Starting a Wholesale Distribution Business: 7 Skills One Requires To Run a Wholesale Distribution Business With Ease

Wholesale distributors play a vital middleman role in the journey of products from the production line to their final customer. By purchasing goods in bulk from manufacturers and distributing them to retailers, they make sure stores have products to sell while enabling manufacturers to focus on designing and building innovative products. Wholesale distribution businesses often specialize in specific industries or product categories and sometimes develop long-term relationships with manufacturers.

Wholesale distribution plays a significant role in the economy, accounting for more than 400,000 establishments with combined sales of about $9 trillion in the U.S. alone, according to a First Research report. Wholesale distributors are also experiencing rapid change due to a number of factors: new competition, the growth of eCommerce, and rising customer expectations, among others. Here’s what you need to know about wholesale distribution, including key benefits, challenges, and examples — plus tips for running a successful distribution business.