Wholesale Success for Dog Treat Bakers: How to Sell More with Less Hustle
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Sell more treats with less hustle—learn the wholesale strategy!
Wholesale for Dog Treat Bakers: Is It Worth It? Here’s the Scoop!
So, you’ve been baking up a storm, selling at farmers' markets, taking custom orders, and maybe even sliding into DMs with local dog moms to score more sales. But now, you’re wondering…
“Should I sell my treats wholesale?”
“How do I even start?”
“Is this just another thing that’s going to stress me out?”
I get it—wholesale sounds like a big, overwhelming leap. But here’s the deal: wholesale can be a game-changer. More treats sold, bigger orders, and a lot less time chasing individual customers.
Let’s dig into the real questions dog treat bakers ask about wholesale—and how to make it work for your business.
“Why Should I Even Consider Wholesale?”
DTC vs. Wholesale: Which one grows your dog treat business faster?
Selling direct-to-consumer (DTC) is great—you get to build relationships, tell your brand story, and see those adorable pup pics when customers tag you. But it also comes with hustle exhaustion:
😵💫 Answering endless messages about ingredients.
😵💫 Dealing with last-minute custom order requests.
😵💫 Showing up at markets every single weekend to make consistent sales.
Meanwhile, wholesale lets you:
✅ Sell in bulk: One order = dozens of bags sold.
✅ Save time: No more individually packaging and shipping tiny orders.
✅ Get repeat customers: Stores reorder again and again (without you chasing them down!).
💡 Real Talk: One of my coaching clients was doing 50+ small orders a week and burning out. She started wholesaling to local pet boutiques, and in her first month, she sold more in two orders than she usually did in a whole month of markets. That’s the power of wholesale.
“How Do I Know If My Business is Ready for Wholesale?”
Are you ready for wholesale? Keep reading to make sure!
Great question! Wholesale isn’t just about selling more—it’s about making sure your business can handle it. Ask yourself:
Can I produce treats consistently? If a store orders 100 bags, will you be able to fulfill it without turning your kitchen into a disaster zone?
Do I have shelf-ready packaging? Retailers expect clear labels, ingredient lists, and professional branding.
Do I know my numbers? Pricing for wholesale is very different from pricing for single sales (more on that next 👇).
🚀 Shortcut: If you’re nodding along but aren’t sure where to start, my Wholesale Catalog Template makes it stupid easy to create a professional catalog that retailers actually want. No graphic design skills required—just plug in your treats, and boom! You’re good to go.
Retailers expect professional packaging! If you need food-safe stand-up pouches or a thermal label printer to create professional labels, here are some great options to check out.
“How Do I Price My Treats for Wholesale?”
Pricing your dog treats for wholesale? Here’s how to get it right!
Ahh, the million-dollar question (or at least the "how do I make money and not cry" question).
Wholesale pricing isn’t just “cut my retail price in half”—nope, that’s a one-way ticket to Broke Business Owner Land. You have to:
Find Your Cost Per Unit: Add up ingredients, packaging, labels, and labor.
Apply a Wholesale Markup: Multiply by at least 2-2.5x so you’re actually making money.
Set a Suggested Retail Price (SRP): Retailers will usually double your wholesale price to get their shelf price.
Example:
Cost per bag of treats: $2.00
Wholesale price (2.5x markup): $5.00
Retail price (2x markup): $10.00
❌ Don’t price too low—you won’t make money.
❌ Don’t price too high—retailers won’t buy.
✅ Find the sweet spot that keeps both you and the retailer happy!
📢 Overwhelmed by pricing? My Dog Treat Pricing Toolkit + Bonus Wholesale Success Guide walks you through every single step so you know exactly what to charge. No more guessing—just profits.
Pricing your treats for wholesale means knowing exactly what each bag costs you. A digital kitchen scale is a must for accurate ingredient tracking, and if you're still managing numbers in a notebook, consider a simple bookkeeping tool to stay organized. Want a dedicated device for managing orders and pricing on the go? A budget-friendly tablet can be a game-changer for keeping everything in one place!
“How Do I Even Find Retailers to Sell To?”
A professional wholesale catalog can make all the difference!
You don’t need a big-box retailer to get started. Small, independent pet shops and boutiques love handmade treats because they give their store something unique!
Start Here:
Check out local pet boutiques, gift shops, and feed stores.
Stalk (uhh, I mean research) stores on Instagram to see if they carry small-batch pet products.
Walk into a store and chat with the manager—the worst they can say is no!
How to Pitch Without Feeling Weird:
📞 Call ahead and ask when the buyer is available.
📧 Send an email introducing your brand and attach your wholesale catalog.
📦 Drop off samples—treats sell themselves when people see (and smell) them!
💡 Pro Tip: Having a solid wholesale catalog and pricing sheet makes you look legit. If you don’t have one yet, grab my Wholesale Catalog Template to make a pro-level catalog in minutes.
“Okay, I Landed My First Wholesale Order! Now What?”
Your first wholesale order—here’s how to fulfill it smoothly!
First of all, 🎉 GO YOU! Now, let’s make sure it’s the first of many.
Keep orders organized—track invoices and due dates in Quicken, Square, or a simple spreadsheet.
Follow up after delivery—ask how sales are going and if they need a restock.
Offer seasonal flavors—this keeps retailers (and their customers) excited about your treats.
💡 True Story: One of my students had a retailer order 20 bags of treats in their first wholesale deal. She followed up two weeks later, and they said "We already sold out—can we order 50 this time?" That’s why staying in touch with retailers is key.
Shipping wholesale orders? Make sure you have the right packing supplies like bulk shipping boxes, a tape dispenser, and even a heat sealer to keep treats fresh and sealed properly. Trust me, investing in the right tools makes fulfillment so much easier!
Wholesale: Your Shortcut to More Sales (Without More Hustle)
Your treats on store shelves? Wholesale makes it possible!
If you’ve been stuck in the cycle of one-off sales, custom orders, and market marathons, wholesale is your golden ticket to:
✔ Bigger, consistent orders (aka more $$$).
✔ Less time selling, more time baking.
✔ A brand that grows beyond just YOU.
🎯 Want to price your treats for wholesale the RIGHT way? Get my Dog Treat Pricing Toolkit so you can confidently set prices that retailers will love.
📖 Need a professional catalog? The Wholesale Catalog Template helps you create one in minutes.
👇 Tell me in the comments—what’s stopping you from wholesaling? Let’s get you unstuck!
Warmest woofs,
Kara 🧡
