This post is by online entrepreneur Kadar Khan.
Finding genuine wholesale suppliers can be like finding a needle in a haystack. The internet is an amazing place, but it’s also a breeding ground for scams of every type imaginable and the wholesale industry is not an exception.
This does not mean, however, that there are no genuine wholesale suppliers. All you need is to do your homework properly to find the real gold you can build a business on.
In this post, I am going to list some of the best US and UK wholesale sources for genuine suppliers catering to the needs of eBay and Amazon sellers. I have used many of them in the past myself, and still use some of them now.
View Top Product Sourcing ToolsTop wholesale suppliers in the US
eBay and Amazon in the US are huge markets and the competition is incredibly tough. But there are also hundreds of millions of potential buyers, and many many options for sourcing.
I have listed some of the most popular US wholesale suppliers and drop shippers here. In my experience these are well-established and genuine sources, but you still need to exercise your own common and “business” sense before dealing with any of the suppliers listed.
At a glance
| Name | Type | Cost | Features |
|
SaleHoo
|
Directory | $67 annually |
1.5 million products in 150 categories Seller training and market research lab Verified suppliers Tailored around eBay and Amazon sellers |
|
Worldwide Brands
|
Directory | $299 one-time |
BBB accredited Strict supplier screening Only genuine suppliers and drop shippers Training videos, research tools and support |
|
Liquidation.com
|
Supplier | Free |
Auctions and fixed price lots Offers invited Telephone support |
|
Big Lots
|
Supplier | Free |
Free reward program No registration required Physical stores Brand name items |
|
Tuesday Morning
|
Supplier | Free |
Physical stores No minimum order Branded items |
|
Gabe’s
|
Supplier | Free |
Reward scheme Specialists in fashions Branded items Physical stores |
SaleHoo
SaleHoo is a paid directory service with more than 8,000 suppliers on their list. It is a paid service, but still a great starting point for newbies or inexperienced sellers as all their suppliers are security screened i.e. they list only genuine suppliers with real wholesale prices.
At the time of writing, SaleHoo have 1.5 million products listed in more than 150 categories.
If you are interested in sourcing genuine brand name products in smaller quantities, then you should have a look at SaleHoo. Some of the suppliers have tailored their business specifically to eBay and Amazon sellers.
Once you become a premium member, you have access to the following resources:
- Seller Training Center
- Market Research Lab
- SaleHoo Stores
Their Market Research Lab is worth the premium membership, providing market data to assess the potential success of a particular niche or product.
Find out more about Salehoo
Worldwide Brands
Worldwide Brands also has a huge list of wholesaler suppliers, specifically catering to the needs of drop shippers. Like SaleHoo, it is a premium service where you can search for suppliers after you have paid their fee. Once you become a premium member, you have access to the following benefits:
- Wholesale scam protection
- Access to “WBI Certified” wholesalers
- Training videos
- Instant market research tools
- Dedicated forum
Find out more about Worldwide Brands
Liquidation.com
As the name indicates, Liquidation.com deals in liquidation stock. This is sold by companies with surplus stock, or that are closing down or have gone bankrupt. They have to get rid of the stock quickly, so liquidation companies can buy it very cheaply, often below cost, and resell it to retailers or wholesalers.
Liquidation.com is, in my opinion, the best liquidation company in the US. With a completed gross merchandise volume (GMV) of nearly 7 billion dollars, they are also one of the largest. They have more than 500 categories which gives you a wide selection to choose from.
You can buy items on the basis of condition, such as:
- Brand new
- Used
- Refurbished
- Customer returns
- Surplus stock
- Salvage items
The cheapest stock is salvage or faulty returns. However, I would advise you to stay away from this type of stock unless you have the expertise and time to repair faulty goods. The time and effort needed often costs more than the products are worth.
My own favorite categories are the “shelf pulls”. These are either surplus stock or ex-display items in retail stores. A major plus point for this type of goods is that they are 99% in working condition, and most branded items are still under the manufacturer warranty.
Find out more about Liquidation.com
Big Lots
If you have ever dreamed of selling genuine branded products on eBay and Amazon, Big Lots is the place to go. Generally, it is not easy for eBay or Amazon sellers to source authentic branded products. You have to contact the official distributors and obtain a license to sell the brand, and most companies won’t issue one to online sellers.
This is where Big Lots comes in. The company sells both in the US and Canada, with stocks sourced from a broad range of retail closeouts.
Big Lots has physical stores in almost every single US state. If you find a genuine bargain online, you can collect it in person. If you do happen to collect in person, do not forget to have a look around for more bargains which you may not find in their online catalog.
Visit Big Lots online
Tuesday Morning
Another excellent source to get your stock is Tuesday Morning, especially in the luggage, electronics, toys, home and garden categories.
