Wholesale Karl Baxter is the founder and Managing Director of Wholesale Clearance UK Ltd, the Poole-based business he established in 2005. His work centres on wholesale sourcing, clearance stock and helping buyers find goods for resale.
His route into the industry began with selling on eBay. That experience led to a business serving other sellers, and later to media contributions about customer returns, surplus stock and the practical realities of retail.
Karl Baxter at Wholesale Clearance UK, modelling one of the business’s novelty Christmas jumpers. Photo from the company’s product archive.
From eBay selling to wholesale supply
Karl started by buying products from Poundland and selling them on eBay. As that activity grew, finding suitable stock became a problem: many wholesalers expected order quantities that were difficult for a small trader to afford.
That gap helped shape Wholesale Clearance UK. Karl expanded from selling individual goods to supplying job lots that other traders could buy and resell. The company was established in 2005 and operates from Poole, Dorset.
The question behind that early business remains relevant to someone starting today: where can you find stock in quantities that fit your budget and the way you intend to sell?
The business behind the name
Wholesale Clearance UK is an online wholesale marketplace specialising in bankrupt, liquidation, surplus and end-of-line stock. Its range includes clothing, footwear, homeware and other clearance lines, with customer returns and pallets among the available formats.
The business serves start-ups, sole traders, online resellers, market traders and established businesses. Purchases are for business, trade or resale purposes. Stock and availability change, so the current advert is the place to check the details of an individual offer.
Alongside supplying buyers, the marketplace gives sellers a way to offer clearance lines to a relevant audience. For Karl, the connection between those two sides is central to the company’s purpose: businesses need routes to move stock, while resellers need suitable products to sell.
Explore Wholesale Clearance UK or read its buying and selling guides.
Media timeline: Karl Baxter and Wholesale Clearance UK
Karl’s media record spans practical advice for sellers, interviews about building the business, and some memorable stories about unusual stock. The chronology below brings together published quotes, bylined contributions and coverage of Wholesale Clearance UK from 2008 to 2026.
Related reports are grouped together. Each entry identifies whether it concerns Karl’s own contribution, company research, another member of the team or a broadcast mention. A story appearing on a programme does not necessarily mean Karl appeared as a guest.
Browse the timeline: 2008 · 2009 · 2012 · 2013 · 2014 · 2015 · 2016 · 2020 · 2021 · 2022 · 2023 · 2024 · 2025 · 2026
2008
- 2008 — Daily Express profile by David Hunt
Personal and company profile: David Hunt reported on Karl’s progression from selling personal possessions and pound-shop products on eBay to running Wholesale Clearance UK. The publication and year are confirmed by Karl; the exact day and month are not yet recorded.
Source: Daily Express, printed clipping retained in the company archive.
2009
- 19 June 2009 — Winning formula: Formula One merchandise and business growth
Personal and company profile: Tim Saunders reported in the Bournemouth Daily Echo on Wholesale Clearance UK’s clearance Vodafone McLaren Mercedes merchandise deal, Karl’s eBay beginnings and the business’s expansion in Poole.
Source: Bournemouth Daily Echo, page 65, printed clipping retained in the company archive.
2012
- 22 August 2012 — Advice for home-based retailers
Press release: Karl shared advice for people developing an online retail business. This is an early published contribution distributed by the company, rather than an independent interview.
Sources: Newswire.
2013
- 21–22 January 2013 — Lance Armstrong DVDs
News coverage: Karl and Wholesale Clearance UK featured in reports about a large consignment of Lance Armstrong DVDs. The story attracted coverage in British newspapers and on ITV’s news website.
Sources: ITV News · The Yorkshire Post · The Independent. - 22 January 2013 — NPR’s Morning Edition
Radio mention: presenter David Greene discussed Karl’s DVD consignment in a short Morning Edition item. WUNC retains the audio and transcript; this was a report about Karl, rather than an interview with him.
