How to Create a Wholesale Catalog

Wholesale is an intricate part of business to get involved in, and if you want to take your business to the next level with B2B sales (business-to-business) then figuring out how to create a wholesale catalog is one of your first steps!

The purpose of a wholesale catalog is to present your product information in an appealing and easy to understand manner. Many businesses manage their wholesale without this asset, but we find that something as simple as having a catalog can easily set you apart from the rest. It’s also used to help communicate a large amount of info in a simplistic way. As a business owner, it will save you a lot of time when it comes to communication, and the buyer always has a handy file to reference.

Where to Begin

Define the products that you want to include for wholesale. Assuming you’ve already determined the name and SKU of your products, you’ll want to have a thought out description of each item. Include things like sizing and dimensions, material, color, texture and smell (if applicable), etc. Don’t be afraid to really play with adjectives here. You are trying to sell your product with an image and words; make it count!

After you’ve made your product descriptions, you’ll want to calculate pricing for each item. This includes wholesale price and MSRP. Luckily, if you’re an Inventora user, Inventora will have already made this calculation for you! However, if you’re not a user yet, here’s a reminder on how to determine your Wholesale pricing and MSRP.

What Programs to Design with

Similar to how to create labels for your products, you’ll want to select a program or website that’s suitable to make an appropriate design! We love using tools like Canva and Photoshop to create our wholesale catalog designs, but there are so many options.

A popular option that is primarily used for wholesale, is Brand Boom. You can sign up on their website for free, or purchase the special feature versions from $66 per month, to $125 per month. Do use caution, however, because there are hidden fees after you’ve created your design. Use platforms like YouTube to watch tutorials on whichever platform you choose to make your design with!

If you don’t feel design savvy, there are also other options. You don’t need to hire a graphic designer, but if you decide to, you can use hiring platforms like UpWork. UpWork is a freelance service for people in the creative industry. You will have a wide variety to creatives to choose from, as well as set a project budget, so you know you won’t go over your set price. A more pricey route, is 99design by Vistaprint. This option ranges from $299 to $1299, but they have a 100% money back guarantee and give you full copyright ownership.

Create the Catalog Layout

Now that you’ve selected a platform (or decided to hire a graphic designer), it’s now time to select the type of images you’re going to create with and how to lay it all out!

You’ll need at least one photo of each product, as well as photos that show variations of the same product. For example, Inventora’s sister company, TERRA, shows all their candle sizes, but will only show one scent at a time. This way customers can see the sizes they can order with each individual product. It’s also smart to have some lifestyle type photos so customers can size to scale the product.

Wholesale and MSRP pricing is something else you will want to include. You don’t necessarily always have to include this, however, it will save you a lot of time and trouble! So, try not to procrastinate this. Again, we have already determined how to figure these numbers. You can refer to those equations here.

You’ll also want to include assets of your brand. This can be as simple as your brand colors, using the same fonts that is in your branding, using the same imagery, etc. it’s all the design related parts that makes your brand feel in uniform.

It’s smart to add an intro page, as well! Give details of your brand, but do this with humble caution. You don’t want to over do it. An example of this is if you’re a black owned business, or if you’re a proud sponsor to a non-for-profit organization. The idea is to make people feel good about purchasing from you!

There’s Always a Cheatsheet

If you decide you don’t want to create a wholesale catalog from scratch, or you’re not feeling confident in your design skills, Etsy offers templates. This saves a lot of time, and is relatively affordable! Lastly, you can always hire someone! As mentioned above, don’t be afraid to search places like UpWork, or place a hiring ad on LinkedIn. No matter your budget, there is an option for you!

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If you were feeling uneasy about how to create a wholesale catalog, hopefully now you are feeling like you can start the process with clarity! Still have questions about wholesale? Let us know them below! Or, if you’re a wholesale veteran, give us your best advice in the comments!