How to Become a Distributor or Reseller
- 1). Apply for a seller's permit through your city or county administration office if you are selling taxable merchandise. Apply for a DBA (Doing Business As) certificate through the same office, especially if you create a fictitious name for your business.
- 2). Search for a wholesale or manufacturer supplier if you decide not to become affiliated with a direct sales company. Visit the NAW (National Association of Wholesaler Distributors) at Naw.org to find various wholesale suppliers. Go to Thomasnet.com if you are interested in dealing directly with manufacturers.
- 3). Call several wholesalers and manufacturers. Find out which ones sell the products you want to market. Ask the wholesalers and manufacturers if you can buy products in small quantities to avoid carrying large amounts of inventory. Inquire about the turnaround time on product shipments when you order. Select the wholesaler or distributor that offers you the best service and lowest per-unit costs.
- 4). Create a website for your distribution business. Ask your wholesaler or manufacturer if they have images of the products you plan to sell. Upload the images of your products to your website, as advised by Startupbizhub.com, an online reference site. Establish retail prices for your products based on your supplier's recommendation, then post them on your website.
- 5). Advertise your business in newspapers and consumer magazines that your target customers read. Place classified ads in magazines like Entertainment Weekly and People if you are reselling movie memorabilia, for example. Create headings for your classified ads that specifically target the customers that you are attracting. Use a classified ad heading like "Buy Rare Movie Memorabilia From the '40s and '50s" if you are reselling such merchandise. Submit your website address to various search engines like Google, AOL and MSN to promote your website.
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