Wholesale 101: A Guide to Product Sourcing for Entrepreneurs and Small Business Owners

Book description

Learn the Secrets to Succeeding in Global Trade

Wholesale 101 provides the tools and insight you need to launch a successful business by combining various platforms—B2B sites, trade shows, trading companies, and others--into a powerful product sourcing strategy.

Whether you're looking to drop ship from wholesalers and manufacturers or import product direct to sell in your store, this unparalleled guide reveals inside information of an industry full of secrets.

"If you are looking for a one-stop shop that turns the complicated world of sourcing product into a road map for success, then I encourage you to buy this book." -- TOM MCELROY, VP, Marketing and e-Commerce, Genco Marketplace and NoBetterDeal.com

"Provides lots of concrete advice on how to profit from this new age of wholesaling." -- DON DAVIS, Editor in Chief, Internet Retailer

"For any entrepreneur looking to start a business or expand their business, Wholesale 101 is a must read." -- MARC JOSEPH, CEO and President, DollarDays International, and author of The Secrets of Retailing: Or, How to Beat Wal-Mart

"One of the most informative and useful books on Wholesale Sourcing I have laid eyes on in the past ten years." -- SKIP MCGRATH, Publisher, Online Seller's Resource

"Very smart with a unique perspective on a variety of things important to our business, including global trade, international protocol, leveraging the Internet, and driving value for trade show participants." -- CHRISTOPHER MCCABE, Senior Vice President, Nielsen Expositions

"A must-have addition to any wholesalers library." -- CYRILL ELTSCHINGER, Strategic Advisor and author of Source Code China

Table of contents

  1. Cover
  2. WHOLESALE 101: A Guide to Product Sourcing for Entrepreneurs and Small Business Owners
  3. Copyright
  4. Dedication
  5. Contents
  6. Introduction
  7. Acknowledgments
  8. 1 The Changing World of Product Sourcing
    1. Evolution of the Sourcing Scene
    2. Technology and Product Sourcing
    3. Importance of Research for Sourcing
    4. The Entrepreneurial Attitude
    5. Going for It
    6. Conclusion
    7. Looking Ahead
  9. 2 Stepping Out of the Silo
    1. Using Social Media, News, Events, and Other Resources to Stay on Top of the Sourcing Game
    2. The Importance of Opening Your View to All Sourcing Resources
    3. How to Diversify Your Approach to Sourcing
    4. Conclusion
    5. Looking Ahead
  10. 3 Sailing Your Boat in a Flooded Marketplace
    1. Finding the Right Sourcing Resources for You
    2. Types of Suppliers
    3. Domestic versus International: Should You Source Products from Suppliers Overseas?
    4. Questions That Help You Determine the Right Suppliers for You
    5. Conclusion
    6. Looking Ahead
  11. 4 Sourcing Online: TopTenWholesale.com and Manufacturer.com
    1. Importance of Using Vertical Search Engines for Sourcing
    2. Benefits of Online Business-to-Business Trade Platforms
    3. Safety and Business-to-Business Trade Platforms
    4. Finding the Best Suppliers for You on Online Business-to-Business Platforms
    5. An In-depth User Exploration of TopTenWholesale.com
    6. Conclusion
    7. Looking Ahead
  12. 5 Trade Shows: Where Do I Go?
    1. The Value of Finding the Right Show
    2. How to Find the Right Trade Shows
    3. Trade Show Recommendations, Innovations, and Technology
    4. Insider Strategies to Getting the Most Out of the Show
    5. Conclusion
    6. Looking Ahead
  13. 6 Working with Trading Companies, Manufacturers’ Reps, and Suppliers That Drop Ship
    1. Definitions of Trading Companies, Manufacturers’ Reps, and Drop Shippers
    2. Are Trading Companies the Right Option for You?
    3. Collaborating with Manufacturers’ Representatives
    4. Understanding the Pros, Cons, and Various Types of Drop Shipping
    5. Conclusion
    6. Looking Ahead
  14. 7 Better Supply-Chain Management through Building and Nurturing Strong Relationships with Suppliers
    1. Managing Your Supply Chain Effectively
    2. The Importance of Choosing the Right Partners from the Start
    3. How to Choose Reliable and Strong Suppliers over “Price Is Right” Suppliers
    4. Establishing Key Performance Indicators and Benchmarks
    5. Relationship-Management Guidelines: How to Raise Issues, Know When to Drop Suppliers, and Protect Yourself
    6. Top 10 Recap: Ways to Cultivate Relationships and Get Past Cultural/Language Barriers
    7. Conclusion
    8. Some Parting Words While Looking Ahead
  15. Appendix A: Resource for Global Trade
  16. Appendix B: The Jargon behind International Trade
  17. Index

Product information

  • Title: Wholesale 101: A Guide to Product Sourcing for Entrepreneurs and Small Business Owners
  • Author(s): Jason Prescott
  • Release date: May 2013
  • Publisher(s): McGraw-Hill
  • ISBN: 9780071811378