Starting an online business can be an exciting venture, but it also comes with its fair share of challenges. One of the most significant hurdles is finding reliable suppliers who can provide high-quality products at competitive prices. This is where SaleHoo comes in.
SaleHoo is a wholesale directory that has been helping online sellers find profitable products and trusted suppliers since 2005. With over 8,000 wholesalers and dropshippers in its database, SaleHoo has become a go-to resource for many eCommerce entrepreneurs.
In this comprehensive review, we'll take a closer look at SaleHoo, its features, pricing, pros and cons, and whether it's the right fit for your online business needs.
What is SaleHoo?
SaleHoo is an online directory of wholesale suppliers and dropshippers. It was founded in 2005 in Christchurch, New Zealand with the goal of helping online sellers find legitimate, low-cost suppliers for their businesses.
Since then, SaleHoo has grown to include over 8,000 suppliers and more than 1.6 million products across various categories such as clothing, electronics, toys, home goods, and more. The company has served thousands of customers globally.
How Does SaleHoo Work?
Using SaleHoo is fairly straightforward. Once you sign up for a membership, you gain access to the supplier directory. You can then search for products you're interested in selling and view information about the suppliers who carry those items.
How Does SaleHoo Work?
Using SaleHoo is fairly straightforward. Once you sign up for a membership, you gain access to the supplier directory. You can then search for products you're interested in selling and view information about the suppliers who carry those items.
For each supplier, SaleHoo provides key details such as:
- Contact information
- Product range
- Minimum order quantities
- Shipping policies and costs
- Customer reviews from other SaleHoo users
This allows you to quickly compare options and identify the most suitable suppliers for your needs. When you've found a good match, you reach out to the supplier directly to begin a business relationship and place orders.
One of the major benefits of using SaleHoo is that all of the suppliers in the directory have been carefully screened by the SaleHoo team. They check things like the supplier's business registration, track record, and product quality to help prevent scams and ensure you're only dealing with legitimate companies. This vetting process can save you a lot of time and hassle compared to trying to find and verify suppliers on your own.
In addition to the supplier directory, SaleHoo also offers powerful market research tools. You can use these to get insights into what products are trending, how much competition there is in different niches, and what prices items are selling for on platforms like Amazon and eBay. These data points can help you make smarter decisions about what to sell.
SaleHoo also provides extensive educational resources to help you get your online business up and running. These include detailed guides, video tutorials, and a community forum where you can connect with other sellers, ask questions, and share tips.
SaleHoo Pricing Review
To access SaleHoo's supplier directory and other premium features, you'll need to purchase a membership. There are two options:
- A yearly subscription for $67
- A one-time payment of $127 for lifetime access
Compared to some other wholesale directories on the market, SaleHoo's pricing is quite competitive. For example, Worldwide Brands charges $299 for lifetime access to its directory of 16 million products.
Another thing to note is that SaleHoo offers a generous 60-day money-back guarantee. So if you sign up and decide the platform isn't right for you, you can get a full refund within the first two months.
When evaluating the cost of SaleHoo, it's also important to consider the potential time and money you could save by having access to pre-vetted suppliers and not spinning your wheels on fruitless product searches. For many sellers, the membership fee is a worthwhile investment.
Pros of SaleHoo
There are several key advantages to using SaleHoo for your online selling needs:
- Extensive directory of 8,000+ pre-screened suppliers
- Access to 1.6 million+ products at wholesale prices
- Useful market research and analytics tools
- In-depth educational resources for beginners
- Responsive customer support
- 60-day money-back guarantee
- Some suppliers have low or no minimum order quantities
- Reputable company in business since 2005
One standout feature of SaleHoo is the market research lab. This tool provides data on product sell-through rates, average prices, competition levels, and seasonality. You can use this information to spot emerging trends, evaluate niches, and find high-potential products to sell. The insights can also help you better time your inventory purchases throughout the year.
SaleHoo is also known for having an active and supportive user community. The member forum is a great place to learn from more experienced sellers, ask for advice, and stay on top of industry developments. SaleHoo's customer support is responsive as well, with options to reach out via live chat, email, and phone.
