The Search for a Wholesale Distributor – Part II

This the second part of the article.

Some of the tips for finding a wholesale distributor were discussed in the first segment of this article. A few more useful tips are listed below:

·        Search of wholesalers on Google

You can search for the wholesale distributors by conducting Google search using different words like wholesale, distributor, wholesale supplier, etc. Product names, brand names, or model numbers can also be used for the search. Keep a record of the emails and phone numbers of your search results along with the product prices and minimum order requirements which may help you in the selection of potential wholesale distributors for your business.

·        Search for Wholesale Lots on eBay

Some small wholesalers and retailers sell lots of products on eBay; you can buy such small lots at the start of your business. But with the progress in business you have to move elsewhere to buy large volume of products.

·        Look for Business to Business (B2B) Online Global Markets

There are many Business to Business (B2B) online global markets where you can find manufacturers, wholesale distributors, and importers of mainly Chinese products. The main marketplaces include Alibaba.com (China), Buyer Zone (USA), Global Sources (USA), Busy Trade (Hong Kong), EC Plaza (South Korea), EC 21 (South Korea), etc.

·        Become a member of Business Groups, Business Forums and Networks

As other retailers are your competitors, they will not provide wholesale supplier information, so you should join Business Groups, Forums and other Business community Networks to make contacts and relationships. In this way you will share the required information with the Business community.

·        Visit Trade Shows and Exhibitions

At events like Trade Shows and exhibitions you are able to directly contact product manufacturers and wholesale distributors which will help you in gathering accurate and detailed information about their products.

·        Get Subscriptions of Business and Trade Periodicals

Wholesale distributors and suppliers place advertisements in Business and Trade publications in order to reach small retailers like you. If you subscribe such periodicals you will get information about the wholesalers, the range of their products, email addresses, websites, and telephone numbers.

·        Learn from Your Mistakes

When you are starting a new business you may commit some mistakes and may choose a wholesale supplier with high product prices. At an initial level buying the products and selling them at a profit are important. Once you are settled in business you can look for other wholesale distributors who offer a better deal.

The Search for a Wholesale Distributor- Part I

When you are starting a new business, it is important to know the range of products which you are going to sell. This knowledge proves useful when you look for a wholesale supplier to buy the products for your business. Listed below are a few useful tips which will help you in finding a wholesale product supplier: ·        

Know about the Distribution Sources 

For a retail business owner you should be aware of the various sources of distribution from where the products are supplied. This knowledge will help you immensely in determining and finding the right product supplier who is suitable for your needs. The different types of wholesalers are: 

Ø  Manufacturers: Some products can be purchased directly from the manufacturers. 
Ø  Sole Distributors / Importers: They exclusively import and distribute some products which are sold either to retailers or local wholesalers. 
Ø  Regional Distributors / Wholesalers: They buy larger lots of products and sell in smaller quantities to local wholesalers.
Ø  Day Jobbers / Wagon peddlers: They deliver small quantities of products to retailers on a daily basis.

You should start your business by selecting a supply source which fulfills your requirements and is suitable for you. You may buy from small wholesalers initially at steeper prices but when your business takes off and large volume of products are needed, you may get better prices by moving to bigger wholesalers. ·      

Start with the Manufacturers

Try to buy directly from the manufacturers especially if you are selling branded products. If you succeed in buying directly from the manufacturers, the low prices will be a benefit. In case the minimum order required is too big for you or they sell only through established wholesalers, ask for the list of those wholesale distributors so that you can contact them. ·     

Contact and Select Wholesale Distributors 

Contact each wholesale distributor from the list provided by the manufacturer, and ask for the wholesale prices of the products and the minimum order required. The contact should be made through emails which should be small, precise, to the point, and friendly. Introduce yourself and your business, ask for product prices and the minimum orders required, and in the end thank them in a friendly manner. 

The article will be continued in “The Search for a Wholesale Distributor – Part II”.

