Hey there, fashion friend! If you‘re anything like me, you‘re always on the prowl for unique, under-the-radar brands to set your store apart. Well, I think I‘ve found the motherlode: Abound Wholesale.
I first heard about Abound through my fashion industry grapevine and was intrigued by its promise to connect indie brands with passionate retailers—AKA my dreeeeeam! So I did what any curious fashionista would do and signed up to see what all the fuss was about.
After poking around the platform for a few weeks, I simply had to share the scoop. In this Abound Wholesale review, we‘ll dive into:
- What Abound is and how it works
- The types of products and brands you can find
- My experience shopping the site and interacting with the Abound team
- Key pros, cons, and considerations for retailers
- Insider tips for making the most of Abound‘s perks
Plus, as a little treat for my loyal readers, there just might be an exclusive Abound discount code waiting for you at the end of this review. What can I say, I‘m feeling generous! 😘
How Abound is Shaking Up the Wholesale World
When I first started digging into Abound, one thing immediately stood out: this isn‘t your grandma‘s wholesale platform. Nope, Abound is on a mission to bring wholesale into the 21st century and make life easier for indie brands and small retailers alike.
Rather than schlepping to trade shows or wading through clunky catalogs, Abound lets you shop hundreds of vetted brands in one easy-to-use online marketplace. Brand founders get to tell their stories and showcase their amazing products, while retailers can scoop up unique finds with just a few clicks. It‘s kinda like Etsy meets a chic showroom, and I am here👏 for 👏 it!👏
And get this: Abound offers net 60 payment terms, free shipping, and no minimum orders. Three of my biggest wholesale pet peeves = poof, gone! 🙌 It‘s almost like they read my mind (or maybe just my cranky tweets, lol).
For small biz owners like us, these perks are a pretty BFD. I mean, trade shows can cost thousands just to attend, never mind place orders. And don‘t even get me started on those ridiculous order minimums. As one scrappy boutique owner dished to me recently: "I love discovering new lines, but I can‘t exactly drop $1,500 on a brand I‘ve never tested before. Abound lets me dip a toe in with lower risk."
Preach on! 🙏 I think that‘s why Abound already has over 200,000 retailers on board, plus thousands of sellers doing over $100 million GMV in 2022 alone. Those numbers don‘t lie!
So What Kinda Merch Are We Talking Here?
Ok, storytime: you know that giddy feeling when you stumble on a brand and instantly crush hard? The colors, the vibe, the chutzpah—and omg you need it in your shop because your customers would eat. it. up!
Well, that‘s pretty much me every time I log onto Abound. (RIP to my bank account. 🪦)
This place is a treasure trove of cool brands you won‘t find anywhere else. I‘m talking up-and-coming designers, artisan makers, and innovative products with a story to tell. Things that make you go "where have you been all my life?" and your customers go "I‘ve neeeever seen this before—obsessed!"
To give you a taste, some of my fave finds (so far) include:
| Brand | Category | Standout Product | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Machete | Jewelry | Mega Disc Earrings – Cotton Candy Acrylic | $38 |
| Palette Polish | Nail Care | Nail Polish – It‘s Britney, Beach | $12 |
| Redoux Body Wash | Bath/Body | Anti-Pollution Bodywash Concentrate | $35 |
| The Jute Shop | Home Decor | Meena Handwoven Cane Rug | $128 |
| Winky Lux | Makeup | Flower Balm – Black Rose | $14 |
| Slushcult Hard Seltzer | Beverage | Slushcult Sampler Pack (Lime/Cherry) 12-pack | $59 |
See what I mean? Color me impressed. 😍
The variety is staggering too—over 400,000 skus across beauty, personal care, apothecary, apparel, accessories, home goods, stationery, food, drinks, and gifts. So whether you‘re hunting for a vegan breath mint, a small batch dog shampoo, or a snarky candle, Abound probably has it. And the selection is growing on the daily.
Of course, with so many products, curation is key. Nobody wants to wade through pages of "meh" to find the gems. So how does Abound vet what makes it onto the platform?
Based on my super-sleuthing, it sounds like brands go through a multi-point application process where Abound looks at everything from ingredient quality to founder story to packaging and more. Only about 10% make the cut at any given time.
As Abound‘s Co-founder Niklas de la Motte explained in an WWD interview, "For us, it‘s about finding unique, high-quality brands who have a strong point of view. Mass-produced, private label type products aren‘t really what we‘re going for."
Instead, Abound prioritizes brands with heart, hustle, and a special somethin-somethin. It‘s not about having a huge social media following or being in 100 stores already. In fact, over a third of brands on Abound have never done wholesale before.
"We love being the jumping-off point for retailers to incubate these emerging talents," Niklas added. "There‘s such a thrill in spotting an incredible brand before they blow up."
Ummm, hard agree! 🎯 There‘s nothing like being the first in your ‘hood to carry a covet-worthy line. And based on my Abound browsing sprees, the thrill of the find is alive and well, honeys.
