An import distributor's job is to have the right product in the right place at the right time, without sitting on inventory that does not move. That is a hard balancing act with a product like faux wood beams, which are bulky, take up warehouse space, and have to be on hand when a contractor or homeowner needs them. We have built a stock faux beam program specifically for import distributors, where the inventory sits in our warehouse and gets shipped to the distributor in weekly small batches. The distributor gets the benefit of fast availability without the cost of carrying large inventory.
Why Distributors Need a Different Model
A traditional import distributor orders a container of product, pays for it to ship from the factory to their warehouse, holds it in their warehouse, and then sells it off over weeks or months. The model works for high-volume, predictable products. It does not work well for faux beams, which are bulky, have many SKUs, and demand patterns that are hard to predict.
A distributor who orders a full container of 4-inch driftwood gray beams is betting that they will sell all of them before the next container arrives. If they over-ordered, they are sitting on inventory that ties up capital and warehouse space. If they under-ordered, they have stockouts and lose sales to competitors who had the product on hand.
The stock faux beam program shifts the inventory risk from the distributor to the manufacturer. The distributor orders weekly, the manufacturer ships from stock, and the distributor turns the inventory quickly without taking the risk of a full container load.
How the Stock Program Works
The stock program is built around three principles: predictable inventory, weekly order cycles, and fast replenishment of the manufacturer's stock.
Predictable Inventory Levels
Distributors can log into the distributor portal and see real-time inventory levels for every stocked SKU. They know what is available, how many are in stock, and what the typical lead time is for replenishment. The data updates continuously as orders are placed and as stock arrives from the factory.
Weekly Order Cycles
Most distributors in the program order on a weekly cycle. They review their inventory at the start of the week, place their order by Wednesday for the products they need, and receive the shipment by the following Monday or Tuesday. The cycle repeats every week, with adjustments based on sales velocity.
Fast Replenishment of Stock
When our stock dips below the threshold for a particular SKU, a replenishment order is triggered to the factory. The factory typically ships the replenishment within 7–10 days, and the new stock arrives at the warehouse within 14–21 days depending on the source factory location. The distributor never has to wait months for a container to arrive.
Pricing Tiers for the Stock Program
Pricing in the stock program is structured to reward regular volume with lower per-unit pricing.
Tier 1: Small Distributor
Distributors placing orders under 50 beams per month pay a per-unit price that is comparable to what they would pay if they ordered a small container direct from the factory, plus a small service fee for the inventory management.
Tier 2: Mid-Volume Distributor
Distributors placing orders of 50–200 beams per month qualify for a per-unit price that reflects the volume commitment. The service fee is reduced, and the distributor gets access to additional SKUs in the stock program.
Tier 3: High-Volume Distributor
Distributors placing orders above 200 beams per month qualify for the best per-unit pricing, a dedicated account manager, and access to the full stock catalog. High-volume distributors also get first priority on new SKUs added to the stock program.
Custom Pricing for Large Accounts
Distributors placing consistent orders above 500 beams per month can negotiate custom pricing based on their specific sales patterns, geographic market, and product mix. These accounts typically have a dedicated account manager and a customized stock plan that matches their sales velocity.
Drop-Shipping to Distributor Customers
For distributors who want to offer fast shipping without holding inventory, we provide drop-shipping services. The distributor's customer orders through the distributor's website or sales channel, the order routes to our warehouse, and we ship directly to the end customer with the distributor's branding on the packaging.
How Drop-Shipping Works
The distributor integrates their e-commerce platform with our order API. When an end customer places an order, the API sends the order to our system, our warehouse picks and packs the order, and we ship it to the customer. The shipping label and packing slip show the distributor's company name and logo. The end customer never knows the product shipped from our warehouse rather than the distributor's.
Benefits of Drop-Shipping
Drop-shipping lets the distributor offer fast shipping without holding inventory. The distributor's website can show "in stock" availability based on our real-time inventory data. The end customer gets fast shipping. The distributor pays only for the products that are sold, not for inventory that sits in a warehouse.
