Setting up Wholesalers

Sarah-Jane_2

robert_harper_2000 wrote: »

I run a pet shop, I would like to get some nice new cages and get offers on my pet foods. I've got good deals from my wholesalers but thought becoming a wholesaler would enable me to go a step further. Just wondered why some of the larger ones hadn't done it!

I do an accountant if VAT gets complicated but wouldn't mind extra work if it helps me get offers!

You really wouldn't be any better off for a long time with starting a wholesalers. You'll have loads of extra bills: warehouse space, staff, buying stock in bulk, courier charges, setting up a website, catalogue printing, advertising etc and it will all mount up very quickly. The business I work for done the same thing, and it's taken nearly 4 years to get things running 'ok'.
Maybe look around for other wholesalers to find new lines - like the new cages etc, or introduce a side line to the main focus for the shop. Ie if you sell dog leads, maybe introduce say wellies and fleeces for the people walking the dogs Maybe you already do that I don't know:D Just something to get a few new faces through the doors
Don't think wholesalers is the way to go though because it will cost you loads of money and it will be a long time before you see anything out of it:eek:

COOLTRIKERCHICK

robert_harper_2000 wrote: »

I run a pet shop, I would like to get some nice new cages and get offers on my pet foods. I've got good deals from my wholesalers but thought becoming a wholesaler would enable me to go a step further. Just wondered why some of the larger ones hadn't done it!

I do an accountant if VAT gets complicated but wouldn't mind extra work if it helps me get offers!

this is spooky.... thats what i used to do... once in the 80's then we had a pet/reptile shop that we closed 3 years ago.....

please do NOT go down the wholesale road... the pet industry is VERY cut throat..... and the risk compared to the profit margins are NOT worth it......

over the years i have seen many established wholesalers go to the wall....as some of the wholesale prices are more expensive than what the supermarkets are selling items for.... ( this is also with general stores as well)
plus the cheap £ shops selling cheap items which break quickly etc.....

the best place we found was batleys cash and carry...... but over the years their prices are creeping up.....

to be honest the only thing that was really profitable was the reptiles and the dog grooming ( i was a dog beautician for over 20 years ) but with both of these you really do need to know what you are doing.......

with the dog grooming you need to have the 'eye' for it so to speak..... i used to show and judge dogs..... hounds and terriers so had to prepare my dogs all up to show standard..... and people were asking me to groom their dogs and thats how it started.....

the reptiles we had for a long while before we opened the shop.. so had quite a bit of experience in the keeping etc...

good luck......but please dont bother with the wholesale root to try and make some extra profit......

robert_harper_2000

I'm very glad I spoke to you two. I had already been in touch with Business Link and was almost going to just do it.

I think you are right, plus it makes sense why the larger pet shops hadn't done this! As it is too expensive!!

Thanks appreciate your experience