Wholesale Last updated: 1 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 two overseas stocklot fairs. The right show depends on what you want to source. A home and gift fair […]
What to Sell
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 […]
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, […]
Most Expensive Things Sold on eBay? Ten Historic Examples
Some of the Most Expensive Things Sold on eBay I'm keeping this one to myself... just you and me Archive note (2017): This is a look at remarkable eBay sales and listings discussed when the article was written. It is not a verified ranking of today’s most expensive completed sales; historic prices and listing details [...]
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 […]
What Sold Best on eBay? 2023 UK Research and Sourcing Tips
What Sold Best on eBay? 2023 UK Research and Sourcing Tips Research note (September 2026): The sales figures below describe eBay activity researched for December 2021 to December 2022 and published in 2023. They are not current sales rankings. Use the historical results for ideas, then check fresh demand, costs and competition before buying stock. [...]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
Flipping happy! The low down on flip flops
A few weeks ago I wrote an article about shoes (find it here). At the time I was wearing boots and four pairs of thermal socks because we were still in the midst of winter. Well, in the meantime spring has arrived and there is a slight hint of summer in the air. All 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 […]
An A-Z of shoe styles
Types of shoes, A to Z: Use this illustrated glossary to identify footwear styles when buying or listing stock. The photographs are historical examples and may show lots no longer available. For current stock, browse wholesale shoes, boots and trainers. If you need sizing advice, see our UK shoe size and width guide. A few […]
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 […]
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 […]
A crock of gold? Our Princess of Cambridge plates!
We all knew the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge were going to be safely delivered of a Princess, didn’t we? The world was agog, waiting for news. Rumours in the media were rife. The Sun noted on 5th July 2013 for example, The Sun that she was expecting a daughter. Entertainmentwise.com wrote that The Duchess’s […]
Here comes the bride: selling for the wedding industry
Archive note (May 2013): The wedding-accessories lot and prices described below are historical and the original advert is no longer available. Browse current one-off job lots for today’s stock. When this was published, we had a mixed wedding-accessories job lot which included 99x Fascinators (that’s the little flowery decoration things that women wear in their […]
Diversifying your stock offer
In these difficult economic times, running a small business can be extremely hard work. In spite of news items suggesting that online retail sales have rocketed (Retail Gazette for example, reports that ‘online retail sales rose 16 per cent year-on-year last month (March 2013), driven by clothing sales despite the freezing weather’) you may be […]
How to make your first million (or £35,000 at least)
The other day I wrote an article for an entrepreneurial website on how to start a business from scratch. I researched it thoroughly and wrote it up and it’s a great article, succinct and to the point, but it’s not practical. I know that when people search online to find out how to make their […]