i was wondering if some of the new vendor stores could chime in on how to become a vendor. are there some sort of legal or state or government paperwork you need to set up before you start selling stuff...or whats the process of becoming one. and how do you go about talkign to companies to try and sell their products...just wondering...

because i was thinkign about starting a vendor service/open a shop eventually when i get out of the army. almost time to do that, and i am looking at my options and i might consider it if the process is pretty straightforward.

thanks

 

Send an email to sponsorship@my350z.com

 

thanks dave

 

btw im not trying to become a vendor just yet?? im more so looking for the process to get parts at vendor prices from companies like stoptech and greddy and hks and stuff like in order to BECOME a vendor to start selling stuff on here??

 

to become a vendor you have to 1st have a TAX ID NUMBER. .then you call the vendor's that you want to buy stock from and they will send you a form to fill out with all your shop information and tax id number. .then it's up to you to buy and get discounts and what not depending on how much you buy..i believe everyone gets started at 15% off wholesale and goes up as you buy more. .

I COULD BE WRONG. .BUT THATS HOW I DO IT!!!!!!

 

thanks a lot man...sounds pretty easy!! thanks a lot

 

Well to be honest bro, you need a store front. Most manufactures won't let you distribute unless you have a store location. You can always go through the "grey market", but you and your customers will end up with more headaches then it's worth.

First you need to get a business license. Then you need to decide what you want to cater too (turbo kits, exterior only, installs). Being in the business for many years I can tell you, your throwing yourself into a lions den. I can think of atleast a few major shops that have closed in the last year because of lack of sales. The market isn't THAT big, and many customers already have loyal shops they go to. Unless you have a large sum of money to buy into a manufacture, it doesn't look good.

Good luck !

Jim

 

I've talked about this with a a friend of mine and former owner of a local shop. To get big names(JIC, HKS, APEXI,TEIN) etc. etc. your looking at 10k easy of buying stock just to get the minnum of 10-15% off wholesale right around 50K yearly is where you get the most break in price(per manufacture) so you have to move alot of stock. Many local shops can not even come close to moving that much stock. Thats why many go through disturbuters(sp) to get lets say 5-10% off wholesale while the disturbuter gets the rest of the manufacture rebate. Thats the most cost effective starting out that way you do need 50K to start five accounts with five different manufactures. Also with my friends shop sales was only 25% of the business. installs is where the moneys at. but then you have to account for the DIYers that will only by the product or you got the people that ask you a million different questions but how to install the parts they buy and not even spend a dime in your shop b/c they can save $20 in tax buying the part online. Its a hard business not for the faint of heart! GL!!!