Why Local Line Leads the Way in Wholesale Sales for Farms

Selling to wholesale buyers such as grocery stores, restaurants, and chefs offers incredible growth opportunities for farms, but it also introduces a unique set of challenges. Farmers need reliable systems for handling bulk orders, managing inventory, streamlining payments, and segmenting these by different customer requirements. 

In our recent workshop, Break into Wholesale, Kyle, our team, highlights the platform's key features that are tailored to wholesale needs, making it easier for farmers to build strong relationships with wholesale buyers. Here’s a look at how Kyle recommends using Local Line to streamline wholesale operations:

1. Customized price lists for targeted selling

One of Local Line’s standout features is the ability to create customized price lists for different customer segments. For wholesale buyers like grocery stores and chefs, who may order large quantities, price lists can be adjusted to show only bulk items or specific product categories, removing unnecessary details to create a lean wholesale experience. Kyle points out, “A wholesale page is a little more no-frills. People are looking to be able to get in and get out.”

With Local Line, you can:

• Set unique pricing tiers for different types of buyers (e.g., retail versus wholesale).
• Limit visibility of certain products to wholesale buyers only, ensuring that bulk prices are accessible to approved customers.
• Include optional descriptions, simplifying the view so wholesale buyers can order efficiently.

2. Flexible payment options and invoicing

Wholesale transactions often require flexible payment arrangements, and Local Line supports several payment methods to accommodate different buyer preferences. Farmers can select options that fit their needs, such as credit card payments, ACH bank transfers, and check payments–and set payment terms on a price list level.

Key payment features include:

• Net payment terms: Farmers can offer options like net 30 or net 60 terms, where buyers have a set number of days to complete payment.
• Automated invoicing: The platform’s invoicing tools streamline the billing process. Farmers can edit orders, request payment, and follow up directly through the platform, keeping communication organized and payment processes simple.
• Credit card and ACH: Farmers can securely process credit card and bank transfers with lower transaction fees through ACH, which is especially useful for large orders.

3. Advanced inventory management and reporting

Efficient inventory management is crucial for farms selling to wholesale buyers. Local Line’s inventory tools offer real-time tracking to prevent overselling and ensure accurate order fulfillment. Inventory can be tailored to each customer segment–whether you’re selling by weight, case, or unit, Local Line has you covered.

Features to streamline inventory and reporting:

• Customizable inventory tracking: Farmers can track inventory by unit or weight, which is helpful for products like produce or meats that vary in weight. This ensures that each order is accurate and meets the buyer’s specifications.
• Order approvals for weight-based sales: Local Line offers an Order Approval feature, letting users adjust order totals based on final weights before charging customers. A final check and balance to ensure everything is accurate before closing the transaction.
• Detailed sales and inventory reports: With over 50 report types available, Local Line helps farmers track sales trends, monitor margins, and assess high-value buyers. You can look at all orders from a specific buyer, making it easy to track frequent orders and maintain strong relationships.

4. Efficient fulfillment and automated communication

Wholesale buyers often need customized delivery schedules and reminders about order deadlines, especially for perishable goods. Local Line’s fulfillment and communication features simplify logistics for farms working with wholesale customers.

Key fulfillment and communication tools include:

• Delivery and pickup scheduling: Farmers can create unique delivery schedules by region or buyer type. Kyle notes, “Only applicable delivery options are shown to each customer, which prevents them from seeing irrelevant options.
• Automated buyer notifications: The email automation feature updates wholesale buyers, reminding them about upcoming deliveries or alerting them about inventory changes. You can automate communications to a specific segment of your customers.
• Private access for wholesale buyers: You can set price lists as private, which exclusively grants access to approved buyers.

5. Order processing with pick slips, pack slips, and labels

For farmers selling to multiple wholesale clients, organizing orders, labeling, and managing fulfillment can be complex. Local Line simplifies these workflows, providing tools for every step of the order process.

Order processing features include:

• Dynamic label creation: Farmers can generate packing labels for each order, either through Avery or Dymo labels, to streamline packing and labelling.
• Pick and pack slips: Local Line allows users to generate and print pick and pack slips, keeping orders organized and ensuring accuracy during fulfillment.
• Exportable financial and inventory reports: You can download reports in CSV or Excel formats, helping them keep detailed records and analyze sales performance, inventory levels, and buyer activity.

The all-in-one platform for wholesale success

Selling to wholesale buyers like grocery stores, chefs, and food hubs requires specialized tools that help manage orders, payment, inventory, and communication effectively. Local Line is designed with these needs in mind, providing a streamlined experience that enhances productivity and makes wholesale relationships more manageable. 

By adopting these workflows, farmers can focus more on growing their businesses and maintaining relationships with key wholesale buyers. If you’re curious to learn more, set up a free training session with our team!