Home-based sheepskin and wool wholesaler

Independent gift and home stores, boutiques, interior designers and stagers, and small online retailers that don't want to deal with makers or importers directly.

You buy at wholesale or factory prices and sell at a trade price with a markup. Minimum order sizes and repeat orders from regular buyers keep the numbers working.

• Sourcing and negotiating with suppliers
• Selling to shops and designers
• Keeping track of stock and orders
• An eye for quality in natural materials

• Textile and wool labeling rules: check what FTC labeling requirements apply to the products you sell
• If you import, check customs, duties and who acts as importer of record, and check any rules on animal-derived products
• Sales tax: check how your state handles resale certificates for wholesale sales
• Check for a home occupation permit and any HOA or lease limits on storing stock at home
• Cash tied up in stock, plus damp and moths: store natural fibers carefully
• General liability and product liability insurance

Startup costs are typically around $2,000 to $10,000, depending on how much stock you buy up front, whether some items ship straight from suppliers, and what storage space you need at home.

Monthly revenue is typically around $1,500 to $7,500, depending on your product range, how many shops and designers you sell to, and your order sizes. Cash is tied up in stock, so plan your buying carefully.

Check which FTC textile and wool labeling requirements apply, and customs, duties and animal-derived product rules if you import. Also check your state's resale certificate rules, plus any home occupation permit or HOA limits on storing stock.