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Retailers · Five store types

Every store runs on reorders.

Independent grocers, convenience stores, hardware and variety stores, online sellers, and offices each buy differently. Here is what each one usually needs from a distributor, and how we set up an account around it.

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Store owner smiling behind the counter of a small shop, holding up a set of keys

Fig. 01A store owner behind the counter

00At a glanceManifest

Five store types, side by side.

A general guide to how each kind of business tends to order. Your account is set up around how you actually buy.

Store typeLines that moveTypical orderUsually ships byWhat matters most
Independent grocersPaper, cleaning, household, pet, seasonalMixed pallets across several categoriesLTL freightSteady replenishment and seasonal resetsProducts that turn weekly
Convenience storesPersonal care, household, paper, travel sizesA few cases of many linesParcelSmall case packs for tight shelvesCounter and impulse items
Hardware and varietyCleaning, janitorial, seasonal, pet, householdFull cases plus seasonal buysParcel or LTLOrdering ahead of each seasonWinter and outdoor goods
Online sellersPersonal care, household, pet, kitchenFull cases of fewer linesParcel or LTLAccurate item dataUPCs, dimensions, and weights
Offices and facilitiesPaper, can liners, cleaners, breakroomThe same list, reordered on a scheduleParcel or LTLConsistent items and paperworkSafety Data Sheets on file
Shopping cart in a grocery store aisle with the shelves out of focus

Store 01A grocery aisle

Store type 01

Independent grocers

A neighborhood grocer sells food first, but the paper, cleaning, and household aisles turn every week and carry their share of the basket. Those lines take up a lot of space in the back room, so ordering the right amount matters as much as the price.

What they need

  • Weekly replenishment of fast movers
  • Several categories on one delivery
  • Seasonal goods ordered early

How we help

  • Mixed pallets across categories
  • Pallets built heavy-to-light
  • A reorder list kept by email
Out-of-focus shelves and ceiling lights inside a small store

Store 02Shelves and lights in a small store

Store type 02

Convenience stores

A convenience store sells a little of everything from very little space. Shelf room is the constraint, so case packs need to be small enough that one case fits the shelf and sells through before the next order.

What they need

  • Small case packs
  • Counter and impulse items
  • Small orders, placed often

How we help

  • Case counts listed for every item
  • Small orders shipped by parcel
  • Travel sizes and HBA basics
Blue parts bins on a wall rack filled with screws, hooks, and anchors

Store 03Parts bins on a wall rack

Store type 03

Hardware and variety stores

Hardware and variety stores are where people go for the things the grocery store does not stock: janitorial supplies, ice melt in January, grill tools in May, and pet supplies all year. The calendar drives the order book, and seasonal goods sell best when they arrive before the season does.

What they need

  • Seasonal goods ahead of the season
  • Janitorial basics in stock
  • Pegboard-ready pet and kitchen items

How we help

  • Seasonal planning by email
  • Full cases or mixed pallets
  • Safety Data Sheets with chemicals
Online seller photographing a packed parcel with her phone beside a laptop and stacked boxes

Store 04An online seller checking a parcel

Store type 04

Online sellers

An online seller lives on accurate data. Listings, shipping rates, and storage plans all depend on knowing an item's UPC, its size, its weight, and how many come in a case. Consistent case packs make every reorder predictable.

What they need

  • UPCs on every unit
  • Unit and case dimensions and weights
  • Consistent case packs

How we help

  • Item data shared on request
  • Full cases by parcel or LTL
  • Notice by email when a case pack changes
Gloved hands wiping down an office desk with a cloth and a spray bottle

Store 05Wiping down an office desk

Store type 05

Offices and facilities

Offices, schools, churches, and other buildings buy the same supplies again and again: paper towels, bath tissue, can liners, cleaners, and breakroom disposables. What they want most is the same item every time and paperwork that is in order, including Safety Data Sheets for the cleaning chemicals they keep on site.

What they need

  • A standing supply list
  • The same items on every order
  • Safety Data Sheets on file

How we help

  • A saved reorder list
  • SDSs supplied with chemical products
  • The same lines on every reorder
Warehouse worker moving a plastic drum on a hand truck past stacked cases

Fig. 07Moving stock on a hand truck

Every account

What every store gets.

  • A catalog and pricing for your account, sent on request
  • Full cases, or mixed pallets across categories
  • Cases picked to your order and checked before packing
  • Parcel or LTL shipping, chosen to fit the order
  • Questions answered by email

Minimum orders vary by category and are confirmed when your account is set up.

Tell us about your store