Startup Tips

A collection of 33 posts

Wholesale Featured

Transitioning Your Customers to Orderspace

Most people do not enjoy change. Especially when they have become used to working in a certain way, and have incorporated it into their daily habits and routines. Even changes that are 100% positive are sometimes met with resistance. This can make life very difficult for businesses looking to modernise

Efficiency Featured

8 Ways to Prepare Your Business For The Holiday Season

However far along (or behind) you feel you are in making preparations for the holiday season, here are some ideas to help you get ready for the holiday season: 1. Stock-Up It can be a tricky business working out just how much stock you need, especially if this is your

Inventory

Inventory Basics - How to Set Up SKU's

SKU's, or stock keeping units, are codes appointed to single items of stock. If you are buying in products from a manufacturer, they may have already assigned SKU’s and it is your decision to work with those or assign your own. There are two main options to

Business

How to Approach New Stockists

If you are a small business in your early phase, chances are you will have to approach new stockists actively. If you have the budget to exhibit at trade shows, this is obviously a good way to meet with many potential B2B customers. Remember, though; tradeshows aren't the

Wholesale

Wholesale 101 - How To Calculate Cost Price

I first wrote this piece in 2016; since then, it has been updated several times and remains our most popular blog post to date! So read on for some helpful advice on setting your cost prices and pricing your products for wholesale and B2B customers. At its most basic, your

Wholesale

The Pros and Cons of Sale or Return

Sale or return, also known as 'in consignment', is basically a loan of stock to a wholesale customer. No money changes hands at the time of handing over the stock, but usually, a formal agreement is signed at this point. The retailer offers the stock for sale and

Wholesale

9 Signs You've Outgrown Your Current Order Processing System

When small businesses start wholesaling, they often use a combination of spreadsheets, paper order forms, email and telephone conversations to look after their wholesale orders. This can work sufficiently well for a while, but inevitably more sophisticated features are required to run the business efficiently. Whatever system you currently use,

Trade Show Tips

How To Exhibit at a Trade Show on a Tight Budget

For many small businesses, exhibiting at a tradeshow is a major investment. Here are some quick tips to help you cut costs: 1. See if you qualify for any grants For example, in the UK, UKTI's Tradeshow Access Program (TAP) provides funding in the form of grants for

Wholesale

Getting The Best From Your Wholesale Customers

In my previous role as a fashion buyer, I watched as several small independent brands closed their doors to wholesale customers. They found wholesaling frustrating and were drawn into the bright lights of direct retail, with its higher margins and immediate payments. So what was so bad about wholesale? And

Efficiency

How to Manage Backorders Efficiently

Backorders are orders for goods or services that you can't fulfil at the time of order due to insufficient availability. Depending on your business model, you may routinely take many backorders, or they may be a rarity. Either way, backorders are an essential factor in inventory management analysis.

Business

PR for Small Businesses - The DIY Option

PR is something that many small businesses struggle with. If it is not your area of expertise, you have three choices; outsource, hire-in or add it to the list of things that you have to learn (and execute) yourself. Some experts suggest that, until you have a PR budget of

Business

3 Golden Rules to Make Life Easier For Your Stockists

The title could just as easily have been '3 Golden Rules to Make More Profit'. You see, the easier it is for your stockists to work with you, the more orders they will want to place. If they come up against too many obstacles, unless your offering is

Wholesale Featured

How To Manage Pre-orders Efficiently

Pre-orders are orders that are taken for products or services that are not yet available. Many wholesale businesses operate a pre-order system, as they release seasonal or yearly collections. Pre-orders allow businesses to plan production effectively. When providing information to your customers about a pre-order, you need to provide the

Stock

Six Expert Tips For Successful Stock-Taking

The stock-take. Certainly not my favourite pastime, but one that is crucial if you hold stock. Here are my tips for successful and easy stock-taking: 1. Make sure the stock-room is tidy and well organised before you start. Stock-takes need to be systematic and thorough. 2. Ideally you should lock

Wholesale

Getting Started With Wholesale - Your First Retailers

For a new brand, reaching out to retailers can feel intimidating, so the more prepared you can be the better. Hopefully you have read our post How To Approach New Stockists, but if not I strongly urge you to do so! Here are some great ideas to help you feel

Business

Working With Subscription Commerce Businesses

Subscription businesses are nothing new, Readers Digest launched their first issue in Feb 1922, but it is in far more recent times that we have seen the rise of the subscription box. There are hundreds of different types, from pet food to underwear, cosmetics to craft supplies for children. This

Wholesale Featured

Why your retail website won't work for your wholesale customers

In my previous life as a lingerie buyer, I came up against all manner of ordering systems. I use the phrase ‘came up against’ because this is how it was: a battle to place orders. A frustrating, stressful, daily fight that only became worse as time went on. You see

Wholesale Featured

Getting Started With Wholesale

It is a big decision to start wholesaling your products, and some small businesses approach the concept with great trepidation. However, as with most things in life, with some consideration and planning you can enjoy a smooth transition into the next exciting phase of your growth. I've answered

Inventory

What To Do With Surplus Stock

Surplus stock can be a real headache as it takes up space and locks up cash that could be used elsewhere. It is a common issue at the start of the year, after the holiday period is over. Your strategy will depend on the nature, shelf-life and seasonality of the

Business

Efficient Order Processing in Five Simple Steps

Let me start by saying this is firmly aimed at the smaller business. If you are operating with a big warehouse and lots of staff, this probably isn’t the post for you! Head on over to ShipStation for some fantastic resources for larger operations. So, with that disclaimer out

Wholesale

Keeping Your Online Retailers Happy

I write this from personal experience in online retail for the best part of a decade. I spend a lot of time talking about how wholesale businesses should define the perfect retailer, well here is my idea of how a perfect supplier might have looked to me when I was

Wholesale

How To Build Strong Supply Chain Relationships

Building solid relationships with your suppliers is crucial to running and efficient business. Here are some of the key ways you can create, and maintain good partnerships within your supply chain: 1. Make sure you get to know your key suppliers. Ideally, meet with them regularly at their location so

Wholesale

Understanding Wholesale Supply Chains

Managing your supply chain is a crucial part of running a successful wholesale operation. Stripping away all of the business jargon, in essence, this just involves building and maintaining a good relationship with every organisation that supplies or serves you, or receives goods or services from you. So, depending on

Wholesale

Combatting Stock Control Problems

In this new series of posts I will be looking at some common problems faced by small to medium-sized wholesale businesses when processing their orders, and suggesting ways to address the issues. Today's focus is stock control because this is at the core of any wholesale business. Scenario

Wholesale

How To Minimize Backorders

If backorders are a recurring problem for your business, we have some helpful ideas on how you can minimize them. 1. Keep a closer eye on inventory Monitoring your inventory closely will give you a better feel for any products and line items that are consistently selling out. You may