Did a search but really couldn't find what I was looking for. What's the process for buying whole sale for retail sale and is there a minimum usually required to buy? i'm not looking to be an FNT or Minntrap products. Just push some trapping equipment/Supplies from home along with what supplies I Make. I retire in 5 years and just looking at ways to stay busy doing things I enjoy and less about a supplemental income.

Thanks for your input.

I'd love to hear (pm) from trappers that already do this and get the good, bad and ungly.

Most companies like MTP or FnT have a wholesale program to sell supplies. Most programs are very similar.

- you will need to provide proof that you are a legitimate dealer and not just an individual buying in bulk. Usually a business license number or state sales tax number is proof.

- you may also need to supply credit references, especially if you want terms such as 30 days

- once your account is set up, they will provide you with a whole sale price list and you are ready to place your first order.

- most companies have a minimum first order. That amount will vary. Could be $1,000.00. Maybe more.

- reorders may or may not have a minimum

- you will pay actually shipping cost to get the order to you. The companies shipping & handling chart for retail orders does NOT apply.

- you are free to price the goods however you want. You do NOT have to match the prices in their retail catalog

- as long as you pay your bill on time, you are good to keep reordering

That's it.

if you can afford it spend the summer conventioning. I doubt you can break even. You will get your name out there though and most likely have a good time. Fix you up a trailer with a bed in it. Knew a rodeo stock contractor that put a semi sleeper behind a pickup cab. You can pay a few bucks at any truck stop for a shower if you need too. Contact FNT and MTP. Contact manufacturers of whatever you want to sell. I think your best bet is to sell stuff you produce.

Danny is correct, sell what you make.
Shipping costs have changed the supply business in this industry and most others too.
After 33 years of selling "supplies" we decided not to this year and focus on what we sell because shipping costs are dramatically MORE than what customers would want to pay. As an example, I made our MJL decision this year as I was boxing up a nice $800 order and the shipping to OH was $65 UPS after our discounted rate and we charge $22.90 >$100 order. So margin wise, we lose $40 on this $800 box and the profit margin on the 2 dozen traps and sifter, etc. was $35. Easy math.... we pack it all up and ship it out and lose $5.
Not a good business plan.

Shipping at Amazon and so many internet companies has been lowered to sometimes "0", as the BIG merchants negotiate USPS and UPS/FedEx rates and the LITTLE merchants (trapping industry) rates go up each quarter.

Food for thought....
Mark

Fed ex and Ups go up 3% or so each January. The supply market is as flooded as the bait business. If you just want a time occupier go for it.I have given thought to setting up a network of package drop off's and pick up's as shipping charges are getting to expensive.

Oh my.

When I was looking toward retirement the first thing I wanted to do was STOP selling trapping supplies through the mail. (I still do a few conventions. But that's mostly to visit with the folks I know.)

As folks have noted, shipping cost will kill you nowadays. Especially if you are a small volume shipper. Your shipping costs will be considerably higher than F&T, MNT, PCS Sterling and the like. That's one thing that puts you at a competitive disadvantage. Secondly, your base price is going to be higher. The large concerns by in lots of hundreds and thousands. And you'll hardly be able to mark your merchandise higher than theirs, or you'll lose business.

But here's the thing that you may be overlooking. If you're going to be in the supply business, you need to be there 24/7/365. You have to be there to answer the phone or watch your email, or however you intend to take orders. Folks will expect to have their orders filled promptly. Here again you have to compete with push button and "2 day" delivery from places like Amazon. That's what folks expect now. You can't beat that, but if you are not prompt, you will not get return customers. A business like this is not something you can just tend to every once in a while.

I don't know what you are retiring from, but running a business like this can be more taxing than going to a regular job. Make sure you don't jump out of the frying pan into the fire.

Thanks for all the time with the great responses. I obviously have a lot to ponder over the next several years. Although I will be young at 55 when I retire and will keep working I want more control over what work I do. Thanks again. Oh, I'm retiring from Corrections. 29 yrs plus the 4 military years I bought back. Decent pension but the biggie is my health care is covered.
Thanks again

My brother does online retailing. I wouldn't fool with trapping supplies. I would do pest control products like rat poison and insecticide. Maybe specifically organic pest control and barn rat traps with a plastic pan.

MTP min is $750
Snare Shop is $600 I think

you just gotta ask them cuz some have no min order

shorthair- what about doing some ADC work when you retire, I don't... but a lot of fine folks on this site do.

That is in the plans. Maybe I'll run a hot dog stand and adc in the summer and in the fall....trap and hunt:) Just looking forward to have the options.

The hot dog stand sounds interesting.

how's your fur put up.another option is putting up fur for others.

Maybe make hotdogs out of the critters you catch in your ADC business.

LOL. I enjoy putting up my fur and think i do an above average job but I would rather take a beating than put up fur instead of trap:)

Home tanning your own fur can be profitable and interesting.

I have owned a couple of online retail businesses for about 10 years. My businesses are not trapping supplies. Margins are tight, the trapping industry is shrinking, shipping costs have risen dramatically in the last two years, and Amazon can beat you on price, shipping costs, and delivery times.

I think this would be a very difficult time to establish a new business in this area.

I have run the numbers on hotdog carts before - a couple of times. Kidding aside, I think a hotdog cart at the right location can make real money.

I don't know this answer so I'll just throw it out there. I have a fishing tackle company. I pay or charge excise tax. Do trapping supplies fall under Pittman/Robertson?