goWholesale

Maybe the title sounds confusing, but I've been talking to some liquidators in the US (people who buy inventory from companies going out of business, excess inventory etc.), about selling Brazilian products to the US market.

I'm an American living in Brazil, and I find things here that sell for what would be considered close-out prices in the States. Plus, the liquidators seem to be the only guys who see the seller as a client, not as a nuisance. So, given the really cheap prices one would expect to find in a Third World country, does trying to break into the supply chain via a liquidator make sense??? If it doesn't, could someone please let me know about alternatives? Thanks! Rick

Hi pendants4U,

Thanks for your input. However, when you say that I need to find a manufacturer - I AM the manufacturer! That is, I work with the people who make these terrific hand-made cast-aluminum pieces, but have no English-language and computer skills. So I do their marketing for them, but I'm having trouble breaking into the supply chain.

Finding a distributor, that is the question. I tried the liquidator approach because they see YOU as a customer, whereas wholesalers see you as a mere... salesperson. I have been trying to cold-call wholesalers, but I'm having trouble getting past the operator... You'll say I need to improve my salesmanship, and you'd be right on the money there. But the products I sell retail for 2-4 times their value in the U.S. There MUST be a better way to approach big industry players (who already buy the more expensive Mexican variety). Doing so electronically (like email, advertising) seems less invasive and more targeted than the phone call approach. Does that sound about right?[/quote]

I really appreciate your advice about getting on the phone. I am the "manufacturer" in the sense that I am the "marketing department" for a group of Brazilian artisans who can't speak any English and can't even switch on a computer. As a Brazilian-American (born in the US to Brazilian parents) with a degree in Advertising, connecting these people to the American market is something I can do.

Of course, the artisans give me their price (what they want for the goods they make), and I add my margin on top of that. And I'm willing to put my money where my mouth is: last year, I sold over sixty heavy cast-aluminum platters and bowls (buffet table equipment) on eBay, where I incurred all the charges. I would list, sell, then buy from the artisans, once I'd been paid for the sale/auction. A couple of times I even got stiffed by American buyers ("Fool me once..."), and the artisans still got paid.

But after a few months, I tallied up all the eBay, Auctionworks, Square Trade, Andale etc. fees and found out I was barely breaking even. It was very good business for the artisans, as the Brazilian economy is at a virtual standstill, and good practice for me. Plus, I've found out that my 100% positive feedback on eBay (from about 30 different customers - quite a feat when selling heavy metal goods on eBay from a Third World country) does give me some credibility when I call up companies in the U.S. 30 feedbacks may not be much, but at least I'm not a total stranger.

So I want to use this as leverage to make one initial big sale to a wholesaler in the US. As the prices are so low, I thought the liquidators might be worth a try.

Take care!