Brick And Mortar Required

[Studio Apocalypse]

I've come across many suppliers for accessory items that require their wholesale customers to have a "Brick and Mortar" store. As much as I'd love to have my own storefront it's not realistic for my business model at this time. Has anyone in the community had luck getting any wholesale distributors to drop this requirement?

[Randy Cornelius]

I've come across many suppliers for accessory items that require their wholesale customers to have a "Brick and Mortar" store. As much as I'd love to have my own storefront it's not realistic for my business model at this time. Has anyone in the community had luck getting any wholesale distributors to drop this requirement?

I have ran into the same thing, last year we went to "WESA" aka Denver Market and were able to contact people from several lines we would like to have carried but we too were required to have a store front and had to supply profe, picture and tax statement if we owned the building or rental agreement if we rented. Since I work out of the house we could not carry those lines. What we were told by a couple that everyone who carries thier line buys at the same price and is required to sell at the same set retail price. We were told if it showed up on ebay or some other internet site for a lower price we would loose the right to buy from them. This way that could control how many retailer were selling thier products. They did not want several retailers from a single city competing so they would not sign up a retailer if they already had one nearby. It's just the way they do business. They just don't want thier stuff showing up on ebay.

[Studio Apocalypse]

@ The mods: I see my post moved... did I break a rule? If so sorry.

@ Randy: Did they end up granting you an account?

[RCZWL]

Zack White Leather Company is a wholesale/retail provider of leather and leather findings. While we do require you to have a business license and/or a sales tax exempt number to buy as a wholesaler, we do not require you to have a storefront. We have a lot of our customers who work out of their homes/garages/barns and outbuildings. We do have minimum purchase requirements that are small in comparison to other suppliers. If you would be interested in checking us out our website is www.zackwhite.com and our toll free number is 1-800-633-0396. Please give us a call for more wholesale information. We are located in Ramseur, NC and ship by UPS.

[bruce johnson]

I have only run into this requirement (along with guaranteed minimum annual orders) for wholesale pricing on finished products from a couple suppliers. It was for cinches, finished halters, bags, and things along those lines that I would directly compete with other retailers. As far as getting anyone to waive it, only in a limited way from one supplier. I was able to buy one product in a minimum number for each order at dealer price, since no other local dealers of their products were buying these in any quantity. They sold to another company and that deal went away with the new management.

Most suppliers of materials only require a business license and/or a resale number for wholesale pricing.

[Studio Apocalypse]

Business/Tax License requirements are to be expected, even minimum purchase requirements are common enough; but it seems like wholesalers would have a waiver if they just wanted to keep people from reselling their product at lower prices. Requiring a storefront seems like it hurts a wholesaler more than it helps them...

@ Zack White Leather Company: Thanks for the info, I will certainly be taking a look at what you have to offer.

@ Bruce: Thanks for sharing your experience. Looking at products by individual market saturation might help me pick up a few things otherwise unavailable.

[wvcraftsman]

Does anyone know if there is a list posted on here of the wholesale suppliers that do not require a brick and morter store?

I know some of the advertisers above do not require it, but I thought there might be others that don't advertise here.