How to Choose the Right Auto Accessories Wholesale Distributor for Your C-Store

As a convenience store owner, you are constantly looking for the best wholesale distributors to supply your store with a wide range of products. You need reliable distributors to keep your store operational and maintain inventories of your top-selling items.

Choosing the right convenience store suppliers is essential to ensure you have sales and earn a profit to keep your business open. As manufacturers continue to develop new products, gaining access to them may start you questioning whether you have the best wholesale distributors.

If you are just opening your c-store, you may not be sure how to select the right convenience store suppliers. Fortunately, we are here to help by offering you some great advice and sharing some of the things that set a great wholesale distributor apart from an average distributor.

Why is it important to choose the right wholesale distributor?

Your distributors provide you a wide range of products from different brands with different pricing points and profit margins. Your customer volume, location, and size of your c-store are all factors you need to consider to ensure you have the right mix of products stocked on your shelves.

Whether it is snacks or auto accessories, the best convenience store suppliers should offer assistance, advice, and services to help your c-store be successful. For example, great distributors provide advice on setting up a product display correctly and where to place products on your shelves.

Generally, when it comes to auto accessories wholesale distributors, there are two types:

1. Installation and Service Distributors – This type of distributor comes into your convenience store and assists you in setting up your auto accessories display. They will also install new shelving or display stands when necessary.
2. Wholesale Car Accessories Distributors – This type of distributor is the one that sells you the automotive accessories at wholesale prices to stock on your shelves. Their primary goal is to help you choose the right product mix for your c-store by making recommendations on top-selling brands and products you may want to sell.

Choosing the right wholesale distributor is vital because they are an important business partner you need to be successful. Yet with so many different convenience store suppliers out there, how do you decide which ones are best and which ones you can trust?

Factors to Look For in a Good Convenience Store Supplier

There are several factors you should look for when choosing exceptional convenience store suppliers and wholesale car accessories distributors, including:

#1: If it has great customer reviews.

It is worth your time to do your own research and look up what other convenience store owners had to say about the convenience store suppliers you are considering. As you browse through the customer reviews, look for things customers said were good and any potential problems or concerns they share.

Additionally, pay attention to what the distributor did to resolve any issues. Did they respond to the customer’s review and invite them to reach out to resolve the issue? Use their feedback to help you decide whether you want to use the distributor or find another supplier.

#2: If it offers exceptional customer service.

With so many different wholesale car accessories distributors and convenience store suppliers out there, the thing that sets an average one apart from a great one is the level of customer service and customer service experiences they provide.

To help you evaluate the supplier’s customer service, ask yourself how they sound on the phone when you call. Are their customer service agents energetic, friendly, and helpful? Do they go above and beyond meeting your expectations? How fast do they resolve issues and problems when they occur?

#3: The selection of products they carry.

Ideally, you want a wholesale supplier that carries a wide selection of products and functions much like a “one-stop-shop” for specific product lines. For example, wholesale car accessories distributors should offer everything you need to stock your automotive section in your c-store so you can get what you want from a single supplier.

#4: The specialty products or regional products they carry.

A wholesale distributor that carries specialty products that are ideal for your location or region is equally important. For instance, if it snows in your location, your auto accessories wholesale distributor should carry snow brushes, lock de-icer, and other wintertime automotive accessories.

Conversely, suppose it is always sunny and warm in your region. In that case, your car accessories distributor should sell items like sunshades, roller shades, Armor All leather and vinyl protectant, and other such products to protect your customers’ vehicles from UV damage from the sun.
 

#5: If it offers reliable and efficient shipping.

You want your convenience store suppliers to offer reliable and efficient shipping. The last thing you want is to order several cases of snow brushes in September in time for fall and winter and not have them show up until April.

Great wholesale distributors should be able to have your products shipped and delivered to your c-store promptly. You want a distributor that processes orders within one business day or less. Shipping times should never take longer than five business days from the time the product ships, forcing you to upgrade to expedited shipping.

#6: If it has knowledgeable and experienced staff.

The distributor should be able to answer questions about the products they sell and how to use them. Look for distributors that take the time to train their staff to enable them to provide first-hand insight to customers.

#7: If it educates you about the products they carry.

A great distributor takes the time to provide detailed information about the products they carry. Whenever they get new products, they are quick to let you know about it, as well as what the product does, how it works, or why your customers will want to buy it.

#8: The type of self-service support available online.

Exceptional convenience store suppliers understand that many c-store owners want to be self-sufficient and attempt to answer questions or resolve issues on their own before contacting customer service. There should be self-service options available like FAQs, product manuals, tutorials, detailed product descriptions, how-to videos, etc. on their website, depending on the products they sell.

#9: It has easy payment terms.

As you develop a relationship with your wholesale distributors, they should offer easy payment terms and options, such as making payments online, paying by check or debit card, or offering flexible payment options, such as net-15 or net-30.

#10: The type of wholesale discount they offer.

Some wholesale distributors will require you to buy specific quantities or dollar values to qualify for a wholesale discount. Great distributors typically do not have these requirements and offer you a wholesale discount whether you buy one of a particular item or a hundred of them.

Benefits of Choosing the Right Wholesale Distributors

In the end, choosing the right convenience store suppliers and auto accessories wholesale distributors will help you earn money and run a successful c-store. Your suppliers should be much more than wholesalers just trying to sell you products to stock in your store.

They should be willing to help provide support, share information about the latest products, educate you about their product lines, and be a reliable business partner. When c-store owners take the time to find exceptional wholesale distributors, they are laying the foundation for creating a win-win relationship.

To find a wide variety of automotive accessories and supplies at wholesale prices, please feel free to browse our extensive inventories online at Superior Car Wash Supply. If you have further questions or are looking for specific products, please do not hesitate to contact us at 800-554-9274 today!