Becoming a Retailer

So you don't want to sew? What about retail?
Not all WAHMs make their own products. Some of the most successful e-commerce diaper sites simply retail their favorite cloth diapering and natural parenting products. There are quite a few differences in setting up a retail business verses manufacturing your own product.

How do I get started? First we recommend visiting some of the established retail sites on the net to get a feel for which products sell well. We love The Stork Wearhouse and Soft Cloth Bunz.

Like the looks of these stores? Which products would you want to carry? When you start a retail business, you have to establish wholesale accounts with the manufacturer. I emailed several of the companies to inquire about how to do this, and what the minimums were. In several instances I received detailed information, in some cases just what information they needed from ME to set up the accounts. Below are the emails I received.

Click here for a downloadable spreadsheet for keeping track of wholesale information you receive back from the companies.

To become a retailer, you must have an EIN or tax resale number. When submitting forms to apply for wholesale status, you will be asked many questions, including:

� Personal name, address and phone number
� Business name, address and phone number
� How long in business?
� Have you used these products?
� What other products do you plan to resale?
� How much, in dollar amounts, you plan to make annually
� How much product you anticipate ordering annually

Here is a small list of additional questions you may want to think about before sitting down to fill out the applications!

All Together Diaper Company
Homepage: http://www.clothdiaper.com
Wholesale page: http://www.clothdiaper.com/wholesale/index.html
Email customerservice@clothdiaper.com for information.

AngelDry Diapers
Homepage: www.angeldrydiapers.com
Wholesale Homepage: http://angeldrydiapers.com/store/WScheck_Prot.asp
Contact: 1001saf@angeldrydiapers.com

BabyKicks
Homepage: http://www.babykicks.com
Wholesale page: http://www.babykicks.com/application.html
Information: Click here

Bi-O-Kleen
Homepage: http://www.bi-o-kleen.com (email sales@bi-o-kleen.com for wholesale information)
Information: Click here

BJ Marketplace
Homepage: On eBay
Information: Click here
E-mail: Karen@ldbenterprises.com

Blue Penguin (Re-uz'm Diapers)
Homepage: http://www.cotton-kids.com
Information: Click here
Wholesale policies: Click here

Bumkins
Homepage: http://www.bumkins.com
Wholesale page: http://www.bumkins.com/wholesale/new_seller.asp?redirectUrl=

Bummis
Homepage: http://www.bummis.com/
Information: Click here

Burt's Bees
Homepage: http://www.burtsbees.com/
Information: Click here

California Baby
Homepage: http://www.californiababy.com
Wholesale application: http://store.californiababy.com/wholesale.html
Information: Click here

Chunky Monkey Boutique
Homepage:www.chunkymonkeyboutique.com
Contact:Chunkymonkeydipe@aol.com

ClothWear
Homepage: http://www.clothwear.com
Wholesale page: http://www.clothwear.com/contact.php

Cotton Babies
Homepage: www.cottonbabies.com
Wholesale Homepage: www.cottonbabieswholesale.com
Contact: 888-332-2243

Diva International (DivaCup)
Homepage: http://www.divacup.com
Information: Click here

Drybees Pocket Diapers
Homepage: http://www.drybees.com

Earth Mama Angel Baby
Homepage: http://www.earthmamaangelbaby.com
Wholesale page: http://www.earthmamaangelbaby.com/wholesale.html
Information: Click here

Eucalan
Homepage: http://www.eucalan.com/
Information: Email to info@eucalan.com

FunOrganic
Homepage: https://buywahm.com
Wholsale information: https://buywahm.com/shop/pages.php?pageid=5#ws
Wholsale application: https://buywahm.com/organicethos_app.htm

Fuzzi Bunz / Mother of Eden
Homepage: http://www.motherofeden.com & http://www.fuzzibunz.com
Information: Click here

Green Earth Textiles
greenearthtextiles@yahoo.com
206-547-1880

Happy Heinys
Homepage: http://www.happyheinys.com
Wholesale page: http://www.happyheinys.com/web/info/wholesale_inquiries.php

Imse Vimse
Homepage: http://www.imsevimse.se and http://www.imsevimse.us
Wholesale information: Email rosie@imsevimse.us
Information: Click here

