Do you have a product that is perfect to sell to BJ’s Wholesale Club stores?
Are you interested, in becoming a vendor for BJs Wholesale Club? If so there are some things you should know before reaching out to this membership based warehouse club!
Becoming a supplier for BJ’s Wholesale stores opens up numerous opportunities. However since they operate similar to warehouse stores like Costco there are packaging requirements and other considerations that are unique to these types of retailers.
The effort is worthwhile because BJ’s Wholesale Club provides a platform to showcase your products to an diverse audience!
If you’re genuinely interested, in getting your product into BJ’s Wholesale Club I recommend watching my training video on how to sell to them.
(For those of you who prefer to read this content, transcription is included as well below!)
Transcript For Video Listed Here…
Learn everything you need to know to become a BJ’s Wholesale vendor
Hi everyone! This is Karen Waksman, founder of Retail MBA. Today, I want to talk about becoming a BJ’s Wholesale vendor. The reason I decided to create a video on this particular retailer is because some of you guys love the concept of warehouse stores, like Costco and so forth, and some of you might not have heard of BJ’s. So, I want to talk to you about that because there’s so many opportunities with retail to get your products into stores beyond the basic top retail chains and so forth.
It’s a little tricky to become a BJ’s Wholesale Club vendor
BJ’s is a wholesale retailer. They’re kind of those warehouse type retail stores. It’s a membership only retailer, so you actually have to pay a membership to be part of this organization. People pay a membership, they can go to those stores, they’re a massive warehouse, and ultimately, they get great deals, right? Because they buy product in bulk and so forth. It’s a great thing, very similar to Costco and so forth.
They have over 200 stores that they’re responsible for, so they can buy massive product.
If you become a BJ’s Wholesale Club vendor it is a tremendous opportunity for your business
A pallet is a lot of products on one singular pallet. A lot of these warehouse retailers actually buy by the pallet, so can you imagine you get BJ’s interested in your product. All of a sudden they buy one pallet for one store, but they have over 200 stores they’re responsible for. If you can add the numbers up, that’s pretty substantial revenue for you. That’s why a lot of people like warehouse stores.
Things that you need to know before reaching out to sell to BJ’s Wholesale Club
Some of the things to consider though, you definitely need packaging. That’s different for the warehouse stores versus other types of retailers. If you sell to just about any other retailer, you can create your own packaging, on a hanging card or whatever, however it is for that particular store. But, for a warehouse store, they actually require you to create really, really, really heavy packaging ’cause it’s on a pallet, there’s lots of products on there, it could get smooshed, and travel and so forth.
They have a lot of different requirements.
It does require you to change your packaging to ensure that you can handle, number one the volume, but also the fact that they’re gonna need you to create special packaging. It’s usually called “blister packaging”. It costs more to make, it adds to your bottom line. It’s like that stuff that it’s impossible to break through and so forth. You’re going to need to create something like that in order to work with a warehouse.
How to get your products into BJ’s Wholesale Club local wholesale stores
Some people don’t like to do that because it requires them to create all new packaging and it’s a lot of work and so forth. Some people don’t care. They want that packaging, they want to get into that warehouse retailer. And so in your case, you’re gonna have to think about that if you want to go after a BJ’s or a Costco or something like that.
They are very into private label
The other thing to think about is that BJ’s actually really talks a lot about the fact that they are very into private label. They buy a lot of private label goods. Basically, what that means, is they have their own brand names and then they buy products from manufacturers like you, and then, when they buy products from you they actually make you put it under their brand name. The packaging will be under your brand name and so forth, so people will not know that it’s coming from you. They’re actually purchasing your product, it’s called “private label”.
Once you become a BJ’s Wholesale Club vendor they will buy more types of products from you
Essentially, if you go into BJ’s and you see their BJ’s packaging, that doesn’t necessarily mean that BJ’s is creating it. It’s actually a company like yours that has created it, they just work with you to put their packaging on their product and so forth. If you’re okay with possible selling to BJ’s under their brand name, you don’t care about your name and your packaging all to be on that product, BJ’s can be a great resource for you, as well.
Learn how to approach, pitch & sell to BJ’s Wholesale Club stores
There’s so many things I can share with you about going after a warehouse retailer, like BJs. If you want to learn more, I actually have an extensive free training series at my website, retailmba.com. You just put in your email address and I have a six part free retail training series. Very, very powerful. I highly recommend exploring that. You don’t want to just go after these retailers unless you know more about how to actually approach them.
There is some finessing that you have to do when you sell to BJ’s Wholesale Club
Sometimes I create these videos and I get nervous that you guys are just gonna go after them without knowing what else to do. There’s some things you gotta learn about retail, so take a look at my website, retailmba.com, for the free training. Very, very powerful. I’m not into fluff.
