Hi guys, I want to set up my own site for nutrition supplements like - http://www.powerfood.ch/

However I don't know where to begin in terms of researching wholesalers where I can find these products to then sell them online

Any tips where and how to begin?

Thanks

I typed just typed "nutritional supplements wholesalers" into a google search and got a lot of hits, happy hunting. You'll have to import most of it I would imagine unless you set up a fulfillment agreement with suppliers where they take a fixed markup to do order filling and shipping from outside of CH, avoiding the whole customs and duties thing. You also might try that as a start to avoid putting money into inventory and doing all of the packaging and shipping yourself to see if it will go and then consider what to do once it starts to build.

Another thought. Did you know you can set up a private sellers shop on Amazon ? I don't know their requirements but they have many already there. If you find suppliers who will do order fulfillment you could sell through Amazon where they take a percentage and use their billing and payment processing, ship orders via the supplier, take your cut off of the top and not have any inventory, packaging or shipping tasks.

I have experience with the nutritional supplements industry. I would advise against using Amazon in any way as this company is charging approx. 20% total commission on sales, as they also charge commission on sales of the shipping charges! Many small businesses cannot afford to do business on Amazon as it doesn't make financial sense. Too much price competition as others might have to liquidate their products due to exp date and other reasons. Price competition is a good thing overall, but when you compare Amazon prices with the commission that Amazon charges it is a losing business proposition.

The nutritional supplements industry is very lucrative business but seldom for those that order wholesale. The money in this industry is from developing your own supplements line and combining it with a big distribution network. That takes a budget in the millions...That's my opinion on this industry and I would never launch a store to sell sell branded products. Non-sense competition results in low margins that, in combination with excessive business operating costs, will not make business sense.

Hi Back,

The reason me and my friend want to TRY it is mainly coz we are gym addicts and in a small town - Biel. both of us are from UK. Over here we get all the time guys coming upto us asking for advice and where to buy from. One of my friends who is a local guy and trains with me too, he also now gets all his buddies asking him where and what he gets his proteins etc.

So we feel if we did it we could make some quick cash

But want to focus just on a few products, like maybe 10 different products in total and then take it from there.

Hi guys, I want to start my own e-commerce store for Nutrition Supplements.

I've been training/taking them for years now - I usually order mine from USA and get them Shipped over here.

Now I'm looking to start my own little business selling them here - though only like 10 different products to start with.

I have found a few wholesalers in Europe that I'm interested in. The problem is they all deliver within the EU no problem, but anything outside the EU (Switzerland) they are saying they don't want to get into delivering/hassle due to import rules etc and things they don't know.

All products I want are "legal/normal" ... they deliver as I said no problem within the EU.

Now I want to get a transport company to go to Germany or Holland to pick these products up and bring me here in Switzerland. The company I want to buy from said they will supply me an invoice with all the products I am buying and the amount etc but they said that is all they will do.

Anything else, the transport company should know/organize.

How do I go about this? What do I need to know or provide?

I have noooo idea where to start

Hey,

If you would like some help regarding the actual website, or any branding and design issues, I can help. I am a business and management student living in Geneva for the past 4 years. And I am in the process of starting my own freelance activity in the field of branding, graphic design, photography. Since I work with students like myself, we are able to produce very good quality results and at much better prices.

You can contact me at dan@dg-design.ch for more information, and maybe we can set up a meeting.

Also check out my new website www.dg-design.ch which will be finished in the folowing days.

Best of luck with your new venture.

My gym buys their 'gym branded' protein powder from here


Personally though, i am not sure how any nutrition supplements website can compete with prices etc.. of http://www.bodybuilding.com/

cheers
SC

Hello Hollisterb, have you been into an Aldi shop recently? They have VERY low prices, I cannot see how you can make a business with this competition.

Do they sell the products that the OP is planning to market? I looked between the wine and beer sections but drew a blank.

Cheers,
Nick

Google GNC in the states...and contact some of the main companies that manufacture supplements. Mention, that you're interested in selling their items and would like to know the procurement procedure. Also, some may ask you to be their official distributor...this is something you would need to weigh in prior to setting up your business.

Rule number 1 in business, there is no such thing as quick cash.

There are sports supplements and sports supplements. I don't want to knock the Aldi product, but I can only assume, that it is a diluted as it's shampoos etc.