Online wholesale marketplaces have democratized business-to-business (B2B) ecommerce, creating new opportunities for independent brands and smaller retailers alike to buy and sell wholesale.
By tapping into this growing wholesale market—projected to exceed $680 billion by 2028—you can expand your business, gain valuable insights into retailer preferences, and boost revenue through strategic partnerships.
Wondering where to begin? We’ve compiled a list of 13 popular online marketplaces, along with guidance on selecting the ideal B2B marketplace for your business needs.
Which products thrive on wholesale marketplaces?
While generic products with minimal customization often perform well on wholesale marketplaces, unique offerings can still find success. Keep in mind that highly personalized items may require more complex manufacturing processes, which can be challenging to manage at scale.
Popular products you can buy at wholesale prices include:
- Clothing and accessories
- Home décor
- Pet products
- Jewelry
- Party supplies
- Electronics
- Artwork
- Children’s books
- Board games
- Stationery
- Gifts
13 best wholesale marketplaces to list your products
- Faire
- Orderchamp
- Creoate
- Go Wholesale
- Wholesale Clearance UK
- Direct Liquidation
- Alibaba
- Made-in-China
- Global Sources
- RangeMe
- IndieMe
- Joor
- TradeIndia
1. Faire
Best for: Wholesale home, lifestyle, clothing, beauty, and food products.
Faire connects more than 100,000 unique brands with independent retailers across the US, Canada, Australia, and Europe. Through the Faire app, retailers can seamlessly sync products they order to their Shopify stores.
Makers and manufacturers can list their products among a range of categories, including home, lifestyle, clothing, beauty, and food and drink. The platform allows sellers to accept pre-orders, offer samples, and access pre-filled shipping labels at low carrier rates. You can also manage customer communication and approve orders through the Faire mobile app.
Retailers with online, brick-and-mortar, pop-up, or subscription box businesses can sign up for a free buying wholesale account. Faire covers costs for first-time returns, letting stores test product quality risk-free. They also offer buy now, pay later terms to help retailers maintain inventory.
Shopify merchant Tiffany Riffer found the Faire app invaluable: “Faire’s integration with Shopify let me change my lead times from four weeks down to one to three days. I could import entire product catalogs and provide retail customers with the most up to date picture of inventory.”
Shipping costs and marketplace fees:
When a retailer orders through Faire’s marketplace, they charge a 15% commission, plus a $10 one-time fee for new customers.
- 15% commission on orders from retailers found through Faire.
- Low carrier rates and no upfront shipping costs when using Ship With Faire.
2. Orderchamp
Best for: Wholesale home, children’s, health, and fashion products.
Orderchamp is an online wholesale marketplace designed to connect smaller stores with independent brands. After a free sign-up, sellers gain access to more than 150,000 international retailers, primarily located in Europe. The platform offers “smart-matching” features to help identify potential buyers and provides discounted shipping fees when you choose a preferred carrier.
For new retailers sourced through its marketplace, Orderchamp charges a 25% first-order fee, then takes a 10% commission on re-orders. The platform also supports dropshipping for sellers capable of shipping products directly to consumers.
Shipping costs and marketplace fees:
- 10% commission on orders from retailers found through Orderchamp.
- Orderchamp covers shipping costs up to 10% of the order value.
3. Creoate
Best for: Home, lifestyle, and outdoor wholesale items.
Creoate is an online wholesale marketplace that helps you reach more than 100,000 active buyers across the US, the UK, and Europe. The platform specializes in home, lifestyle, and outdoor products, and covers shipping and duties costs in exchange for a commission on each order.
For retailers, a significant advantage of buying through Creoate is its handling of returns. If you purchase inventory from wholesale suppliers that you can’t resell, you can return the items to Creoate within 60 days for a refund.
Shipping costs and marketplace fees:
- 20% commission for first-time orders from retailers found through Creoate.
- 15% commission on reorders.
4. Go Wholesale
Best for: Refurbished electronics at wholesale prices.
Go Wholesale is a US-based online marketplace that specializes in sourcing “refurbished, reconditioned, and overstock products from premium brands.” While their catalog primarily features consumer electronics such as smartphones and laptops, they also list items in clothing, furniture, and other categories.
Although Go Wholesale mainly caters to large companies like Walmart, they do allow smaller sellers to apply to sell through the platform. Go Wholesale manages fulfillment in exchange for a commission. Potential buyers have the option to purchase items instantly or submit offers.
Shipping costs and marketplace fees:
- 10% commission, excluding sales taxes and shipping fees.