For newer sellers, the low minimum order quantities offered by some SaleHoo suppliers can be a major plus. This makes it easier to test out products without investing a lot of money upfront or ending up with dead stock.
Cons of SaleHoo
While SaleHoo has a lot to offer, there are a few potential drawbacks to consider:
- The 1.6 million product selection is smaller than some competitors
- Suppliers are mostly based in China, the US, the UK, Australia and New Zealand
- Most suppliers do not offer private labeling or custom packaging
- Selling other companies' products makes it harder to build your own unique brand
Depending on your goals, SaleHoo's product selection may or may not be an issue. While 1.6 million is a lot, some other wholesale directories like Worldwide Brands have more than 16 million products. However, SaleHoo would argue that they focus on curating high-quality, in-demand products rather than just having the biggest catalog.
The location of suppliers could also be limiting for some sellers. If you're looking for suppliers in certain regions of Europe, South America, or Africa, for example, you may not find a lot of options in SaleHoo.
Another thing to keep in mind is that most of SaleHoo's suppliers do not offer private label or white label services. This means you'll be selling their products under the existing brand, which can make it more challenging to differentiate your business and build your own brand identity. You'll also need to take into account the costs of buying brand-name goods, as your profit margins may be slimmer than if you were selling generic or custom-made products.
Who is SaleHoo Best For?
SaleHoo is an excellent option for several types of online sellers, including:
- Beginners who are new to eCommerce and need guidance finding suppliers and products
- Sellers looking to start with a low-cost, low-risk dropshipping model
- Established retailers in need of additional, reliable wholesale sources for inventory
- Anyone who wants to sell brand-name products at competitive prices
- Sellers interested in exploring new niches and spotting up-and-coming trends
If you're just getting started with online selling, SaleHoo's extensive educational resources and beginner-friendly supplier options can help you hit the ground running. The market research tools are also very useful for validating your niche and getting a pulse on buyer behavior.
Dropshipping, where the supplier ships products directly to your end customer, is popular among risk-averse sellers because it doesn't require you to invest in inventory upfront. Many of SaleHoo's suppliers are well-suited for this business model.
Even if you already have experience selling online, SaleHoo can be a valuable addition to your existing repertoire of suppliers. The directory may open up new opportunities in terms of products, brands, and price points you can offer your customers.
Who Might Want to Skip SaleHoo?
SaleHoo may not be the ideal fit for every online seller. You might want to look elsewhere if:
- You want to manufacture your own custom products
- Your goal is to build a strong, recognizable brand
- You need an extremely large selection of products (10+ million)
- You're seeking suppliers in regions not well-represented in the directory
- You're an established seller doing high-volume orders
While you can certainly find products to resell through SaleHoo, the platform isn't really geared toward sellers who want to create their own proprietary items from scratch. For that, you'd likely need to work directly with a manufacturer.
As mentioned above, because SaleHoo focuses on wholesalers of existing brands, it can be harder to build a memorable brand identity for your own business. You may end up blending in with other retailers selling the same things.
Sellers with very specific, high-volume needs might also find SaleHoo's supplier network too limiting. If you need ultra-specialized items or massive quantities, you may have to forge relationships with manufacturers on your own.
Final Thoughts
Overall, SaleHoo is a solid directory for online sellers seeking new wholesale and dropshipping suppliers. It offers good value for the money, with a robust set of features and responsive customer service. While not comprehensive, the 8,000+ pre-screened suppliers and 1.6 million products should meet the needs of most sellers.
The market research tools and educational resources are excellent for helping sellers find a profitable niche, spot popular products, and learn the ropes of eCommerce. The 60-day satisfaction guarantee also makes it a fairly low-risk investment.
Although SaleHoo isn't perfect for every selling scenario, it's a reputable and proven platform, especially for merchants who are just starting to scale their businesses. If you're looking for a leg up on sourcing products from vetted wholesale and dropshipping suppliers, SaleHoo is definitely worth checking out.
