If you are looking to reach new audiences or streamline operations, platforms like OrderChamp offer marketplace exposure that helps you connect wholesalers to a wide network of buyers. However, many businesses are also considering the benefits of having their own independent wholesale store, where they can fully control branding, customer interactions, and profit margins.
This article explores the pros and cons of selling on OrderChamp versus running your own wholesale store. While marketplace platforms provide convenience and reach, owning your wholesale store offers unparalleled flexibility, independence, and the ability to build a loyal customer base. We’ll also discuss why Shopify stands out as the go-to platform for wholesale stores.
What is OrderChamp?
OrderChamp is a wholesale marketplace platform for independent resellers, wholesale merchants, and unique brands. Based in the Netherlands, the platform focuses on helping small and medium-sized businesses discover and source distinctive products that stand out in competitive markets. OrderChamp has a large number of wholesale merchants from which you can get products like cosmetics, home decor, fashion, and more. Retailers benefit from easy browsing, low minimum order requirements, and exclusive discounts, which help them manage costs while maintaining variety in their product offerings.
For wholesalers, OrderChamp provides an opportunity to expand their reach by showcasing products to a broad audience of retailers across the globe. The platform handles aspects like order processing, payment collection, and even marketing which allows suppliers to focus on product quality and fulfilment. However, while OrderChamp simplifies wholesale operations, businesses must adhere to its terms and at the same time also share a percentage of their sales with the platform, which can impact overall profitability.
What is a self-owned Wholesale store?
A self-owned wholesale store is a platform that a business fully controls to sell its products directly to retailers or bulk buyers. Unlike third-party marketplaces, a self-owned store allows businesses to establish their own brand identity, manage customer relationships, and set specific pricing and discount strategies without intermediaries. These stores operate through dedicated e-commerce websites, often built on platforms like Shopify, and are tailored to meet the unique needs of B2B operations, such as offering tiered pricing, volume discounts, and flexible payment terms.
The biggest advantage of a self-owned wholesale store is the freedom it provides in terms of customization and profitability. Businesses can create a personalized shopping experience, maintain full ownership of customer data, and avoid commission fees charged by third-party platforms. Additionally, a self-owned store enables better scalability and direct communication with buyers which helps in fostering long-term partnerships and building trust.
OrderChamp vs Having Your Own Wholesale Store: A Comparative Look
Control Over Branding
- OrderChamp: Branding on OrderChamp is centered around the marketplace itself, which limits how much your business can highlight its unique identity. Your products are listed alongside competitors, which is not the ideal case to build your brand identity.
- Own Store: A self-owned wholesale store allows complete control over your brand’s image, from website design to product presentation. This enables businesses to create a super personalized experience for their customers that resonates with their brand story.
Customer Relationships
- OrderChamp: Direct interaction with your customers is minimal, as the platform controls communication. This lack of engagement can limit your ability to build lasting relationships.
- Own Store: Owning your store gives you full access to customer data which enables you to foster loyalty through personalized interactions, targeted marketing, and better customer service.
Profit Margins
- OrderChamp: The platform charges commission fees and other costs, which eat into your profit margins. So ultimately, as you increase your sales, you also end up increasing the amount that you pay as commission to the platform.
- Own Store: By selling through your own wholesale store, you keep 100% of your profits, apart from minimal transaction fees. This ensures better revenue retention and financial control.
Flexibility and Customization
- OrderChamp: Businesses are restricted to the platform’s features, which may restrict them to create a super customised version of their store, in the way they want.
- Own Store: A self-owned store offers endless flexibility. Businesses can implement tailored pricing, volume discounts, and advanced wholesale shipping rates to better serve their customers.
Scalability and Independence
- OrderChamp: Your business remains tied to the marketplace’s ecosystem. If the platform changes its policies or terms and conditions, then those changes can affect your operation.
- Own Store: A self-owned store ensures full independence. You can scale your business on your own terms, adding new features, products, and markets without depending on a third party.
In essence, owning your wholesale store provides unparalleled control, flexibility, and profitability and helps you build direct relationships with your customers. It empowers businesses to operate independently and focus on long-term growth which ultimately makes it a more sustainable option in the competitive wholesale landscape.
Starting Your Own Wholesale Store on Shopify
Shopify stands out as the go-to platform for wholesale businesses due to its scalability, ease of use, and seamless app integration. Whether you’re a small business owner or an established enterprise, Shopify provides a flexible foundation to grow your wholesale operations. This makes it ideal for wholesalers who want to focus on selling rather than the complexities of e-commerce management.
One of Shopify’s key strengths is its robust ecosystem, which includes a wide range of Shopify wholesale apps designed specifically for wholesale needs. Tools like Wholesale Pricing Discount allow you to implement custom pricing for different customer groups, set up volume discounts, and manage B2B-specific features like net payment terms and wholesale sign-up forms. Shopify also supports multi-currency options, advanced shipping rates, and order management, making it a one-stop solution for managing every aspect of a wholesale business.
Implementing Wholesale on Shopify Using Wholesale Helper Apps
Setting up a wholesale operation on Shopify is made seamless with Wholesale Helper’s comprehensive suite of apps. These tools allow businesses to manage custom pricing, streamline bulk ordering, and create tailored experiences for wholesale buyers. By using the apps, you can run a B2B+B2C or just a dedicated B2B wholesale store on Shopify without needing to upgrade to the expensive Shopify Plus plan.
This app empowers you to set up custom pricing, volume discounts, tiered pricing structures for different customer groups. It also offers advanced features like wholesale sign-up forms and the ability to run a hybrid B2B and B2C store. Businesses can also implement advanced shipping rules and offer net payment terms to their customers. Moreover, for wholesale businesses that want to sell globally, the app offers a seamless integration with Shopify Markets, that allows them to handle global wholesale easily.
2. Wholesale Lock Manager
The Wholesale Lock Manager app helps businesses control access to specific products, collections, or pages. Using customer tags, you can ensure that only approved wholesale buyers see special prices or products which helps in maintaining a clear distinction between retail and wholesale offerings.
This app simplifies bulk ordering for wholesale buyers. It offers an intuitive quick order form where buyers can browse products, add multiple items, and place large orders from a single page. The reorder feature allows customers to quickly repurchase their previous orders which helps in saving time and enhancing their shopping experience.
For businesses that want to sell out-of-stock or upcoming items, the Pre-Order Helper app is a game-changer. It enables you to set up pre-order functionality on your Shopify store, allowing wholesale customers to secure products even before they’re officially available.
Managing payment terms is critical for wholesale operations, and the receivables app helps you do just that. This app lets you streamline your receivables process by automating invoices, tracking payment statuses, and managing overdue payments. It’s an excellent tool for businesses that offer flexible payment terms like Net 30 or 60, ensuring smooth financial management for both you and your customers.
By integrating these apps, you can build a robust and scalable wholesale store on Shopify that caters to both local and international buyers while providing them with a superior shopping experience.
Summing up
While marketplaces like OrderChamp offer convenience and access to a wide network of buyers, they come with limitations such as reduced control over branding, customer interactions, and profit margins. On the other hand, having your own wholesale store empowers you with complete autonomy to shape your brand identity, manage relationships, and maximize profits.
Shopify’s robust ecosystem, combined with tools like Wholesale Helper apps, ensures that businesses can implement tailored solutions for pricing, customer access, and order management. These features allow you to offer a seamless, scalable, and customer-focused experience. By investing in your own wholesale store, you set the stage for long-term growth, sustainability, and stronger customer loyalty.
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