My Experience Trying Abound‘s Features
I‘ll admit, I was a little nervous to test-drive a new wholesale platform. I mean, between wonky search filters, unhelpful photos, and hard-to-compare pricing, a lot of the big guys are stuck in the Stone Age. 😒 But I‘m thrilled to report that shopping on Abound is a breath of fresh, smartly-designed air.
The whole site has a clean, image-first layout that lets the gorgeous products speak for themselves. Bye bye, blurry thumbnails! 👋 I appreciate thoughtful touches like 360-degree product views, detailed specs, and styling suggestions too.
Abound‘s search and filtering are ✨chef‘s kiss✨ as well. You can drill down by category, color, price, rating, values (like sustainable, AAPI-owned, or women-led), and location. So if you‘re on the hunt for an organic, lavender-scented hand cream made in Utah, you can probably find that exact thing.
Ordering is easy peasy too. Just pop your picks in a cart, choose shipping and payment options, and voila. I had my first haul ordered and at my door within a week. Every item was perfectly packed and matched the web description to a T.
Returns are just as painless, which is good news for those of us who get a little tap-happy when we‘re excited. 😅 You‘ve got 60 days to send back any piece from your first order from a brand, no questions asked. Considering I used to have to jump through hoops to return a defective lipstick, this is pretty revolutionary. Get with the times, other wholesalers!
Of course, no platform is perfect. While Abound mostly wowed me, I did spot a few areas for improvement:
- The ability to build themed assortments that span multiple brands
- More advanced analytics about what‘s trending/selling
- Easier tools for collaboration between retailers and brands
- More ways to spotlight values and brand stories
But considering Abound is still a young pup, I‘m betting these features are already on the roadmap. And the pros far outweigh the cons IMHO. 🤷🏻♀️
Tips for Retailers Using Abound Wholesale
By now you can probably tell I‘m a bit of an Abound evangelist. What can I say, give me a platform that makes my life easier and my store fresher and I‘ll shout it from the rooftops! 📣
But I‘m guessing you savvy shopkeeps want more than just my ‘woo hoo, it‘s great!‘ ravings. You want the nitty-gritty on how to get the most out of Abound for your unique biz. I got you!
Here are my top tips for killing it on Abound:
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Narrow in on the niches and trends your customers crave. Whether it‘s Japanese-inspired stationery or plastic-free bodycare, use Abound‘s filters to curate selections that your regulars can‘t resist.
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Take advantage of those net 60 terms. Abound‘s payment grace period gives you breathing room to road-test products without tying up cash on a huge order. If something flies off your shelf, you can always top up!
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Be the first to pounce on buzzy new brands. With so many makers launching on Abound, you have a chance to be an early adopter before lines go viral. Pay attention to the New & Noteworthy section so you don‘t miss a gem.
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Play matchmaker between products your customers already ❤️. Notice shopper can‘t stop raving about a certain coffee scrub? I bet they‘d love the new Kenyan roast you spotted on Abound. I‘m just sayin‘! 😏
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Test best-sellers from multiple brands in a single order. Abound‘s no-minimum policy means there‘s zero pressure to go all-in on one line. Spread that wholesale budget around, baby!
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Don‘t sleep on those free 60-day returns. If something bombs or doesn‘t meet your standards, send it right back and try again. The Abound team won‘t judge—they just want you to find products you freaking love.
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Ask for help if you need it! Abound‘s support squad is super knowledgeable and lightning-quick to respond. Use ‘em as your secret weapon to navigate any wholesale headaches.
At the end of the day, Abound is like any tool—you‘ll get out of it what you put in. But if you go in with curiosity, experimentation, and an eye for the unique, you might just find your new retail BFF. 💞
The Final Verdict on Abound Wholesale
So, has my deep-dive Abound wholesale review convinced you to give this disruptor a spin? If you‘re a trend-obsessed retailer who wants to fill your shelves with one-of-a-kind wonders and make your buying process as smooth as silk, I sure hope so!
As far as I‘m concerned, Abound is an absolute game-changer for progressive small biz owners. By making indie wholesale more accessible, flexible, and fun, it‘s giving us tools to compete with the big guys—and truly set our shops apart.
That magical feeling of uncovering an under-the-radar treasure and sharing it with your community? Abound serves that up on a silver platter. ✨ I don‘t know about you, but that‘s the reason I fell in love with retail in the first place.
So if you‘ve read this far and you‘re itching to peek behind the Abound curtain, I‘ve got a lil‘ surprise for you! Use the code MICHELLE15 at checkout for 15% off your first order. 🎉 You‘re welcome, babe!
Now go forth and fill those (virtual) carts with gorgeous goodies. And if you find something that makes your heart skip a beat, you know where to find me. I‘m always down to gab about our fab finds!
Happy treasure-hunting! 💗
xo,
Michelle, your friendly neighborhood wholesale whisperer
