Find Top Wholesalers & Retail Services Near You

Wholesalers & Retail Services Near You

There are over 131,000 businesses in the retail industry in Australia (Statista, 2019). The rise of ecommerce and more accessible and convenient online shopping options means competition is fierce. As a small retailer, you need to ensure you have good systems in place and strong supplier relationships to build a successful business. At SavvySME, we can help you connect with the right suppliers and industry professionals to run and grow your business. 

One of the core functions of a retail business is your supply chain. Unless you produce and sell your own products, you will need to find manufacturers or wholesale suppliers to establish a steady distribution channel. On this page you can find wholesale suppliers and distributors for:

• Clothing and accessories
• Shoes and footwear
• Electronics and office supplies
• Health, beauty and wellness
• Sports and fitness 
• Homeware and furniture
• Gifts, toys and entertainment
• Machinery, tools and hardware
• Arts and craft supplies
• Gifts

What is a wholesale supplier?

A wholesale supplier is an individual or company that buys products directly from manufacturers and sells them to retail businesses. Suppliers are just one part of the supply chain that is made up of:

A wholesale supplier is an individual or company that buys products directly from manufacturers and sells them to retail businesses. Suppliers are just one part of the supply chain that is made up of:

• Manufacturers: They make products from raw materials.
• Wholesale suppliers/distributors: They purchase large quantities of goods directly from manufacturers and sell them onto retailers. 
• Retailers: They purchase goods from wholesale suppliers/distributors and resell them to consumers at a retail price. 
• Consumers: They purchase goods from retailers and complete the supply chain. Consumers have a large impact on the supply and demand for manufacturers. 

Image source: the Corporate Finance Institute

Wholesale suppliers and distributor are the middle-person that provides you with goods to trade. Not all wholesalers are the same and they may only work with certain types of manufacturers, e.g. toys or furniture. Before you find a supplier you need to understand your sector’s distribution channels and supply chain.

What are the different types of distribution channels?

There are four distribution channels in retail:

• Manufacturers: When you buy goods directly from a manufacturer
• Importer/exclusive distributor: When you go through an entity that works exclusively for a specific manufacturer or has the right to import and distribute products to a specific country or jurisdiction. 
• Wholesale suppliers/distributor: An individual or company that sells goods to smaller wholesalers and/or retailers.
• Jobbers: An individual or entity that delivers goods to bricks and mortar retail stores.

How do I find a wholesale supplier or distributor?

Most small retail businesses have a primary supplier to streamline logistics and build strong, long-standing relationships. When you find a supplier that can source the goods you need, it’s important to gather more information before working with them. Retailers experience various supplier-related issues such as:

• Relationship management and lack of transparency
• Delays and delivery issues 
• Quality control
• Omnichannel integration
• Dropshipping issues 
• Product availability 
• Inefficient operations 

Many of these issues can be mitigated by vetting suppliers and communicating clearly from the get-go. 

What questions should you ask a supplier or distributor?

Here are some of the most important questions to ask a supplier:

• Do you have minimum order requirements?
• Which geographical regions do you serve?
• What shipping options do you offer?
• What are your payment terms and are they flexible?
• What is your returns policy?
• Will this product be discontinued or is it likely to go out of stock?
• How will you communicate with me about orders, issues, etc?
• Do you have liability insurance?
• Will the prices change under any circumstances?
• What happens if my products don’t arrive?

Here at SavvySME, you can find the services and professionals to get your store up and running and access a wide range of suppliers at your fingertips. There’s no need to wade through trying to find what you’re looking for – simply answer a few questions and we’ll introduce you to the people that can help.

In addition to finding suppliers, there are a number of other key considerations to get your store up and running including:

• Shopfitters: Shopfitters work with you to design the layout of your store and build custom fixtures and fittings.
• Signage fitters: Design and instal the signage for your shop, company car or popup events.
• Security solutions: Hire security staff to monitor shoplifting and keep your shop and customers safe.

If you run an ecommerce or omnichannel business, you will also need to invest in a good website and may need continued technical support from professionals such as:

• Web developers: Build a robust ecommerce platform and implement features such as custom product catalogues.
• Web designers: Create a custom-built ecommerce website that is user-friendly and highly functional.
• Digital marketers: Digital marketing experts can implement strategies to increase brand awareness, generate more traffic to your site and grow online revenue.

SavvySME has a wide range of resources created specifically for small retail businesses including articles and community discussions. You can also reach out to other retail business owners and industry experts for advice and recommendations.