Drop-Ship Pricing
Drop-ship pricing is typically slightly higher per unit than bulk warehouse pricing, because the warehouse handling and packing is included in the per-unit cost. The distributor sets their own retail price and keeps the margin between the drop-ship cost and the retail price.
Inventory Management Tools for Distributors
Distributors in the stock program get access to a set of inventory management tools that make it easier to run their business.
Real-Time Stock Levels
The distributor portal shows real-time stock levels for every SKU in the program. The distributor can see what is in stock, what is on backorder, and what is in transit to the warehouse. The data is updated continuously throughout the day.
Sales Velocity Tracking
The portal tracks the distributor's sales velocity for each SKU. The system shows which products are moving quickly, which are moving slowly, and which have been sitting in inventory for too long. This data helps the distributor make smarter purchasing decisions.
Reorder Point Recommendations
Based on the distributor's sales velocity and lead time, the portal recommends reorder points for each SKU. The recommendation ensures the distributor orders enough product to cover demand during the lead time, without over-ordering and tying up capital.
Custom Reports
Distributors can run custom reports on their purchasing history, sales velocity, inventory levels, and freight spend. The reports can be exported to Excel or PDF for further analysis.
Geographic Distribution
The stock program leverages our three US warehouses to provide fast shipping across the country. Distributors anywhere in the continental US can get product within 3–5 business days via standard ground freight.
West Coast Distributors
Distributors on the West Coast typically pull from the Los Angeles warehouse. Shipping times to California, Oregon, Washington, Nevada, and Arizona are typically 1–2 business days.
Central US Distributors
Distributors in the central US pull from the Dallas-Fort Worth warehouse. Shipping times to Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Colorado, and the surrounding states are typically 1–2 business days.
East Coast Distributors
Distributors on the East Coast pull from the Allentown, Pennsylvania warehouse. Shipping times to the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic, and Southeast are typically 1–3 business days.
Multi-Warehouse Coverage
Distributors with customers across the country can split orders across multiple warehouses. The system optimizes the order to pull each product from the closest warehouse with stock available, minimizing the total freight cost and transit time.
Marketing Support for Distributors
Distributors in the stock program get marketing support to help them sell the products.
Product Photography and Descriptions
We provide professional product photography and detailed product descriptions that distributors can use on their websites, in their catalogs, and in their marketing materials. The photography shows the beams in installed settings, the descriptions include specifications and use cases.
Co-Branded Marketing Materials
For distributors who want to co-brand the products, we provide co-branded marketing materials. The materials include the distributor's logo alongside our product information, and the distributors can customize the messaging to fit their local market.
Trade Show Support
Distributors who attend trade shows can get booth materials, product samples, and co-marketing budget for joint trade show appearances. We have partnered with distributors at IBS, KBIS, HD Expo, and other major industry shows.
Common Distributor Questions
Q: What is the minimum order to join the stock program? There is no minimum order to enroll, but distributors who consistently order below 20 beams per month may be better served by the standard distributor program rather than the stock program.
Q: Can I mix stock and custom orders? Yes. Many distributors in the stock program also place custom orders for project-specific work. The two programs operate independently and orders can be combined for shipping.
Q: Do I have to commit to a specific volume? The stock program is structured around expected volume tiers, but there is no contractual minimum. Distributors can adjust their volume up or down based on their sales patterns.
Q: Can I have my own branding on the products? For larger volume commitments, we offer white-label and private-label programs. The products are manufactured and shipped under the distributor's brand.
Q: How does freight work for distributor orders? Distributors can arrange their own freight, use our contracted freight rates, or take advantage of our free freight thresholds for qualifying orders.
The Velocity Model
The traditional import distributor model is built on volume and capital. The stock program is built on velocity and flexibility. Distributors turn inventory faster, react to market changes more quickly, and avoid the risk of over-ordering. The model works because the manufacturer takes on the inventory risk and the distributor focuses on sales. For distributors who want to grow their faux beam business without growing their warehouse, the stock program is the answer.
Technical References
ASTM standards cited in every specification
Test Data
Lab results from internal testing program
Updated 2026
Reviewed against current product specs
