Seed wholesale catalogue scope and limits in plain terms

This overview is for shop owners and resellers who want to judge quickly whether the wholesale seed catalogue is worth a shortlist. It maps what the catalogue covers, who it is aimed at, and which limits should be accepted before time goes into selecting varieties. A catalogue listing is not an order confirmation, and a submitted enquiry is not a purchase.

Who the catalogue is meant for

The catalogue is built for seed retailers, garden shops and resellers buying seed for resale. It is not aimed at end customers buying for a private garden. That audience shapes how the catalogue is organised and how the enquiry process works: the buyer is expected to know their own market and to send a business selection rather than a single packet request.

What the catalogue covers

The catalogue is grouped into vegetables, flowers, herbs, and microgreens and sprouts. Within vegetables, the structure includes tomatoes, cabbage and kale, peppers and leafy greens. Flowers are split into annuals, biennials and perennials. Herbs include basil, mint, thyme and rosemary. Microgreens and sprouts have their own group. A species index from A to Z helps locate items by botanical name, and the catalogue is described as holding several thousand entries.

Variety pages and the information they carry

Variety pages show descriptions, reference numbers and listed prices. Listed prices and quantity tiers also appear on species lists and quick enquiry pages. Final prices and shipping charges are not fixed there; they are confirmed later in a quotation. For a shop building a shortlist, the reference number on the variety page is the detail worth recording so that later enquiry lines can be matched back to the right item.

Enquiries are non-binding

An enquiry does not place an order and no payment is taken through the website. The selection is reviewed before a quotation is made. This is the main limit to accept up front: sending a list does not reserve stock, lock a price or start a shipment. The quotation is the point at which availability, prices and shipping conditions are checked and an offer is made.

No account is needed

A shop does not need to create an account to use the catalogue. Items are selected in the catalogue, and business contact details are provided when the enquiry is sent. That lowers the barrier to testing whether the range fits, but it also means the buyer is responsible for sending complete and correct contact and destination details with the enquiry.

Basket editing and storage

Quantities can be edited or items removed in the basket before the enquiry is sent. Available pack sizes are confirmed later in the quotation, so basket quantities are provisional. The selection is stored in the browser until it is removed, browser data is cleared, or the enquiry is submitted successfully. Contact details are not stored in the basket. A shop should therefore treat the basket as a working draft, not a permanent record.

The basket is not an eligibility check

A catalogue listing does not confirm that a variety can be supplied to every destination. Import conditions depend on the species and the country of origin, and official guidance has to be checked for each botanical name before a shipment is arranged. The catalogue helps a shop assemble a shortlist, but destination eligibility and required documents remain a separate step that the buyer must clarify with the relevant authorities.

Details to include with an enquiry

A useful enquiry names the botanical name and variety, the quantity, the destination and business contact details. Packaging requirements and any documents the business needs should be stated. For unlisted varieties, the species or variety name, quantity and destination can be sent. Providing a requested delivery date is helpful, but a requested date is not a confirmed delivery commitment.

Limits to accept before shortlisting

Before investing time in a selection, a shop should accept four limits. First, an enquiry is non-binding. Second, listed prices are provisional until quoted. Third, pack sizes are confirmed in the quotation. Fourth, a catalogue listing is not proof of import eligibility. A shop that needs fixed prices or guaranteed delivery dates before sending a selection will not get them from the catalogue alone.

How to judge fit quickly

A shop can judge fit by checking three things against its own buying pattern: whether the crop groups and species in the catalogue match the range it sells, whether the enquiry-based quotation model suits how it plans purchases, and whether it can supply the destination and document details needed for a review. If those three align, building a shortlist is worthwhile. If the shop needs an immediate order confirmation, the catalogue model is the wrong starting point.

Seeds, knowledge and growing possibilities.

Seed trade journal