As studio and gym owners, it’s easy to run through disposable class materials such as wet wipes, paper towels and trash bags quicker than you might expect. Don’t you hate when you have to run out to the store to grab more items at the last minute?

Sure, it’s annoying, but it can also put a dent in your wallet. And over time, the costs of buying items can add up—fast. Buying in bulk online means avoiding the store aisles and lines—saving on gas, time and frustrations.

But there’s a smart way to go about buying in bulk online to ensure you get the right products at the right price, and so you don’t unnecessarily overflow your storage area. Below, we share our advice for what your business should keep in mind when buying in bulk on the web.

KNOW YOUR STUDIO’S NEEDS
Think about the things that people in your gym or studio do every day. At a minimum, this usually includes wiping down equipment, using locker rooms, eating snacks, drinking water, and cleaning up. Then you want to think about what types of products people in your space need to perform those activities. In these cases, that would include things like surface cleaners, q-tips and hair and body products, toilet paper, soap, water bottles, paper towels, trash bags, etc. These are the types of things that most of your customers will use using every day, so that’s what you should plan to buy in bulk. Buying these products in larger quantities will save you time and money for your business.

LOOK AT THE PRICE-PER-UNIT
The goal of a bulk purchase is to make sure that the cost per unit is as low as possible, so you can capitalize on that low cost. To really maximize a bulk buy, you need to know how to calculate cost per unit quickly and efficiently. A “unit” is the actual amount of something you’re getting. Looking at two different examples or sizes of a product allows you to compare the price-per-unit and make a smarter buy for the one that offers a cheaper price. For example, if you have two cases of paper towels, one with 18 rolls that costs $20 and the other with 36 rolls that costs $30, you would want to go for the case that has 36 rolls because of the better price-per-unit at 83 cents per roll as opposed to $1.11 per roll.

Often times, buying in bulk, especially online, means you can find a lower price-per-unit on items than what you would find in traditional brick-and-mortar stores, whether you were to purchase individual items or even larger packages.

SUBSCRIBE FOR CONVENIENCE
Bulk-ordering websites allow you to easily navigate between categories and products, choose when you want to restock, and set shopping lists that you can add directly to your cart, which saves time and eliminates the need to reorganize with every order. That means you’ll never have to worry about not having that trash bag, paper towel or battery when you need it, and you won’t even have to think about when to restock it. When making these bulk purchases, use a service that will help you take advantage of these opportunities to save time and money at all steps.

ADD SAVINGS ON TOP OF BULK BUYING
The best time to bulk buy is when you can add discounts or savings on top of bulk purchases. With a bit of planning, you can do this really well, particularly when specific items are on sale. Since your goal with buying in bulk is to minimize the cost per unit, promotions on top of a sale achieves that quite effectively.

Use caution though and always keep your necessary items in mind, as savings can be a hit or miss when it comes to buying in bulk. Stocking up on the wrong items that you don’t truly need or use on a daily basis in your small business can lead to a waste of time, money, and supplies. But if you pick up the right items at the right time to buy, bulk buying can save you a small fortune and let you put your time and money where it matters most—your business.

This blog was sponsored and written by Boxed. To enjoy wholesale bulk pricing with free shipping and no membership fees, plus re-stock reminders and dedicated account managers, please visit Boxed.com and save $15 now with the promo code: BOXEDXCP

*ClassPass Partners: Access your exclusive Boxed perks via the ProPerks page in the Partner Dashboard!