They will not turn away potentially massive business so as long as you appear to be a trader you are in. Remember - someone running a market stall is a trader who may become a shopkeeper who may turn into a chain. Wholesalers don’t ONLY deal with huge retailers.

As well as keeping prices under wraps main obstacle is by getting you to fill in some application forms. You will generally need to phone or fax a wholesaler to get these – warning, your emails can get completely ignored as customer service is way down on their priority list.

Now let’s get your story right. Many wholesalers will say that they deal with trade only. There is no need to be a shop owner. Trade can be mail-order via Internet (i.e. eBay). If asked I would use this description as well as saying you trade via market stalls. Only volunteer this information if asked as many wholesalers won’t even bother – they are busy people and sometimes rules are lax.

Make up a trade name – it sounds better to them. Using your initials is always good i.e. JB Trading.

Sometimes they have large minimum orders (i.e. £100) to put people off although mostly they don’t. Sometimes this only applies to first order.

If you are really unlucky then they may ask for proof of trading such as letterhead, business card or an invoice from someone. Even this is quite easy – just concoct something using your word processor i.e. Word and they will accept it – let’s not forget that you are not claiming to be a huge retailer just a small-time trader. You don’t have to have a limited company or be a corporation, most businesses in world are run as one-man bands.

When you contact them ask for a catalogue. They will generally just ask for your name and address. Use your ‘trading name’ and use your home address and home phone number. Perhaps ask them if they have a minimum order size.

Another obstacle is that they sometimes ask for references. In my experience these are never followed up but are another way to put off ‘average Joe’. It would be quite easy to use a friend i.e. SP International Export (and using your friends address).

Applying for a credit account is not a good idea as they are then very likely to really want references. Mostly you can pay by credit card and therefore checks on you are minimal or non-existent.

Once you have played by rules and jumped through a few hoops you will have access to trade prices and information. Once you are in – you are in so this is just an initial inconvenience.

This is an excerpt from best-selling book by Mark Eastwood entitled 'How To Buy Cheap DVDs and Games and Make Money' - this article can be reproduced and published as long as it is credited to Mark Eastwood, and web address of www.cheapdvdsandgames.com is displayed.

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