Wholesale suppliers in Europe
Do you want to launch an online store? Then you’ll need products to sell. If you want to buy stock in bulk, you can buy your products at a wholesale distributor. We selected some of the best wholesale suppliers in Europe, for ecommerce businesses.
Content:
- Best wholesale distributors
- Dropshipping suppliers
- Print on demand suppliers
- How do you find a wholesaler?
- Asian wholesalers
- Contacting a wholesaler
Popular European wholesale suppliers
A wholesaler buys large quantities of products from manufacturers, stores them in a warehouse, and distributes them to retailers. While many wholesale suppliers operate locally, there are also larger cross-border wholesale platforms that serve all of Europe.
Finding the best European wholesaler for your ecommerce business can be challenging. Many have conditions such as minimum order quantities, and their products may cost more unless you buy in bulk. However, buying from European wholesalers often guarantees high-quality goods and faster delivery. Platforms to consider for sourcing stock:
The b2b platform Orderchamp is full of wholesalers for retailers with low purchase thresholds and minimum orders. Signing up is free. Larger retailers often use the platform to find great additions but small boutiques and concept stores can really find a total offering here.
- 7000+ true European brands
- low minimum order values
- options for exclusive partnerships
- tools for catalog, order, and pricing management
Large platform that offers over 100M+ products from European and United States suppliers, including fashion, beauty, and lifestyle products. You get fast delivery, branded packaging, private label options and unique print-on-demand solutions. Suitable for both dropshipping and wholesale.
- beginner-friendly
- suppliers from Europe and the United States
- branded packaging and private label options
- offers a strong Shopify integration
- strong product research tools
Provides access to a database of over 8,000 wholesalers, nearly half of which offer dropshipping. If you give more deeply into the database you can find strong local European suppliers as well. With the starter plan, you can import up to 200 products per month.
- over 100K retailers work with this platform
- browse through more than 2,5 million products
- Insights tools for market and product research
- founded in 2005, located in Christchurch, New Zealand
The Italian wholesaler B2B GRIFFATI offers several designer brands, including some exclusive fashion brands from Europe. With the dropshipping-plugin of Sync2Fashion you can easily add the products into your Shopify-store on, without the need for a warehouse or logistic management.
Trusted Belgian wholesaler supplying retailers and wholesalers for 15+ years. Extensive product range, dropshipping across Europe. Same-day shipping worldwide. Next-day delivery to BE and NL, 2-5 days to other EU countries. No subscription fees. Reliable, fast service with full tracking.
Ankorstore is a French b2b marketplace that connects brands and creators with online retailers all over Europe. The b2b ecommerce platform is active in Germany, Belgium and Spain. It has a customer base of 15.000 brands and 200.000 retailers.
The Faire platform features brands and wholesalers for retailers from North America and Europe. Both large and small online retailers can go here to complement their assortment in, for example, jewelry, clothing or home accessories.
Tool with global import and export data focused on importers and wholesalers. You see which products come from where, by whom and at what prices. This helps you find manufacturers or local suppliers, discover sourcing opportunities and gain insight into competitors’ trade and purchasing.
- 3+ billion shipment records
- search by HS codes
- analyze customs and logistics data yourself
- discover trends and growth per product
- insight into competitors and their purchasing behavior
See a full list of suppliers at wholesalesuppliers.eu.
Dropshipping suppliers
With dropshipping, the wholesaler sends the orders directly to your customer. You don’t need a warehouse with stock or any supplies yourself and there is no need to buy in large quantities. Margins are often a bit lower and delivery times might be longer, but still ideal if your starting budgets are low or to test which new products you should add to your product range.
Some popular European dropshipping suppliers:
Strong in large home and garden products, such as garden furniture, beds, cabinets, and fitness equipment. With 90,000 items, it also offers many products in other categories. Fast delivery across Europe, without inventory management, shipping, and returns.
- European warehouses and fulfillment
- local return addresses per country
- extensive product data
- integrates with Shopify, WooCommerce, Shopware and Wix
This b2b platform connects retailers with wholesalers with low purchasing thresholds and minimum purchases. Perfect for finding extra items or suppliers. With the dropshipping subscription you have no storage risks or fulfilment hassle: suppliers send items directly to your customers.
- dropshipping and wholesale in one platform
- true European brands
- local storage: fast delivery times
- options for exclusive partnerships
Large platform that offers over 100M+ products from European and United States suppliers, including fashion, beauty, and lifestyle products. You get fast delivery, branded packaging, private label options and unique print-on-demand solutions. Suitable for both dropshipping and wholesale.
