What is a line sheet? If you have a wholesale brand, you may need one to sell to retailers. Find out what it is and how to make one for your product line.

1. Post Link: What is a Line Sheet? (And How to Make One for Your Wholesale Business)
What is a Line Sheet? (And How to Make One for Your Wholesale
Business)
For newcomers to wholesale, learning the lingo can be hard. You may have heard of something
called a “line sheet,” and been told that you need one. But what is a line sheet, exactly?
In certain industries like fashion, line sheets are necessary when interacting with current and
potential buyers. While we can’t create a wholesale line sheet for you, we can provide some
great tips on how to make one, and shed some light on why they may be important for your
business.
What is a line sheet?
Let’s start with the basics. Think of a line sheet as a shorthand catalog. It is a document that
should provide buyers with the necessary information to make a purchase.
The difference between a catalog and line sheet is that the line sheet is a more bare bones
document––it’s all about practical information, without room for long descriptions or lifestyle
imagery.
You want simple, professional, color photos of your products with a neutral background. Limit

2. your text to details pertinent to the ordering process. The line sheet should only be a page or
two long (which is why they only make sense for certain industries, like gift and fashion).
Keep in mind that you will be placing product photos next to each other on the sheet, (hence
the term “line sheet”) so be consistent in angle, size, and lighting when taking photos to ensure
your line sheet looks professional.
How do I make an effective wholesale line sheet?
Luckily, you don’t have to reinvent the wheel. There are lots of online tools that can help you
create a variety of line sheets that you can individualize for your business. Check out Trunkt
and Linesheet Maker. Once you have a good-looking line sheet, it’s smart to have it available
on your website.
Depending on your layout, you want to put relevant information below or beside your photo.
This isn’t the place for marketing jargon; keep the text purely informational. This should include:
Name of the productq
SKU or Item numberq
The wholesale price (expressed as “each”)q
The suggested retail priceq
Order minimums and any variants (size, color etc.).q
How to make line sheets that work for your wholesale
business.
There is a little room for creativity when creating a line sheet. If you have a best-selling product
or a new product that you want to promote, showcase those products at the top. This is a great
way to lead your buyers by the hand, particularly if they are already are familiar with your brand.
You can customize your wholesale line sheet to each customer. This doesn’t mean starting
from scratch, but rather including additional information or repositioning your products in a way
that caters to the client.
For example, if you have seasonal products, place the most relevant items at the top, or point to
your in-season products with banners. You can create line sheets with products that are
relevant to some customers, while leaving off products that aren’t. A detailed approach like this
may take some extra effort, but it keeps your line sheets clean, concise, easily readable and
relevant for each customer.
When you are creating the layout, have a logical plan for organizing your products. Don’t just
jam them on the sheet in alphabetical order (you could if that makes sense for your product) but
think a few steps further.
Can you divide your product into categories? If you are selling clothing, does it make sense to
differentiate between men’s and women’s lines? Or should you categorize your products by

3. make and model? Look at sample line sheets and get an idea of the kind of categories that are
used in your industry.
What details are important on a wholesale line sheet?
Now that you have the layout and basics down, you want to move onto equally important
details. Make sure your line sheet includes details about your payment terms. Does your
customer have to pay upfront before you dispatch the goods? Do you give them 30 days to
pay? Do you offer Net 60 terms? (This can be a good incentive. We’ll get to more of those
below).
You also want to be sure to include shipping information. What shipping method do you use,
and what is the timeline? What is your carriage-paid level? (This means if a shop orders over a
certain number of your choosing, you will cover the shipping cost.) If the order is below that
number, what are the estimated shipping costs?
What is your refund, return or cancellation policy? What happens if your customer cancels their
order within a certain window? Or if the order arrives damaged? You want to outline terms for
each scenario.
What else can I do to stand out?
Offer incentives to your customers that mitigate their risk and encourage them to buy from you.
We don’t mean “buy one get one,” but you could offer things like exclusivity. Meaning, you will
agree not to sell to competitors within a certain geographical area. Or if something doesn’t sell
within a designated window, you could offer to take it back or exchange it for something else.
If you’ve reached the point where you have a polished and professional line sheet, first off,
congratulations! You are one step closer to selling your products wholesale. Before you head
out the door to approach potential customers, take a moment to consult our checklist to ensure
your line sheet contains the necessary details to make a stellar first impression.
Line Sheet Checklist:
Logo is clearly visibleq
Text is minimal; font is consistentq
Contact information is accurate and easy to findq
You’ve included payment terms and shipping detailsq
If you have tweaked your line sheet to your customer, double check that the products you’req
presenting are relevant to them. Nothing makes you look more unprofessional or out of touch
with your customer’s business than presenting irrelevant products.
Do you have tips for creating a killer line sheet? Or perhaps you’ve created a checklist of your
own. We’d love to hear your tips and tricks in the comments!
Post originally located at: https://www.handshake.com/blog/what-is-a-line-sheet/

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