How to approach a manufacturer to be a retailer/online seller

Cianos

I am interested in selling a particular type of bicycle built by a European based manufacturer. The bikes are of a high quality yet remain quite affordable.

I don't have a big budget to start me off, so I'm unsure of how to approach the manufacturer in such a way that they are confident in supplying me with bikes at a wholesale price so I can sell them to customers on their behalf. Unless I have an established retail store for example, how are they going to know I am not just trying to find a sneaky way to get a big discount on one of their products?

It'd also be my preference to rebrand the bicycles myself, but again this may be something the company would be against. But I think I could gain a lot more sales if I were to build a brand that is more focused on the audiences I'd be targeting.

I have an ecommerce site pretty much ready to go for this purpose. My budget would allow me to buy, say, 4 bikes to begin with but could quickly buy more if those first sales went well.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Woodgate

Cianos wrote: »

I am interested in selling a particular type of bicycle built by a European based manufacturer. The bikes are of a high quality yet remain quite affordable.

I don't have a big budget to start me off, so I'm unsure of how to approach the manufacturer in such a way that they are confident in supplying me with bikes at a wholesale price so I can distribute them on their behalf. Unless I have an established retail store for example, how are they going to know I am not just trying to find a sneaky way to get a big discount on one of their products?

It'd also be my preference to rebrand the bicycles myself, but again this may be something the company would be against. But I think I could gain a lot more sales if I were to build a brand that is more focused on the audiences I'd be targeting.

I have an ecommerce site pretty much ready to go for this purpose. My budget would allow me to buy, say, 4 bikes to begin with but could quickly buy more if those first sales went well.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

i don't think they would let you become their Irish distributor with a purchase of 4 units, I would say if they haven't an Irish distributor they will put you in contact with the closest one where you can purchase wholesale from, where 4 units would be an ok order.

Cianos

Woodgate wrote: »

i don't think they would let you become their Irish distributor with a purchase of 4 units, I would say if they haven't an Irish distributor they will put you in contact with the closest one where you can purchase wholesale from, where 4 units would be an ok order.

Sorry, I made a mistake using the word distributor. I just mean selling direct to end customers.

Shzm

You could always ask them/a wholesaler if they'd send out individual units for you direct to your customers as you sell them. You probably wouldn't get them for the same price as wholesale as they'll have increased work to do with dispatching single orders etc, but it could be a start.