Top Small business wholesale suppliers in Australia

Looking for reliable and trustworthy small business whole suppliers in Australia? Sourcing the right mix of products in bulk can enhance your supply chain, lower costs, and increase profit margins — all crucial for new startups wanting to scale and grow.

In this blog, we’ll look at some of the leading small business wholesale suppliers in Australia and the factors to consider when choosing one. We’ll also introduce Wise Business, which could come in handy for saving money when it comes to making payments to suppliers overseas.

Factors to consider when looking for a wholesale supplier in Australia

Finding the right wholesaler supplier involves more than just comparing prices. Four factors to keep in mind are:

1. Product range and quality

The first consideration should be — does this supplier have the range of products I need? Many wholesalers in Australia specialise in niche categories for specific types of businesses and sectors, while others offer a broader product selection. You should also check that the goods meet the quality standards both you and your customers expect.

2. Reliability and reputation

Suppliers will support your supply chain and inventory (if you need one). Take a look at their track record for reliability, customer support, and delivery times for peace of mind that they will be a trustworthy partner. You can read online user reviews and testimonials for additional context. If you’re planning to buy online, make sure the account system functions properly and is easy to use.

3. Account requirements

There are typically stricter account requirements when buying from wholesalers compared to standard retailers. You might need to provide your business name and Australian Business Number (ABN) to sign up. Some suppliers also have monthly minimum spend thresholds that you’ll need to clear to keep your account open, which can be restrictive for startups.

4. Payment terms and transaction fees

Suppliers will have different payment options — some offer favourable 60 day terms for approved account holders. Make sure the payment methods and T&Cs suit your business. For overseas suppliers, upfront payments often incur costly transfer fees and high exchange rates. Using multi-currency accounts like Wise Business makes it easier to hold money in multiple currencies and make supplier payments in their local currency.

Top wholesale suppliers for small businesses in Australia

Sourcing quality products at the right price is crucial for small businesses. Fortunately, there are lots of options available. We’ve included a mix of both Australian-based and global options suitable for small businesses.

Fieldfolio (AUS)

Fieldfolio markets itself as the “no.1” wholesale marketplace in Australia¹. For the sheer variety of goods, it’s difficult to beat for e-commerce companies. The intuitive web platform is also easy to navigate. You can create a free account, connect with wholesalers with just a few clicks, and then purchase the goods you need in bulk.

Fieldfolio is headquartered in Melbourne and has wholesalers in multiple locations across Australia.

Products: 275,000+ products from 1,000+ wholesalers covering pretty much every category you can think of, including fashion, homewares, lifestyle and beauty products, and outdoor essentials.

COS (AUS)

Not to be confused with the fashion retailer, COS is a long-running family-owned business located in Sydney, New South Wales. From its humble beginnings, COS has grown to be the largest privately owned office products supplier in Australia and claims to serve around 250,000 customers².

It has more of a corporate focus than other wholesale suppliers with service pages for ‘enterprise’, ‘government’ and ‘education’. COS also specializes in setting up regular supply chains for Australian businesses.

Products: Multiple product categories across various office supplies, tools, and equipment, including diaries and planners, chairs, storage, paper, first aid, printers, and projectors.

Dropshipzone (AUS)

Planning to create a dropshipping business? You’ll need reliable suppliers and Dropshipzone is one of the leading B2B2C options in Australia. There’s no registration or subscription fees or any minimum order requirements — very useful if you’re just starting out³.

Dropshipzone also integrates with Shopify, so you can import products directly to your website without worrying about clogging up your inventory. After a customer purchases a product, you can confirm the order with Dropshipzone, who will forward it to a supplier. They will then send it to the customer.

Dropshipzone is based in Melbourne, Victoria.

Products: Six main categories listed on the home page: appliances, baby & kids, fitness, furniture, home & garden, and tools. However, there’s lots more in the drop-down menu, including electronics, and fashion.

Simply Wholesale

Simply Wholesale was founded in Australia and has warehouses in five major urban centres including Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane. It has an extensive product catalogue with more than 500,000 items, so you should be able to find what you need.

The regular discounts and deals provide great value and there’s free shipping across Australia⁴. There’s no ABN requirement for smaller purchases, either, making it a fast and affordable option for startups.

Simply Wholesale is now headquartered in Shenzhen, China.

