How to find the best electrical wholesalers for your trade business

As an electrician, electrical suppliers are integral to your business. The right one can help you source difficult-to-find items, offer important support and advice, and ensure you have the right product at the right time.

But how do you find electrical wholesalers that are right for you and your business?

We’ve teamed up with our partner, Selco, to break down what you should look for in a good electrical wholesaler – and how to find the right one for you.

Checkatrade members are enjoying exclusive rates on tools, parts and materials

Cheap electrical supplies

First things first, you’ll want to look for an electrical wholesaler that’s competitive on price. Nobody likes paying more than they need to. Choosing a discount electrical wholesaler can also maximise your income on jobs.

It can be tempting to look for the cheapest electrical wholesalers, but the chances are you already have brands of electrical supplies that you know and trust. So, rather than finding the cheapest electrical wholesaler out there, you’ll want to look for electrical suppliers that can provide good-quality products at competitive prices.

Many electrical wholesalers also offer decent discounts for those who order bulk electrical supplies or for loyal customers. For this reason, choosing an electrical supplier that you trust enough to return to again and again can be a great way to get cheap electrical supplies in the long run.

Product availability

Good product availability will minimise your downtime on jobs, allowing you to provide homeowners with a great customer experience. After all, there’s nothing worse than a job being delayed because you’re waiting for one small part!

While electrical wholesalers can be great at ordering in difficult-to-find items, they won’t usually have everything in stock, which can mean a wait.

Large or online electrical wholesalers are likely to have more stock, and a greater range of products available at short-notice. This could mean a faster turnaround, especially for more unusual items. This brings us onto…

Online electrical wholesalers

Electrical wholesalers online tend to have a large range of products available, which can mean more choice and a faster turnaround.

Typically, online electrical wholesalers offer a range of convenient delivery options, including the option to place orders to be delivered to site, or to be collected from a local branch. This means electricians may not have to visit their wholesalers at all, which could be just what you want if you have a busy day ahead.

The option to deliver to site can also be a godsend if you’re ordering bulky items that would be difficult to transport, or if you’re already on-site and forgot to pick up a smaller item from your wholesaler earlier in the day.

Local electrical wholesalers

If you want your electrical wholesaler to get to know you and your needs on a personal basis, you might favour a local electrical wholesaler. They’ll often have just a small team that will quickly get to know you and will be able to offer you support and advice based on the job you have on.

The only difficulty you may come across is that many smaller local electrical wholesalers won’t have as much stock in-store as larger or online wholesalers. So, depending on what item you’re after, that could mean a bit of a wait.

The great news is that more and more local electrical wholesalers are also adding ordering facilities online, giving electricians the best of both worlds.

Brands of electrical goods wholesalers stock

Once you’ve enjoyed using a particular product, the chances are you’ll go back and use it again and again. That’s partly because you now trust the brand, but also because you now know how to install the product – which will save you time and money on the job!

For this reason, it’s important to choose an electrical wholesaler that stocks the brands and products you trust.

This might mean you need to use a few electrical wholesalers. After all, the chances are that one wholesaler won’t stock all the products you enjoy using. However, larger wholesalers will often stock a range of similar brands, which could make your life easier.

Finding the best electrical wholesalers for my business

So, how do you know which electrical wholesaler is right for your business?

Well, every electrician is different. However, you’ll likely want to look for a combination of:

• Competitive pricing
• Good product availability
• Fast turnarounds
• Convenient delivery or pickup options
• Personal service
• Brands stocked

Ultimately, the best electrical wholesaler for your business will be the one that offers the best balance of these factors for your preferences. But remember: you don’t necessarily need to choose just one!

Many electricians have accounts with multiple electrical wholesalers and flit between them depending on what they need in the moment. For instance, you might have a small local electrical wholesaler that you like to go to for advice and support, and then a larger online electrical wholesaler that you favour when it comes to ordering more unusual items in a timely manner.

Looking for a wholesaler that stocks hundreds of trade brands you know and trust, at great prices? Checkatrade members get exclusive discounts with our partner, Selco, so you can get your hands on the same quality products for a fraction of the cost!

FAQs

What do electrical suppliers do?

Electrical suppliers sell electrical items to electricians. They’ll usually be able to order in specialist items as well as give electricians advice and support.

Who is the biggest electrical wholesaler?

Medlock Electrical Distributors is reportedly the largest electrical wholesaler in the UK.

Who are the best electrical wholesalers?

The best electrical wholesalers will generally offer competitive prices, good product availability, fast turnarounds, convenient delivery options and a good range of products by trusted brands. Many electricians also favour electrical wholesalers that are able to offer a personal service.