How to Buy Products from Lowe’s to Sell on Amazon?

What is Retail Arbitrage? 

Retail arbitrage is a business model where individuals buy products at lower prices from retail stores and then resell them at a higher price on online marketplaces like Amazon, eBay, or Walmart. Retail arbitrage is a popular option for many Amazon sellers because it doesn’t require a significant upfront investment or the need to develop a product from scratch. It’s all about finding deals and taking advantage of them.

Here’s an example to understand this business model better: Let’s say you visit a store like Walmart and find a popular brand of coffee makers on clearance for $30, while the same item is selling for $80 on Amazon. By purchasing the coffee makers in bulk from Walmart, you can list them on Amazon at a higher price (e.g., $75). After deducting Amazon’s fees, shipping costs, and the initial purchase price, you make a profit on each coffee maker sold.

How to Find Profitable Products on Lowe’s?

Here are a few tips and tricks to help you find and buy products from Lowe’s to sell on Amazon:

Look for Sales and Clearance Items

Start by checking Lowe’s clearance section, both online and in-store. These items are often marked down significantly, making them ideal candidates for reselling at a profit. Seasonal items, discontinued products, or overstocked inventory can be purchased at discounted rates.

This can also be useful when sourcing products from Walmart. Make sure you read our guide on how to buy products from Walmart to sell on Amazon before sourcing from this retailer. 

Research Popular Categories

Certain categories tend to perform well on Amazon, such as:

• Power tools
• Home appliances
• Gardening tools
• Lighting fixtures
• Smart home devices 
• Small appliances

Look for products within these categories at Lowe’s, as they often sell at higher prices online. If you source products from Home Depot, these are also considered popular categories. Don’t miss our guide on how to buy products from Home Depot to sell on Amazon before starting your business. 

Check Amazon Best Sellers and Trends

Before making a purchase, always cross-check if the product is in high demand. Browse Amazon’s Best Sellers lists and Trending Products sections to identify which items have a high sell-through rate. This can guide your buying decisions when shopping at Lowe’s.

Use Amazon FBA Calculator

Once you’ve identified potential products, use Amazon’s FBA calculator to estimate your profit margins. Factor in the purchase cost, shipping fees, and Amazon’s selling fees to ensure that the product has a healthy profit margin before making a purchase.

Focus on Small, Lightweight Items

Smaller items typically cost less to ship to Amazon’s warehouses, reducing your expenses. Lowe’s carries a range of small tools, home improvement gadgets, and accessories that are ideal for this.

What Are the Best Tools to Find Profitable Products from Lowe’s? 

Using the right tools and software can help you immensely when you want to buy products from Lowe’s to sell on Amazon. Here are five of the best tools for sourcing profitable products from Lowe’s:

1. Keepa

Keepa is a powerful Amazon price tracking tool that allows you to monitor the price history of products on Amazon. By checking a product’s price fluctuations, you can make informed decisions about whether an item from Lowe’s will be profitable. Keepa’s charts display historical pricing data, helping you determine if it’s the right time to buy and resell a product. You can read our Keepa reviews to get to know this tool better. 

2. Scoutify

Scoutify is a mobile app designed for retail arbitrage, allowing you to quickly scan barcodes of products at Lowe’s and compare their prices with those on Amazon. It provides real-time data on pricing, sales rank, and potential profit margins. The app helps you assess whether a product is worth purchasing based on Amazon’s market conditions.

3. CamelCamelCamel

CamelCamelCamel is another price tracking tool that helps you identify products with high price fluctuations on Amazon. By setting price alerts, you can track when a Lowe’s product might sell for a higher price on Amazon. This tool is essential for monitoring long-term price trends and ensuring you’re sourcing at the best time. Don’t miss our CamelCamelCamel reviews for more info on this tool. 

4. Amazon Seller App

The Amazon Seller App is great for sourcing products from Lowe’s. It allows you to scan product barcodes, check current listings, review sales ranks, and see fees associated with selling the item on Amazon. You can instantly calculate potential profits and check how much competition you’ll face for the product on Amazon.

5. BrickSeek

BrickSeek is a website that tracks inventory and discounts at major retailers, including Lowe’s. You can search for deals and discounts at Lowe’s and see if specific items are in stock at your local store. By finding clearance or heavily discounted items, you can increase your profit margin when reselling them on Amazon.

The tools mentioned above are also very useful when sourcing products from Kohl’s. But before sourcing from this retailer, make sure you read our guide on how to buy products from Kohl’s to sell on Amazon. 

What Things Should You Consider When Buying Products from Lowe’s? 

Here are some important factors to consider when you want to buy products from Lowe’s to sell on Amazon: 

Product Popularity

Choose items that have a good level of demand – and, preferably, low competition – on Amazon. Products with higher demand are more likely to sell quickly, allowing you to turn your inventory into profit faster. Use tools like Amazon’s Best Sellers list and Keepa to assess popularity and sales trends.

Profit Margins

Always calculate the potential profit margins after factoring in Amazon’s fees, shipping costs, and any other expenses. Ensure the difference between the price at Lowe’s and the selling price on Amazon leaves you with a healthy margin. For instance, a $50 profit margin on an online-only deal can be attractive, but remember to account for all associated costs to see if it’s truly worthwhile.