Products: A huge variety of product categories include furniture, fashion electronics, jewellery, pet supplies, tools and hardware, music instruments, and home and living.

Metcash (AUS)

Metcash has a narrower focus compared to many wholesale suppliers listed here, specialising in fresh and packaged foods, hardware (tools), and liquor.

The company is known for “championing successful independents” with its target demographic being convenience stores and supermarkets⁵. If you’re running a local store or small retail business, Metcash might be the supplier you need with its competitive pricing and reliable supply chains.

The company is headquartered in Sydney, New South Wales.

Products: Full range of grocery items, packaged goods, frozen items, beers, wines, and spirits, building supplies and electrical tools.

Faire

Faire is targeted at retailers and online shops eager to buy a mix of wholesale products from new and established brands.

It offers a few compelling perks for small business buyers. There’s order now and pay later options to ease cash flow, free returns when you buy a product from a new supplier for the first time, free shipping on select products, and sign-up discounts and offers⁶.

Faire is based in the Netherlands but has a localised site for Australia.

Products: A wide selection including home decor, food and drink, beauty and wellness, fashion, jewellery, paper and novelty, and pet products.

Middy’s (AUS)

Middy’s is an independent electrical wholesaler based in Melbourne. If you’re running a trades company or operate in the industrial sector, you’ll appreciate the broad range of electrical goods and products and the ability to create job lists for regular orders.

In addition to an online site, Middy’s has 100+ branches in most states and territories across Australia. However, there is a minimum purchase limit of $500 per month⁷.

Products: Cabling, lighting, heating and cooling, circuit protection, electrical, tools, and smart tech.

AliExpress

AliExpress is mainly a retail platform, but it offers an enormous selection of goods and no formal account requirements. This makes it a compelling option for startups, side hustles, and dropshipping where cheaper products, often in lower quantities, are required.

The downside is that product quality and customer support may be lacking compared to a traditional Australian wholesaler. Shipping times from China are also likely to be longer (1-4 weeks).

Products: Clothing, consumer electronics, home appliances, toys and games, home and garden, luggage and bags, and furniture.

Eastern Distributors (AUS)

Eastern Distributors has grown from a small boutique to the largest pet and stock feed wholesaler in Australia. It specialises in warehousing, logistics, and distribution for customers, who need a business trading name, website, and ABN to sign up and start purchasing8.

The company is based in Dandenong South, Victoria.

Products: 12,500+ SKUs, including premium food, accessories, and grooming products for a variety of animals — dogs, cats, horses, birds, livestock etc.

Beauty Warehouse (AUS)

Beauty Warehouse is an Australian owned and operated business offering 10,000+ beauty and cosmetic products from 100+ brands. Registered trade customers get access to all of its premium products at wholesale pricing.

You’ll need a business name to sign up, but an ABN isn’t mandatory⁹.

Products: Beauty and cosmetics, including hair, nails, waxing, tanning, salon equipment, skincare

Making payments to overseas wholesale suppliers

Purchasing affordable and diverse goods from overseas suppliers is an effective way to scale your small business while lowering operational costs. However, global sourcing has its downsides. Completing overseas transactions with a traditional bank often results in high transfer fees, poor exchange rates, and slow processing times.

Wise Business eliminates these financial (and logistical) headaches. With our Business account, you can make payments at the mid-market rate. There’s no inflated conversions or hidden markups. What’s more, all of our fees are upfront and transparent — you’ll know exactly what you’ll pay, every single time.

Wise Business helps streamline overseas business payments without foreign transaction fees, saving up to 5x compared to other providers.

• Free to register — Send money to 140+ currencies with no hidden exchange rate markups
• Make up to 1,000 transfers at once with the Wise batch payments feature
• Fast, low-cost payouts to customers, freelancers, employees, investors, and suppliers globally
• Automate invoice payments, recurring transfers, and international payroll
• Fast and fully secure payments through Wise, even for large amounts

Tired of hidden fees and complex processes when making overseas payments?

Start sending with a Wise Business account! 🚀

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Sources:

1. Fieldfolio - Homepage
2. COS - Homepage
3. Dropshipzone - Homepage
4. Simply Wholesale - Homepage
5. Metacash - Homepage
6. Faire - Homepage
7. Middys - Trade account application
8. Eastern Distributors - Customer application
9. Beauty Warehouse - Trade registration