Sources: NPR / WUNC audio and transcript. - July 2013 — Royal baby “princess” plates
Company coverage: the business’s commemorative plates, produced in anticipation of a royal baby girl, attracted further coverage after the birth of Prince George. Several reports covered the same story.
Sources: Daily Mail · DailyEdge / The Journal · Irish Independent. - 29 August 2013 — Cash flow and stock control
Personal contribution: Karl explained how stock control, inventory software and selling slower-moving stock supported the business in a SmallBusiness.co.uk guide by Ben Lobel.
Sources: SmallBusiness.co.uk.
2014
- 23–25 June 2014 — Barack Obama and Chris Smalling World Cup mugs
Quoted commentary and company coverage: Karl explained the souvenir mix-up to the press. Some reports also quoted colleague Andy White. The story travelled from UK news outlets to international entertainment and sports sites.
Sources: Evening Standard · The Independent · ITV Meridian · Sports Mole · E! News · Parade · BuzzFeed.
2015
- August 2015 — PC Pro: the business impact of Google’s Penguin update
Personal interview and company case study: Michael Passingham’s feature, How Google’s Penguin can trample a business, examined Wholesale Clearance UK’s loss of search traffic following the April 2012 update and the work towards recovery. Karl described the business impact; Screaming Frog’s Dan Sharp also contributed. Figures in the article relate to that historical period.
Sources: printed feature retained in the company archive; PC Pro, August 2015 issue listing. - December 2015 — Unusual Star Wars toys
Company story: the business’s account of badly named Star Wars figures generated international coverage. These placements are recorded in the contemporary Screaming Frog correspondence.
Sources: CNN · The Poke · ScreenRant · Nerd Reactor.
2016
- 14 January 2016 — VICE / The Creators Project interview
Personal interview: Karl discussed job lots and unusual Star Wars figures.
Sources: VICE. - June 2016 — Hiring, practical skills and social media
Quoted commentary: Karl discussed staff versatility and the importance of social media awareness. June 2016 correspondence confirms the original coverage; the current publisher page displays a later update date.
Sources: SmallBusiness.co.uk. - 4 August 2016 — Rio Olympics phrasebook
Company coverage: Matador Network reported on the business’s unusual unofficial Brazil phrasebook and linked to its original blog post.
Sources: Matador Network.
2020
- 12 January 2020 — Building the business and recovering from a setback
Personal profile: Dorset Biz News reported on Karl’s move from boatbuilding into wholesale and the business’s response to a sudden fall in website traffic. The feature also included Andy White’s perspective.
Sources: Dorset Biz News.
2021
- April 2021 — European Super League shirts
Company coverage: the short-lived European Super League left an unusual collection of football shirts to sell. National and local outlets covered the stock story.
Sources: Daily Mirror · Daily Express · Bournemouth Echo. - July 2021 — “FreeBrittany” T-shirts
Quoted commentary and company coverage: Karl’s misspelt Britney Spears T-shirt story appeared across UK and international outlets. These articles cover one campaign, rather than separate interviews in every publication.
Sources: Euronews · Metro · Fox News · The Telegraph · Daily Mail · Business Insider India. - August 2021 — Del Boy and online marketplaces
Company research: coverage explored how fictional trader Del Boy’s stock might have fared on modern online marketplaces.
Sources: Manchester TV. - September 2021 — Fuel shortages and jerry-can demand
Quoted commentary and company coverage: Karl’s experience of increased demand for jerry cans contributed to reporting during the fuel shortage.
Sources: The Guardian · i · The Yorkshire Post · Evening Standard · Daily Express. - 22 October 2021 — Topical Halloween costumes
Company coverage: Wholesale Clearance UK’s Kim Kardashian-inspired outfit featured in a seasonal costume roundup.
Sources: The Independent · BreakingNews.ie. - 9–13 December 2021 — Novelty Christmas jumpers
Quoted commentary and company coverage: Karl and the business appeared in reporting about an unexpected detail in a Christmas jumper design.
Sources: WalesOnline · The Sun · Daily Mail. - 17 December 2021 — Have I Got News for You
Television story mention: Screaming Frog’s coverage archive records the jumper story in series 62, episode 10. This is coverage of the product story, not a panel appearance by Karl.
