Wholesale manufacturing essentially involves a business producing the goods themselves in large quantities and selling them to distributors or businesses at a wholesale price. These manufacturers often have their own production facilities, which let them make goods at a lower cost per unit.

Wholesalers are not manufacturers. Their business is distributing the end products. They purchase goods from manufacturers in bulk at a discount and sell to retailers.

wholesale supplier is a business that buys goods directly from the manufacturer and sells them to brick-and-mortar or online retailers for a profit. The wholesale model soared in popularity with the onset of mass production and marketing techniques in the 19th century.