Monday, December 28, 2009

How to Contact and Build a Relationship with Wholesale Suppliers by Worldwide Brands

Article by Worldwide Brands - this is a series of 14 blog posts providing information on how to find inventory and products to sell on eBay from wholesalers with Worldwide Brands and their Product Sourcing Tool for eBay.

Article #9 - Make the Call to the Wholesale Supplier

How should your calls to a wholesale supplier be conducted?

Things to Consider Before Calling
  • Check the time zone and select a good time
  • Have NO distracting noises in the background
  • Have a prepared message in case you reach voicemail
  • You have 5 seconds to capture the sales representative’s interest
  • Remember WIIFM: “What’s In It For Me?” (this is what the wholesale representative is thinking!)
  • Get to the point quickly
  • Lead with your sales goals and your business information
  • Remember that you need them more than they need you
  • Remember they are thinking: “WIIFM?”
  • Ask what they require from a new retailer?
  • Read the suppliers policies and procedures before calling

Remember What You are Looking For

  • Agreement to open an account.
  • Confidential Price List
  • Easy method of uploading products, product information and quality images
  • Clear understanding of the purchase process
  • Clear understanding of the ship cycle and order processing time frame

How to Build a Relationship with the Wholesale Representative

  • Maintain regular contact but don’t repeatedly email or call your wholesale representative with one or two questions. Try to save all your questions for one email or phone call in the week.
  • Provide feedback on how your website is doing
  • Build a good relationship and your wholesale rep will help you with:

Early announcement of specials

  • Early announcement of new product
  • Promotions for your current product range
  • Ensure suppliers are aware of quick shipping turnaround requirements
  • Check inventory levels daily
  • Provide feedback to your wholesalers about what is working best for you

For more information on dealing successfully with wholesalers, read the Wholesale Tips provided in eBay’s Certified Provider Blog and consider using the Worldwide Brands Product Sourcing Tool in eBay’s Seller Manager section of “My eBay.”

eBay Educational Support

One of the applications now available in Selling Manager Applications (check out your “My eBay" and look for a new tab labeled "Applications") is the Worldwide Brands Product Sourcing Tool.


The Worldwide Brands Product Sourcing Tool contains a wholesaler database, education modules and education series called: “The Whole $ale.” This series has many chapters to coach eBay Sellers on best practices in working with wholesalers. Sign up for either eBay Selling Manager or eBay Selling Manager Pro and you can then access the Selling Manager Applications directory and the Worldwide Brands Product Sourcing Tool.


Check out Worldwide Brands Product Sourcing Tool for eBay today! A 7 Day Free Trial is available.


Worldwide Brands is an eBay Certified Solution Provider, providing product sourcing access and information for eBay sellers. They are the publishers of an extensive directory of legitimate, fully-verified ecommerce wholesalers and manufacturers.

1 comment:

katherine said...

When your just getting started and need to locate some brands you are interested in 0 get a pencil and small notebook and go package snooping. Go into a store and look around till you see something you would like to sell. Turn the package over and find the manufacture and write down all information, even if they have just a name it is a start. Then go onto the internet and google the name. If they come up and 90% of the time they will, either concact by mail or phone and ask for their shimpment, terms (credit), catlog and/or web site and wholesale price list.