Thinking? How to buy in bulk and sell individually? The ANSWER is to invest the money upfront in purchasing bulk products and make QUICK CASH by RESELLING.
Buying at LOW and Selling at HIGH is a POPULAR BUSINESS, but it is crucial to know what to sell so you have a high-PROFIT MARGIN.
Having more than ten years of experience with TRUSTED REVIEWS in ecommerce industries like Walmart and AMAZON, At Leeline, our experts guide you and business owners on how to turn your love of flea markets and thrift stores into EXTRA INCOME.
In this post, we guide you about the best things to buy in bulk and resell to BOOST your INCOME.
Stick around to learn.
- What does buying in bulk mean?
- What are the benefits of buying in bulk?
- How to buy wholesale in bulk?
- Best Items To Buy In Bulk And Sell Individually
- 1. Snacks & Candy
- 2. Jewelry
- 3. Beauty Products
- 4. Childrenās Toys
- 5. Clothing
- 6. Books
- 7. Kitchenware
- 8. Bottled Water & Drinks
- 9. Bathroom Items
- 10. Office Supplies
- Tips to keep in mind for buying wholesale in bulk
- Where to buy wholesale products for retail?
- Alibaba
- DHgate
- eBay
- Amazon
- When should you not buy in bulk?
- Final Words
- FAQs about Buy In Bulk And Sell Individually
- Whatās Next
- Do you want a successful import business?
What does buying in bulk mean?
Buying in bulk means purchasing the stock in large quantities at low prices. It is also known as buying the stock in wholesale.
Looking for the cheapest ways to ensure your inventory is fully stocked? Buy in bulk and then resell individually. It provides more PROFIT MARGINS compared to buying individual items at a higher price.
It is a B2B (Business to Business) transaction between retailers and suppliers. Recently, it has become more popular among individuals because bulk-selling stores have popped up.
What are the benefits of buying in bulk?
Why should thrift stores and business owners go for bulk buying?
SURPRISING benefits of bulk shopping are:
More Profit and Low Costs
In the retail arbitrage world, there is HIGH COMPETITION between retailers and online sellers. To stay ahead in the RACE, retailers buy wholesale items in bulk at low costs and then sell online at HIGHER PRICES to make a PROFIT.
Inventory management
The TRUTH about buying in large quantities is that you will restock less often. Thatās why there is no need to organize and manage the inventory every time, saving time.
Coverage ad Greater Variety
Wholesale products allow you to access items not LAUNCHED in the market YET. The benefit is that you compare products that align with your production needs.
Wholesale systems and garage sales offer both international and national logistics coverage. Donāt worry about how you will obtain the items.
How to buy wholesale in bulk?
Follow the steps for buying bulk to resell to ensure ONGOING SUCCESS.
First, decide whether you want to use a local or global wholesaler.
Whether you source products from a global or a local wholesaler, both have pros and cons, so choose as per your choice and whatās best for your business.
If you go for a local U.S. wholesaler, you have to pay the premium due to higher manufacturing costs. But it is worth it as you get HIGH-QUALITY items. Another benefit of choosing a local wholesaler is that you will get the products in a few days as shipping time is faster.
Choosing the global wholesaler provides you with benefits in terms of lower prices and a wide variety of products to choose from. But the major DISADVANTAGE is that the shipping time is slow.
Suggested reading: Dhgate Shipping Time
Select more than two suppliers
What if your supplier ran out of products? Having more than two suppliers do not cut off your revenue stream.
It is OBVIOUS that you are unlikely to find all your desired items from a single vendor, so always have more options to manage your inventory better.
Negotiation for quantity and cost in garage sales
After choosing the products:
- Do the NEGOTIATION.
- Buy enough stock as per customersā demand.
- Discuss the PAYMENT TERMS with a supplier that suits both of you.
It will prevent problems and miscommunication later down the line.
Looking for the Best China Sourcing Agent?
Leeline Sourcing helps you find factories, get competitive prices, follow up production, ensure quality and deliver products to the door.
Best Items To Buy In Bulk And Sell Individually
Bulk buying HALVES your COSTS. The ULTIMATE List of items to buy in bulk are:
1. Snacks & Candy
One of the great ideas for buying wholesale products to resell is snacks and candy. Because buying sweets and snacks at wholesale price is cheaper than buying them in smaller quantities from grocery stores.
