If you're in the market to start or improve your own online store, then you're probably looking at some sort of e-commerce platform that already has a working model in place. The most popular platforms are Shopify, BigCommerce, Magento, WooCommerce, and WordPress (among others). These are great solutions if you have an idea about what kind of products you want to sell but don't know where to begin when it comes to finding quality suppliers who will be able to support your company.
The problem with these platforms is they require you to buy into their ecosystem, which means you'll need to invest time learning new software and tools so you can get up and running quickly. This isn't necessarily bad because there are many benefits to investing in technology -- like automation features that allow you to scale your business without having to work hard every day. But the downside is you may not be ready to take on all of this responsibility right away. You might also find yourself overwhelmed by the complexity of managing multiple vendors and dealing with customer service issues while trying to keep track of inventory levels and sales reports.
In order to mitigate those challenges, you should consider partnering with other companies instead of starting from scratch. In fact, one of the easiest ways to connect with vendors who offer high-quality products is through resellers. A reseller is simply another word for "distributor." It refers to any vendor that sells a product to consumers or businesses under its brand name. Resellers typically use third-party distribution channels such as Amazon, eBay, Google Shopping, AliExpress, Walmart Marketplace, Rakuten, etc., just to mention a few. There are thousands of distributors out there, making them easy to find once you've done your research.
So now let's talk specifically about building a reseller program. If you're interested in expanding your retail operation, here are several things you should look out for before signing up with a reseller.
There are two different models you can choose between when setting up a reseller agreement: wholesale versus retail. Wholesale deals usually involve buying directly from the manufacturer or distributor for a set price. Retail agreements mean you purchase goods from the retailer themselves. Whichever route you decide to go down depends largely on whether you intend to focus solely on selling products or if you'd rather become a full-service provider for customers. For example, if you plan on doing both selling and providing services, then using wholesale options would only serve to limit your ability to provide additional value.
Reseller profitability varies greatly depending on factors including industry type, competition, and location. To give you an idea, we found that the average gross revenue per month for a wholesaler was $2,000 whereas retailers averaged around $3,500. That difference is due to the higher overhead costs associated with operating a brick-and-mortar shop compared to an online storefront. On top of that, you must pay taxes and fees to state and local governments on each sale, plus you often incur shipping charges. So overall, wholesale margins tend to be lower than retail ones.
However, there are still plenty of opportunities for growth even if you operate exclusively from home. Here are some tips on increasing your profits in either scenario:
Set up payment terms that enable you to receive cash upfront. Most manufacturers won't accept credit cards unless you have a large volume of sales. Otherwise, they prefer to wait until you reach certain minimum monthly orders.
Consider offering free shipping whenever possible. Free shipping adds up fast!
Use affiliate marketing strategies to boost traffic and increase conversion rates. Affiliate marketing gives you access to hundreds of thousands of potential buyers.
Offer discounts for first-time customers. Many people hesitate to try something new, especially if they feel uncomfortable ordering online. By giving them a discount for their initial transaction, you can encourage more purchases over time.
Keep tabs on competitors' prices. Most resellers rely heavily on comparison shopping engines like PriceGrabber to stay competitive. Use them regularly to see what else is available on the market.
Once you figure out how much money you can expect to earn from your reseller program, calculate how long it takes to recoup your investment. Some of our favorite examples include:
Freshbooks - $300/month
WooCommerce - $100/month
Hubspot - $50-$150/month
Whole Foods Market - $30/week
Etsy - $20/day
Shopify - $25/month
Magento - $30/year
WordPress - $10/month
This list doesn't cover everything that goes into creating a successful reseller program, but hopefully it provides enough information to get started. Remember, there are no guarantees when entering into contracts with resellers. Your success relies on your commitment and dedication to the project. And since reselling involves selling someone else's product, it requires you to follow strict guidelines regarding privacy laws, intellectual property rights, and licensing requirements. Make sure you thoroughly check out the fine print before moving forward with any deal.
