5 Reasons Every Maker Should Consider Wholesale
As a maker, you pour your heart, soul, and countless hours into creating beautiful, unique products. Whether you sell at local markets, online, or in a storefront, it’s easy to get comfortable with the way you’ve always done things. But have you thought about wholesale? Selling your products wholesale might seem intimidating at first, but it can be a game-changing strategy to help grow your business. Here are 5 reasons makers should consider wholesale:
1. Reach More Customers Without Extra Work
Wholesale allows you to sell larger quantities of your products to retailers who, in turn, sell them to their customers. Instead of trying to sell individual items to hundreds of people, you’re selling to a handful of stores that handle the heavy lifting of marketing and reaching customers.
Think of it like this: every time you get a product on a store shelf, you’re putting yourself in front of a whole new audience without the time and effort of managing those direct sales.
Example:
Let’s say you make handmade candles. Selling to 5 stores that each order 100 candles is much faster and simpler than selling 500 candles individually.
2. Stabilize Your Income Stream
If you rely solely on retail markets or online sales, your income might fluctuate a lot month-to-month. Wholesale gives you an opportunity to create more predictable, consistent revenue. Many retailers order on a regular basis (monthly, seasonally, or even quarterly), which helps you plan your production schedule and budget more confidently.
Bonus Tip:
To make it easy for retailers to reorder, set up a simple wholesale catalog and order form with clear pricing and product descriptions.
3. Build Brand Recognition
Getting your products into stores not only brings in income but also boosts your brand visibility. When customers discover your products on a store shelf, it builds trust. Retailers often have loyal followings, and by partnering with them, you tap into that existing customer base.
Fun Fact:
People are more likely to trust products they see in stores because they assume the store owner has already done the research on quality.
4. Reduce the Pressure of Constant Selling
Let’s face it—constantly promoting yourself, managing social media, running your online store, and working events can be exhausting. Wholesale gives you the chance to scale your business without relying on constant marketing hustle. Instead of worrying about daily orders, you can focus on fulfilling wholesale orders, developing new products, or improving your process.
Key Insight:
Selling wholesale doesn’t replace direct-to-consumer sales; it enhances it. You can still enjoy selling online or at markets while wholesale brings in larger orders on the side.
5. Position Yourself for Long-Term Growth
Wholesale opens up new opportunities for growth you might not achieve through direct sales alone. Working with retailers helps you:
- Develop systems for fulfilling larger orders efficiently.
- Expand your reach into new cities, states, or even countries.
- Connect with other businesses who may want to collaborate with you.
Plus, wholesale pricing allows you to build profit into every bulk order. While the per-item price might be lower than what you sell directly to customers, you make up for it in volume.
Ready to Try Wholesale?
If wholesale feels like the next step for your business, start small! Reach out to local boutiques, gift shops, or specialty stores that align with your brand. Prepare a simple line sheet, clear wholesale terms, and a friendly pitch. Remember, retailers are always looking for unique, high-quality products—and yours might be exactly what they need.
By exploring wholesale, you’re not just making more sales—you’re growing your business in a sustainable, scalable way.
Need help figuring out how to price or set up wholesale terms? Stay tuned for our next blog post, where we’ll break it all down step by step!
Ready to grow your brand? Sign up for the workshop and market today!
Workshop Registration: Sign up here
Wholesale Market Registration: Sign up here
Let’s make 2025 the year you scale your business!
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