What Do I Sell Online?

This may be one of the most frequently asked questions online by those who want to start an online business.  When it comes to opening a Yahoo store or selling on Ebay, the next question is usually Where Can I Buy Products Wholesale?

Matt Hedges is the Customer Support Manager for World Wide Brands, a leader in the product sourcing industry.

Matt shared the most common questions he gets about product sourcing from customers who want to start their own Yahoo store or Ebay business.

Will suppliers care if I'm a new online retailer working from home?

"Generally, no. They want to get their product out to consumers as much as possible, so they're looking to open new accounts."

How can I convey to a supplier that I'm a serious professional, not a fly-by-night home business?

"Before you call or email questions to a supplier, read their web site. Taking up their time with questions you could have easily found an answer to yourself reflects poorly on your professionalism." "When you contact a supplier - get to the point.  Real wholesale suppliers are very busy people. They want to help their retailers, but they don't have a lot of time for chit-chat."

"Proofread and spell-check your emails. It's very difficult to look professional when your email is full of typos, sentence fragments and run-ons."

"Be patient. Just because a supplier doesn't respond to your questions the same day you send them is no reason to get agitated. If they think you're going to be a demanding customer, chances are they won't work with you."

Should I be focusing on "hot sellers" like iPods, gaming consoles, and designer clothes? Can I drop ship them?

Once everyone knows an item is hot, the market for that item becomes saturated. Finding a supplier who'll drop ship these items individually is almost impossible. The cost is expensive for them, especially in clothing where the return rates tend to be high. Again, your wholesale rate for one item won't let you compete with the larger retailers who are buying in much larger volumes."

The answer is simple, you base your product choices on your market research. If you do that, you can find items that you can actually make a profit and compete.