Finding Wholesale Electronics Suppliers

What to look for in a great wholesale electronics supplier:

• Quality products. To make it big in selling electronics, you need exceptional quality of products. Unless you are dealing in second hand or factory seconds items, you will need flawless products and packaging with manuals and instructions. It's so worth the time it takes to find a supplier with great quality items as it will save you a lot of time spent on processing refunds and dealing with angry emails from frustrated customers.

• Quality Service. You need a supplier who will deliver on time and will respond to any queries thoroughly and quickly. The very best suppliers will communicate with you regularly, even long after you have placed a large order with them. You should also go for a supplier with a strong personal interest in electronics and technology - this will help when you have technical questions and will help to ensure that they will stock the latest products.

• Product guarantees: Of all the products you could sell, electronics is probably one of the most potentially problematic. Your supplier should be able to guarantee all their products.

• A partnership approach. A strong and mutual relationship will benefit both you and your supplier, and will have your supplier acknowledge how important your business is, and you acknowledge how valuable their great service and product range is for your business.

• A clean record. For online suppliers, you can conduct a search on them on the Better Business Bureau's site which can tell you if the site has had complaints laid against them. Look closely at the results - even some of the best sites have had complaints lodged on BBB but if there are many that are consistently about the quality of the products, it's best to take this as a sign that they aren't a great supplier.

Where can I find the best wholesale electronics suppliers?
The best suppliers aren't always easy to find but with a few hours of solid searching and researching, you can definitely find some great online suppliers.

• Google searches work well, but to really narrow your results down to finding only the best search for "award winning + electronics suppliers" or use other key words like "legitimate", "trusted" or "recommended".

• To really ensure that you get the best possible suppliers, use a reputable online supplier directory. The best of these are regularly updated and list only trusted suppliers. To find a list of reputable suppliers, try Googling "product sourcing directories".

• To find local suppliers, you can try visiting local trade fairs or simply pull out your Yellow Pages and looking for manufacturers, suppliers or wholesalers near you.

Building an Online Selling Business from Scratch

If you don't know anything about how to start your own online business, then you have come to the right place. Building an online business really isn't so different from building a regular, brick and mortar one, other than the fact that it can be faster and easier!
Start by putting together a business plan and/or mission statement. Don't be put off by the name, it simply means set some goals and write down what you want to achieve. It could be as simple as "I want to earn $2000 dollars to be able to buy a new car". Once that part is taken care of, ask yourself these few simple questions:

Where will I sell?

While eBay is the most common option, there are also some great alternatives out there such as Amazon, Bonanzle and Craigslist, or you can always set up your own ecommerce store - a great option for those who are looking for independence from fees and rigid selling structures. eCrater is a great provider for this with their free set-up and zero fees and best of all, plenty of support.

What will I sell?

Start by getting some ideas on what sort of products you would like to sell. It's always best to sell things you are interested in or that you have some kind of experience in, e.g. if you have previously worked in a mountain bike store, you will have plenty of background experience and knowledge. Similarly, if you are a keen golfer, selling golfing accessories might be a good idea for you. Research what some the of best items to sell are to get a few ideas, but don't be tempted to enter into highly competitive markets like iPods and DVDs - you are much better off selling a niche item that will appeal to a very narrow audience and then expanding later. eBay Pulse is a great site to find out the latest selling trends on eBay.

Where will I source my items from?

You will need to find a wholesale supplier to work with. Be prepared to spend some time doing this as it is one of the most important steps in creating a good business.
There are several ways to find a supplier: you can visit trade shows and fairs and get to know suppliers directly, or you can search for suppliers online by Googling "your product name + suppliers OR wholesalers". However, beware when using this method as it can make you highly vulnerable to con artists. To ensure you only deal with reputable and legitimate suppliers, try a supplier directory like SaleHoo.com to find verified suppliers which will save you from being scammed. While directories like SaleHoo charge a membership fee, they can save you a ton of money later on when you avoid losing money from being scammed.
There are a few key questions you need to ask when you find a potential supplier:
1.    Do you have a minimum order quantity (MOQ)?
2.    How long have you been a supplier?
3.    Do you ship internationally? (if you are importing from abroad) Which companies do you use? Do they offer tracking information?
So get to it! Your dream of being your own boss and earning money from your own home is just a few clicks away!