5. Wholesale Clearance UK
Best for: Wholesale clothing, home furnishings, and packaging materials.
Wholesale Clearance is an online wholesale marketplace catering to retailers seeking products from stock clearance and liquidation sales. The platform acquires stock pallets from bankrupt companies, mainly in the UK, and sells them globally at competitive wholesale prices.
In addition to selling pallets of liquidated inventory, Wholesale Clearance offers a marketplace where sellers can list various items, including electronics, clothing, tools, hardware, and more. For products sold through their marketplace, Wholesale Clearance adds a commission to the asking price.
Shipping costs and marketplace fees:
- Buyer’s premium of 5% to 25% (typically 15%) added to sale price at purchase.
- No minimum order amount.
6. Direct Liquidation
Best for: Wholesale electronics.
Similar to Wholesale Clearance, Direct Liquidation focuses on liquidated inventory. The US-based platform purchases surplus stock from major retailers such as Walmart and Lowe’s, then sells it at wholesale prices. Buyers participate in auctions to secure inventory at discounted rates.
Shipping costs and marketplace fees:
- 10% administrative fee applied to all sales on the platform.
- Shipping paid by buyer.
7. Alibaba
Best for: Apparel, electronics, and gifts.
Alibaba stands as one of the world’s largest B2B marketplaces, boasting more than 903 million buyers seeking products for their stores. By opening a seller account, you gain access to a global directory of retailers.
The platform’s suppliers offer an extensive range of products, making it an excellent resource for identifying trending items to to stock your own store. With such a vast array of retailers sourcing inventory through Alibaba, it’s a prime opportunity to spot and capitalize on emerging product trends.
Shipping costs and marketplace fees:
- Membership plans starting at $199/month, billed quarterly.
- 0% sales commission.
8. Made-in-China
Best for: Apparel, parts, and furniture.
Made-in-China is an online wholesale marketplace that bridges B2B buyers with Chinese suppliers and distributors. You can source a wide variety of products, from consumer electronics to beauty items, all offered at trade prices and shipped globally. This setup allows for healthy profit margins when reselling to customers.
Shipping costs and marketplace fees:
- Seller memberships starting at 31,100 yuan/year (approximately $4,300 USD/year).
- No commission for buyers.
9. Global Sources
Best for: Beauty, fashion, home décor, and electronics.
Based in Hong Kong, Global Sources is a wholesale marketplace where you can sell a diverse range of products, from electronics to fashion apparel. For buyers, especially those new to sourcing wholesale inventory, the platform offers the advantage of low minimum order quantities from many suppliers.
Shipping costs and marketplace fees:
- No commission for buyers
10. RangeMe
Best for: Big-box retailers.
RangeMe allows you to source products from major retailers like Walmart and CVS. The platform helps you identify trending products across Instagram and Nielsen category sales, ensuring your inventory stays aligned with current consumer preferences.
Shipping costs and marketplace fees:
- Suppliers can publish up to three products for free, with membership tiers starting at $99/year for additional products and features.
- No commission for buyers.
11. IndieMe
Best for: Handmade products.
IndieMe specializes in handcrafted goods, from artisan food to fine crafts. This wholesale marketplace focuses on handmade products from the US and Canada, allowing you to source high-quality inventory directly from makers at competitive prices.
Shipping costs and marketplace fees:
- Sellers accounts starting from $49/month.
- No commissions for buyers.
12. Joor
Best for: Luxury fashion wholesale products.
Joor caters to the luxury fashion market, with retailers like Farfetch and Harrods sourcing items from its wholesale marketplace. The platform features designer brands such as Balmain, Alexander McQueen, and Valentino, making it an ideal choice for those selling high-end fashion products.
Shipping costs and marketplace fees:
- Custom membership pricing available on request.
- 3% commission on sales.
13. TradeIndia
Best for: Machinery, equipment, and wholesale electronics.
TradeIndia serves as a B2B marketplace for buying and selling wholesale products in India. As an added benefit, the platform regularly hosts and attends trade shows, catering to B2B buyers who prefer hybrid or in-person sales approaches.
Shipping costs and marketplace fees:
- Multiple membership plans available depending on seller needs.
- Custom pricing available on request.
How to choose the best wholesale marketplace for your business
While the benefits of wholesale buying and selling marketplaces are clear, not all platforms are created equal. Here’s how to find the right one for your business.
