It is the most basic of businesses, but if done correctly can be a massive money spinner especially if you pick the perfect time.
Firstly you need to find something that people around you want to buy:
- Soft drinks
- Ice creams (great at summer, obviously)
- Memory Cards / Sticks
- Clothing
- Technology
- Stationary
- Photographic Paper / Ink
- Beer
If it’s to sell online, make sure you do your research to find the right products
- eBay ‘Sold’ & ‘Completed’ listings
- Amazon Top Sellers
Then you need a reason for them to buy from you instead of going elsewhere
Because you’re going to offer added value, value that makes someone buy from you, rather than a competitor. A few examples of added value:
- Delivery at a time that suits the customer, i.e. if its sunny, the customer can stay where they’re and buy an ice-cream from you instead of walking 2 minutes to go to the shop.
- The price, if you can buy in bulk and offer a better price than anyone locally.
- Help with setup and problems directly with them + probably ‘on call’ support.
So where do I get bulk products from?
- Wholesalers, the best thing to do is search ESources or AliExpress however searching locally might be your best bet.
- Short dated products sellers – up to 90% off – We have a full article on where to find end of line & short dated products.
- Amazon Bulk Buys & eBay Wholesale.
- Wholesale stores, nationwide you will find Costco & Makro, but locally you will probably find a few more.
Do your research first!
When buying in bulk it’s sometimes easy to think something is good value, when in fact it’s not. Compare the market, have a look at previous prices on eBay/Amazon etc to get a rough idea of what someone is willing to pay.
Remember legal requirements + TAX + VAT
First of all you can’t really go around selling food/drink etc without the appropriate licences etc, best to check with your local council.
Remember you will most likely have to keep a good record of your income and pay tax appropriately at the end of the year
Wholesalers generally sell to companies who don’t pay VAT on purchases, so they may not show the VAT price, this is especially true in Costco & it can easily trick your brain!
Photo credit: https://www.flickr.com/photos/swambo/