Silk Flowers Wholesale:
Where to Find, How to Buy
Silk flowers wholesale!
Silk flower wholesale supplier!
Those words probably stir up visions of getting a great deal AND getting
the quality silk flowers you crave. For the most part, this is true.
But...you may find that buying silk flowers wholesale can end up costing
much more than you expected.
In this article we'll explore some sources, and I'll tell you some of my experiences.
Before
you get too excited, though, there is some 'bad' news...in general, in the USA, in
order to purchase silk flowers at TRUE wholesale from a REAL wholesale
supplier, you must be a LEGAL, REGISTERED BUSINESS with a TAX I.D.
number. Similar requirements may apply outside the USA.
Registration
requirements can vary from state to state. Check with your local County
Clerk office for more information if you're curious.
When you deal with a real wholesaler, they will ask for a copy of your Tax I.D. certificate before doing business with you.
OK,
maybe you knew that. Then you probably also know that you must buy
product in a quantity as packed by the manufacturer...minimum order of
one dozen for this orchid spray, two-in-a-box of that potted fern.
Remember,
they are wholesalers. They expect that you are a business entity,
reselling their product at retail prices. Buying in quantity is the
rule.
And then there is usually a minimum purchase
requirement...for example, your first order must total $250. After that,
any order must total $100.
Yikes.
But hold on. All is
not lost...there are still great deals waiting for you out there. Forget
about buying silk flowers wholesale — true wholesale — for a moment.
Are They Really Selling You Silk Flowers at Wholesale Price?
If
you do an internet search for 'silk flowers wholesale' you will get
mixed results. The listings will more than likely be for online
businesses that are eager to sell you...discount silk flowers!
Many
discounters may have you think they are wholesalers, but now you know
you must be a registered business to get true wholesale pricing.
On
the other hand, some of them honestly DO cater to both consumers and
businesses — offering good prices to the general public, and wholesale
prices to qualifying businesses.
When you, as a consumer, find a
source that offers discount silk flowers, you might have it both ways.
You may have the option to buy one silk flower stem at the 'regular low
price,' or buy six of an item at a reduced price...not wholesale, but
quantity discounts if you want them...yeah, baby!
OK, back to the subject now — you wanted to know about buying silk flowers wholesale, remember?
Silk Flowers Wholesale Suppliers: Finding Sources on the Internet
Assuming
you meet the business requirements or know a friend who does (hint),
let's go find some possible wholesalers who might even provide us with
their fabulous PRINTED silk flower catalogs!
You can investigate the Wholesale Florist and Florist Supplier Association's website for supplier listings in Canada and the USA, and perhaps other countries.
In
the 'Find a Wholesaler' window you can type in your specific location
to find a vendor near you, OR just click FIND to list ALL wholesalers.
Don't
overlook these wholesale suppliers to retail 'fresh-cut' florists —
many also offer silk flowers and other permanent botanicals, giftware,
and related floral supplies such as containers, baskets, ribbon,
seasonal and decorative accessories.
So, you might have the best of both worlds if you choose — fresh-cut AND silk flowers wholesale!
Silk Flower Catalogs
For
the most part these days, companies in any industry are creating online
DIGITAL PDF catalogs to save printing expense. The companies that
actually print color silk flower catalogs may send them to you upon
request, usually for a small fee — around $10 or $20.
Look for
contact information on a website. All it takes is an email or phone call
to find out if printed catalogs are an option.
If you call,
they will ask for your business name and mailing address. They usually
won't ask for your Tax I.D. number yet — that's not really needed until
you place an order. On the other hand, since printed catalogs are
expensive to produce, they might ask for it. If you are not a legitimate
business, your request may be declined.
Believe me, when you can
get access to these floral industry catalogs — digital or printed — you
will be amazed at the variety and selection of artificial and silk
flower products which you may never have known were available.
I have had good experiences with two companies I contacted that sell silk flowers wholesale. Let me tell you about them...
Sullivans
I
have purchased some wonderful products from Sullivans
(http://sullivangift.com). They offer a great selection of silk flowers,
potted ready-mades, flower 'bushes,' containers, foliage and trees, and
more. For $10, I received two beautiful catalogs — one for florals and
accessories, another for holiday home decor, seasonal florals and
trimmery — each of these were about 140 pages. There was also a 20 page
catalog for crystal ware. Some dimensions were listed. Wholesale prices
were conveniently shown underneath each item. (Some catalogs list prices
at the back of the catalog, or provide a separately printed wholesale
pricelist.)
Their minimum first order requirement was a
reasonable $100. If any future orders were less than $100, a $10
processing fee would apply.
When I placed my order, the customer
service folks were very helpful by offering complementary or alternate
suggestions, which I was directed to view in the catalog while on the
phone.
Aldik Artificial Flower Company
Aldik’s customer
service was very friendly and helpful in providing information and
guidance. I called in my catalog request and received gorgeous catalogs
showcasing silk flowers, foliage, trees and decorative accents. Each was
about 100 pages.
Although design and layout can change, the
Aldik’s catalogs I received were works of art — clean, very well
organized. They were thoughtfully broken down into section groupings,
such as Drop-Ins, Cuttings, Berries, Flowering Plants, Tropicals and so
on.
Items listed dimensions and colors. Depending on each year’s
catalog design, the wholesale prices may be at the back or may be coded
within item listings. There were separately printed pricelists
available. To buy silk flowers wholesale from Aldiks, the first-time
order requirement was $500, thereafter each order had a $250 minimum.
The
original Aldik's company closed its doors in May 2009, but
there is a 'new' site at http://www.aldikhome.com.
Learn More About Finding TRUE Wholesalers, Dropshippers, Importers
Here are FREE Wholesale and Dropshipping VIDEOS
composed of short, informative segments that will increase your
understanding of how to find and work with wholesale suppliers — for any
product.
If you prefer to read, here are FREE Internet Business and Dropshipping eBooks for you.
Advice on Buying Silk Flowers Wholesale or At Discount
Be
careful when ordering from silk flower catalogs or websites. You can't
accurately judge size from pictures of a single item. I once unknowingly
ordered an item from a catalog that had blossoms as big as my head!
If
listed, check dimensions to assure that blossom sizes and stem height
are right for your floral design. You could call the merchant if
dimensions are not listed.
Also, be aware that actual color may vary a bit from what you see onscreen or in a catalog.
Silk
flower catalogs are a huge help to planning a floral design, but seeing
the physical products up close is still the best way to shop.
Review
the merchant return policy before placing an order. There may be a 5%
to 20% restocking fee for returns (if due to your mistake).
If
you are ordering from a silk flowers wholesale source that is outside
your country of origin, there may be a customs and import fee on top of
product and shipping costs.
Bottom line: If you've got money
(to meet minimum purchase requirements), storage space (to keep your
quantity purchases) and a business license, buying silk flowers
wholesale is available to you. Otherwise, purchasing discount silk
flowers is the way to go.
|
You're reading a SAMPLE from: |
Check out my 198-page book,
The Silk Flower Centerpiece Handbook:
A Course FOR IMPATIENT PEOPLE...
in a matter of DAYS, not months or years,
you'll know just about everything I've learned over 20 years!
Return from Finding Wholesale Silk Flowers page
to Silk-Flower-Smart home page
Copyright © 2003-2023 Silk-Flower-Smart.com. All rights reserved.
Unauthorized duplication or publication of any
materials from this Site is expressly prohibited.