Sources: BBC programme page.
2022
- 10–25 January 2022 — Retail insolvencies and the high street
Company research: trade and regional reporting drew on Wholesale Clearance UK’s study of retail insolvencies during the pandemic.
Sources: London TV · Retail Gazette · Retail Sector. - 18 January 2022 — How retailers can adapt after Covid
Bylined articles: Karl’s contribution on changing retail conditions appeared in FashionCapital and CEO Monthly, identifying his role at Wholesale Clearance UK.
Sources: FashionCapital · CEO Monthly. - 1–5 February 2022 — “Platinum Jubbly” souvenirs
Quoted commentary and company coverage: the misprinted royal crockery story became an international campaign. Karl’s comments appeared in reporting about the stock and its potential appeal to collectors.
Sources: BBC News · Sky News · The Independent · People · ITV News · Business Insider · The Guardian · BBC Russian Service · The Indian Express. - February 2022 — The Jubbly story on television and podcasts
Broadcast coverage: the campaign featured on The Drew Barrymore Show and the Shameless podcast. Screaming Frog’s published case study also records Meridian News and Have I Got News for You coverage. These are appearances of the story and products, rather than claims that Karl was a studio guest.
Sources: The Drew Barrymore Show clip · Shameless: The Platinum Jubbly · Screaming Frog’s campaign case study. - 24 February 2022 — What to check before buying return pallets
Expert advice: Lucy Alderson’s Sun feature drew on Karl’s experience of return pallets, including research, uncertain contents and the risks involved.
Sources: The Sun. - 25 February 2022 — Practical rules for pallet buyers
Quoted advice: Carly Bass’s Sun article included Karl’s guidance on researching sellers and checking other buyers’ experiences.
Sources: The Sun. - March 2022 — Popular products on eBay
Company research: coverage examined the categories and products generating substantial sales on eBay. Sales totals in these reports should not be read as individual sellers’ profits.
Sources: i — 18 March · The Herald — 21 March. - 2 April 2022 — A follow-up on the Jubbly crockery
Company coverage: i returned to the souvenir story as the Platinum Jubilee approached.
Sources: i. - 5 May 2022 — Jubilee crockery giveaway
Company coverage: The Sun ran a giveaway feature connected with the unusual crockery.
Sources: The Sun. - 11 May 2022 — High-value eBay sales
Company research: ChannelX, formerly Tamebay, reported on Wholesale Clearance UK’s analysis of expensive individual items sold on eBay.
Sources: ChannelX. - 12 May 2022 — Household items with resale demand
Company research: the Daily Express covered the business’s analysis of household products sold on eBay.
Sources: Daily Express. - 25 May 2022 — Best-selling trainer brands
Company research: ChannelX reported on Wholesale Clearance UK’s study of trainer sales and second-hand pricing.
Sources: ChannelX. - June 2022 — Misspelt brands and online bargains
Company research: articles examined how spelling errors in eBay listings could affect discoverability and prices.
Sources: ChannelX — 21 June · The Sun — 26 June. - 28 July 2022 — Elvis memorabilia and collecting
Company coverage: i included the business in a feature on Elvis memorabilia and collectors.
Sources: i. - 10–12 August 2022 — Car boot sales and finding bargains
Company research and consumer coverage: the business’s car boot sale campaign appeared in regional news and a money-saving roundup.
Sources: Shropshire Star — 10 August · This is Money — 12 August. - 19 August 2022 — Car boot buying and selling tips
Expert advice: Karl contributed practical guidance to Vicky Shaw’s feature, published by The Independent and other outlets.
Sources: The Independent · NewsChain. - 23 November 2022 — A warehouse feature and Elvis stock
Team interview: Dorset Biz News spoke to Andy White about clearance work and a large collection of official Elvis memorabilia. The article identifies Karl’s ownership of the business; the interview itself is Andy’s.
