Finding the right wholesale vendors is one of the most important parts of building a successful retail business. Whether you’re opening your first store, expanding into a new category or simply looking for fresh products, the goal is the same: connect with reliable wholesale suppliers whose products, pricing and terms make sense for your customers and your business.
Retailers can find vendors through several channels, including wholesale tradeshows, sales representatives, permanent showrooms, industry referrals and online wholesale marketplaces. The best sourcing strategy usually combines several of these methods rather than relying on just one.
A wholesale vendor sells products to businesses at wholesale prices for resale to consumers. Depending on the company, you may buy directly from the brand or manufacturer, through an importer or distributor, or through an independent sales representative who represents multiple brands.
Wholesale vendors can supply virtually every retail category, including gifts, home décor, furniture, tabletop, gourmet products, apparel, jewelry, accessories, children's products, seasonal merchandise and more.
Most legitimate wholesale vendors require proof that you are purchasing for a business rather than for personal use. Requirements vary, but you may be asked to provide business credentials or resale documentation before opening an account or placing an order.
There are several ways to find vendors for a retail store, and each offers different advantages. Using a mix of in-person and online sourcing can help you maintain relationships with established suppliers while continuing to uncover new products and brands.
Wholesale markets bring many brands and suppliers together in one location, making them one of the most efficient ways to source products for a retail business.
At a market such as Atlanta Market, buyers can compare products from established brands and emerging companies across permanent showrooms and temporary exhibits. Instead of researching vendors individually and arranging separate meetings, retailers can explore multiple suppliers and product categories during a single sourcing trip.
In-person markets are particularly useful when product quality, scale, color, texture or construction matters. Seeing merchandise firsthand can provide a perspective that isn't always possible through a screen.
Wholesale markets also offer opportunities to meet the sales representatives and brands behind the products, reconnect with existing vendors and encounter new resources you may not have found through an online search.
For retailers building a vendor list from scratch—or established buyers looking to expand their assortment—a wholesale market can provide a broad view of the resources available within a category.
Not all wholesale sourcing happens during a trade show. Permanent wholesale showrooms give retailers access to brands throughout the year and may represent a single manufacturer or many complementary lines. Some wholesale marketplaces, including AmericasMart Atlanta, have permanent showrooms that buyers can visit outside of major market dates.
This can be especially valuable if you need to replenish inventory, explore a new category between markets or spend more time working one-on-one with a sales representative. Permanent showrooms can also serve as ongoing sourcing destinations, allowing retailers to maintain vendor relationships and continue exploring new products throughout the year.
Sales representatives can be an excellent resource for finding vendors, particularly because many reps represent multiple brands within related product categories.
As you build relationships within the industry, sales reps can introduce you to additional lines that may complement your existing assortment or connect you with brands you haven't encountered before.
If you already carry brands you like, ask their representatives about other lines they represent. You can also meet sales reps through wholesale markets like Atlanta Market and industry networking.
Over time, developing a network of trusted representatives can become an important part of how you find and stay connected to wholesale resources.
Online sourcing makes it possible to research wholesale products and suppliers without traveling. Wholesale platforms, vendor directories and individual brand websites can all be useful starting points.
Digital tools can be particularly helpful when you're researching a new category, looking for a specific type of product or building an initial list of potential vendors. Many wholesale platforms also allow retailers to browse brands by category, price point or other criteria.
Online sourcing doesn't necessarily have to replace in-person buying. Retailers can use digital resources to research brands before a market, continue exploring vendors after a trip or reorder from suppliers they've already established relationships with.
Some of your best vendor leads may come from people already working in retail. Retail associations, buying groups, fellow store owners and other industry contacts can point you toward suppliers, sales representatives and sourcing destinations worth exploring. Networking at markets, educational events and other industry gatherings can also introduce you to resources you might not find through a general online search.
These conversations can be especially useful when you're entering a new product category and aren't yet familiar with its major brands, representatives or industry events.
Atlanta Market brings together wholesale resources across gift, home décor, furnishings, tabletop, gourmet, seasonal, fashion accessories and additional lifestyle categories at AmericasMart Atlanta.
That breadth makes Market a valuable sourcing destination whether you're searching for your first wholesale vendors or expanding an established supplier network. Buyers can reconnect with brands they already know while exploring new lines, categories and resources in one location.
Before Market, explore exhibitor and brand information to get a sense of the resources available. Then leave room in your sourcing strategy for something you didn't know to search for. One of the advantages of bringing so many wholesale resources together is the opportunity to find brands and products you weren't expecting.
Explore Atlanta Market exhibitors, plan your visit and register to attend Atlanta Market to connect with wholesale brands in person.