More reasons for buying snacks and candies in bulk are:
- Sell the snacks through the BRICK AND MORTAR business to local stores and earn more PROFIT because candies and snacks always stay fresh and have longer SHELF-LIFE. You can store them for longer times.
- Start a VENDING MACHINE Business. It is also just a wholesale business; you must consider it and earn some EXTRA CASH.
- Sell the snacks and candies at door-to-door events with more PROFIT MARGINS. Buy the products at a low price and sell at a high price.
2. Jewelry
Buying jewelry in bulk is more beneficial than buying a retail or individual price to resell. Because it SIGNIFICANTLY reduces the cost of inventory.
The FASCINATING Benefits of buying jewelry in bulk are:
- The Jewelry product category is HIGHLY DIVERSE. Different varieties include earrings, bracelets, necklaces, anklets, pins, cufflinks, etc.
The benefit is that there are always a lot of CHOICES. You can buy popular and trending items in bulk.
- Buying jewelry in bulk SAVES TIME, such as managing the inventory for spate pieces of jewelry. Order in large quantities and save the SHIPPING COSTS as well. It also cuts down packaging costs, so there is no EXTRA, ONLY HIGH-PROFIT.
3. Beauty Products
In the category of beauty products, buyers always look for GREAT DEALS.
How much money do you spend over the counter to buy individual items and then sell them? If you count for the entire yearās stock, you are spending more money on purchasing and earning no or very little profit.
Buying beauty products at wholesale prices cuts down the overall cost.
Who says beauty products are not in demand? Take the example of a MOISTURIZER. If four members in your family use the 80+ounces of MOISTURIZER a day, how many days will it last? So, no doubt, buying beauty items in bulk is WORTH IT.
Things to consider while buying beauty items:
- Do not buy cheap wholesale products because they will not be suitable for peopleās health and skin, and ultimately you will lose your customers with NEGATIVE REVIEWS.
- Make sure to buy bulk beauty items with ingredients with LONGER SHELF LIFE. In that way, you can store them for a longer time. Buy and sell essential oils that have ingredients with longer life.
4. Childrenās Toys
According to statistics, more than 140 million babies are born each YEAR.
The Number should CONVINCE that the toys are one of the top-selling items on ecommerce websites. So, why not YOU? Buy the childrenās toys in bulk and resell them at HIGHER PRICES the entire year to gain more PROFIT MARGINS.
Our Top Tip: Search for kids toys in clearance items that are on deep discount from liquidation retailers on clearance sales. The best time is CHRISTMAS. After getting enough inventory at a wholesale or discounted price, you can sell them on eBay or your ecommerce store at HIGH RATES.
5. Clothing
Have you ever GOT AN EYE in the fashion industry? If yes, then you know better than the clothing category, which makes BIG BUCKS when you buy clothes in bulk and sell them individually.
The benefits of buying clothing in bulk are:
- If you buy clothes in bulk, you must pay less than if you buy individual shirts. For example, if you spend $25 for a single shirt piece, then the retail price you can get for each piece is $15. Buy at low prices and sell at HIGH-PROFIT MARGINS.
- Whether the clothes are with tags or if you buy them from a secondhand apparel market, you can always sell them on websites like eBay and Mercari.
Walmart is one of the best marketplaces to buy clothing at wholesale or discounted prices. It is an EXCELLENT point to start your ecommerce business model. You can also buy from Yard Sales and THRIFT STORES at low prices.
Looking to find a reliable Chinese supplier?
As the best China sourcing agent, we help you find factories, get competitive prices, follow up production, ensure quality and deliver products to the door.
6. Books
Books are another product category when you want to buy in bulk to resell because these are AFFORDABLE to BUY and EASY TO SHIP.
Finding new or gently used books from garage sales, yard sales, thrift shops, or flea markets is too EASY.
OUR TOP TIP: Always look for books in good condition if you buy used books in bulk. Search for Amazonās BEST SELLER LISTS to check which books are trending.
Wondering where to resell the books? Go for Amazon, eBay, Textbooks.com, or BookDeal.
Considering opening your ONLINE business of books or reselling in person at the local flea market is a GREAT IDEA to earn some EXTRA CASH.
7. Kitchenware
Kitchenware and home products are always in demand and are the most popular categories.
After watching hundreds of COOKING SHOWS nationally and internationally, people are interested in purchasing more cooking utensils.
