Choosing the right sales tool for your wholesale business.
Selling your products wholesale requires a different set of sales tools than retail. Wholesale buyers need more technical details of your products and prefer a streamlined ordering process instead of buying through a brand’s website.
The two industry-standard wholesale tools are price sheets and line sheets.
While they have the same goal, they are fundamentally different. This article will help you pick the best one and show you the easiest way to create them.
Price sheet vs. line sheet: What’s the difference?
Price sheets provide a straightforward listing of a business’s products and prices without photos. Sellers often tailor them to individual buyers.
Traditionally, price sheets have a simple text layout and include the following:
- product name/SKU (Stock Keeping Unit)
- basic product description
- wholesale price
- terms of sale
- contact information
Price sheets are just that – price sheets. They don’t have nearly the comprehensive view as line sheets.
Line sheets, also called lookbooks, display your products, product details, and brand story. They are more visual than price sheets.
Line sheets include all of the basic product information, such as:
- contact information
- general ordering information and sales terms
- product images
- product names
- product descriptions
- size run and available options (colors, variations)
- prices
- minimum orders or prepack quantities
A well-made line sheet should give buyers a complete snapshot of what your brand is about and includes lifestyle images, logos, and descriptions of what makes your brand unique (“About Us” or “Mission”).
A wholesaler can include additional details that might interest a buyer. For example:
- limited edition designs
- bestsellers
- recycled materials collection
- ethical manufacturing processes
Whatever details you think would help sell your products belong in your line sheet.
So which one should I choose?
There isn’t a one-size-fits-all answer. Your choice will largely depend on the kind of product you are selling.
Price sheets are a good choice for businesses when product images are unnecessary or when buyers are already familiar with the products. They also work well for sellers who offer different prices to different customers.
Line sheets are optimal for sellers trying to reach new potential buyers, get products into boutiques or department stores, or promote the next season’s trends. We strongly recommend line sheets to wholesalers in apparel, home goods, accessories, and beauty, especially during trade show season.
Also, consider seasonality. Line sheets make more sense if your product line changes seasonally or frequently.
Once you pick the one for your business, it’s time to get to work!
How do I create a wholesale price sheet?
If you search “price sheet example,” you’ll find plenty of visual templates. You can easily recreate your favorite on Word, Google Docs, Google Sheets, or Canva.
Here’s an outline to get you started.
Tips to make price sheets easy to read:
- Alternate the background color in your rows.
- In Google Sheets or Excel, create borders around the cells you want to remain visible. Then, hide the rest of the gridlines by clicking View -> Show -> uncheck “Gridlines.”
How do I create a line sheet?
Line sheets are excellent sales tools, but creating them can be time-consuming. Fortunately, online resources help streamline the process.
Brandboom’s platform lets you manage your product catalog online and create beautiful line sheets in just a few clicks. You can print the line sheets, download them as PDFs, and email them using interactive share links. You can even make real-time updates and collect orders through them, giving you the versatility to reach your buyer with your current product line, however you want.
For more information on creating your line sheet, check out our step-by-step guide.
Ready to get started?
Learn more about Brandboom’s line sheet maker and get your free account today!
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