Wholesale Last updated: 14 October 2026. Reviewed monthly. Looking for UK wholesale trade shows and fairs to visit in 2026 or 2027? This guide brings together upcoming events for retailers, wholesalers, market traders and online sellers, plus overseas stocklot and sourcing fairs. This guide is independently compiled by Wholesale Clearance UK. Event listings do not imply […]
SME
Online Shopping & Auction Scams By Police Force
With millions of people shopping online, the number of scams occurring is on the rise – meaning consumers have to be more vigilant than ever. At Wholesale Clearance, we gathered data from police forces across the UK to discover which area had the most reports and the highest losses from online shopping and auction scams. […]
The areas most affected by retail insolvencies during COVID-19
Lockdown has been tough for many retail and wholesale businesses, but which area of the UK are businesses most likely to file for insolvency? Here at Wholesale Clearance, we decided to investigate the areas with the worst hit businesses between March 2020 and September 2021 and compiled a list of the top 10. The Top […]
The Best UK Wholesale Trade Shows and Fairs for 2019
As a buyer and seller it is imperative that you understand the trends in your specific market, and take a keen interest in improving your own business knowledge. Some wholesale trade shows and fairs can be a tiring day out, for sure, but where better to take the pulse of your industry? Attending exhibitions, wholesale […]
Customer Service Fails
It never fails to amaze me how so many large companies provide poor service without it ever affecting business. When it comes to small and medium enterprise, it seems that we’re less likely to get away with mistakes and rudeness, because complaints are usually pretty immediate and the buck stops with us. When customer service […]
Can social media make or break your business?
This week I thought I’d have a quick look at good use of social media and ask, ‘can social media make or break your business?’ I was intrigued to see the furore caused yesterday, 16th April 2018, when the pub chain JD Wetherspoon announced it was quitting its social media accounts. Ironically the vehicle it […]
Why small businesses fail
This week we ask, why small businesses fail. As a follow up to my last blog about why big businesses go under, I thought I would write up a companion blog about why small businesses fail. Here at Wholesale Clearance UK, our business relies on the health of small and medium enterprises, so we have […]
The Ultimate Selling Guide for Small Businesses
Archive note (2018 guide): Links to articles no longer available on this blog have been removed. Please check current information before relying on older selling advice. We have decided to start the new year by introducing the ultimate selling guide for small businesses. Wholesale Clearance UK is a family firm, and we recognise the complexities, […]
Things you didn’t know it was illegal to sell in the UK
I was casting an eye over things you’re not allowed to sell on eBay the other day and found myself wondering what is forbidden generally. What is it illegal to sell in the UK? On looking up the information, I found there really aren’t that many prohibitions. Sites like Gumtree and eBay have their rules […]
Bestselling Products of All Time: Why Rankings Disagree
Archive note: This article was written in 2017 and includes historic sales and export figures. It does not identify a current global bestseller. What is the bestselling product of all time? There is no single reliable answer without deciding whether “bestselling” means units sold, total revenue, a particular product model or an entire category, and […]
How to Sell on Shpock UK: Fees and Practical Tips
Updated September 2026. This article was first published in 2017. Shpock’s features and fees have changed, so check its current help pages before listing. Shpock is a marketplace app for buying and selling second-hand goods. It can be useful for local collection and for testing demand for individual items. If you are reselling stock, think […]
Women in business who are top trumps!
A small salute to great women in business everywhere, out there, running great companies and being generally tremendous! I have been inspired to write a celebratory blog post about women in business, mainly in light of a photo that was circulating on social media showing President-elect Trump with a line of men rumoured to be […]
What’s the difference between B2B and B2C long distance selling regulations?
What’s the difference between B2B and B2C long distance selling regulations? Are you confused about the difference between B2B and B2C long distance selling regulations? The law treats business-to-business contracts differently than it does business-to-consumer contracts. The Distance Selling Regulations no longer actually apply in UK law. They were replaced by the Consumer Contracts Regulations […]
LinkedIn for SME’s: Useful or not?
It was announced yesterday (13/06.2016) that Microsoft is to purchase LinkedIn, the professional networking website, for $26bn (£18bn), which equates to $196 a share. That’s a lot of money. Apparently the deal will enable Microsoft to boost sales of its business and email software, although to be fair, it doesn’t sound as though they’re failing […]
Worth every penny! 6 products that unexpectedly went viral
It was drawn to my attention this week, that media coverage of certain items can pique interest and ensure that prices rise. You have to be on your toes to catch the wave, blink and you’ve missed it. So I had a look at products that unexpectedly went viral and here’s my top six. The […]
Who pays the most tax in the UK?
The furore over the Panama Papers leak of 11.5m files from the database of the world’s fourth biggest offshore law firm, Mossack Fonseca last week got me thinking about who pays the most tax in the UK. The Panama leak came about when the German newspaper Süddeutsche Zeitung, gained access to the papers which it […]
The impact of flooding on small business
Once again, here in the UK, we seem to be bracing ourselves for some very strange weather. More and more frequently we’re seeing whole communities battered by storms and affected by flooding. Here at Wholesale Clearance UK, our hearts really do go out to those small businesses that have been affected by flooding. When we […]
Planning your week? Best days to buy and sell
Another weekend has disappeared in a puff of smoke. I failed miserably to list some things on eBay that I wanted to, although I did go online to buy myself a new raincoat after mine fell apart during a ‘light shower’ (it was practically ripped from my body by the violence of the rain). This […]
Back to the future: Stock that time forgot
When Marty McFly visited us recently, he dropped off a magnificent load of original 1980s stock that time forgot – Ghetto Blasters with detachable speakers. Seriously awesome vintage (see them here) and still in the original boxes! They came from an old warehouse where the distribution had gone bankrupt in 1987. The warehouse was then […]
Emoji PIN for the win!