Itās a GOOD IDEA to buy many small kitchenware items at wholesale prices in the IDEAL PRICE RANGE. Buy at low prices at wholesale and then sell individually at HIGHER PRICES.
The TOP TRENDING Kitchenware PRODUCTS are:
- Utensils
- Pots or Pans
- Plates and Platters
- Cabinets and shelving
- Knives and Table linens
- Tables and Chairs
- Electric Appliances, power tools, and Glassware
8. Bottled Water & Drinks
Have you ever seen people selling pop cans and bottled water at events or in public parks?
Yeah, you got it! They are doing the same thing, buying in bulk and reselling individually. Thatās the reason bottled water and drinks are among top selling categories.
Buy the items wholesale during summers when there is a HUGE DEMAND of beverages, or buy when there are a lot of events taking place in your city. The benefit is that they sell more items and make more DECENT PROFIT.
After getting the beverages wholesale, set up a shop near the street corner or at a sporting event and start SELLING. (Bruhh!!! What a GREAT IDEA)
9. Bathroom Items
What do you think about BATHROOM ITEMS? These are basic household supplies that everyone needs in their houses. So, buying wholesale and selling the bathroom items individually is a GREAT IDEA. Sell at more PROFIT MARGINS and save more money.
The Best Selling Bathroom Item is:
Buy and sell Paper Towels in the online store.
One of the basic household supplies one wants to have on hand.
Suppose you buy a pack of 6 paper towels from WALMART; it will cost you approximately $12 or $2/roll. But if you buy a pack of 16, then it will cost you $29.89, which means $1.87/roll. The saving is not much DRASTIC, but it adds up over time if you buy in bulk and sell.
Some other examples of bathroom items to resell are shampoo, conditioner, toothpaste, toilet, and paper. By selling these items individually, making money online is easier in the long run.
10. Office Supplies
Whether the people work from the OFFICE or not, they use OFFICE SUPPLIES. The common office items used everywhere are notepads, pens, and calendars. These are also considered the essentials of day-to-day life.
Office items are always in high demand if you work from the office or home. So, there are many opportunities for starting the OFFICE SUPPLIES business.
The benefit of buying office supplies in bulk is that you can resell them at stationery stores or office supplies stores at HIGH prices.
Another way is to build your online store to resell office supplies. By this, you have more PROFIT MARGINS in the longer run.
The Best Selling Office Supplies are:
- Writing items such as highlighters, pencils, and pens
- Notebooks, pads, and sticky notes
- Laser pointers
- Desk bottles
- Scheduling and planning tools like planners and calendar
Suggested reading: Top 50 Trending Products To Sell Online
Tips to keep in mind for buying wholesale in bulk
Our LIFE-CHANGING TIPS while buying items in bulk are:
Look for Upcoming TRENDS in thrift stores
It will not work if you only pick up on the trend, but the thing is that you need to recognize the trend EARLY and turn it into an OPPORTUNITY.
Establish yourself as a LEADER and stay ahead in the RACE of the online world. It will help you attract more customers and increase your estate sales and ULTIMATELY more PROFIT.
Our suggestions for where you can search for trending products are:
- Amazon Best Sellers
- Pinterest Boards
- Etsy Most Wanted
- Trending on eBay
- Trending on Kickstarter
Figuring out Shipping
While selecting the products to buy wholesale and then selling individually, always consider the SHIPPING PRICES.
Buying heavy items in bulk costs you more shipping fees to deliver to your customers. The BIGGEST EXPENSES as a retail business owner, so consider this factor while making decisions.
Where to buy wholesale products for retail?
A GREAT WAY to search for potential suppliers and buy at wholesale is given below.
Alibaba
Do you want to know something INTERESTING? Alibaba is the largest ecommerce and retail company in the world.
Pros and Benefits of buying from Alibaba
- 2 Million Suppliers
There are more than 2 MILLION suppliers supplying products and flipping items on Alibaba. You have a wide variety of options to choose from.
- Variety of Product Categories
You do not need to find the items on another platform, as every product is available on the Alibaba website.
- Low-price products
When we talk about PRODUCT PRICING, Alibaba offers you low-price products because most of the websiteās sellers are manufacturers.
Suggested reading: Alibaba Reviews: How To Have A Secure Buying Experience
If you hard to negotiate with suppliers and pay on alibaba.com safely?
LeelineSourcing is ready to help you buy from alibaba low cost and efficiently.