Sources: Dorset Biz News. - 30 November 2022 — UK Search Awards winner
Campaign award: Screaming Frog and Wholesale Clearance UK won Best Use of PR in a Search Campaign (Large) for Celebrating the Platinum Jubbly. The official results credit both the agency and the company.
Sources: UK Search Awards: official winners · Screaming Frog’s awards report. - 12–14 December 2022 — England “World Cup winners” shirts
Quoted commentary and company coverage: Karl’s story about premature England winners’ shirts generated a new wave of national and international reporting.
Sources: Sky News · The Independent · ITV News · SPORTbible · The Irish Times · The Guardian’s Football Daily.
2023
- January 2023 — A new year of eBay market analysis
Company research: ChannelX and The Herald covered the business’s analysis of products sold on eBay during 2022.
Sources: ChannelX · The Herald. - 21 September 2023 — Return-pallet advice cited internationally
Reused expert commentary: Business Insider cited Karl’s earlier Sun advice in a report about a YouTuber buying a returns pallet. This was a new citation of an existing comment.
Sources: Business Insider.
2024
- 25 May 2024 — The Guardian’s car boot sale guide
Quoted advice: Karl discussed timing and negotiation at car boot sales.
Sources: The Guardian.
2025
- 17 October 2025 — A journalist tries an abandoned-parcel box
Quoted commentary and product feature: Yasmin Harisha reported on a fashion-focused box from Wholesale Clearance UK and included Karl’s explanation of sourcing. The article was updated on 22 October.
Sources: The Sun / Fabulous.
2026
- 5–6 January 2026 — Where unwanted Christmas gifts end up
Newspaper and online feature: Colette Fountain visited the warehouse for The Times’ report on unwanted gifts and resale. The article appeared online on 5 January; correspondence confirms the print edition on 6 January.
Sources: The Times. - 20 October 2026 — Return-pallet advice cited again
Reused expert commentary: Kate Kulniece’s Sun feature cited Karl’s earlier guidance on researching sellers and understanding uncertain contents, with a link to Wholesale Clearance UK.
Sources: The Sun.
The wider coverage archive
Individual stories can generate many articles, international editions and syndicated reports. Screaming Frog’s published Platinum Jubbly case study, for example, records 516 pieces of international coverage and 248 links to the company’s website. Those are campaign placements, not 516 separate interviews with Karl.
The agency’s 2021 coverage archive, 2022 coverage archive and 2023 coverage archive retain a much larger record, including regional and international versions of the stories above.
Archive reviewed on 22 October 2026. This is a documented timeline of coverage located so far, rather than a claim that every historic mention survives online. Dates refer to original publication where established; later updates and repeated comments are identified where relevant. Some older articles or programme pages may have moved, expired or require a subscription.
For the wider company story, see our Wholesale Clearance UK media roundup.
A practical perspective on stock for resale
Clearance stock brings together different products and circumstances. A surplus line of new products, an end-of-season clothing range and a pallet of customer returns each need a different assessment.
Useful questions for a buyer include:
- What does the description say about quantity, condition and any known faults?
- Is there evidence of demand from the customers you expect to sell to?
- What will delivery, selling fees, packaging and any preparation cost?
- Do you have the space and time to sort, list and dispatch the goods?
These questions provide a practical starting point for conversations about wholesale buying. A low purchase price alone does not establish that a lot is suitable, and expected resale income should not be confused with profit.
Karl is available to discuss these issues with journalists looking for a view from within the clearance trade, including the opportunities and limitations of buying stock to resell.
Topics Karl can help journalists cover
Karl welcomes enquiries about online selling, wholesale sourcing, return pallets, clearance and surplus stock, and the challenges facing smaller retailers and resellers.
Possible contributions include written comments, background explanations, examples of unusual stock and relevant photographs where available. A useful enquiry sets out the proposed topic, intended audience and deadline so the response can address what the reader needs to understand.
For media enquiries, email [email protected]. You can also find Karl Baxter on LinkedIn.
For stock or business enquiries, contact the Wholesale Clearance UK team.
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