- beginner-friendly
- suppliers from Europe and the United States
- branded packaging and private label options
- offers a strong Shopify integration
- strong product research tools
Design and sell under your own brand with print on demand clothing and custom branding. You get private label options such as custom neck labels, packaging and size labels. The platform handles its own production and ships worldwide. Average delivery time in Europe: 8 to 14 days.
- integrates with Shopify and other ecommerce platforms
- build your own clothing brand without holding inventory
- focus on streetwear and premium apparel
- no or low minimum order quantities
- printed fulfillment from Los Angeles, USA
Alidrop provides ready-to-use dropshipping solutions, including store (Shopify), product import, and automation, based on products from AliExpress. It also offers its own overview of European and American suppliers.
The Italian wholesaler B2B GRIFFATI offers several designer brands, including some exclusive fashion brands from Europe. With the dropshipping-plugin of Sync2Fashion you can easily add the products into your Shopify-store on, without the need for a warehouse or logistic management.
Printful works on a print-on-demand basis. They can print your designs on clothing, as well as bags, mugs and phone covers. In Europe, the company is situated in Latvia and Spain, which makes shipping within two to four days possible. It integrates with ecommerce software and marketplaces.
American dropshipping platform that lets you easily import, manage, and ship products. Works with suppliers worldwide, including major Chinese suppliers. It automates your order processing and allows you to build your own brand with custom branding and packaging.
BigBuy has more than 150.000 products and is able to dropship all over Europe. Product categories range from home and garden, beauty and health, sports, toys, fashion, and electronics. With their Marketplace package, you can easily sell their products on marketplaces.
Provides access to a database of over 8,000 wholesalers, nearly half of which offer dropshipping. If you give more deeply into the database you can find strong local European suppliers as well. With the starter plan, you can import up to 200 products per month.
- over 100K retailers work with this platform
- browse through more than 2,5 million products
- Insights tools for market and product research
- founded in 2005, located in Christchurch, New Zealand
Modalyst connects dropshippers and suppliers from the U.S., Australia and Europe. Some of the wholesalers on this marketplace are also listed on AliExpress. It claims to have verified all dropshipping suppliers. It can easily be integrated with Shopify, Wix and BigCommerce.
Based in Estonia, Hertwill is a dropshipping platform that integrates with Shopify and WooCommerce for easy product management. Hertwill simplifies order processing while suppliers handle inventory and shipping, ensuring access to high-quality products.
Platform that combines multiple suppliers. Offers dropshipping with no subscription fees and optional white label shipping. Strong in fashion, jewelry, and beauty products. Fast delivery from US and UK warehouses. Shipments from China often take a bit longer.
- direct integration with Shopify and WooCommerce
- private labeling with no minimum order quantity
B2b platform where retailers and resellers can buy branded overstock and clearance items, often with large discounts on wholesale prices. It offers direct access to both new items, b-grade goods and secondhand goods, from popular brands through a simple digital order process.
- apparel, shoes, bags, and sportswear
- trading surplus inventory
- details of products in the product descriptions
- low or no minimum order quantity
One stop supply chain solution with product sourcing, order fulfillment, tracking, and after sales for dropshipping Chinese products. Strong in apparel, consumer electronics, health and beauty, and outdoor categories.
- integrations with TikTok, Shopify, Wix, and WooCommerce
- database with more than 670,000 items
- partnerships with local manufacturers
- daily shipping volume of 25,000 to 50,000 orders
Looking for ecommerce software to start your own dropshipping store? Shopify provides plugins for many popular dropshipping suppliers and is designed to make managing your online store simple and efficient.
European print-on-demand companies
Print-on-demand companies operate similarly to dropshipping providers. However, instead of selling premade products, you can customize items by printing your own designs, allowing you to create a unique product range. While print-on-demand was once limited to a small selection of items, it has rapidly expanded to include a wide variety of products.
Printful works on a print-on-demand basis. They can print your designs on clothing, as well as bags, mugs and phone covers. In Europe, the company is situated in Latvia and Spain, which makes shipping within two to four days possible. It integrates with ecommerce software and marketplaces.
Printify is similar to Printful. It is a fast-growing transparent print-on-demand network, instantly connecting merchants to major Print Providers worldwide. This allows them to sell custom printed products that are printed and shipped directly to the customer.
Spreadshirt is similar to the other print on demand suppliers, but it's also aimed at private customers. The company, founded in Germany, offers businesses mass-customization tools, on-demand production, and fulfillment as a service.
How do you find the best wholesaler in Europe?
Finding European wholesale distributors and suppliers can be challenging, as many do not actively promote themselves online. Some may not have a website, or their website might be outdated. However, they are essential for sourcing products to sell online.
One way to find them is by contacting the brands you want to sell and asking which wholesalers they work with. Another effective method is attending business-to-business trade shows, fairs, or industry events.
