As a UK business owner, a reliable and affordable wholesale supplier helps a lot in keeping your operations running smoothly.
For example, if you want to lower costs on existing products or even expand into new markets, finding the right wholesale supplier is essential!
Here at Do Dropshipping, we understand that searching for suitable suppliers can be tricky - so we’ve done it for you!
In this article, we have scoured retailers around the country and put together a list of the 14 best wholesale suppliers and directories in the UK.
Read on and get ready to stock up!
The Best Wholesale Suppliers in the UK: An Overview
Before we discuss each in detail, here is an overview of all UK wholesale suppliers covered in this list:
| Supplier | Category | MOQ | Pricing | Read Review |
| eSources | Supplier directory | N/A | £0 / £12.50 per month | eSources Review |
| SaleHoo | Supplier directory | N/A | $67 per year / $127 lifetime | SaleHoo Review |
| Wholesale Deals | Supplier directory | N/A | £20 per month | Wholesale Deals Review |
| The Wholesaler | Supplier directory | N/A | Free | The Wholesaler Review |
| Pound Wholesale | UK wholesale supplier | No minimum | Free | Pound Wholesale Review |
| DK Wholesale | UK wholesale supplier | No minimum | Free | DK Wholesale Review |
| Clearance King | UK wholesale supplier | £200 ex-VAT | Free | Clearance King Review |
| Shonn Brothers | UK wholesale supplier | £200 ex-VAT | Free | Shonn Brothers Review |
| Ottoman Textiles | UK wholesale supplier | No minimum | Free | Ottoman Textiles Review |
| Harrisons Direct | UK wholesale supplier | No minimum | Free | Harrisons Direct Review |
| Homeware Essentials | UK wholesale supplier | No minimum | Free | Homeware Essentials Review |
| Sun Exotic Wholesale | UK wholesale supplier | No minimum | Free | Sun Exotic Wholesale Review |
| CK Wholesale | UK wholesale supplier | No minimum | Free | CK Wholesale Review |
| Wholesale Clearance | UK wholesale supplier | No minimum | Free | Wholesale Clearance Review |
How do you pick the right wholesale supplier?
When looking for a wholesale supplier for your business, there are several important things to consider.
The first, and possibly most important, is location. But considering you're reading this article about UK wholesale suppliers, you've realized that already!
So, what else is important? Here are six criteria you can use to assess a wholesale supplier and pick the right one for your business:
Minimum order quantity (MOQ)
Minimum order quantity (MOQ) is the minimum amount a supplier requires you to spend to place an order.
This can vary significantly from supplier to supplier, so it's crucial to find one that aligns with your business's needs and budget.
If you're just starting out with a limited budget, look for suppliers with a lower MOQ!
Customer service
Customer service is also a factor to consider.
You want to work with a supplier that is responsive, helpful, and willing to answer any questions you may have.
A good way to gauge a supplier's customer service is by reading online reviews or reaching out to them directly to ask about their policies and procedures:
Delivery options
Look for a wholesale supplier that can provide fast and reliable delivery, as well as a tracking system so you can monitor your package.
Additionally, you should check if they offer free shipping, as this can save you a lot of money in the long run.
Price
The price of products is another crucial factor to consider when choosing a wholesale supplier.
Compare prices from different suppliers to find the best deal, but try not to sacrifice quality for it.
It's important to find a balance here; ultimately, it's about getting the best value for your money!
Product catalog
Before choosing a wholesale supplier, ensure they offer products that align with your business's niche.
Some suppliers offer a diverse selection of products, making it easy to find what you're looking for, but others specialize in a particular product category.
Return policy
Lastly, it's important to consider the supplier's return policy.
In the best case, your supplier will have a flexible return policy, so you can easily return products if necessary.
The 4 top wholesale supplier directories in the UK
Before we dive into any particular UK wholesale suppliers, we will discuss some of the best wholesale supplier directories in the UK.
These websites offer databases of hundreds of UK wholesale suppliers, so you will always be able to find one that fits you!
1. eSources Review
eSources is also one of the most experienced wholesale supplier directory services.
It has been growing its business since 2005, and more than half of the directory consists of UK wholesale suppliers!
So, they don’t lack in terms of both quantity of suppliers and experience in the field.
eSources also prevents adding 'middleman' suppliers by thoroughly checking them before adding them to the supplier directory.
Features
- Lots of UK wholesale suppliers. eSources has a directory of almost 400k UK wholesalers!
- Market research wizard. eSources has a market research wizard that can help you research the selling potential of any product.
- Auction houses. If you're interested in auction clearances, eSources has a dedicated page where you can find hundreds of them!
Pricing
eSources has a free plan, but you will only see a restricted part of their whole database and, therefore, won’t be able to contact every supplier.
