Wholesale Dog Treats

Purchasing wholesale dog treats may be an option you want to consider for your dog bakery business.

Why would you want to consider wholesale or bulk dog treats? Here are some common reasons.

• You can offer variety to your customers – Even if you make your own treats you may want to expand your offering to customers by supplementing your own inventory with wholesale treats.
• Spend less time baking – more time building your business. Baking treats requires a lot of time. If you can partner with a wholesale dog bakery that meets your standards you can focus on building your business.
• Legal requirements for starting a dog bakery vary from region to region. If you are struggling to get approved for baking your own treats, retailing other treats could still be a possibility.

What you Need Know
There are certain things you need to know when purchasing wholesale dog treats. Most companies will include this info right up front, but if they don’t, be sure to ask.

• If you are not familiar with the product ask for a sample. Many wholesalers will send you a sampling free of charge or at very little cost. You certainly need to know what you are buying before investing in a large quantity of the item.
• Minimum orders – most wholesalers require minimum orders. Usually, a larger order means a lower cost for you. Keep in mind though, that cost isn’t your only consideration. Be sure to ask about shelf life of the treats. You don’t want to buy a large quantity and then have to throw a bunch out because they are no longer fresh.
• Payment terms. It is common that for your first few orders you will be required to pay at the time you place an order. Once you are an established customer some wholesalers will allow you to order on credit.
• Be clear about the wholesaler’s return policy and whenever possible check packages immediately upon receiving them. Check for damaged products and report them to the wholesaler right away.
• The wholesaler may require to see your EIN (Employee Identification Number) number or state resellers license. You can apply for an EIN free of charge at IRS.gov.

There’s a lot to think about when starting your own dog bakery business. Don’t forget to sign up for the Gourmutt Gazette. The monthly ezine dedicated to helping you start and grow your own pet business.

• Private labeling means that you purchase the products wholesale, but they are packaged and labeled as yours. Some wholesalers offer private label programs. This means that you purchase the treats at wholesale prices and the wholesaler packages and labels them as yours. You can also purchase bulk dog treats and then repackage them yourself.
• Dropshipping is another wholesale option that offers great convenience to you. In this instance, the products are shipped directly from the dropshipper (wholesaler) to your customer. The invoice, etc, reflects that it is from your company. This can be great option for the online retailer. Your customer places an order via your site paying with credit card or pay pal. You in turn place the order with the dropshipper and the product is sent. You’ll pay a little more than normal wholesale pricing, but you also don’t have to worry about packaging and shipping the product yourself. .
• Outsourcing the baking – Another great option that is similar to wholesaling is outsourcing the baking for your dog bakery. This option is great because you still have control over the recipes. Develop a relationship with a local bakery. They are already well equipped to do the baking. .

Finding Wholesalers

Finding wholesalers can be a frustrating process. When I began searching on the internet I found a lot of companies who advertise “wholesale prices” that weren’t true wholesalers.

One way to locate wholesalers is to search “dog bakery” or “natural dog treats”. Review the sites that come up and look for a wholesale tab on their website.

If you come across a product you like don’t be afraid to contact the company directly and ask about wholesaling. Not all companies advertise themselves as wholesalers, but do have a wholesale pricing program.

There is a lot to think about as you consider making wholesale dog treats part of you dog bakery business. You will have to decide what is best for your business and customers.

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