How to Start an Online Reselling Business Using Ingram Micro
Table of Content
- 1. Research The Product Line
- 2. Set Up An Account/Register
- 3. Gather All The Product Information
- 4. Decide How You Plan To Sell
- 5. Set Up an eCommerce Store
- 6. Open Cash and Credit Accounts
- 7. Choose Shipping Model – VARStreet Instant Dropshipping Facility
- 8. Share Serial/Tracking Number With Customers
- 9. Send Invoice To The Customer
- Start Selling Ingram Micro Products with VARStreet
- FAQs
The right distributor is the link between the best manufacturers and the resellers. As a distributor for resale businesses, Ingram Micro holds the largest range of manufacturers and categories.
Ingram Micro has grown into one of the largest technology distributors globally, it was acquired by China’s HNA Group in December 2016 for $6 billion, and today operates in 160 countries with approximately 200,000 customers worldwide.
Based in California, the company’s supply chain solutions enable its business partners to meet the challenges in the reseller market. Ingram Micro also offers its partners an unparalleled supply of expertise and resources to help businesses grow, as well as a dedicated team of customer service specialists who provide quick responses.
Key Takeaways:
- Becoming an Ingram Micro reseller starts with meeting the distributor’s reseller and tax requirements and completing the account application.
- Choosing the right product niche and sales model helps you build an online reselling business around a defined customer base.
- An eCommerce integration can connect your store with Ingram Micro’s catalog, pricing, product information, and availability.
- Cash, credit, and dropshipping options can help you manage purchasing, fulfillment, and inventory without holding every product yourself.
- Accurate order tracking, invoicing, and customer communication are essential for managing day-to-day reseller operations.
- Platforms such as VARStreet can help automate catalog management, order processing, dropshipping, and other parts of the online reselling workflow.
With Ingram Micro being one of the world’s largest distributors of computer hardware, software, and technology supplies, it’s no wonder that many entrepreneurs want to start an online reselling business with them.
Here are 9 steps on how you can start an online reselling business with Ingram Micro:
1. Research The Product Line
From the wide range of products that Ingram Micro offers, your focus spans certain products depending on your target market. Here, the product research comes into the picture. In this section, we will give you an idea of the market and product segments covered by Ingram Micro.
The company has a strong product portfolio that includes:
- Accessories: Computer Cases, Port Replicator Dock, Racks, Remote Control Dev, etc.
- Cables: Audio & Video Cables, Power Cables, USB Cables
- Networking/communication: Commun/Network Accs, Kvm Switch Cable Acc, Kvm Switch Entry, Lan Switch Layer 2, etc.
- Consumables: Aud/Vid/Camcor Tape, Color Laser Toner, Ink, Inkjet Paper, Large Format Ink, Laser Fusing Staple, etc.
- Consumer electronics: Air Purifiers, Boombox, Home Headphone, TV/Audio Tuners, Vacuum Cleaner, and more.
- Hard Drive/Optical: Cd-Recordable Drives, Flash Reader/Writer, Hard Drive/Opt Accs, Mobile Drives.
- Input: Input Device Accessories, Keyboard.
- Memory Processors: Flash Memory, Generic Memory, Motherboard, USB Storage Media, etc.
2. Set Up An Account/Register
The next step is to apply for a reseller account with Ingram Micro. Ingram Micro operates as a distributor and wholesaler, so businesses must meet its reseller requirements and provide the appropriate tax documentation to open an account.
Here are the key requirements and steps to keep in mind:
- Have a valid resale status: You must be operating as a reseller that purchases technology products or services for resale. Ingram Micro requires appropriate resale documentation, including a valid Resale Certificate from your home state and any state where you register to drop-ship.
- Meet account and payment requirements: Account terms can vary based on your business and account history. Businesses that have been operating for less than 12 months may initially be placed on a Pre-Payment account rather than receiving a credit line. Do not rely on a fixed annual minimum order value unless Ingram Micro has confirmed a current requirement for your region.
- Check state-specific tax requirements: Ingram Micro accepts reseller applications across all 50 U.S. states. However, some states do not accept blanket or multijurisdiction exemption certificates and require their own state-specific forms.
These include New York, Indiana, Virginia, and Louisiana, among others depending on the applicable transaction and tax requirements. For example:
-
- New York: Form ST-120
- Indiana: Form ST-105
- Virginia: Form ST-10
- Louisiana: Form R-1064 or R-1055
Once you’ve confirmed that your business meets the requirements, apply through the Ingram Micro Reseller Application Portal. Select your country or region and complete the application, providing the required business and tax information.