For prices starting from £12.50, you will be able to get their 'Premium Buyer' plan, which enables access to the whole supplier database and more:
2. SaleHoo Review
The next wholesale supplier directory on this list is SaleHoo.
While SaleHoo is a company originating from New Zealand, they still offer many wholesale suppliers from the UK in their directory:
Features
- Vetted suppliers. You don’t have to worry about getting scammed when partnering with a supplier from SaleHoo’s directory. SaleHoo thoroughly checks each supplier before adding them to its supplier directory.
- 100% satisfaction guarantee. If you don’t like SaleHoo after trying them out, you can just send them an email to get your money back.
- Great customer service. People reviewing SaleHoo on Trustpilot mostly talk about their responsive customer service team.
Pricing
In order to gain access to SaleHoo’s supplier directory, you will need their 'SaleHoo Directory' plan, which costs $67 per year or $127 for a lifetime plan.
The great thing about SaleHoo’s pricing is that they offer a $1 trial (7 days), which is an excellent option for people who just want to try SaleHoo out for a few days and see if it’s the right fit for them!
3. Wholesale Deals Review
Wholesale Deals is another wholesale directory with tons of experience in the industry.
This business is even older than eSources and started its activities in 2004!
In their database, Wholesale Deals offers more than 400k wholesale and dropship suppliers. Crazy, right?
As you may have guessed, Wholesale Deals can provide you with products from pretty much any niche with this many suppliers.
Features
- Massive amount of UK dropshipping suppliers. If you couldn’t find the product you were looking for from the other suppliers in this list, take a look at Wholesale Deals’ directory!
- One of the most experienced supplier directories. Wholesale Deals started their business in 2004.
- Money-back guarantee. If you get into any trouble with a supplier, Wholesale Deals can always step in and refund your money.
Pricing
On Wholesale Deals’ pricing page, you will find that you must sign up for a paid pricing plan to get access to a supplier’s contact details.
Luckily, the supplier's database isn’t outrageously expensive and will cost you £20 per month:
4. The Wholesaler Review
Once again, we continue the list with a supplier directory that has multiple years of experience.
The Wholesaler was established in 1999, back when the internet was still in its infancy period.
Since then, many things have changed, and The Wholesaler has collected an extensive database of wholesale and dropship suppliers.
Unlike other supplier directories, The Wholesaler’s goal isn’t to build the largest supplier directory but to build the most trustworthy supplier directory.
That’s why each supplier in their directory is personally vetted.
Here’s how a supplier’s page looks on The Wholesaler:
Features
- Personally vetted suppliers. Each supplier goes through a strict process before getting added to the database. The Wholesaler refuses over half of its listing applications for various reasons.
- Great supplier pages. You will be able to get a clear overview of things like the supplier’s target market, delivery countries, minimum order value, and whether or not they accept dropshipping.
Pricing
The Wholesaler is a free suppliers directory. No monthly fees!
The 10 best wholesale suppliers in the United Kingdom
Now, let's dive into our list of the best UK wholesale suppliers!
1. Pound Wholesale Review
| Product categories | - Pet suppliers - Toys - Homeware - And many more! |
| Brands | - Marvel - Goodyear - Panasonic - Duracell |
| MOQ | No minimum order |
| Free delivery | Over £799 ex-VAT |
| Processing time | 24 to 72 hours |
| Return policy | Within seven working days of delivery |
Let's start with one of the best wholesale suppliers in the UK, Pound Wholesale!
After being established in January 2010, Pound Wholesale became a leading UK wholesale supplier.
You can see that just from the size of their warehouse, which went from 7,000 to 35,000 square feet.
Pound Wholesale aims to cater to every industry. So, no matter if you're operating in the pet niche or the fitness niche, they will have a line of products that fit you!
Features
- No minimum order. You can order what you like, when you like!
- Not limited to the UK. While Pound Wholesale is based in the UK, they also ship to Europe and even overseas.
- Large catalog. Pound Wholesale offers over 3,000 product lines in many different categories.
Pricing
You can register for Pound Wholesale for free!
2. DK Wholesale Review
| Product categories | - Watches/clocks - Home - Toys |
| Brands | - Casio - Wahl - Seiko |
| MOQ | No minimum order |
| Free delivery | Over £900 ex-VAT |
| Processing time | One to two working days |
| Return policy | Within 35 days |
DK Wholesale is a leading wholesale supplier in the UK that excels at securing clearing lines of surplus or end-of-line stock.
The company was founded in 1983 by an ex-market trader and has since expanded to twelve business units.
An area that DK Wholesale specializes in is designer watches. It's a licensed brand distributor for many brands like Seiko, Accurist, Casio, and more.
Features
- Has specializations. DK Wholesale is mainly specialized in watches and domestic electrical appliances.