Also, I have a full Retail MBA training program that you can do in a weekend. And that thing, well, you’ll know everything there is to know about going after retail. Next week, you can go after retail chains and so forth. Both of those programs are on my website, retailmba.com.
I hope this information provided value. Just a quick tip and strategy. Thanks so much!
Frequently Asked Questions - How to Sell to BJ's Wholesale Club Stores
- How do I get my products into BJ’s Wholesale Club stores?
To get your products into BJ’s Wholesale Club stores, you will need to apply to become a BJ’s Wholesale Club vendor. You can do this by visiting BJ’s Wholesale Club’s website and completing an online vendor application. Or you can follow our Retail MBA (https://www.retailmba.com) Training System where we explain how the sales professionals actually sell into these types of retailers!
If you went the traditional route, the application process typically involves submitting a product sample and accompanying product information sheet (PIS), which should include details on your product, pricing and availability information, and any other relevant information when they ask!
Once you have submitted your application, a BJ’s Wholesale Club buyer will review your submission and determine if your products are a good fit for the company. If your application is approved, you will be invited to become a BJ’s Wholesale Club vendor and will be given access to the company’s systems and processes. Unfortunately, if you actually submit your product on their website, they don’t always respond. Or review your product appropriately as they ask you very generic questions about your brand and you don’t always get your products reviewed correctly. We try to rectify this through our Retail MBA Training System as we have time-tested proven methods to getting into these types of chain stores! No experience required!
To increase your chances of success, it is important to thoroughly research the market and identify a product that meets a specific need or demand. It is also important to demonstrate that you are able to produce high-quality products that offer value to customers and that you have a reliable supply chain.
Overall, getting your products into BJ’s Wholesale Club stores requires a strong commitment to quality and customer service, as well as the ability to meet the company’s strict vendor requirements. With hard work and dedication, it is possible to build a successful partnership with BJ’s Wholesale Club and grow your business. Plus you can make millions of dollars with one chain store order. We are here to help as a Retail consultancy if you need help with this!
- How do I contact BJ’s Wholesale Club buyers?
There are a few ways you can contact BJ’s Wholesale Club buyers:
- Use the “Contact Us” form on BJ’s Wholesale Club’s website: You can visit BJ’s Wholesale Club’s website and use the “Contact Us” form to send a message to the appropriate department. This is a good option if you are not sure which department or buyer to contact. This is also presented in the vendor section of their website. We highly recommend ignoring this route as buyers tend to overlook amazing products on their website through their vendor portal. Which is why the Founder of Retail MBA is the one who created our powerful Retail MBA Training System which unlocks how to approach, pitch and find the BJ’s Wholesale Clubers for you to sell to. You can take a look at what we are up to at https://www.retailmba.com.
- Do NOT Reach out through LinkedIn: Many BJ’s Wholesale Club buyers have LinkedIn profiles, which you can use to connect with them directly. You can search for buyers by name or job title and send them a message through LinkedIn but do not reach out to them this way. Many people suggest this. Buyers despise it when you reach out to them in disrespectful ways. Linkedin is where they post their resumes. Not reviewing products!
- Attend industry trade shows and networking events: BJ’s Wholesale Club buyers often attend industry trade shows and other events, where you can meet them in person and pitch your product. There are trade shows for every product category. For instance, housewares products can attend the International Housewares Show! Our Founder, Karen Waksman, has spoken at most of the top trade shows on how to sell to retail chains. These are great shows! Please check out our training on how to utilize trade shows appropriately. We explain what NOT to do when going to trade shows in our Retail MBA Training and Coaching Systems.
- Contact the buyer directly: If you know the name and contact information for a specific BJ’s Wholesale Club buyer, you can try reaching out to them directly. You can do this by emailing or calling them, but never through sending them a direct message on LinkedIn. If you go this route, do not annoy buyers. Find out what words to use when contacting buyers to get them to actually review your products! Our systems all teach how to do this in a way that buyers love! We’ve taught well over 100,000 product companies how to pitch buyers with our systems listed on RetailMBA.com.
It is important to be respectful and professional when contacting BJ’s Wholesale Club buyers, and to make sure you have a clear and compelling pitch for your product. It is also a good idea to do your research and tailor your pitch to the specific interests and needs of the buyer you are contacting.
- What are BJ’s Wholesale Club’s vendor requirements?
BJ’s Wholesale Club has a number of vendor requirements that must be met in order to do business with the company. These requirements can vary depending on the type of products you are selling and the market in which you operate. Some of the key requirements include:
- High-quality products: BJ’s Wholesale Club is committed to offering its customers high-quality products at affordable prices. As a vendor, you will need to demonstrate that you are able to produce products that meet the company’s standards for quality.