What is the best way for you to approach this process
When starting out as a new entrepreneur, there may not be much money available to spend on marketing, so before opening up shop, make sure you are aware of all the legal requirements regarding selling goods.
Here are several things you should consider before purchasing any product from a supplier or vendor:
Are they registered? If they aren’t listed anywhere, ask them directly to see if they are currently licensed by the state or country they operate within.
Do they ship internationally? You need to check their shipping policies because international orders can take longer than domestic shipments. Some companies require additional fees if the package weighs more than 25 lbs.
Will they accept returns/refunds? When something goes wrong with a purchase, especially if it’s due to poor customer service, you might end up having to pay extra charges to get it back. Make sure that your chosen seller accepts either refunds or exchanges once items are received back.
Can they provide samples? This is important since you’re going to be showing off samples to potential customers for sale. If you choose to sell jewelry, for example, you’d better hope that the item doesn’t break during shipping.
Does the seller offer warranty coverage? A lot of people forget to include warranties in their contracts. If something happens after the fact, you could find yourself facing expensive repair bills.
Inquire about payment terms. For instance, if you decide to buy merchandise through Alibaba, which offers sellers a 3% commission fee for each transaction, you would only receive 7% of the total profit instead of 10%.
Starting a new company is hard work, especially if it's not what you've been doing all along. You might be wondering where to begin when creating your own product or service that people want to buy from you. The good news is there are many resources available on the internet today to guide you through this process. One such resource is building a reseller program (also called a "channel partner" program).
A reseller program can really add value to any type of business whether it's retailing products, services, digital downloads, etc. The purpose of setting up an effective reseller program is to enable companies to expand their reach into new markets while also providing them access to more customers who need their product/service. This article will walk you through the steps involved in starting a reseller program as well as provide tips to make sure the program is successful.
No matter what kind of business you have, reselling isn't always something that comes naturally. For example, if you're selling a physical product like books or CDs, then reselling those items may seem natural because they don't come pre-packaged. But if your product/service is software based, then reselling that could lead to legal issues depending on how the original manufacturer feels about it. In general, reselling anything online without permission from the copyright owner could land you in hot water. However, if you follow these simple guidelines below, you'll avoid getting yourself in trouble.
The first step before even thinking about setting up a reseller program is making sure you understand the terms used by the manufacturer. If you aren't familiar with terminology used by the brand itself, you should definitely check out its website or contact customer support via phone or email. Make sure that whatever you plan on reselling does not infringe upon anyone else's intellectual property rights. Also, read over the Terms & Conditions section of the agreement to ensure that no one has violated any laws against resold merchandise.
If everything checks out, you're ready to move forward. Now that you know what's acceptable and what isn't, you can proceed to developing a reseller relationship with the brand. There are two ways to go about doing so. Either you can set up a direct reseller relationship with the manufacturer or you can opt to use a third party vendor to handle the logistics for you. Whichever route you choose depends largely on your budget and level of experience. Let's take a look at both options.
There are several different kinds of businesses you can sell directly to consumers. Each type requires a unique approach to marketing and sales. Here are some popular examples of each category.
1) Retailers - These are businesses that offer goods or services to end users. They usually operate offline but can also run an online store which allows buyers to order products online. Some retailers focus primarily on eCommerce websites while others only accept orders made through mail or telephone calls. Regardless of the method, most retailers rely heavily on social media marketing to attract new customers.
2) Wholesalers / Distributors - Similar to retailers, wholesalers and distributors aim to serve other businesses rather than individual consumers. Their main objective is to find reputable suppliers and negotiate prices that benefit everyone involved. Most wholesalers and distributors prefer to remain independent however, opting instead to purchase wholesale quantities of various products from manufacturers and then distribute them to smaller businesses within their area. Again, most wholesalers and distributors rely heavily on social media to promote their brands.
