Wholesalers - where do they hide?

Subject: Wholesalers - where do they hide?
From: Maija
Date: 05 Apr 05 - 12:36 PM

I am currently starting up a business with a friend of mine, based around (Irish) folk/folk-crossover, and though we mainly deal with merchandise, CDs and thelike (more aimed towards the consumer of music than the makers of music), we would like to be able to offer instruments. I have, however, a hard time finding those important wholesalers.

We are looking for instruments for beginners - whistles, bodhráns and other instruments that might not be too expensive. I'll leave it to the experts to sell the Real Stuff :> I've been thinking Generations pennywhistles, but cannot really find any distributors, and emailing the manufacturers was a shot in the dark. So I try here... as a last desperate attempt.

Can someone help me getting in touch with a decent wholetrader of traditional instruments in Germany / Europe? Would be much appreciated!

Subject: RE: Wholesalers - where do they hide?
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 05 Apr 05 - 06:45 PM

I don't know the contact details, but you should try Clarke - especially the SweeTone line of whistles - good for beginners.

Subject: RE: Wholesalers - where do they hide?
From: PoppaGator
Date: 05 Apr 05 - 06:50 PM

If you contact the manufacturers via their websites and explain that you are starting a retail business, they should either put you in touch with the appropriate distributor for your area or offer to deal with you directly.

To get wholesale prices, of course, you will need to buy in quantity. The more you buy, the better the price.

Subject: RE: Wholesalers - where do they hide?
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 05 Apr 05 - 07:13 PM

I am trying to trace the UK importers/wholesalers of the Japanese-built Charvel guitars in the 1980s (to trace serial number records). Any ideas?

Subject: RE: Wholesalers - where do they hide?
From: GUEST,Jon
Date: 05 Apr 05 - 07:30 PM

UK Wholesale:

Clarke and Sweetone you could get from Stentor

JHS do Clarke and Feadog

Barnes and Mullins do Generation.

Subject: RE: Wholesalers - where do they hide?
From: jimmyt
Date: 05 Apr 05 - 07:30 PM

For a very nice midrange priced whistle, I heartily recommend the Tony Dixon Whistles made in Devonshire.

Subject: RE: Wholesalers - where do they hide?
From: Maija
Date: 06 Apr 05 - 03:23 AM

Cheers for the answers. I did try to get in touch with Barnes and Mullins, but never heard anything back... I think I'll go for Feadog for whistles, then, and use a "local" bodhrán maker.

Thanks again :)

Subject: RE: Wholesalers - where do they hide?
From: AllisonA(Animaterra)
Date: 06 Apr 05 - 05:46 AM

I understand Lark in the Morning has a wholesale catalog.

Subject: RE: Wholesalers - where do they hide?
From: GUEST,Jon
Date: 06 Apr 05 - 06:12 AM

I don't know if they have but if they did, wouldn't that mean ordering from the US (rather than Europe as requested)?