Home crafters generally make objects of art or utility from ordinary items. Craft supplies are readily available from retail stores, although they can be expensive. Serious home crafters typically buy their supplies from wholesale sources to save money.
Buy craft supplies from online sources. These sources may only have an online presence, but they can also be the website for a brick-and-mortar craft store. Online sources for craft supplies may be able to offer wholesale prices since they don’t incur the expenses of retail establishments such as maintaining a new building. Ensure you view pictures of the craft supplies from an online store before you make your purchase. Obtain a federal tax identification number. This may allow you to work with any retailer on the business-to-business basis, which generally involves wholesale prices. A federal tax identification number is available from the Internal Revenue Service. Some businesses may also order require you to obtain a state vendor’s license before offering you wholesale prices. This license is most helpful for buying large amounts of commercial items used in crafting like beads, glue and yarn. Buy craft supplies from a warehouse. These sources of craft supplies routinely offer discount prices, although you typically need to buy large quantities. Crafts supply warehouses may also stock specialty items used only in crafting such as a particular type of paint or fabric. They typically publish a catalog, allowing you to make your selections before you go to the warehouse.