- Safety and compliance: BJ’s Wholesale Club has strict requirements for the safety and compliance of the products it sells. This includes requirements for materials, labeling, packaging, and other aspects of product design.
- Reliable supply chain: BJ’s Wholesale Club relies on a global network of suppliers to meet the needs of its customers. As a vendor, you will need to demonstrate that you have a reliable supply chain that is able to meet the company’s demand for products. Handmade goods would not make sense to sell to BJ’s Wholesale Club buyers – they buy in volume!
- Competitive pricing: BJ’s Wholesale Club is known for offering its customers epic prices, and as a vendor, you will need to be able to offer competitive pricing in order to do business with the company.
- Strong customer service: BJ’s Wholesale Club values strong customer service and expects its vendors to provide timely and accurate responses to customer inquiries and complaints.
- There is a list of requirements they require listed on their vendor portal. Check out their vendor website and you will find out insurance requirements and more!
Overall, becoming a BJ’s Wholesale Club vendor requires a strong commitment to quality and customer service, as well as the ability to meet the company’s strict vendor requirements. With hard work and dedication, it is possible to build a successful partnership with BJ’s Wholesale Club and grow your business.
- How do I prepare a BJ’s Wholesale Club product submission?
To prepare a BJ’s Wholesale Club product submission, you will need to create a product sample and accompanying product information sheet. The product sample should be a physical representation of your product, while the product sell sheet should include detailed information on your product, including its features, benefits, and BJ’s Wholesale Club market. Do not randomly send samples to them. Buyers need to request these samples! Otherwise you will usually never get a review process from buyers.
Here are some steps you can follow to prepare a BJ’s Wholesale Club product submission:
- Research the market: Before you start preparing your product submission, it is important to research the market to ensure that your product meets a specific need or demand. You should also research BJ’s Wholesale Club’s product offerings and make sure your product is a good fit for the company.
- Create a product sample: Your product sample should be a physical representation of your product that demonstrates its features and benefits. You should consider creating prototypes or samples in multiple sizes, colors, or variations to give BJ’s Wholesale Club buyers a better understanding of your product.
- Create a product information sheet (PIS): Your PIS should include detailed information on your product, including its features, benefits, BJ’s Wholesale Club market, pricing, and availability. You should also include any relevant images or graphics that will help buyers to understand your product. We explain EXACTLY how to create the best sell sheets for buyers in our powerful Retail MBA Training System listed on RetailMBA.com.
- Review and edit your submission: Once you have created your product sample and sell sheet, it is important to review and edit your submission to ensure that it is accurate and complete. You should also double-check that you have included all relevant information and that your submission meets BJ’s Wholesale Club’s guidelines.
- We teach you exactly what words to use and how to get buyers to buy in a fraction of the time and cost. Be sure to check out our free webinars listed on RetailMBA.com. We explain all of this in detail!
Overall, preparing a BJ’s Wholesale Club product submission requires careful planning and attention to detail. By following these steps and ensuring that your submission is accurate and complete, you can increase your chances of success and get your products on BJ’s Wholesale Club’s shelves. These are just a few random examples of how to prepare a product submission. Our core Retail MBA Training System takes 10 hours to explain what actually will happen to you if you sell to a retail chain. Why? One chain store order can mean 10’s of millions of dollars to your bottom line. The more you know, the better you will succeed.
- What are BJ’s Wholesale Club’s private label requirements?
To prepare a BJ’s Wholesale Club product submission, you will need to create a product sample and accompanying product information sheet. The product sample should be a physical representation of your product, while the sell sheet should include detailed information on your product, including its features, benefits, and BJ’s Wholesale Club market. Again, our Core Retail MBA Training System explains how to create a powerful sell sheet and how to contact the private label buyer and submit your product as would the sales professionals!
Here are some first steps you can follow to prepare a BJ’s Wholesale Club product submission:
- Research the market: Before you start preparing your product submission, it is important to research the market to ensure that your product meets a specific need or demand. You should also research BJ’s Wholesale Club’s product offerings and make sure your product is a good fit for the company.
- Create a product sample: Your product sample should be a physical representation of your product that demonstrates its features and benefits. You should consider creating prototypes or samples in multiple sizes, colors, or variations to give BJ’s Wholesale Club buyers a better understanding of your product.
- Create a product information sheet: Your sell sheet should include detailed information on your product, including its features, benefits, BJ’s Wholesale Club market, pricing, and availability. You should also include any relevant images or graphics that will help buyers to understand your product.
- Review and edit your submission: Once you have created your product sample and sell sheet, it is important to review and edit your submission to ensure that it is accurate and complete. You should also double-check that you have included all relevant information and that your submission meets BJ’s Wholesale Club’s guidelines.