JamTots
Homepage: http://www.jamtots.com
Information: Click here

Kissaluvs
Homepage: http://www.kissaluvs.com
Wholesale page: http://www.kissaluvs.com/wholesale.htm

Kushies / Kooshies
Homepage: http://www.kushies.com
Information: Click here

Lucy Luvs Diapers and Things
Homepage: www.LucyLuvs.com
Wholesale Homepage: www.lucyluvs.com/pages/WholesaleInfo.php
Contact: Susie@LucyLuvs.com

MiniShower
Homepage: http://www.minishower.com
Information: Click here

Motherhood Naturally
Homepage: http://www.motherhoodnaturally.com/publications.htm

Northern Essence
Homepage: http://www.northernessence.com
Wholesale application: http://www.northernessence.com/wholesale.php?signup=yes

Pail Pals
Homepage: http://www.pailpals.com
To set up a Pail Pals wholesale account, visit www.pailpals.com and fill out the retailer form. Minimum order 100 disks.

ProServices (Proraps)
Homepage: http://www.proservices.com/
Wholesale page: http://www.prodiaper.net/Howtobecomeawholesalecustomer.htm
Information: Click here

Rumpsters / Rolie Polie Baby
Homepage: http://www.rumpsters.com
Wholesale application: http://www.rumpsters.com/wholesale/wholesale.php

Sckoon
Homepage: http://www.sckoon.com
Wholesale application: http://www.sckoon.com/WhslE.html

Snap to It, Inc. (Snappi)
Homepage: http://www.snappibaby.com
Information: Click here

Snuggle Hugs
Homepage: www.SnuggleHugs.com
Wholesale application: www.snugglehugs.com/wholesale.php

Stacinator
Homepage: http://www.stacinator.com
Wholesale page: http://www.stacinator.com/wholesale_inquiries.shtml

Sugar Peas
Homepage: http://www.sugarpeas.com
Information: Click here

Swaddlebees
Homepage: http://www.swaddlebees.com
Wholesale page: http://www.swaddlebees.com/t-wholesale.aspx

The Threaded Branch
Homepage: www.thethreadedbranch.com
Contact: Karrie@thethreadedbanch.com

Twinkle Little Star
Homepage: http://www.twinklelittlestar.com
Wholesale page: http://www.twinklelittlestar.com/wholesale.html
Information: Click here

WAHMarama!
Homepage: www.wahmarama.com
Wholesale Homepage: www.wahmarama.com/wholesale.htm
Contact: wholesale@wahmarama.com

Wallypop
Homepage: www.wallypop.net
Contact: Sarah@wallypop.net
515-274-4676

Wonder Works Baby Co. (Wonderoos)
Homepage: http://www.wonderoos.com/
Information: Click here

Don�t see a business here you know and love? Email us and we�ll add it to the list!

Starting a retail business requires a bit of an investment upfront for a well stocked store. Consider your options carefully before jumping in. If you will need to obtain financing, you will have to submit a business plan to the bank/credit union you are asking to fund the project. A good business outline is essential. If you don�t want to write one yourself, email us or visit our Diaper Decisions Store for more details.

Purchasing a Store

In some instances it may be possible to purchase an existing store that is already turning a profit. If you are looking at this possibility, check out our Businesses For Sale page.

Are you selling your business? Thinking about it? Email us to have your ad placed on this page!

What�s my Investment?

This will depend on several factors such as:

� Am I starting from the ground up or purchasing an existing business?
� How many products do I want to open with?
� Will my initial investment include just products, or will I also need to obtain web hosting, web and local advertising, web design and other supporting services to get my business off the ground?

We suggest consulting a financial advisor or small business attorney who will be honest in assessing what you can and cannot afford based on your current financial situation. It is also wise to consult an established business owner to get solid facts about their initial investment and how long it took to turn a profit.

With so many online businesses already retailing these products, how will I have an edge?

BY PROMOTING LOCALLY! We cannot stress this enough. Your business has to reach out to your local community or people you can see in real life. The internet market is saturated, and yet I bet your next door neighbor, or the people in your local playgroup do not use cloth diapers. This is where you will find your edge. Need help promoting locally? Check out the Biz Pack available at the Diaper Decisions Store!