Competition

Less competition can lead to higher profitability, so research how many sellers are offering the same product on Amazon. If too many sellers are competing for the same item, it may lead to price wars, reducing your potential profit.

Seasonality

Keep in mind the seasonal demand for certain products. Some items, like holiday decorations, may only be popular at specific times of the year. Anticipating these trends can help you adjust your inventory and maximize your profits by selling during peak demand periods.

Online-Only Deals

Lowe’s often offers “online-only deals” that are deeply discounted and sold exclusively through their website. These deals can provide significant savings, such as a Samsung microwave priced at $179 on Lowe’s but listed at $229 on Amazon, offering a potential profit margin of $50 before fees. Be quick, as these deals are time-sensitive and may expire within a few days.

Deal of the Day

Lowe’s “deal of the day” features heavily discounted products available for just one day. These can range from electronics to home improvement tools. Since these deals change daily and disappear fast, regularly checking them and acting quickly can help you snag profitable items before prices return to normal.

Coupons

Using coupons can further increase your profit margins. Lowe’s often offers coupon codes, which can help you get additional discounts on your purchases. Installing a browser extension like Honey or Invisible Hand that automatically finds and applies coupons can save you time and money, boosting your overall profitability.

Step by Step Guide to Sell Lowe’s Products on Amazon 

If you want to run a successful business and buy products from Lowe’s to sell on Amazon, you can follow the guide below: 

1. Set Up Your Amazon Seller Account

Before you start sourcing products from Lowe’s, you’ll need to create an Amazon seller account. To do this, 

1. Go to Amazon Seller Central and click “Register Now.”
2. Choose between an Individual or Professional account, depending on your sales volume. An individual account is free but charges a fee per sale, while the professional account has a monthly subscription fee.
3. Provide your business details, including your name, address, and contact information.
4. Set up your payment and shipping options.
5. Agree to Amazon’s terms and conditions to complete registration. 

2. Identify Profitable Products on Lowe’s

Once your Amazon account is ready, you can start looking for products at Lowe’s to resell. You can browse Lowe’s clearance section or online-only deals for discounted products, and use tools like Keepa or the Amazon Seller App to compare Lowe’s prices with Amazon’s. We talked about this in-depth in the previous sections. 

3. Purchase Products: Online vs. In-Store

You can buy products from Lowe’s either online or in-store. Each method has its pros and cons:

• Online Shopping: Convenient, wider product selection, access to customer reviews, but be aware of shipping costs and delivery times.
• In-Store Shopping: Allows you to physically inspect products and sometimes negotiate better deals, especially when buying in bulk.

4. Leverage Lowe’s Bulk Buying and Discounts

If you’re planning to buy multiple units of the same item, buying in bulk can increase your profit margins. Here’s how to save money:

• Negotiate with store managers for better prices.
• Join Lowe’s loyalty programs and look for coupons to reduce your costs.

5. List and Price Your Products on Amazon

After purchasing products, you’ll need to list them on Amazon. If the product already exists on Amazon (i.e., you’re not the first to sell it), you can add your offer to an existing listing:

1. In Seller Central, click on “Catalog” in the top menu and select “Add a Product” from the dropdown.
2. Use the product’s UPC, EAN, or ASIN (Amazon Standard Identification Number) to find the item. You can also search by product name or keywords.
3. Once you find the matching product listing, click “Sell Yours” to begin adding your offer.

If the product is not yet listed on Amazon, you’ll need to create a new listing 

Price your products competitively by researching similar listings on Amazon. Factor in your costs, fees, and shipping expenses to find the right balance between profit and market demand. You can also use dynamic pricing tools to adjust your prices based on real-time market trends and competitor activity.

6. Manage Your Inventory and Sales

Once your products are listed, use Amazon’s Seller Central tools to manage your inventory and fulfill orders. If you use Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA), Amazon will handle storage, shipping, and customer service for your products, simplifying the process.

Conclusion 

If done strategically, it can be quite a profitable venture to buy products from Lowe’s to sell on Amazon. By carefully selecting products using the tips provided in this article, you can increase your chances of success. Whether you choose to shop online for convenience or in-store for hands-on evaluation, leveraging bulk discounts, online deals, and coupons can further boost your profits. With the right approach, reselling Lowe’s products on Amazon can be a valuable part of your online arbitrage business.

FAQ

What types of products should I buy from Lowe’s to sell on Amazon?

Focus on high-demand items such as home improvement tools, appliances, seasonal and clearance products, as these often offer better profit margins and lower competition on Amazon.

How can I maximize savings when buying from Lowe’s?

You can maximize savings by taking advantage of online-only deals, utilizing coupons, purchasing items on sale, and negotiating prices when buying in bulk.

What are the potential challenges of reselling Lowe’s products on Amazon?

Challenges include price fluctuations, competition from other sellers, Amazon’s fees impacting profit margins, and managing inventory effectively to meet demand without overstocking.

Does Lowe’s have a 3rd party marketplace?

No, Lowe’s does not have a third-party marketplace like Amazon. It primarily sells its own inventory through its website and physical stores.