For instance, if you are interested in selling home decor and interior design products, there are likely events in your country where you learn about the latest designs and trends. Usually these events are also used to meet wholesalers and manufacturers.
Visiting events is a great opportunity to meet European brands or wholesale distributors.
Asian wholesalers
Asian, particularly Chinese, B2B platforms offer competitive prices and an almost unlimited product range. However, not all products are suitable for the European market, and delivery times can be long. If you choose to work with an Asian wholesaler, take the time to carefully select the products and suppliers you want to partner with.
Alibaba is the most well-known b2b marketplace from China. Here you can find all kinds of products, from clothing to toys and from car parts to gadgets. Finding suppliers on Alibaba can be tricky, so be prepared. Alibaba also owns the popular b2c marketplace AliExpress.
Banggood is a popular b2b marketplace from China. Its partnership programs include wholesale, affiliate, and dropshipping. With the Banggood Wholesale program, buyers can enjoy a higher discount on their wholesale orders.
DHgate.com was founded in 2004 and was one of China's first cross-border b2b-ecommerce platforms. It links primarily Chinese SMEs to businesses and individuals worldwide.
Finding a distributor on Alibaba
One of the most important and popular platforms for finding a wholesale distributor is Alibaba. This Chinese marketplace is filled with suppliers who can help you start your business. The only thing you need to do is search for the products you want to sell and contact a supplier.
However, finding the right wholesaler can be more challenging than it seems. Be sure to check the products carefully, as European quality standards and regulations are often very different. Product photos can sometimes be misleading, so proceed with caution.
Alibaba is so popular, it’s filled with hundreds of thousands of b2b sellers. Read our guide for finding suppliers on Alibaba to learn how you can find your distributor!
Finding products by doing a reverse image search
(Click on the image to see it full size.)
Have you found something interesting at a competing website? Try to do a ‘reverse image search’ on the product photo. You can do this in Google, but also through websites like Tineye or Yandex (in our opinion, the last one is very underrated and unknown when it comes to reverse image searches!). In the results, you might end up with a seller page on Alibaba, which you can contact immediately to check if they want to sell to you!
Try a reverse image search for products you like to sell yourself.
Things you should know about wholesalers
Most European wholesalers prefer to sell stock in bulk, so chances are they might not be interested in you if you’re still a small retailer with a small order request.
When contacting a wholesale ecommerce website, make it clear that you are not just another consumer looking for a small order. Introduce yourself, inquire about quantity discounts, and find out what it would take to get them interested in selling to you.
If a wholesaler is open to working with you, you can follow up with detailed questions. Ask about pricing for larger orders, discounts for returning customers, delivery times or payment terms. You might also want to ask which other customers they sell the same product to.
Typical terms of a supplier
Before approaching a distributor, research their requirements. Wholesalers often only work with retailers who purchase at bulk, and demand a high minimum of units. Some do not even work with online only stores at all. Find out what types of retailers they usually work with.
Do not be surprised if you have to pay higher prices than your competitors or agree to stricter terms with wholesalers. This might happen because the wholesaler is more familiar with your competitor. They may have worked with them for a long time and perceive less risk in doing business with them.
It may take time before you gain the same advantages, but this can change over time. Remember, your competitors also started as small retailers. Finding your first wholesale distributor can be challenging, but once you establish a relationship, it becomes easier to attract more suppliers or grow your business with that initial distributor.
Your competitors once started out as small retailers as well.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some frequently asked questions about wholesale ecommerce:
What is wholesale?
Wholesale refers to the sale of products to a reselling party. So, if you are an online retailer, you can buy products from manufacturers and distributors and then sell these products to your customers. You are then conducting wholesale ecommerce.
How is wholesale different from dropshipping?
Dropshipping is b2b-ecommerce as well, but there is an important difference. With wholesale, you normally buy the items you want to sell. With dropshipping, another company (the dropshipper) is taking care of the storage of products and the fulfilment (getting the items to your customers). You only pay for the items customers have ordered in this way of doing business.
A wholesale platform will supply your store with goods, but you will be the one sending them to your customers.
Why is Alibaba so popular?
Alibaba is the most popular wholesale ecommerce platform in the world. It’s part of Alibaba Group, which can be seen as the ‘Amazon of China’. Alibaba was founded in 1999 and managed to grow significantly due to its local success and the launch of additional services and online branches. Nowadays, Alibaba is known for its wide assortment and low prices. We have made a guide for finding Alibaba suppliers.
It’s a popular wholesale ecommerce platform because of the large amount of suppliers that are listed there, for low prices. However, there are also other ecommerce platforms that offer plugins to find suppliers.