- Regular clearances. DK Wholesale adds extra discounts on top of their already-discounted items during their clearance sales!
Pricing
You can sign up for DK Wholesale for free; you just need a registered company.
3. Clearance King Review
| Product categories | - Smoking - Household - Electrical |
| Brands | - Dettol - Mr. Muscle - Geekvape |
| MOQ | £200 ex-VAT |
| Free delivery | Over £500 ex-VAT |
| Processing time | N/A |
| Return policy | Returns are possible, but lots of exceptions (Find their return policy here) |
Clearance King is a family-run wholesale supplier in the UK.
They sell a variety of products at some of the lowest prices you will come across, partly thanks to over 60 years of experience in the industry.
On their website, Clearance King even guarantees to have the lowest prices out of any wholesale supplier!
At the time of writing, Clearance King is working on a new management team, implementing new systems, and even adding thousands of new products.
Features
- Discount for larger orders. If you're registered with Clearance King, you are eligible for a 5% discount on orders over £750 + VAT.
- Extended catalog. You will have over 5,000 products to choose from with Clearance King!
Pricing
You can register an account with Clearance King for free. You don't need a registered company to place your orders as long as you comply with their minimum order quantity.
4. Shonn Brothers Review
| Product categories | - Toys - Household - Personal care |
| Brands | - Pets at Play - 151 Products - Duzzit |
| MOQ | £200 ex-VAT |
| Free delivery | Over £1,000 ex-VAT |
| Processing time | 24 to 48 hours |
| Return policy | Within 14 days of delivery |
Shonn Brothers is a wholesale supplier located in Manchester, UK.
They've been in business for over 50 years and specialize in supplying pound stores, retail outlets, schools, and charities.
If you live in the area of Manchester, UK, Shonn Brothers even has a showroom you can visit!
Features
- Experienced. The team at Shonn Brothers has over 50 years of experience!
- Low minimum order. You can already place an order at Shonn Brothers from £200 ex-VAT.
Pricing
You can create an account with Shonn Brothers for free here.
5. Ottoman Textiles Review
| Product categories | - Bedding - Kitchen linen - Pet supplies |
| Brands | - Easycomfort - Comfortableoptions |
| MOQ | Eight items |
| Free delivery | N/A |
| Processing time | One to two working days |
| Return policy | N/A |
Ottoman Textiles is a UK wholesale supplier offering bedding, kitchen linen, and pet supplies.
It specializes in pillows, offering them in almost any kind and shape!
Features
- Specialized in pillows. Ottoman Textiles has anything from anti-allergy and v-shaped pillows to microfibre and eco pillows, bounce-back pillows, box pillows, extra-fill pillows, and hotel pillows supplied as a pair – even duck feather pillows.
- Accepts international orders. Ottoman Textiles accepts international orders, but you'll have to contact them directly for a quote.
Pricing
You can create a wholesale account with Ottoman Textiles for free here.
6. Harrisons Direct Review
| Product categories | - Health - Sweets - Household |
| Brands | - Haribo - Pampers - Skullcandy |
| MOQ | No minimum order |
| Free delivery | Over £200 ex-VAT |
| Processing time | <24 hours |
| Return policy | Within seven working days of delivery |
Harrisons Direct might be the longest-running supplier on this list. The organization was established more than a hundred years ago, in 1919!
Currently, Harrisons Direct is located in Padiham in a purpose-built, fully-digitalized 28,000-square-foot warehouse.
And with a portfolio of well-known brands like Haribo, Hot Wheels, Nivea, and more, this is definitely a supplier to check out!
Features
- Low requirement for free delivery. With Harrisons Direct, you get free delivery for orders over £200 ex-VAT.
- 100+ years in business. Harrisons Direct has been family-owned since 1919.
Pricing
You can create an account with Harrisons Direct for free here.
7. Homeware Essentials Review
| Product categories | - Household - Health - Stationary |
| Brands | - Snappies - Hollings - Triplewax |
| MOQ | No minimum order |
| Free delivery | Over £150 ex-VAT |
| Processing time | 24 to 48 hours |
| Return policy | Within seven days of delivery |
Homeware Essentials is one of the biggest wholesalers in the UK that supplies convenience stores.
They specialize in non-food, meaning all non-edible products, like cleaning products, pet products, or batteries.
And Homeware Essentials has a lot of them, over 2,000 product lines across all key convenience categories!
Features
- Nationwide distribution. Homeware Essentials delivers in both the UK and Ireland.
- Fast delivery time. You can have your ordered products at your warehouse or store within two to three days.
Pricing
If you have a registered company, you can register an account with Homeware Essentials here.