I nearly had heart failure the other day when the security software I use on my laptop suggested that my password was one that hackers regularly try out when they infiltrate people’s accounts. I changed it immediately of course, and then the next time I logged in had completely forgotten what I had changed it […]
Man Died at Desk and Nobody Noticed: Workplace productivity
I was reading a really interesting article in The Guardian this morning about workplace productivity and why people waste too much time in the office. I think there’s a simple answer to that – because they can! The one thing about running your own business that make my heart sing is the fact that I’m […]
How to make a million on eBay
Before I start, I have to say that if it was that easy to make a million on eBay I would have already done it, right? I haven’t, so maybe it isn’t possible for everyone. However, it certainly has been done in the past and that’s what interests me. Can you make a million on […]
A Big Business: Feeding the Six Nations Armies
We’re big fans of sport here at Wholesale Clearance UK, and while football does tend to be our favourite, most of us are addicted to the Six Nations rugby at this time of year too, and we can’t wait for the Rugby World Cup later this year. Every weekend while the rugby is on I […]
Weird, wonderful and crazy business ideas
I have been reading the furore surrounding the American Julien Blanc with interest. Julien Blanc is possibly the world’s saddest man. He’s a self-styled ‘pick-up artist’ (a PUA) who preaches some fairly aggressive and obnoxious tactics to ‘help’ men get women into bed through manipulation and coercion. You wouldn’t think this was the twenty-first century […]
Hiring! Taking on your first employee (HR for beginners)
Last time we had a little chinwag about taking on your first employee but this was in relation to what you need to do with HMRC. Well, that got me into conversation with a few people about the logistics of how you actually HIRE the right person to come and work with you. It’s true […]
14 Market Stall Set up Ideas
Archive note: First published in 2014. Check current market rules, insurance, food-trading requirements and costs before relying on this guide. If you’re considering going into business for yourself, you may not know where to start. A great many of our Wholesale Clearance UK customers own their own market stall and this is the backbone of […]
UK Shoe Size and Width Guide for Online Sellers
A UK shoe size is a starting point, not a promise that every pair will fit. Foot length, width, instep and the shape of the shoe all matter. If you sell footwear online, giving buyers the labelled size alongside clear fit information can prevent avoidable returns. Quick answers: what are EU 40 and EU 34 […]
Get eBay App Happy Right Here with 6 of the best!
The 6 Best Apps for Buying and Selling on eBay eBay is one of the oldest, online auction websites in the world and it is probably the best known if not the best of the online websites. It has grown at an incredible rate since it was founded nearly 20 years ago. Millions of people […]
Selling Internationally on eBay: Pros, Cons and Checklist
Updated September 2026. This guide was originally published in 2014; eBay’s international shipping options have since changed. Selling internationally on eBay can bring more buyers to your listings, but the extra reach is useful only when the item, delivery method and total cost work for your business. Start with a small number of suitable products […]
The 20 Second Commute: advantages and disadvantages of a home-based business
Thinking of starting a home-based business? Great idea. Here’s why. I have a friend who used to spend two to three hours a day in her car just to get to her place of employment which was only 20 miles away. She would arrive so stressed and so hyper that it was a foregone conclusion […]
Twelve Top Tips to Help You Stop Procrastination
Procrastination is what happens when we continuously allow low priority jobs or tasks to interfere with high priority jobs and tasks. Procrastination is what I have been doing while preparing to write this blog. It is really annoying when you are supposed to be working and you have so many things to do that you […]
What’s in a name? Tips for naming your new business
Naming your business can be both stressful and fun. If you like being creative then finding just the right name for your business is part of the exciting process of starting up. On the other hand if you don’t have a creative or reflective bone in your body you’ll end up just using your initials […]
Build a bonfire, build a bonfire: discounting items for sale on eBay, the how, when and why.
So that might be the longest title I have ever used in this blog but I wanted somehow to get a link in to bonfire night given that it’s November the 5th, however tenuous it might be. But in my mind the link is that instead of burning unwanted stock – let’s sell it for […]
Best Believable Excuses for Calling in Sick to Work
Updated note: This 2013 article is a light-hearted look at excuses people give for missing work. If you are unwell, tell your employer honestly and follow your workplace absence policy rather than inventing symptoms. If you need to call in sick, a brief message can be enough: “I’m unwell and unable to work today. I’ll […]
Giving something back: raising the profile of your business through good works
For many people who are working in small businesses the idea of ‘giving back’ or working with ‘corporate social responsibility’ as large businesses call it, is something that comes perfectly naturally. Small businesses tend be more generous and more socially and culturally aware simply because they are such an integral part of the community and […]
In for a penny, in for a pound: the rise and rise of the Pound shop
I was having a conversation with a friend of mine the other day who owns a sweet seaside gift shop that sells a wide range of mid-priced gifts. She mentioned that without the cheaper pound shop lines that she offers, she would be in serious trouble some days. She has to work hard to take […]