There are two types of herb distributors: a retail herb distributor and a wholesale herb distributor. For both approaches you will need to have either work experience or basic training in business. If you do not wish to pursue a bachelor's degree in business, you have the option of taking business courses from the Small Business Administration. The SBA can help you design a business plan and even grant you a small business loan.
Instructions
Education and Research
1. Decide whether you want to be a retail herb distributor or a wholesale herb distributor. This step is important because as a retail herb distributor you will need a storefront and you will deal directly with consumers. As a wholesale distributor, you will be selling to various retail stores, shipping your herbs or making personal deliveries.
2. Visit your local Small Business Administration Office. You will find helpful information on business training courses that will help you run a successful business. Also, you may apply for a small business loan that will have very low interest rates designed to support your entrepreneurship.
3. Take courses that relate to business administration and also take courses that are specific to distribution. Learn as much as you can about running a business, having a budget and filing your taxes. The more you learn, the better service you will provide as a distributor.
4. Decide which kinds of herbs you want to distribute. You may want to focus on a certain type of herb, such as aromatic or medicinal herbs. You can also focus on herbs from a specific geographical region.
5. Research what prices existing retail and wholesale distributors offer for the herbs you are interested in distributing.
6. Contact local farmers that harvest the herbs you want to distribute. If you are thinking of being a retail distributor, get in touch with different wholesale distributors that handle your desired herbs.
Getting Started
7. Compare all of your research findings and come up with a price that would work for your business. Remember to stay within market value in order to keep your distribution business competitive.
8. Make business cards and order forms that include your contact information. Make the order forms simple to understand so that your clients can easily become familiar with your distribution business.
9. Contact any retail stores that you think will be interested in the herbs you carry if you are a wholesale distributor. Otherwise, set up a retail location where you will run your retail herb distribution business.
10. Purchase a large order of herbs to make the shipping costs and price per pound affordable for resale. Keep the herbs in a cool and dry storage area.
11. Maintain good quality herbs in your inventory in order to build customer satisfaction and trust. Keep your inventory in check so you don't run out of merchandise before your next order arrives.
Tags: herb distributor, retail herb, courses that, distribution business, retail herb distributor, Business Administration