I know of only one distributor who, by company policy, won't sell to framers who don't have storefronts. The rest of them (that I know) all base their pricing decisions on individual situations.
In order to qualify for wholesale prices, wholesale quantities must be purchased, of course. If monthly purchases are small -- typical of a large retail cusatomer, for example -- the distributors are right to decline the orders.
Distributors profit more with larger quantities. The more you buy, the better your prices will be. If you buy 100 frames a week, you'll earn significant discounts, and soon become a dear friend to a lot of moulding distributors. But you will probably have to ask for those discounts; shop around.
If you consolidate your buys of matboard, glass, hardware and other supplies for one large order instead of two or three smaller ones, you will be a more important customer than if you buy in small chunks.
If you pay your bills quickly & earn cash discounts, you have the best possible negotiating position, for whatever amount of business you can offer a supplier. On the other hand, a poor payment history is a real disadvantage in negotiating prices, freight allowances, and other terms with suppliers.
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