Finding wholesalers - help from those in the know pretty please!

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Ginge Crosby

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Firstly, a big thankyou to Unicornleather for all your help contained in those pm's - much appreciated!

I need to find some wholesalers of items like:

* front straps
* leg straps
* buckles and metal fittings
* rolls of turnout rug fabric
* webbing
* fixing glue (like Stormsure or similar)
* nylon thread

I've been on the net for the last 2 days searching, and I can only seem to find places that do these items but with a minimum spend of £200... as i'm only starting out, i didnt really want to spend that much until i think the business will work. I want to buy in 'bulk' but not as bulky as they want! I've also been trawling ebay, but most items are sold singularly.

I understand that anyone already in the trade may be unwilling to help a potential business rival, but i'm hoping someone from the opposite side of the country might take pity and offer a few names of stockists/wholesalers, or suggestions of what to do next??

Feel free to PM me if you'd prefer any info to remain private!
thanks guys x
 
how about abbey or le prevo?

abbeysaddlery.co.uk
http://www.leprevo.co.uk/

between the two of them, what they don't stock isn't worth owning tbh! I am only a small business and don't always spend over £200 and have never had a prob with that with them.

Good luck with your business!
 
have had a look at both those sites, and think you're right, between them there's everything i should need. Think i'm a bit put off by abbey not making prices easily available.... i'm of the 'if you have to ask, you can't afford it' mindset at the moment! but will hopefully sort out an account with them. They seem to have everything i need under one roof, so to speak, so shopping with them would be easier than getting everything from different suppliers, but want to make sure i shop around so i don't end up pricing myself out of the market before i've even started.

thanks :)
 
I wouldn't worry about the lack of prices with abbey, just apply for an account and then when you log in all the prices appear by magic!
 
Abbey are good and almost always have stock of everything they offer (which is 100' s if not 1000's of lines. Sounds obvious, but a rare thing indeed! :D ).
 
What you have to remember with Abbey is the more you buy then the cheaper it is as it is with most wholesalers, if you want small quantities to get started ask me, I may have it in my workshop, Oz :)
 
thanks Oz, will keep you in mind!

i've applied for an account with Abbey on monday night, how long does it take for them to get back to you with account details?
 
alj7 said:
thanks Oz, will keep you in mind!

i've applied for an account with Abbey on monday night, how long does it take for them to get back to you with account details?
Click to expand...

I have just given out a reference for someone who spent some time training in my workshop with me to open an account with not only abbey but english braids as well, abbey haven't come to me for a reference yet but english braids did almost straight away. I don't think abbey are too bothered as long as you regularly buy from them and are not a "one off" .
The person I gave a ref for had to get onto abbey as they tend not to be very organised sometimes and once she "reminded" them on the phone she was waiting for an account it went straight through, so if you haven't heard by same time next week, just give them a nudge via the phone!
Good luck and if you need and advice or help and I am able to provide either, just ask, welcome to the saddlery trade!
Oz :)
 
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