How to Find Sub-wholesalers
Sometimes businesses seek additional support in marketing their products and/or services by recruiting others to sell for them while sharing a portion of their profits. For example, a sub-wholesaler can create a business separate from their supplier and attempt to sell products and/or services at a higher cost than what was given to him by the supplier. The difference between the cost of the product and what the sub-wholesaler charges the customer is his profit. Companies may refer to their sub-wholesalers by other names, such as sellers, recruits, distributors, sales representatives, associates, agents or affiliates. They would not be called employees because they do not appear on the company's general payroll. They are responsible for their own taxes, and they either pay for their own marketing tools through their supplier or create their own. Large corporations, wholesale companies, manufacturers and small businesses may use sub-wholesalers when they are looking to grow their organizations or sell slow-moving products.
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Things You'll Need
- Budget for print and/or television advertising
- Budget for direct mail campaign
- Printed business materials, i.e., business cards, catalogs, fliers or brochures
- Gifts
- Thank you cards
- Meeting room (optional)
- Refreshments (optional)
Instructions
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Create a list of your inventory and include discounted prices you would give to a sub-wholesaler. Keep in mind that the sub-wholesaler is joining your business because of the generous discounts and ability to obtain a profit while selling your products.
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Create a website or blog and include a banner ad on your site explaining to visitors your need for sub-wholesalers. You may want to use another name that most would be familiar with, such as representatives, affiliates or sellers.
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Recruit people wherever you go. From your neighbors to the people you meet at the airport, everyone is a potential sub-wholesaler. They should know who you are and what you do. You will need to show people your product or service, explain to them what it does, why it's useful and how it benefits your customers. Ask them whether they would be interested in earning extra money.
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Show your recruit a list of how much they will gain if they sell one of your products. Be sure the amount of profit for selling one item or service is note-worthy. For instance, discounting an item by 75 percent off the retail price looks a lot better than 25 percent, and the recruit will definitely be able to resell the item and make a profit. Show more examples of other products and what the person will receive in profit.
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Schedule meetings with recruits that showcase more products and services. You will want to do this if you anticipate a large gathering of people. Provide refreshments and incentives to keep people informed and entertained at your meeting, such as door prizes, a free dinner, an autograph signature from a celebrity or games.
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Market your business at local swap meets (flea markets), seeking people who would be willing to sell your products for you. Your table should include your business literature. You may consider hosting a drawing. Participants would be required to fill out their mailing information and phone number to be eligible for a prize.
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Attend a job fair or similar career fair that will enable you to connect with people in need of extra money. At the fair, pass out business cards and exchange information with other businesses.
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Place advertisements in print such as magazines, newspapers and newsletters. Consider television media if your business is well established. Your ads should target people based on what appeals to them. A stay-at-home mother may be looking for an easy way to make money without toting her children around. A retiree may be looking for a business that will supply him with the materials rather than being required to make a substantial investment. Someone recently dismissed from their job may seek businesses that have just started in their local area. Others may want to inquire first before committing so they may be more likely to call a phone number and listen to a recording.
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Visit churches and other non-profit organizations. Mention your business and how members can receive extra cash to grow membership or help out their cause. Ask if they have a public bulletin board to display your literature.
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Post fliers in other public places such as bulletin boards at grocery stores, colleges, libraries, apartment building complexes (ask permission first, of course) and coffee shops.
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Start a direct mail campaign targeting opportunity seekers. Some of your sub-wholesalers may be found this way since they are already searching for an opportunity to make extra cash.
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Talk with people who are already working from home on the Internet. You may find many potential recruits in online chat rooms, social networking groups and targeted email lists. They may be interested in adding your business to their portfolio, or they may pass your information on to someone who wouldn't mind working your business from a home office.
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Follow up with your existing business partners and those who have turned your offer down in the past. When speaking with those who are selling products for you, ask how they are doing, if they need any more supply or advice on how to get more people to buy the products. For the contacts who opted out of your business opportunity, ask them if anything has changed since the last time you spoke to them and have they given any thought to the benefits of selling products for your company.
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Show your appreciation, when someone joins your business, by giving them a gift card for groceries, gas or some other useful product. Provide them with one of your newest products for free along with a thank you card.
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Tips & Warnings
When attempting to find sub-wholesalers for your business, do not forget to include freebies and samples to pique interest along with your business literature.
Finding reliable, active people to help you work your business is not easy and requires some dedication and patience. Be prepared for plenty of rejection.
If the recruit is easily impressed with your presentation, he will most likely tell someone about your offer, and hopefully it will generate more business for you.
Expect people to start off strong and gradually stop selling. This may be due to any number of reasons such as illness, loss of interest, a dwindling prospect list, relocation, a new job or family crisis.
