sell them as prints or use your artwork to create greeting cards, stationary etc. and then wholesale your products.

For a fashion designer you can too sell your label wholesale to retailer boutiques or department stores.

One of the keys to successful wholesaling is to attract your ideal retailers to buy your products. The best and the quickest way to connect with your retailers is to participate in trade shows.

A trade show is a meeting place for retailers & wholesalers in one location, generally held over the course of a few days, where wholesalers of a certain industry can exhibit their product or service. Trade shows allow exhibitors to reach a large number of customers in a short period of time, where they can promote their brand face-to-face, leading to sales, established relationships, and industry contacts.

Trade shows are usually held in convention centers that can accommodate numerous exhibitors. They generally occur once or twice a year that not only encompasses exhibiting on the trade show floor, but attending industry related workshops, conferences, and meetings. The purpose of a trade show is for wholesalers to connect or re-connect with existing or new retailers also to meet competitors, establish business contacts, and to establish potential sales.

Here are some of the popular trade shows that an artist or a designer could participate if you decide to be a wholesaler.