>Home>Craft Business>Wholesale Resources for Crafters

Wholesale Resources for Crafters

Finding Wholesale Craft Supplies

You were very kind in giving me info on Raz and I have also found and received a catalog from Ardinger.

However, I am looking for wholesale distributors of silk/dried flowers and accessories for same, i.e. small snowmen, etc.

Do you have a resource list for that kind of information?

Thank you for your time.

Andrea

---

I recently revised Top 10 Free Online Wholesale Resources. This is the most current information I have on online wholesalers.

Of the ten wholesale sources listed, I know the last, Wholesale Central, represents some craft wholesalers.

I added one more wholesale resources to the list, World Wide Brands. World Wide Brands specializes in light bulk wholesalers and drop shippers.

Material & Supply Sourcing Problems

However, quoting from that article, I wrote,

"Keep in mind most of these wholesalers are selling finished goods, rather than raw materials. Also their inventory might be quite flexible, changing with the seasons.

It is not easy for a small business person to locate the right wholesale or bulk suppliers and your best bet might be checking the yellow pages of the nearest large city. Also look for your craft supplies in non-craft venues. You might find the ingredients for what you need at much lower prices.

Finally don't forget to check eBay. There are hundreds of vendors selling craft supplies on that site at any given time.

If you can find one carrying the product you need, your cost savings could be considerable.”

Big City Shopping Districts

I used to live outside of New York and Chicago at different times of my life. Each city has “districts” where vendors, mostly wholesalers, tend to clump together. You have a lighting district, a flower district, a jewelry district, etc. This is where you go to get the best selection and prices.

That is why I always suggest that you check the yellow pages of the closest big city (or actually make a visit) to find good suppliers for your craft materials. This is where you will find the vendors selling the raw materials you need at a price you can afford.

In New York City on one block, there were more sellers of buttons and ribbons than you would have believed existed. The same goes for all little things crafters need to complete their products. If you need dried flowers, miniature snowmen or plastic Santa Clauses, this is where you get them in bulk.

You might not be getting true wholesale prices unless you have the proper IDs, but the prices are always very low and the selection incredible.

One thing to consider when you find a true wholesaler is whether you can handle the minimum purchase. For example, I once found myself in a store that wholesaled beads. The beads were sold in bags. Each bag contained between 2500 and 10000 (depending on the size) of one size, type and color of bead. You couldn't mix and match. You have to do a lot of beading to buy in these quantities.

So you have to consider if you need 150 yards of nylon strapping or a gross of one size and color of zipper before you even make the trip. Don't buy a ton of stuff you can't use, just because its cheap.

Loading you house with pre-paid materials that will take you years to use is not a good use of your money, even if the initial cost was low.

Other Resources

If you can’t travel, other sources are the industrial directories most libraries have. They generally list manufacturers and wholesalers by genre. (Keep in mind most of what you’re looking for will be imported and maybe not covered). Also subscribe to trade publications or try to visit trade shows, although you might not find anybody willing to deal with you. Once you locate a manufacturer or wholesaler, call or write to see if they’ll work with you.

Ask your local craft store who their supplier is. It is most likely a jobber, a business that deals in smaller bulk quantities. Call them up and get their catalogs. They will probably be limited in product scope, but the prices should be good.

Shop Online

However, other than the sources I’ve already listed, I don’t have a list I refer to.

Just like you, when I need supplies I have to hunt for them, usually in the “districts” I referred to above.

Or I shop at some of the online stores such as Crafts@joann or CreateForLess, where I find prices up to 50% less than at the traditional brick & mortar craft stores while being able to locate what I need from the comfort of my home.

It sounds like you gotten a couple of wholesale catalogs already, so keep trying. Ask you local craft shops where they buy from and contact their jobbers. Be persistent and you will likely succeed. The more you're buying at one time, the better your chances of success.

Sorry I couldn’t be of more help.

  | Top | Craft Business Articles | Home |