For a U.S. application, be prepared to provide information such as:
- Legal business name
- Business trade name(s) or DBA
- Business address and phone number
- Type of business as registered with your state
- General description of your business
- State sales or resale registration number for each state where you are licensed to resell
- Name and title of the person signing the application or certificate
- Signature of the owner or authorized officer
- Date the certificate was signed
Review the current application requirements before submitting your documents, as tax and account requirements can vary by jurisdiction and may change over time.
Apply for an Ingram Micro reseller account
3. Gather All The Product Information
eCommerce is all about retaining customers by offering them a clear buying experience. This underlines the value of quality eCommerce catalog management.
Resellers should make sure their catalogs clearly describe products and provide prices, hierarchy, suppliers, and other associated information.
- Break down silos
- Keep internal and external stakeholders informed on the catalog management process.
- Define roles and authorization flows for updating the database.
- Incorporate upsell/cross-sell tactics
- Tag all product descriptions uniformly to offer a dynamic search experience.
Pro Tip:
- Automate feed syncing to reduce listing errors across large product assortments.
4. Decide How You Plan To Sell
Once you’ve defined your niche and target audience, the next step is to decide who you want to sell to and how you’ll reach them. For a technology reseller, the three common business models are:
- B2C (Business to Consumer): You sell products or services directly to individual consumers, typically for personal use. This model can work well if you plan to serve a broad consumer market through an online store or other direct-sales channels.
- B2B (Business to Business): You sell products or services to other businesses. This model is common among IT resellers and can involve serving specific industries, company sizes, or technology needs.
- B2G (Business to Government): You sell products or services to government agencies and institutions. This model can open up opportunities in the public sector but may involve additional registration, procurement, and compliance requirements.
Consider your target customers, products, sales capabilities, and business goals when choosing a model. You can also combine multiple models if your business has the resources and capabilities to serve different customer groups effectively.
5. Set Up an eCommerce Store
If you want to sell online but don’t want to build and manage an eCommerce website from scratch, VARStreet’s online ecommerce integration with Ingram Micro can provide a practical way to get started. The integration connects your online store with Ingram Micro’s catalog and gives you the tools you need to manage products, pricing, orders, and fulfillment from one platform.
Key features include:
- Direct access to the Ingram Micro catalog: Get product information with daily catalog updates.
- Real-time availability and pricing: View current product availability and pricing in one place.
- Integrated quoting: Use quoting software to create and manage accurate customer quotes.
- Dropshipping: Send orders directly to customers without handling inventory yourself.
- Rich website content: Access product content that can be used to populate your online store.
- Electronic order placement: Submit orders electronically to simplify order processing.
- Customer support: Get assistance when you need help with the platform or your orders.
Pro Tip:
- Take advantage of Ingram Micro promotions and deal-of-the-day offers to highlight competitive products and attract early customers to your online store.
6. Open Cash and Credit Accounts
Once you receive an order from a customer, you’ll need to place a purchase order with Ingram Micro. Understanding the available payment options can help you choose the account type that works best for your business.
- Cash Account: Complete the Cash Account Application to open an Ingram Micro cash account.
- Payment options: Cash account purchases can be paid for using credit cards, electronic fund transfers, or direct deposits.
- Payment before shipping: Orders placed through a cash account are shipped after Ingram Micro receives payment.
- Credit Account: Eligible resellers can apply for a Commercial Credit Account to purchase products and services on credit.
- Credit application: Setting up a commercial credit account requires completing an application and providing the financial information requested by Ingram Micro, which may include details about assets and liabilities.
7. Choose Shipping Model – VARStreet Instant Dropshipping Facility
Once your reseller account is set up and you’re ready to accept orders, you’ll need to decide how you’ll fulfill them. For an online reselling business, holding inventory yourself can require significant upfront investment and storage space. Dropshipping offers an alternative.
With Ingram Micro dropshipping, you can sell eligible products without keeping them in your own warehouse. When a customer places an order, you purchase the product from Ingram Micro, and the distributor ships it directly to the customer. This allows you to operate with less inventory while focusing on finding customers, managing your online store, and generating sales.
If you’re using VARStreet’s platform, its eCommerce integration with Ingram Micro can help automate parts of this process. Product catalog information, pricing, and availability can be synced with your online store, while orders can be sent electronically to Ingram Micro for fulfillment.
