Get Wholesale Ready - Helping Makers Take the Next Step

Discover what it takes to get wholesale ready, from pricing, to approaching retailers and growing your handmade business with confidence. --- You’ve built your products, you’ve found your customers, and now you might be wondering, could wholesale be the next step for your business? Moving from selling directly to customers into getting your products stocked by shops can feel like a big leap. There are lots of things to think about, from pricing and packaging to approaching retailers and knowing if your business is ready. --- Join us for a relaxed, practical session where we’ll chat through what it really takes to get wholesale ready. Alice from Melt Me Real Good will share her honest experience of growing a handmade business beyond markets and building relationships with independent retailers across Scotland and the UK. We’ll talk about what shops are looking for, the things you need in place before approaching retailers, and how to create a wholesale offering that feels professional while still feeling like you. Whether you’ve been thinking about wholesale for a while, you’ve had a shop show interest, or you’re simply curious about what’s involved, this workshop will give you a clearer idea of where to start and what steps to take next. --- What We’ll Cover • Is wholesale the right next step for your business? • What retailers look for when choosing new products to stock • Getting your products and collections wholesale ready • Understanding wholesale pricing and margins • Creating a simple wholesale catalogue or offering • Making sure your branding and packaging are working for retail • How to approach independent shops with confidence • Building positive relationships with stockists • Preparing for trade shows and wholesale opportunities --- Meet Your Guest Host Alice – Melt Me Real Good Alice is the founder of the award-winning Melt Me Real Good, which started in 2020 as a kitchen-table idea and has grown into a thriving handmade brand. Her products are now stocked by more than 20 independent retailers across Scotland and the UK, and she has experience navigating the journey from markets into wholesale. Alongside her own business, Alice creates bespoke collections for commercial clients and helps run Wylde Thistle Events, supporting other makers through artisan markets. Alice understands the realities of growing a creative business and is passionate about sharing the lessons she’s learned along the way, the things that worked, the things she wishes she’d known sooner, and the practical steps that helped her move forward. --- Why Come Along? Wholesale can feel like a big unknown, but having the right information and support can make the next step feel much more achievable. This workshop is about sharing honest advice, real experiences, and practical tips to help you understand what wholesale involves and whether it’s the right fit for your business. You’ll leave with a clearer understanding of the wholesale journey, ideas you can start putting into practice, and the confidence to explore new opportunities for your products. Expect friendly chat, practical advice, real examples, hot drinks, cookies, and a room full of makers figuring things out together.