Digital Etiquette at Workplace

The current era has noticed the advent of digital technology which has progressed with leaps and bounds. It is being used in almost every field and mankind has benefited in innumerable ways. The use of digital technology as a means of communication has enabled the businesses to contact their customers instantaneously even if they are thousands of miles away. But it has been seen that some people are misusing the applications related with digital technology. A proper workplace digital etiquette is a must and you should try to implement it in your business or organization at all costs.
Some basic suggestions for maintaining an appropriate digital etiquette at the workplace are as follows:

Emails and Instant Messages

Emails are used in many business workplaces as the basic source of communication, they are also used for digital documentation, office memos, and even as evidence in legal trials. While composing or replying an email, you should write in business-letter style and language; and never include personal or irrelevant matter in the email body. Similarly when sending an instant message, follow proper etiquette and use respectful language.

Cellular and Smartphones

In recent times the use of cellular phones and smartphones has become quite popular and many business entities are using them. Despite their popularity and ease of use, they are not helpful when you need to compose company documents and other such letters. A small keyboard in the phones is another limitation. You should use your mobile phone set for business calls only and personal use must be minimal.

 Social Media Websites

Social networking websites like Facebook, Pinterest, or Twitter provide a cheap and effective advertising platform for the businesses to reach out to a large number of potential customers. During interaction with the customers you should be forthright, honest, and should greet as well as use good-bye before ending the communication. Another important point is to avoid sharing your business matters with others on the social media.

Use of Computers and Laptops

Computers or laptops at the workplace should mostly be used for business-related matters. Do not store personal photos or documents in an office computer as it may be shared by other employees or can sometimes be sent for maintenance. Avoid installing games or entertainment videos as they occupy large hard disk space and slow down the computer. 

Telephone Etiquette for Business

In this era of scientific and technological advancement the use of email and other computer related modes of communications have greatly increased, but telephone continues to be the most commonly used application for communication. Many clients, business owners, organizations, etc. still prefer to use telephone as a means of communication.
 Some important etiquette tips for using telephone as a source of communication for business are listed below:

Distinct style of business call 

When answering telephone calls, you should follow a pleasant style of communication. If you receive a call answer by greeting the caller first, introduce yourself and your business, then politely offer any help or information the caller demands, and end the conversation by thanking for the interest and the call.

 Portray a pleasant tone 

The tone of the voice is the indicator of your mood, therefore when you receive a phone call try to maintain a pleasant tone of voice which will give the caller an impression that you appreciate his call and are available to provide whatever assistance he needs. 

Focused listening to received calls 

One important aspect of appropriate telephone etiquette is to actively listen to the caller. When some client calls, stop working and answer the call with focused attention, take notes if necessary, and try to satisfy and address all the queries of the caller.

Holding a call 

Sometimes while attending a call you have to put the caller on hold. On such occasions politely tell the caller to hold while you are looking for the information he needs. If he has to hold for a long period, periodically check back with the caller and explain the reason of delay. It will assure the caller that you are trying to work out the information he needs and are not doing anything else. When you return back thank the caller for waiting and for holding patiently. 

Making outgoing telephone calls 

The importance of outgoing business calls cannot be ignored and they are equally important as the incoming calls. When you place an outgoing call try to be positive, pleasant, and professional. First of all introduce yourself and your business entity, and then explain the reason of calling. Keep your conversation brief and to the point. Thank again at the end of the conversation.

Proper Communication Skills and Business Etiquette

Communication and etiquette are the soft skills which are very important for the business to be a success. It is a well known fact that proper etiquette paves the way for a smooth and successful business deal and establishes a sense of trust in your business contacts; while a skillful communication is necessary for running a business enterprise effectively. A combination of both these attributes does wonders for the success of any business.

Creating an Impression on the Business ContactsWhen you come in contact with businessmen and clients, communication skills and etiquette are the criteria of projecting a good first impression. You are judged by the manner of your personal grooming, your attire, the body language, the way speak, etc. All these features in combination create your professional impression. A good impression helps in making a sale or in closing a business deal.

