So, you’ve decided to shop wholesale with CREOATE. That's great news! Perhaps you already have a niche and are looking to expand your product range, or maybe you’re just starting out on your wholesale shopping journey.
No matter where you’re at, it’s well worth doing some research on what the best-selling wholesale items are before jumping in. Once you know this, you can better serve your end customers, and ultimately make more sales. Before we get stuck in here however, we should preface by saying this is by no means an exhaustive category list, but has been compiled using CREOATE’s data insights for a peek behind what makes our platform tick.
Hopefully, this information will provide some insight for anyone looking to ascertain which are the top selling wholesale products to shop on our platform, and ultimately to sell in your store.
Here are the best products to shop wholesale:
Clothing & accessories
According to the British Council, the UK fashion industry was worth $31.2 billion in 2023, and is set to reach $86 billion by 2030, making it one of the UK’s largest creative industries. A source of inspiration and identity for many, fashion is as influential as it is lucrative.
Fashion & Jewellery in particular tops the list of best-performing categories on CREOATE, including a number of varied sub-categories. With a suggested margin of 45-55% for retailers —50-60% for kids’ clothing and accessories— there’s profit to be made here if you can break through. However, proceed with caution. Such a vast market comes with unique challenges for sellers and retailers alike.
Future-proof fashion
The fashion and clothing industry is extremely competitive, so make sure you do your research and know your niche. Many customers are also a lot savvier now when it comes to the ethics and values behind the clothes they purchase. With fast fashion the second largest polluter in the world, consider shopping for clothes made from responsibly-sourced materials, and thoroughly vetting any brands you shop with to ensure ethical practice. Doing so not only ensures the quality and integrity of your brand, but future-proofs it as a forward-thinking fashion innovator. This is where our curated Wholesale Sustainable Clothing Collection could be of some assistance for your next stock-up. Thank us later.
In terms of which wholesale clothing items and accessories sell best, we'd suggest stocking up on the following:
As for individual brand recommendations, Paguro Upcycle shows us that upcycled fashion doesn’t have to be boring, with its range of eco-friendly wholesale jewellery and accessories made from recycled materials. Love Kidswear specialises in colourful clothes for children, made from sustainable materials using ethical labour practices. Meanwhile, Summit Crazy offers clothing and accessories for adventurers made from natural and recycled materials.
Homeware & decor
With everyone having spent a lot more time at home over the past few years, it should come as no surprise that there has been at least a 42% increase in homeware sales as a result of pandemic purchases.
A varied market
Like clothing, the way people decorate their homes is extremely personal. Part of the fun of home decor is crafting interiors to reflect your personality and tastes. Homeware and decor as a category is extremely varied, including everything from furniture and functional accessories, to art prints, storage, and soft furnishings. Though it depends on product specifics, the suggested retailer profit margin here sits between 45-50%.
In this space, there’s room for a broader lifestyle focus, as well as making your mark on more specific sub-sections with your own creative selection. A super versatile category, homeware is not only sought after by home decorators, but for giftware, too. Among those most popular wholesale homeware items, we'd recommend stocking up on some of the following:
Stationery
Pens! Notebooks! Can we have enough of them? Research says no, with UK households reportedly having purchased approximately £2.7 billion of stationery and drawing materials in 2022.
Perhaps it’s in part down to the rise in homeschooling and remote work over the past couple of years, but maybe it’s also down to the idea that the right notebook or planner can help change your life. A blank page can hold a world of possibilities, both for your customers, and you!
Another super versatile category, stationery encompasses everything from greeting cards to pens, boxes and wrapping supplies, as well as notebooks and organisers, hobby kits and more.
As with homeware, it’s a category that’s in high demand with a range of retailers, with many designers opting to print their designs on stationery to cast a wider net. Sounds like a goer? You’re looking at retailer margins of 45-55% if you can make it work in the stationery world.
Make your mark
Decide whereabouts you fit in. The demand is there for fresh and exciting designs, which means the possibilities in terms of the best wholesale products for your store are pretty vast. Here are some of our suggestions on which stationery products to stock in your retail store:
Beauty & wellbeing
Having seen growth of around 6% in 2022, the global beauty and cosmetics market is alive and well, despite people having spent more time in their PJs over the pandemic. Growth is especially noticeable amid organic and natural beauty, with global sales expected to reach up to $3 billion in 2024.
We can only speculate, but it seems there’s a heightened awareness among consumers of what’s going into our bodies. Staying healthy on the inside has never felt so important, and maybe this has translated to our outward appearances, too. In any case, natural beauty is in, and it’s not going anywhere. If you’re thinking of entering this market, we’d suggest a retailer profit margin of 35-40% on your products.
The natural way
Customers here often look for transparency when it comes to ingredients, and can be quite discerning. So, buckle up and educate yourself, since retailers need educating, too. Not only on why your product and its ingredients offer benefits competitors don’t, but on customs and trading rules, something Evolve Botanica founder, Jennifer Tice knows only too well:
‘Skincare going across borders is a whole different beast. There are so many specific regulations regarding how each country handles what is accepted, what products are allowed, and how you have to have your labels done. You really have to learn what those very specific retail challenges are from both the retailers, and for yourself as you’re exporting that product into different countries. It’s not just on you to understand what you need to do — you have to educate your buyers on the processes they have to go through when they’re importing skincare products into their country, too. It’s definitely the biggest challenge for our industry.’
Once you've got your head around the logistics, figure out your stock-up plan. Some of the best-selling wholesale beauty products to stock in your store are as follows:
Pet supplies & accessories
Following the pandemic pet boom, Pets at Home has seen record sales, with the trend not looking to go anywhere anytime soon. The Statista Consumer Market Outlook anticipates a revenue increase of up to around 17.5% by 2025 in the US alone.
People love their pets, and are willing to pay out for them. Whether you offer toys, food and treats, collars and harnesses, or a mixture of items. Despite its niche appeal, you'll need to stay competitive in this market, with a retailer profit margin of around 30-40% generally considered the rule of thumb.
Recommended products to stock-up on first in this category are as follows:
FAQ
How can I buy bulk items for resale?
The answer is simple really, sign up to CREOATE! With over 6,500 independent brands and suppliers to choose from, based across the UK, wider Europe, and the US, you'll be absolutely spoiled for choice, no matter the product category you're stocking up on.
Can I return products I've bought on CREOATE?
Yes, you can! We also offer free 60-day returns on all purchases, so you can send back anything that doesn’t sell, or isn’t quite right for your store, provided it’s from brands you haven’t bought from before. This way, you can take the risk out of shopping from new and emerging brands on our marketplace.
What is the minimum order value I can place when shopping wholesale on CREOATE?
Minimum order values will vary from seller to seller, however the lowest minimum order value available on CREOATE is £75.
Product research for wholesale shopping
When considering what to buy wholesale, consider what makes the most sense for your brand. Many brands sell across multiple categories, with artists and illustrators often straddling stationery and homeware as a way of reaching different audiences with their designs.
Also, notice and decide whether or not to engage with certain trends. While crystals have crept up in popularity over the past few years, consider whether the timing is right to wade into a category if it’s not something that already makes sense for your brand. There’s nothing worse than dead and dated stock, so when it comes to what’s fashionable, always do right by your brand first and foremost.
Not registered with CREOATE yet? Sign up now and start selling wholesale with us today.
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