3) VARs / Resellers / Partners - A VAR is a vendor or contractor that works with a client to design, install, implement, maintain, customize, train, upgrade, troubleshoot, test, monitor, repair, replace, or otherwise perform specific functions related to IT equipment, systems, network infrastructure, applications, and data storage devices. Many VARs specialize in particular areas including networking, security, server administration, desktop management, mobile device management, application development, and cloud computing.
4) Channel Partners - As opposed to being part of a larger corporation, a channel partner operates independently and acts as an intermediary between the supplier and the buyer. Typically, channel partners charge a fee to facilitate transactions between vendors and clients. While some channel partners act as intermediaries for large corporations, many small or medium sized businesses turn to channel partners to fulfill their needs for lower costs and better quality control.
Now we finally arrive at our last point - determining exactly what constitutes a B2B transaction. There are actually three major categories here: 1) Direct Sales 2) Independent Sales 3) Third Party Sellers. Let's explore each option separately.
Direct Sales - When a seller sells directly to another person or entity, this is known as a "direct sale." Examples include buying a book from Amazon, renting a movie from Netflix, or purchasing a computer from Best Buy. Although direct sales are common among small businesses, bigger companies often utilize middlemen like wholesalers and distributors to conduct business deals that involve multiple parties.
Independent Sales - An independent salesperson is someone who makes his or her living selling products to individuals and organizations outside of a formalized system of distribution. For instance, you can become an independent sales representative for Home Depot simply by going door-to-door offering home improvement advice. Or perhaps you're already working full time and moonlighting as a consultant for local car dealerships. Whatever your situation is, you can still call yourself an independent sales rep.
Third Party Sellers - Finally, let's talk about third party sellers. Third party sellers are typically big name brands, such as Microsoft Office 365, IBM Watson, Adobe Acrobat Pro, Google Chrome, and Apple iPhone 6S Plus. These entities allow companies to rent or lease their wares to end users. Instead of having to pay huge sums of money upfront for expensive licenses, companies can now affordably acquire the tools needed to succeed in their industries.
So there you have it! Hopefully you found this information useful in learning about resellers and establishing a proper reseller program. Good luck with your next venture!
As an affiliate marketer or direct sales entrepreneur, getting in touch with potential customers is one of the most important parts of running any online business. This means that it's crucial for you to have good marketing strategies and tactics at hand to attract new clients and convert them into paying customers. However, if you're not well-versed on the basics of digital marketing - like SEO (search engine optimization), PPC (pay per click) advertising, social media management, etc., then you'll need to learn more about these techniques before being able to successfully operate an affiliate or direct sales business.
In this article we will discuss what exactly a reseller channel partner program is, why they are so valuable to businesses today, and how you can get started creating yours right away.
If you've been using affiliate marketing methods to promote products and services from other companies, you may already know that there are two ways to earn money from promoting someone else’s product or service: through commissions or by paying a flat fee upfront. The former is known as “affiliate links,” while the latter is called “reseller partnerships." Resellers pay a set amount of cash up front to gain access to their partner’s inventory and use their own branding to sell it. In exchange, they receive a percentage of each sale made via their link.
Reselling is a great way to generate revenue quickly without having to spend time building out a website or managing customer support issues. As long as you have a strong understanding of the industry you're working within and can provide value to your target audience, you should be able to find multiple opportunities to offer resell rights to others. Not only does this give you instant credibility when talking with people who might want to buy from you but also offers additional income streams beyond just affiliate commission payments.
While many resellers work directly with brands themselves, some prefer to partner with third parties to handle all aspects of selling their goods. In fact, over 80% of global retailers utilize a distribution model where they hire external resellers to manage the entire process.
The answer to this question depends largely upon which type of reseller relationship you choose to pursue. If you decide to go down the route of partnering directly with a company, you will likely need to invest significant amounts of capital upfront. While you could potentially recoup those costs once you begin making sales, you'll still need to continue investing resources and expenses after that point. Furthermore, you won't be earning residual income until you reach profitability -- meaning you aren't guaranteed a steady stream of passive profits.
