B2B (Business-to-Business) may look promising, but it comes with a price. In addition, it depends on the global economy. Therefore, one must tread carefully on this side of the business. Even though it has several challenges, there are also some solutions. If a business follows these solutions efficiently, it can stay in the game for a long time. Therefore, being quick-witted and grabbing opportunities are the qualities of a successful business.
Challenges
Every business face challenges even if they try their best to avoid them. Here are some of the hurdles you may face when entering a wholesale business:
1: Increasing Competition
Of course, this era is highly competitive. You cannot possibly have your monopoly in the market as various businesses will have substitutes ready for your products. And, these substitutes can be better and cheaper than their counterparts! Therefore, remain vigilant when assessing your rivals because your competitors can throw you under the bus in no time!
Plus, wholesale is a versatile business. Therefore, small businesses find almost no entry barrier. That’s why you will see plenty of fish in the sea!
2: Delivery Services
Often distributors/wholesalers boast of giving timely delivery service. But, their services say otherwise! It would be best if you made promises that you could keep. Often, retailers and individual buyers rely on your oath to deliver the products fast. Therefore, time management is the key to making a profit in the wholesale business.
For example, if you are a supplier and sell wholesale T-shirts in Houston, people living there expect same-day delivery.
3: Safety Concerns
Since you need large warehouses filled with necessary products, there is always a concern for workers’ safety. These daily wagers are at risk if they do not wear protective equipment. Some large wholesale enterprises do not care for these workers; the result is labor unions at their doorsteps. As a business entity, your responsibility is to look after your workers.
4: Inventory Overload
Another issue faced by wholesalers is that of overloaded inventory. In return, this increases costs that may become too much to handle. Sometimes, you will have products that would be useless to your clients. And all you would do is sell them away at the lowest price possible. Additionally, the more it sits in the inventory, the more it depreciates.
5: Global Fluctuations
Everything international affects a wholesale business, from global fuel prices to inflation. Logistics play a great part in the distribution business. And if fuel prices are high, so will your transportation cost. Add inflation into the equation, and you will have fluctuating prices that can affect your profit margin.
Solutions
There is always a silver lining. No matter how your business faces a problem, it will always have a solution. Here are some of them relevant to the wholesale business:
1: Go Digital
One way to save hidden and evident costs is to make your business digital! From retailers to manufacturers, everyone is making a sudden shift. In addition, going digital also means transparent communication with your clients. Overall, a digital platform is the right way to make your wholesale business relevant.
2: Outsourcing
Try outsourcing your time-consuming and complex processes. Outsourcing means giving a certain task or part of your business to a third party. It can save you costs as a third party is usually willing to work for you at a reasonable price. This way, a process that takes up a considerable budget will ultimately lessen. Therefore, think of outsourcing processes such as warehouse receiving, inventory storage, order fulfillment, etc.
3: On-demand Service
In addition, you can focus on giving on-demand services. It means knowing how many units your clients want and having the same amount in your inventory. In this way, you can save on inventory costs and will efficiently give services to your clients. Therefore, on-demand service will be beneficial, especially for small businesses!
4: Expand Product line
It would be best if you thought out of the box to stay relevant in today’s competitive environment. Challenge your status quo and expand your services! You can try entering a niche market that is untapped and holds profit prospects.
For example, instead of focusing on selling wholesale T-shirts in Houston or anywhere else, you should also sell jackets, sweatshirts, headgear, etc.
5: Excellent Customer Services
Lastly, it would help if you never overlooked the power good customer service has. It means listening to the grievances of your customers and finding out solutions. Therefore, you must have a 24/7 channel built that addresses all the problems. Additionally, you can open a live chat option on your website to answer customers’ daily queries.
A business is susceptible to change. And it is up to us to adapt to such changes. Therefore, embracing technology and coming out of one’s comfort zone will help you overcome this hurdle. And, remember to take on any challenge with calculating measures and well-thought plans!
