If it's for personal use of personal lubricants, then you can simply purchase them on a large e-commerce platform. The price difference for the same product won't be significant. However, if you are looking to wholesale and bulk purchase, even a small price difference per unit can amount to a substantial sum when multiplied by the quantity. That's why it's important to source directly from the manufacturer when it comes to wholesale purchases of personal lubricants. There are several benefits to sourcing directly from the manufacturer:
1. Lower cost: Sourcing directly from the manufacturer means eliminating middlemen and their markup. This allows us to obtain higher profits. Most major brands of personal lubricants have distributors who source from the manufacturer. If you purchase from them, the price you get will be the factory price plus the distributor's profit. This means we won't have a price advantage when selling on e-commerce platforms unless we are willing to sell at a loss and engage in price wars with those who source directly from the manufacturer. However, this approach is clearly not practical.
2. Lower risk: Some lubricant manufacturers offer drop-shipping services, which means you don't need to stock inventory or handle shipping yourself. This reduces upfront capital pressure and saves on labor costs. It's especially suitable for those who are starting a business with limited capital investment. All you need to do is establish your own promotional channels and sell the products. Manufacturing and shipping can be handled by the manufacturer.
3. Ample supply: If our partners are not manufacturers, there is a risk of running out of stock during peak sales seasons. This can lead to unnecessary profit losses. On the other hand, personal lubricant manufacturers usually have sufficient production capacity and rarely face stockouts. This ensures stable supply for our sales.
4. Better after-sales service: Distributors may have higher turnover rates since their capital investment is minimal, and their stability is relatively weak. It's possible that they may not be available after a few months. Conversely, lubricant manufacturers generally have a solid financial foundation, ensuring the stability of their teams and their longevity. This also leads to better after-sales service.