On the flip side, if you opt to join another company's reseller network instead, you can enjoy recurring monthly earnings based on the number of units sold, rather than relying upon individual orders. Of course, you'll still need to spend money on marketing materials and promotional efforts, but unlike the above scenario, you don't need to worry about reaching profitability first. You simply keep generating profits month after month!
One thing to note here is that certain types of reselling models come with specific restrictions. For example, if you sign up with a particular brand's channel partner program, you cannot offer your own branded items. Instead, you must exclusively sell those provided by the brand itself. Additionally, most reselling networks limit the number of products you can sell and prohibit you from offering discounts or special promotions. These rules can vary depending on the exact terms of your contract, however.
Another option available to you is to establish your own independent reseller network. By doing so, you can take advantage of whatever limitations your chosen platform has to offer, including flexibility around discounted pricing. Plus, since you're operating independently, you can customize your offerings further than you would under a channel partner agreement.
Lastly, you shouldn't discount the possibility of establishing your own wholesale division. Many brands allow affiliates to purchase large quantities of products at a lower cost than standard retail prices. Wholesale divisions typically focus on bulk purchases of niche items such as tools or office supplies. They often require higher minimum order volumes to remain viable, though, so you'd probably need to commit to buying several hundred thousand dollars worth of merchandise every year to turn a profit.
To ensure you maximize your chances of success with reselling, it helps to understand the various factors involved. First off, you'll obviously need to acquire products that consumers actually want. There are countless options for sourcing high quality items for resale, ranging from established brick-and-mortar stores to ecommerce platforms. It's essential to familiarize yourself with the different channels available to you and select ones that align with your personal style and interests. Next, you'll need to determine whether or not you can afford to run a full-time operation. Depending on the size of your team and the volume of sales you wish to achieve, you may find that setting aside enough hours to dedicate to reselling isn't feasible. Alternatively, you may discover that you enjoy the challenge of juggling multiple projects simultaneously. Either way, you'll need to calculate both short-term and long-term goals to identify which approach works best for you personally. Finally, it pays to plan ahead. Since reselling requires consistent effort, you'll want to develop systems and procedures that minimize risk and increase efficiency.
Once you're ready to dive headfirst into reselling, it's a smart idea to consult with experienced professionals to help guide you along the way. Whether you contact a financial advisor, tax consultant, attorney, or mentor, finding a trusted resource can prove invaluable during the early stages of your development. Once you're comfortable with the fundamentals, it's always helpful to seek advice from experts outside of your immediate circle. A qualified coach can help you assess your strengths and weaknesses, uncover limiting beliefs, and implement changes necessary to improve performance.
With proper guidance, you can easily turn a hobby into a thriving enterprise. All of us have unique talents and passions, so it makes sense to leverage our natural abilities whenever possible. As a result, everyone can benefit greatly from pursuing a career path that allows them to flex their creative muscles. No matter what stage of life you're currently in, becoming a successful reseller gives you the opportunity to put your skills to work helping others succeed.
This varies widely depending on your situation. Some people only ever dream about turning their passion project into a lucrative business, whereas others never think twice about starting out small to test the waters. Regardless of your background, there are dozens of ways to monetize your talent and experience. Here are some examples:
Sell physical products: From books to toys, clothing to electronics, you can either manufacture your own inventory or source it from wholesalers. With the right equipment and knowledge, you can even print custom labels and packaging design yourself.
Offer coaching services: Becoming a licensed trainer takes years of schooling and preparation, but you can still reap the benefits by teaching others everything from basic concepts to advanced topics.
Create content: Blogging, video editing, photography, graphic arts...the list goes on and on. Whatever skill sets you possess, you can apply them toward developing professionally produced material that generates leads for your business.
What's most important is that you find something you love to do and feel passionate about. Then, figure out how to bring it to life financially. When you combine hard work with creativity, anything becomes possible.
Just follow our battle-tested guidelines and rake in the profits.