For someone who is into manufacturing business, selling these products to end users is usually out of question, because managing the distribution and supply can become too much of a hassle. Except for some big manufacturers who can set up their own subsidiaries to manage the distribution and sales departments and secure maximum profits, most manufacturers need to hire some wholesalers and distributors to take care of sales and distribution side of their business.

Hooking up with the right distributor or wholesaler will take care of everything related to sales and logistic, while you can focus on the manufacturing related issues like quality control or cost control. However, convincing a distributor or a wholesaler to link up with you is not always easy, especially if you are a new business. Let’s see how you can find and convince the distributor or wholesale supplier to sell your products.

Finding the wholesalers or distributors in your targeted market:

Usually there are just a few businesses operating as distributors, even though these businesses are normally working behind the scenes, you can get the contact details of these businesses from chamber of commerce or traders associations or you can also look up in yellow pages. You can also find and get in touch with suppliers at a trade show. Before you start searching, you need to understand the difference between distributors and wholesalers. Distributors operate on much bigger scale than wholesalers and most of the times; it’s not required to engage a distributor.

Selling your product to wholesalers or distributors:

As suggested earlier, convincing distributors or wholesalers to carry your product is not always easy, even if you are producing a unique product. No wholesaler or distributor will accommodate a new product just because you are offering a significant markup, especially if you are a new entrant in the field of manufacturing. However, if you have been producing other products that are doing well in the market, it might not be that difficult. If not, you will have to convince these businesses that there’s a certain demand in the market for your product.

Some online auction sites sell all sorts of items, while others are highly specialized. Some of the larger online auction sites, like eBay, have additional separate auction sites for certain items. One such example is eBay Motors for vehicle auctions. A number of online discount stores, like overstock.com, also have auctions of all kinds of clearance merchandise, from cameras to rugs.

To assess whether an online auction site is reliable, take the time to familiarize yourself with the site and take an auction tutorial if offered. Most reputable auction sites allow bidders to return auctioned items within a specified time period if they are not satisfied. Better auction sites also have readily available customer service. However, even if a site has good business practices, individual sellers may not. Do not do business with an online seller who cannot be contacted, or who offers a better deal via email. Find out what shipping costs may be involved, and how you are expected to pay for them. Before buying an item, always research its quoted value and make sure you are getting your money’s worth.

Signs that a seller is providing full information include a complete description of the item being auctioned, photographs and a willingness to answer any questions a potential bidder may have. Sellers are also susceptible to payment-related fraud, and should always check that a buyer’s payment or escrow service is genuine before agreeing to accept payment through it.

Once you are ready to bid on an item, put in a bid and stick to it. Maintain copies of all correspondence regarding your bid in case there are any disputes later. Payment is usually more secure through an online payment or escrow service; never provide a credit card number to an individual seller. Your local Better Business Bureau can provide information on legitimate payment and escrow services.