If you're not familiar with liquidation suppliers, there's one important thing you should know about them: They're an excellent source of low-priced products that you can sell for superb profits! Liquidation suppliers are well known for selling designer and branded goods. Today, I'll do a quick run-through of how these suppliers work and how you can get the best deals possible from them. I'll also share a few cautions, so stay tuned!
The supplier that goes by many names
Liquidationists, closeouts, salvage suppliers, surplus suppliers — these are all names for the same thing: suppliers who specialize in buying stock from stores, manufacturers and wholesalers who have unwanted, damaged, end-of-line or faulty stock. My description doesn't make them sound very desirable, I know. But trust me, liquidators are well worth at least knowing about.
Liquidators can offer you a huge variety of stock from a broad range of sources. Usually, they deal with anyone who needs to quickly clear out old stock, or a business that is having its assets "liquidated" and needs to quickly sell stock to pay off debts. That's why they get such great deals. Large retail department stores and specialty shops also call on liquidators to purchase their stock at the turning of a season, which is often how they end up with a large assortment of branded goods such as Calvin Klein underwear, Gucci handbags and more.
Many liquidators also deal with electronics and can sell you refurbished or other second-hand items. They get their hands on these when they are returned by customers, and the retail store sells them to liquidators who fix them up and pass them on to you in good working order. Some will even sell you damaged stock that you can fix yourself if you're handy with a screwdriver and a soldering iron!
Big brands, low prices
As I mentioned, liquidators are well known as a source for good deals on branded items, so what can you expect? Here are a few examples of deals you can get from SaleHoo-approved liquidation suppliers:
- Clothing items: Calvin Klein, DKNY, Tommy Hilfiger and Ralph Lauren from $3.75 a piece
- Cosmetics, fragrances and skin care: Yves Saint Laurent, L'Oreal and Clinique from $2.75 a piece
- Footwear: Nike, DKNY and Polo, boxed and brand new from $6.95 per pair
3 drawbacks of using liquidation suppliers
I know the idea of getting branded goods from liquidators is exciting, but take a minute to understand the main drawbacks involved with sourcing from them.
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A large investment is usually required: Liquidation suppliers only deal in large orders and that means large bills. Some liquidation lots are sold by the pallet or the truck load. Depending on the value of the items, this could mean you need to spend USD $1,000 or more to access some liquidation lots.
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No-returns policies usually apply: Liquidators have a "take it or leave it" policy. Without careful inspection, you could easily end up with a load of broken or difficult-to-sell stock — and you can't send it back! While liquidations can provide you with some great deals, you can also end up with a lot of junk if you aren't careful. It's a good idea to physically inspect a liquidation pallet before purchasing. Or at the very least, ask for a full inventory list.
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Cherry picking - Some liquidators are known for "cherry picking" liquidation lots. That is, they take the best stuff for themselves, and resell only the less valuable items. Again, inspecting the lot is the best way to ascertain whether the liquidator is cherry picking. As with any supplier, it's crucial to find one that you can trust to sell you quality goods.
As you can see, there are a few drawbacks to using liquidators, and it's not for the faint-hearted. However, when you work with a liquidator you can trust, magic can happen (in the form of big profits!). The trick is knowing where to find the right suppliers.
Where to find the best liquidation suppliers
SaleHoo's Wholesale Directory lists the best and most trusted suppliers from around the web. That makes it easy for you to find exactly what you want with the SaleHoo filtering system.
If you're already a SaleHoo member with access to the directory, check out these popular liquidators:
- Liquidation supplier #1 (Requires SaleHoo login. Join here to access): A trusted and well-known supplier, and for good reason! Since 1999, they have had exclusive rights to Best Buy's surplus and liquidation stock. Get your hands on some quality consumer electronics now!
- Liquidation supplier #2 (Requires SaleHoo login. Join here to access): This US-based supplier is adored by SaleHoo members and offers novelty items, party supplies, books, clothing, gifts and plenty more at exceptional prices.
My last two cents
While liquidators have their drawbacks, they also have a lot to offer you in terms of variety and their low prices give you a very solid edge over your competitors. As with any supplier, make sure you get to know them a little before you do business with them. Alternatively, take the easy route by joining SaleHoo. All the groundwork and background checks have already been done on your behalf!
Are you ready to buy designer goods at low, low prices so you can sell them for a profit? Join SaleHoo and get access to authentic, high-quality branded goods now.
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