- 6. Branding and packaging: BJ’s Wholesale Club’s private label products must be clearly branded and properly packaged to ensure that they stand out on the shelf and are easy for customers to identify.
Overall, preparing a BJ’s Wholesale Club product submission requires careful planning and attention to detail. Why? One order can make you millions of dollars!
When working with the private label buyer, they will instruct you on how to package using their branding! All of this is explained in our training systems listed on RetailMBA.com
- How does BJ’s Wholesale Club source products?
BJ’s Wholesale Club sources products from a wide range of vendors, both domestic and international. The company has a team of buyers and sourcing professionals who are responsible for identifying and evaluating potential vendors and products.
To source products, BJ’s Wholesale Club uses a variety of methods, including:
- Online vendor application: BJ’s Wholesale Club has an online vendor application process that allows potential vendors to submit product samples and information sheets for review. This is a good option for small and medium-sized businesses that are interested in selling their products in BJ’s Wholesale Club stores.We suggest not going through this route as you could get lost in the process. Find out more by checking out one of our Retail MBA Training systems listed on RetailMBA.com.
- Trade shows and industry events: BJ’s Wholesale Club buyers often attend trade shows and other industry events to discover new products and meet with potential vendors.
- Direct contact: BJ’s Wholesale Club buyers may also reach out to potential vendors directly, either through online channels or by attending industry events and networking with other professionals.
- Partnering with manufacturers: BJ’s Wholesale Club may also work directly with manufacturers to develop private label products or to secure exclusive distribution rights for certain products.
Overall, BJ’s Wholesale Club uses a variety of methods to source products, including online applications, trade shows, direct contact, and partnerships with manufacturers. The company is always looking for high-quality products that offer value to customers and that meet the company’s strict vendor requirements.
- What is BJ’s Wholesale Club’s return policy for vendors?
BJ’s Wholesale Club’s return policy for vendors varies depending on the product and the circumstances of the return. In general, the company has a “no return” policy for many types of products, but may make exceptions in cases where there are quality issues or other problems with the product.
If a customer returns a product to BJ’s Wholesale Club that was manufactured or supplied by a vendor, the vendor may be responsible for accepting the return and providing a refund or replacement product. In these cases, the vendor should work with BJ’s Wholesale Club to resolve the issue and ensure that the customer is satisfied.
If a vendor is unable to accept a return or provide a refund or replacement product, BJ’s Wholesale Club may choose to dispose of the product or return it to the vendor at the vendor’s expense.
Overall, it is important for vendors to have a clear understanding of BJ’s Wholesale Club’s return policy and to work closely with the company to resolve any issues that may arise. By providing high-quality products and excellent customer service, vendors can minimize the risk of returns and build strong, long-lasting partnerships with BJ’s Wholesale Club.
We explain how to avoid chargebacks and fees with BJ’s Wholesale Club! All listed on our training and coaching systems listed on RetailMBA.com.
- How do I become a BJ’s Wholesale Club preferred vendor?
To become a BJ’s Wholesale Club preferred vendor, you will need to meet the company’s vendor requirements and demonstrate that you are able to produce high-quality products that offer value to customers. You will also need to have a reliable supply chain and be able to offer competitive pricing.
To apply to become a BJ’s Wholesale Club vendor, you can visit the company’s website and complete an online vendor application. The application process typically involves submitting a product sample and accompanying product information sheet, which should include details on your product, pricing and availability information, and any other relevant information. Or follow our amazing systems that explain what to do!
Once you have submitted your application, a BJ’s Wholesale Club buyer will review your submission and determine if your products are a good fit for the company. If your application is approved, you will be invited to become a BJ’s Wholesale Club vendor and will be given access to the company’s systems and processes.
To become a preferred vendor, you will need to consistently meet the company’s expectations and demonstrate a track record of producing high-quality products. This may involve meeting certain performance metrics, such as on-time delivery, order accuracy, and customer satisfaction.
Overall, becoming a BJ’s Wholesale Club preferred vendor requires a strong commitment to quality and customer service, as well as the ability to meet the company’s strict vendor requirements. With hard work and dedication, it is possible to build a successful partnership with BJ’s Wholesale Club and grow your business.
Step-by-step training on how to sell to retail chains!
We explain exactly how to do that and how to get started today. I’ve taught over 100,000 of companies over the years across the globe on how to get your products to the stores. And so we’re here to support you. Or please subscribe to our Youtube channel and or be on the lookout for additional training that we create.
We are here to expedite the process of generating revenue with your physical products and that’s what we’re all about. Take a look at our advanced training, live events, certification programs and so much more.
In this training, I will discuss some of the things to think about when approaching a retailer to sell your products and become a vendor. Hope it helps! 🙂
Karen Waksman,
Retail MBA
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