This setup can help you:
- Avoid holding inventory: You don’t need to purchase and store products before you have a customer order.
- Reduce fulfillment work: Ingram Micro can ship eligible orders directly to your customers.
- Keep product information updated: The integration can sync catalog data, pricing, and availability with your store.
- Expand your product selection: You can offer products from Ingram Micro’s catalog without stocking every item yourself.
- Focus on sales and marketing: With fulfillment handled by the distributor, you can dedicate more time to marketing, customer acquisition, and growing your business.
Before choosing dropshipping, check which products and orders are eligible and review Ingram Micro’s current shipping and fulfillment terms.
Pro Tips:
- Start with products that have consistent demand rather than trying to list everything in the Ingram Micro catalog. A focused product selection can make it easier to market your store and identify what your customers actually want.
8. Share Serial/Tracking Number With Customers
Once an order has been fulfilled, keep your customers informed about their shipment. Sharing tracking information helps customers monitor their deliveries, while providing serial numbers can be useful for products where customers need them for warranty, registration, or support purposes.
If you’re using VARStreet’s SMB eCommerce platform, you can manage sales and order information from one place and share relevant order details with customers. The platform also provides sales data and analytics that can help you understand which products are selling and identify areas where your product selection may need adjustment.
9. Send Invoice To The Customer
After processing an order, send the customer an invoice with the details of their purchase. An invoice provides a record of the transaction and can include the product price, applicable taxes, shipping charges, and other costs.
VARStreet’s eCommerce platform includes automated invoice generation based on purchase orders. You can also add applicable tax, shipping, and insurance charges to an order when required.
Start Selling Ingram Micro Products with VARStreet
Getting approved as an Ingram Micro reseller is only the first step. Once your account is active, you’ll need to manage product catalogs, pricing, availability, orders, fulfillment, and customer communication across your online sales channels.
VARStreet can help bring these processes together through its integration with Ingram Micro. Key capabilities include:
- Access to the Ingram Micro catalog: Connect your online store with Ingram Micro’s product catalog.
- Catalog synchronization: Keep product information and availability updated across your store.
- Pricing and quoting: Access pricing information and use sales quoting software to create customer quotes.
- Dropshipping: Have eligible orders fulfilled and shipped directly to customers through Ingram Micro.
- Order and invoice management: Manage order information and generate invoices from the platform.
- Product content: Use available product information and rich content to build out your online catalog.
- Multi-distributor access: VARStreet also connects resellers with multiple IT distributors, giving you additional sourcing options as your business grows.
Instead of building and maintaining integrations with distributors yourself, you can use VARStreet to connect your online reselling workflow with Ingram Micro and manage key processes from one platform.
If you’re ready to start selling Ingram Micro products online, explore VARStreet’s eCommerce platform.
FAQs
Do I need a business license before applying to become an Ingram Micro reseller?
Yes. Ingram Micro requires applicants to already hold a valid reseller license for IT equipment or services, applications without one are typically rejected outright, so this needs to be in place before you apply, not obtained during the process.
Can I sell Ingram Micro products on multiple sales channels at once (B2B, B2C, and marketplaces)?
Yes, many resellers run Ingram Micro’s catalog across more than one channel simultaneously, a B2B storefront alongside consumer-facing listings, for example. The key requirement is keeping pricing and inventory synced across every channel in real time, which is exactly what catalog integration platforms like VARStreet are built to handle.
What happens if I don't meet Ingram Micro's minimum annual order requirement?
Falling short of the minimum threshold can put your reseller account at risk of review or termination, since Ingram Micro periodically checks account activity against the agreed order volume. If you’re consistently under the threshold, it’s worth reaching out to your account representative before it becomes a compliance issue.
Is there a cost to integrate my eCommerce store with Ingram Micro's catalog?
This depends on how you integrate. Building and maintaining a direct API integration yourself involves developer time and ongoing maintenance, while using a platform like VARStreet that already has the Ingram Micro connection built in typically comes bundled into the platform’s subscription cost instead.
Can I return products I've ordered through Ingram Micro if a customer cancels?
Yes, Ingram Micro provides a Return Merchandise Authorization (RMA) process for returns, including for damaged goods, through their online return and claim tools. Terms and eligibility windows vary by product category, so it’s worth reviewing the specific return policy for the items you’re reselling.
