Hand sanitizer, construction paper, safety scissors, oh my! When you run a children’s activity business, you may find yourself in need of supplies for your studio or classroom. Even if you teach online, you may still need materials to send to students or props to help you demonstrate a lesson. 

Buying supplies can be overwhelming — so we’ve put together a list of common supplies that children’s activity providers might need and wholesale and direct ways to buy them. 

Basic supplies for a classroom or studio 

What type of classes do you teach? If you’re an art teacher or music teacher, the supplies you’ll need to teach students will be different than someone teaching sports or cooking classes. To determine what supplies you should always have on hand, look at your curriculum and take note of what students need to be successful. 

For example, most children’s activity businesses will want to have:

• Cleaning supplies 
• Hand sanitizer and soap
• Toilet paper and paper towels
• First-aid supplies
• Paper and notebooks
• Writing utensils like pencils and pens
• Craft basics like glue, kid-safe scissors, and tape 
• Office supplies like a computer, a printer, printer paper, a stapler, etc 
• Supplies for class demonstrations like ingredients for science experiments or recipes
  

The list goes on and on — but what’s important is making a list that works for your business. Keeping a comprehensive list and inventory of basics and industry-specific supplies will help you stay organized and keep the things you need in stock!

Where to buy wholesale supplies

Buying wholesale is great if your business has storage space and wants to stock up on supplies for a longer period of time. Wholesalers can offer products in bulk for a lower cost, which saves your business money in the long run. Wholesale products often have a higher initial cost — and are not the best option if you’re not sure you’ll need a certain item in large quantities. 

Oriental Trading

You might remember Oriental Trading for their kid’s birthday party favors and craft supplies, but did you know they have a great selection of wholesale supplies for educators? From 75-piece packs of Crayola Model Magic clay to gallons of washable paint, this supplier is great for in-person educators who need to buy name-brand craft and classroom supplies in bulk! 

DollarDays 

This wholesale retailer makes it easy for schools, nonprofits, and small businesses to buy high-quality classroom supplies at a wholesale price. From office and school supplies to home and kitchen, this company will work with your business to help you order in bulk and reduce cost.

Business Prime from Amazon

If you love Amazon, Business Prime might be for you. This free tool allows small businesses and big businesses alike to purchase supplies in large quantities. Take advantage of business pricing, quantity discounts, free shipping, progressive discounts, account management, and more. 

Where to buy direct supplies

Have a last-minute or small supply need? Consider buying direct! This is also a great solution if you don’t have storage space or need to purchase items in smaller quantities, you can use these resources to buy supplies for your classroom.

Discount School Supply

Discount School Supply is renowned for its customer service and offers a wide selection of safe quality products for classrooms. They offer easy browsing by the type of class you teach — and are a great resource for buying both in bulk and one-off purchases. 

Staples

Stores like Staples have many locations and offer easy-to-find supplies at reasonable costs for educators and small businesses. Make sure to sign up for their rewards program, which has no membership fee, rewards for purchases, bonus sales, and free shipping.  

The Dollar Store and Dollar Section

Teachers and educators can go to a local dollar store to take advantage of quick and immediate needs! The dollar store is great because it has so many options — from classroom snacks to school supplies. Educators can also check out the dollar section at stores like Target, Wal-Mart, and Michaels to find deals when they need supplies in a pinch! 

Where does your business buy supplies? Let us know by reaching out to marketing@hisawyer.com or by connecting with a team member using the demo form below.