Communication and Business Etiquette at Work
The importance of business etiquette and communication skills at work is paramount and will help you immensely at every stage of your career. If you are starting your career as a lower level employee, application of good communication skills will help in rapid promotions in the business set up. On the other hand if you hold a senior position in a business organization, your ability to communicate in a free and open manner with your subordinates and co-workers will create an atmosphere of shared efficiency. Your colleagues and workers will feel comfortable and their working capabilities will be enhanced when you interact with them and listen to their problems.

Proper Communication Skills and Business Etiquette for Overseas Business Trips
When you plan to make an overseas business trip, it is advisable to learn about the etiquette and the way of communication being practiced in that country. Prior knowledge of how to dress, how to greet, and what subjects to discuss at business meetings, will prove to be a great advantage.

Training Courses for Business Etiquette and Communication The importance of business etiquette and communication skills has been realized and they have become a part of many Business Administration Training Courses.

Common Mistakes at Yard Sales

Items not Clearly Priced

If the prices of items are not clearly marked or absent altogether, it will cause confusion for the customers and they may return without buying.

Allowing Bargains for the Early Shoppers only

When you let the early shoppers to get the benefit of the bargains, those missing out will be annoyed and you may lose your customers for good.

Payment Methods

As cash is the most preferred option by the sellers, they should be able to guide the customers for the nearest ATM machine and assure the customer that the item he wanted to buy will be kept on hold for an hour or until he returns with the cash.

Old or Used Items Sold as New

The sellers should not try to sell old and used items by terming them as new items. You will lose your customers as they are looking to buy cheap items. Sell the old and used items separately with low price tags.

Improper Yard Sale Preparation

While preparing for the yard sale, make sure to include only those items which are meant for sale. If an item which you do not want to sell and it is in the yard sale, then it will not make good impression when somebody tries to buy it.

Failure to Remove Signs after the Sale is over

The signs posted for the yard sale should be removed after the sale is finished. Old, faded signs present an ugly look and may confuse some persons who are interested in yard sales.

Timings of the Yard ale

Although it is better to follow the timings which you have fixed for the yard sale, but if there are still some buyers looking for items near the closing time, it is advisable to wait till they complete their purchases. Spending a little extra time will create a good impression and may be handy for your future yard sales.

Maintain a good behavior

Regardless of the fact that they bought some item or not, thank every visitor to your yard sale before he or she leaves. Your good manners may make them visit again later in the day to buy something or they may refer some friend or a family member to your yard sale.

Should You Consider Starting A Drop-Shipping Business?

If you are looking for an answer to the above mentioned question, the first step is to consider the advantages of starting a drop-shipping business:

No Need of Inventory

The biggest benefit of starting a drop-shopping business is the fact that you don’t need to have any inventory because the business requires you to purchase drop shipped products when the items sell. This is a profitable business for people who are entering the market with a strict budget.

It’s Less Risky

For people doing business in drop shipped products through online platforms like eBay, etc, another advantage is the fact that this business is less risky. Since you are only paying for the fee of your product listing and customers have to make the payments for shipping, the risk involved in the business is really low.

Variety in Products

This type of business gives you the freedom to do business in various items. You aren’t confined to a single product category because the cash flow is limited. This can be very helpful in having the customers intrigued while returning to invest in a wider category of products. Eventually, having the freedom of selling various products can greatly contribute in generating additional revenue.

Going Online Saves Time and Energy

This business is a great option for people interested in online business opportunities. With access to internet and a simple business license, you can get started right away.

Once you’ve considered the advantages of using an online business model, it is important to also analyze the challenges associated with this type of business. And that being said, you have to understand that  the biggest hindrance in the success of your business is supplier issues.  As you don’t own the product, you are relying on the drop ship supplier for packaging and sending items accordingly. And in case, the supplier isn’t reliable, you’ll be at great loss. So, make sure you find a reliable supplier to save the worry of business failure.