10 Tips to Grow Your Wholesale Audience for Handmade Sellers

How to Consistently Build Your Audience and Boost Wholesale Sales

Growing your wholesale business requires consistent, focused action. Instead of relying on the chance of a viral moment, building your audience means connecting authentically and strategically with retailers. This week in Wholesale Made Easy, I’m sharing tips for both new and established sellers to help you grow your wholesale audience.

For New Wholesale Sellers:

1. Go Live Regularly go live on social media platforms to showcase new products, explain your process, and engage with potential wholesale buyers. Retailers love seeing the face behind the brand and getting a live tour of your products.
   

   Real-World Example: When I went live to show my latest candle collection, I received immediate inquiries from retailers who were excited to place an order after seeing the products in action.
   

2. Post Consistently on Social Media Maintaining a consistent presence on social media is key to keeping your brand top of mind for retailers. Share product updates, behind-the-scenes content, and customer testimonials. Consistent engagement builds trust and establishes your brand as a reliable partner.
   

3. Build Hype with a Wholesale Waitlist Create a wholesale waitlist to generate excitement before launching new products. Share sneak peeks and exclusive early access opportunities to entice retailers to sign up.
   

4. Collaborate with Other Brands Partner with complementary brands for giveaways or bundles, expanding your reach to their audience. This introduces your products to retailers who might not have found you otherwise.
   

5. Engage with Potential Retailers Actively engage with retailers on social media. Leave thoughtful comments on their posts, send direct messages, and get to know their business needs. Building genuine relationships lays the groundwork for future partnerships.
   

For Established Wholesale Sellers:

1. Run Exclusive Promotions for Retailers Offer time-limited, retailer-only promotions to spur quick orders. These exclusive deals create urgency and keep retailers interested in your offerings.
   

2. Optimize Your Product Catalog Regularly refresh your wholesale catalog with new and seasonal products to keep it dynamic and appealing to retailers.
   

3. Showcase Retailer Success Stories Share stories and testimonials from your current retail partners. This social proof builds trust with potential new retailers and showcases the value of stocking your products.
   

4. Host Virtual Wholesale Events Going live isn’t just for new sellers! Host virtual events for your retailers where you introduce new products, provide selling tips, and offer exclusive deals. This keeps the relationship strong and your products in their minds. Amy from  Lippy Clip excels at engaging with her retailers. She hosts Live Takeovers directly from her warehouse, allowing retailers to schedule a personalized experience for their customers. Her communication is also impressively consistent, both via email and social media. Amy sends out a weekly newsletter that highlights new, trending and limited edition designs and includes a clear CTA for retailers to schedule a Live Takeover, access photo library, display ideas and links to shop on her website and Faire.
   

5. Post Consistently on Social Media Maintain a steady flow of posts highlighting your latest products, testimonials, display ideas, welcome new retailers, highlight exsisting retails and special offers. Consistent social media activity shows that your brand is active and engaged, attracting retailers to partner with you.
   

Growing your wholesale audience is a continuous process that involves authentic engagement and strategic action. By implementing these tips, you can attract new retailers and strengthen relationships with existing ones, ultimately boosting your sales.

Ready to dive deeper and build a thriving wholesale business? Join Wholesale Made Easy today for more tailored strategies and support! ✨