Align your marketplace to your audience
When expanding into wholesale marketplaces, it’s essential that you tie your strategy to overarching business goals. For instance, if you aim to expand your brand footprint, look for platforms with a large existing customer base. Allbirds, originally a DTC-only brand, chose to sell products through Nordstrom’s wholesale marketplace to reach new customers outside its existing audience.
Similarly, look to sell on marketplaces within close proximity to both your business’s warehouse and target market, which will ensure that buyers get their products as soon as possible.
Consider use of use and integration
Scaling an ecommerce business is easier with systems that handle repetitive, time-consuming tasks. Look for marketplaces that offer automations for:
- Inventory management: Combining inventory levels across all sales channels so you never sell an out-of-stock product.
- Payment processing: Syncing payments with purchase orders, invoices, and order confirmations.
- Order fulfillment: integrating with Shopify and other existing systems for easier order management.
Evaluate the quality of suppliers and buyers
The success of your B2B sales channel depends heavily on your wholesale suppliers and buyers. When vetting buyers, inquire about their reselling intentions. Some retailers set strict guidelines on where their inventory can be sold, including a minimum advertised price (MAP) to protect their brand image.
While getting your first sale might be easy, building lasting relationships with customers is key to long-term success. Look for wholesale marketplaces that facilitate open communication between buyers and sellers.
Donna Johnson, owner of Whyte Quartz, recommends using multiple platforms. “Being on multiple platforms expanded my reach, and some of my buyers purchase on multiple sites too, so I’m there wherever they are buying,” she says. “The key is to develop a relationship with your retailers. You want them to know you and come back for more.”
Get clear on payment terms and commission
The goal of wholesale ecommerce is to increase revenue. When exploring new online marketplaces, consider:
- Payment methods and terms: How long will it take to receive your money? Will it be sent by check, bank transfer, or another method? This impacts your cash flow management.
- Currency exchanges: For international marketplaces, be aware of potential fees for currency conversion.
- Sales commission: Review sales terms on wholesale marketplaces, as many charge a commission on each sale. These fees can reach up to 25% on some platforms, potentially impacting your profits.
Define shipping methods
Customer satisfaction now depends on more than just product quality or price. Fast delivery and free shipping options are significant factors in purchasing decisions.
Consider these aspects of shipping when choosing a marketplace:
- Does the platform handle shipping label creation, or is this your responsibility?
- Is the cost of shipping products to customers included in your wholesale price?
- Who manages customs, duties, and taxes for international sales?
- How are shipping delays addressed, and who’s responsible?
Create a returns management process
Not every product sold through a wholesale marketplace will be successfully resold. With the current average retail return rate at 14.5%, common reasons for returns include sizing issues, shipping damage, or discrepancies between product description and actual items.
Look at how each marketplace handles returns. Some offer comprehensive services, allowing buyers to return items directly to the marketplace’s warehouse. Others require vendors to process returns independently, outside the marketplace system.
Read more
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Wholesale marketplaces FAQ
What are wholesale marketplaces?
Wholesale marketplaces are online platforms where businesses buy and sell products in bulk quantities. They typically offer discounted wholesale prices, often directly from manufacturers or suppliers. Popular examples include Faire, Alibaba, Global Sources, DHgate, and Amazon.
Which market is best for wholesale?
The best wholesale market depends on your specific products or services. Some widely used markets for wholesale include Faire, Alibaba, Amazon, eBay, and DHgate. Consider factors like your target audience, product category, and business goals when choosing.
What are marketplace examples?
- Faire
- Amazon
- Wholesale Clearance UK
- Go Wholesale
- Made-In-China
- Global Sources
- Alibaba
- RangeMe
- IndieMe
- Orderchamp
- Joor
What is a B2B wholesale marketplace?
A B2B wholesale marketplace is an online platform connecting businesses for bulk buying and selling of goods and services. These marketplaces offer wholesale pricing without the need to contact individual suppliers. They often provide additional services like product search, seller ratings, payment processing, and shipping solutions.
What types of products can I sell wholesale?
- Clothing and apparel
- Footwear
- Accessories
- Jewelry
- Pet products
- Electronics
- Home furnishings
- Food and drink
- Party supplies
- Books and magazines
- Gifts
Are there fees associated with selling on wholesale marketplaces?
Many wholesale marketplaces charge a commission on sales made through their platform. Commission fees can reach up to 25% on some marketplaces, so it’s crucial to review sales terms thoroughly before committing.
What is the difference between wholesale and retail?
Wholesale involves selling products in bulk to other businesses at discounted prices. Retail, on the other hand, involves selling products directly to end consumers, typically at higher prices.