8. Sun Exotic Wholesale Review
| Product categories | - Soft drinks - Water - Tea/coffee |
| Brands | - Coca-Cola - KitKat - Pepsi |
| MOQ | No minimum order |
| Free delivery | Minimum 100 items |
| Processing time | <24 hours |
| Return policy | N/A |
If you're looking for a wholesale supplier offering any common drinks or snacks, check out Sun Exotic Wholesale!
They have pretty much everything you would normally find in a small convenience store.
Think about jelly beans, sparkling water, olive oil, and much more!
Features
- Fast shipping. If you're eligible, Sun Exotic Wholesale can ship the items to you within one to two business days.
- Great reviews. Sun Exotic Wholesale has a 4.8/5 rating out of 370 reviews on Trustpilot.
Pricing
You can create a free account with Sun Exotic Wholesale here.
9. CK Wholesale Review
| Product categories | - Home - Electricals - Clothing |
| Brands | - Duracell - Roundup - Andrex |
| MOQ | No minimum order |
| Free delivery | Over £1,000 ex-VAT |
| Processing time | N/A |
| Return policy | N/A |
CK Wholesale is a UK wholesale supplier dedicated to not only providing the lowest prices but also the best quality items.
Check them out if you're in need of some general goods!
Features
- General products. CK Wholesale mostly supplies general products. Think about thrash bags, batteries, or light bulbs.
- Blog. CK Wholesale's blog includes some nice articles about the wholesale industry.
Pricing
You can create an account with CK Wholesale for free here.
10. Wholesale Clearance Review
| Product categories | - Clothing - Toys - Beauty |
| Brands | Various |
| MOQ | No minimum order |
| Free delivery | N/A |
| Processing time | N/A |
| Return policy | Within seven days of delivery |
Wholesale Clearance is a UK wholesale supplier of bankrupt and clearance stocks.
This means that they provide really high discounts, up to 98% of RRP!
Due to these hefty discounts, Wholesale Clearance is a favorite among eBay and Amazon sellers.
Features
- Auctions. Sometimes, Wholesale Clearance uses an auction system where the lot is sold to the highest bidder!
- Great reviews. Wholesale Clearance receives a 4.8/5 rating from 239 reviews on Trustpilot.
Pricing
You can register as a Wholesale Clearance member for free here.
Summary
Before we go to the final verdict, we've created a quick summary of this article for you, so you can easily remember it:
- When selecting a wholesale supplier for your business, consider the location, minimum order quantity (MOQ), customer service, delivery options, price, product catalog, and return policy.
- If you're looking for a specific product or operate in a smaller niche, try to find your UK wholesale supplier in a directory like eSources, SaleHoo, Wholesale Deals, or The Wholesaler.
- Some of the best UK wholesale suppliers are Pound Wholesale, DK Wholesale, and Clearance King.
Final verdict
Finding the right wholesale supplier can be challenging, but with these thirteen amazing options, you're sure to find one that perfectly fits your needs.
Whether through one of the four useful directories or one of the ten independent one-stop suppliers, you'll have access to a vast range of incredible products - all at great prices.
So, there's one question that remains.
What is the best UK wholesale supplier in 2024?
In our opinion, the best UK wholesale suppliers and directories to use in 2024 are eSources, SaleHoo, and Pound Wholesale.
Check them out! And if you don't like them, here's the overview again from the start of the article:
| Supplier | Category | MOQ | Pricing | Read Review |
| eSources | Supplier directory | N/A | £0 / £12.50 per month | eSources Review |
| SaleHoo | Supplier directory | N/A | $67 per year / $127 lifetime | SaleHoo Review |
| Wholesale Deals | Supplier directory | N/A | £20 per month | Wholesale Deals Review |
| The Wholesaler | Supplier directory | N/A | Free | The Wholesaler Review |
| Pound Wholesale | UK wholesale supplier | No minimum | Free | Pound Wholesale Review |
| DK Wholesale | UK wholesale supplier | No minimum | Free | DK Wholesale Review |
| Clearance King | UK wholesale supplier | £200 ex-VAT | Free | Clearance King Review |
| Shonn Brothers | UK wholesale supplier | £200 ex-VAT | Free | Shonn Brothers Review |
| Harrisons Direct | UK wholesale supplier | No minimum | Free | Harrisons Direct Review |
| Homeware Essentials | UK wholesale supplier | No minimum | Free | Homeware Essentials Review |
| Sun Exotic Wholesale | UK wholesale supplier | No minimum | Free | Sun Exotic Wholesale Review |
| CK Wholesale | UK wholesale supplier | No minimum | Free | CK Wholesale Review |
| Wholesale Clearance | UK wholesale supplier | No minimum | Free | Wholesale Clearance Review |
Good luck finding your ideal wholesale supplier, and have a great rest of your day!
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