How Wholesale Toy Ordering Works: A Guide for Australian Retailers

A trade account is your approved relationship with a distributor. Wholesale pricing isn't public, it's reserved for genuine retailers, so distributors ask you to apply and confirm you're a legitimate business before they open pricing to you. Once approved, you can see trade prices, place orders, and reorder as you sell through. Applying is usually quick: you'll be asked for your ABN, the type of store you run, and which brands or categories you're interested in.

Most distributors set a minimum order value so packing and freight make sense for both sides. At Rhino Rhino the minimum is AUD $500 across all brands per order, and each product has its own minimum increment. For a new store, plan an opening order that spans a few complementary lines rather than a handful of single items.

Most wholesale ordering now happens through an online trade portal rather than emailed spreadsheets. Once approved, you log in, browse the range at trade prices, and build your order. Rhino Rhino stockists order through a dedicated trade portal, which makes reordering fast once you know what sells.

New accounts almost always start on pro-forma terms, meaning you pay before the order ships. This is standard and protects both parties early on. Popular lines sell out, so a backorder lets you reserve inbound stock, often with a deposit to secure it (at Rhino Rhino, 50%). If a distributor holds stock locally, your reorder times are far shorter than importing.

Freight is normally calculated per order by weight, volume and location, with the distributor choosing the most economical courier. Ask about free-freight thresholds, hitting one can meaningfully improve your landed cost. And check the warranty: Rhino Rhino assesses items found faulty within 12 months (with receipt and photos) and replaces genuine production faults.

Before you commit, check three things: Do they hold stock locally, for fast reorders? Are the brands officially licensed and compliant, to protect you legally? And are there channel rules, for example Rhino Rhino does not permit selling its brands on Amazon, eBay or similar marketplaces?

Ready to stock premium toy, plush and gift brands? Rhino Rhino is an Australian wholesale distributor supplying retailers across Australia and New Zealand, with stock held locally and one trade account across many brands. Apply to become a stockist at rhinorhino.com.au/become-a-stockist.