Start with the business basics
Check the supplier's legal business identity, contact routes, trading address, payment terms and returns process. Understand whether it is the manufacturer, brand owner, wholesaler or fulfilment provider, because responsibilities and available documentation may differ.
Ask for the current trade terms in writing. Verbal descriptions of exclusivity, turnaround time or service scope are difficult to rely on when a customer order is waiting.
Request usable product information
A retailer needs sufficient information to describe and sell the exact item supplied. Ask how product changes, discontinued items and availability are communicated. Confirm what photographs and copy may be reused and whether they reflect the current pack.
- Full label or specification
- Ingredients and allergens
- Directions, warnings and storage
- Net quantity and product identifiers
- Current pack imagery and usage permission
- Batch, shelf-life and traceability information as relevant
Evaluate the fulfilment process
For wholesale, confirm order cut-offs, minimum quantities, delivery charges and damaged-goods reporting. For dropshipping, also confirm how an order is submitted, when it is accepted, when tracking is issued and what appears inside the parcel.
Place a small or test order where possible. The actual parcel, communication and response to a question reveal more than a sales page alone.
Look for clarity, not unrealistic promises
Be cautious of guaranteed earnings, permanent availability, unsupported medical outcomes or vague statements that every compliance responsibility is handled for the retailer. A credible provider explains what it supplies, what it cannot guarantee and what the retailer must still do.
Keep more than one contingency in mind for important products. Even a good supplier can face stock changes, carrier delays or revised specifications, so customer-facing promises should remain realistic.
Common questions
What documents should I request?
Request the current label or product specification and the information needed for your selling channel. The exact documents depend on the product, supplier role and your responsibilities.
Should a supplier guarantee delivery times?
A supplier can describe normal services or contracted commitments, but retailers should allow for carrier disruption and avoid stronger promises than the agreed service supports.
Can the supplier approve all my marketing?
Do not assume so. The retailer remains responsible for its website, advertisements and customer communications and should obtain specialist advice where needed.
This guide is general information and is not legal, regulatory, medical, tax or financial advice. Requirements and supplier terms can change. Check the current rules and obtain qualified advice for your circumstances before selling or marketing products.