DHgate
DHgate is another famous target market specializing in B2C and B2B services.
Pros and Benefits of buying from DHgate
Now, why choose Dhgate?
- Variety of Products Available
Buy limited edition sneakers, pet care supplies, power tools, video game consoles, fashion accessories, and flipping items at cheap prices.
- Product Pricing
The price of these products depends on how many pieces you order. The larger you order, the lower the price will be.
Whatās the BENEFIT of buying from Dhgate and not from Alibaba?
DHgate allows you to buy around 10-20 pieces in one order. But at Alibaba, you must order at least hundreds or even thousands of products.
Suggested reading: Is DHgate Safe? Is DHgate legit?
eBay
Do you think that eBay is just an AUCTION site? You are WRONG.
eBay is a great marketplace to buy products in bulk at wholesale rates.
Pros and Benefits of buying from eBay
- Great Deals
There are a lot of great deals to buy in bulk on eBay. To find the listings, use the advanced search page.
While searching, ensure that the product you are looking for is available in bulk. Because not every item listed on eBay is available in bulk.
- Best things to buy on eBay that SAVES CASH
The product categories in which bulk quantities are available are video games, electronics, jewelry, and clothing.
Buy these items in bulk from eBay at a low price and sell at HIGH-PRICE.
Suggested reading: Sourcing For EBayāThe USEFUL Guide You Can Not Miss
Amazon
Save Money and Buy from Amazon because it is a Central hub for buying items in bulk at wholesale prices.
Pros and Benefits of buying from Amazon
- 5% Discount
Amazon gives a discount of 5% when you subscribe to receive more than four items. Here save your money while buying in bulk.
- Get inventory at Low-Prices
A fully stocked inventory allows you to get MAXIMUM REVENUE Out of your ecommerce business.
- Variety of Products
There is no doubt that tens of thousands of products are available on Amazon in different categories to buy in bulk. (What do you want MORE?)
When should you not buy in bulk?
- Limited Choice
While buying items in bulk, if you have limited choice regarding popular brands, do not buy in bulk. It will be a problem if you want to buy products from a specific brand.
- Less flexibility
What if the supplier discontinues supplying your best-selling item? It is an issue to commit to buying the items at wholesale price from a single wholesaler because the items can be changed or finished.
- Storage
Buying in bulk also requires more storage space to store items. Have limited space? Do not buy in bulk.
- Buyer remorse
What if you are unsatisfied with the product after buying it in bulk? Some wholesalers do not provide an opportunity for refunding or product exchange. Do not buy in bulk from non-reputable sources.
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Final Words
Reselling the items has become a popular SIDE HUSTLE among online sellers. If you manage the costs, have trustable and reputable wholesale suppliers, and know where to sell your items, then it is a very PROFITABLE Business.
Our only recommendation is not to invest more than your budget allows. Always make sure that you find online sales opportunities for your products.
LEARN THE ROPES and Start slowly and test the things before buying too much in bulk.
FAQs about Buy In Bulk And Sell Individually
1. Is it cheaper to buy wholesale or retail?
Wholesale is cheaper than retail because, in wholesale, you buy directly from the manufacturer at low prices.Ā
2. How does bulk buying help a business?
The main advantage of bulk buying is COST SAVING. When each pieceās price is reduced, businesses can increase their profits by selling them at higher prices.Ā
3. Is buying in bulk better for the environment?
Yes, bulk buying is better for the environment. Less packaging is included, and it generates less waste.Ā
4. What are the risk factors in purchasing?
The risk factors in purchasing are:
Ā· Size of sale
Ā· Affected several people by buying decision
Ā· Shelf life of products
Ā· How is the customer familiar with you, your product, and your company?
Whatās Next
What things matter while buying in bulk and selling individually? The right mindset, product sources, items to sell, and suppliers to buy wholesale products lead to SUCCESS in an ecommerce business.
Are you planning to buy and resell the items as a SIDE HUSTLE? Are you confused about which products you should plan to sell? We at Leeline Sourcing are providing solutions to such problems. Contact us and get a QUOTE and the answer to your query ASAP.
What are your ideal products to sell? Leave a comment BELOW.
Related Resources
Ecommerce Business Guide
Do you want a successful import business?
Hey, Iām Sharline, co-founder of LeelineSourcing. Weāve helped 2000+ customers import from China.
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