Southern Exposure Seed Exchange 2025 Wholesale Buyers Guide User Guide
- September 13, 2024
- Southern Exposure Seed Exchange
Table of Contents
WHOLESALE BUYERS GUIDE
Cultivate success with our
line of 100% organic seeds.
2025
2025 Wholesale Buyers Guide
ORGANIC • HEIRLOOM • NON-GMO • WORKER-OWNED • SOUTHERN
WHY CHOOSE
SOUTHERN EXPOSURE?
NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED
Southern Exposure’s own Ira Wallace is a 2023 James Beard Leadership Award
Winner and has been featured in the NYTimes, Washington Post, and NPR.
Our affiliations with the Organic Seed Alliance, Ujamaa Seed Growers, Mother
Earth News, and many others make us leaders in the field.
| WORKER OWNED
We are a worker-owned and run company with a strong cooperative ethic.| |
SUPPORTING
SMALL FARMERS
We’re proud to work with a network of over 60 small farmers who grow the
majority of our seeds.
---|---|---|---
| HEIRLOOM AND 100% ORGANIC
We specialize in open-pollinated, non-GMO, traditional, and heirloom seeds,
including unusual Southern heirlooms.| | MULTIPLE WAYS TO SAVE
Early Buy and Tiered Discounts can help you keep costs down.
| TRIAL GARDENS
We ensure high quality with rigorous on-farm testing and variety trials.| |
ATTRACTIVE PACKET ART
Our charming, informative packets will draw customers to your store.
HOW TO ORDER
Online ordering is fast and easy. If you prefer, you can instead order by
email, phone, or fax. Please use the most recent “Availability List”
spreadsheet (found on our website under “Resources”) when ordering by email,
phone, or fax, to ensure availability.
HAVE QUESTIONS?
Contact us at 540-894-7890 or
seedracks@southernexposure.com.
Our office hours are Monday through
Friday, 9am – 4pm.
-
PICK YOUR PROGRAM
We offer two buyer’s programs so you can tailor the best value for your specific needs. See page 4. -
SELECT YOUR RACK
Find the perfect fit for your store with our variety of styles and sizes. Choose from metal, wooden, and cardboard racks on pages 5–7. -
CHOOSE YOUR VARIETIES
We’ve selected our wholesale varieties to offer you a 100% certified organic line of proven best sellers. Hand pick your own varieties or have us customize a bestseller collection tailored to your zone. -
SELECT YOUR FILL LEVEL
Determine how many packets you’d like for your rack. We offer tiered discounts for larger orders, see page 9 for details. -
FINALIZE YOUR ORDER
Visit seedracks.southernexposure.com to complete an order through our webstore, or to download our order form and availability list.
FIRST TIME ORDERING?
Please visit seedracks.southernexposure.com/pages/useful-
documents and
follow the steps for account set up, or call us at
202-681-4141 for assistance.
2025 SEASON
We will begin shipping seed labeled for the 2025 season on July 1st. Seed
returns from Guaranteed Sale retailers are due no later October 1st.
PICK YOUR PROGRAM
SELECT FROM TWO PROGRAM OPTIONS
You will choose your program when you place your first order and your program
choice will apply to all your orders for the current year’s season.
- OUTRIGHT BUY The Outright Buy Program allows you to save 25% off every order placed for the year. This option will give you the best savings but is not eligible for returns for credit at the end of the season. Most retailers simply discount their remaining seed packets to clear out their inventory at the end of the sales season.
- GUARANTEEDSALE The Guaranteed Sale Program is a good option for retailers wanting to offer a broader selection or for newer retailers.
Under this program you are entitled to return up to 40% of the packets you order during the 2025 season for a 100% credit towards your 2026 order. We accept returns between June 1st–October 1st.
We offer Sales Analytics as part of this program. Contact us if you would like to process your return and your first order simultaneously, so that your rack can remain stocked all year.**No Guaranteed Sale orders May 1st-June 30th.
EARLY BUY DISCOUNT!
Save 5% when you order between July 1st and November 15th! Choose your ship
date.
SELECT YOUR RACK
YOUR RACK OR OURS?
Select from our lightweight, durable rack options. We offer Wire Racks
(current page), Wooden Racks (page 6), and one Cardboard Rack (page 7). Our
packets are the industry-standard size and work with most racks if you choose
to provide your own. WIRE RACKS
WIRE SPINNER RACK
80-Pocket $300
120-Pocket $395
New! 160-Pocket $495
Height: 84″
Diameter 23″
Filled racks starting at:
80-Pocket spinner – $956
120-Pocket – $1379
160-Pocket – $1802
Free-standing, easy-spinning two- or three-panel racks. Holds 40 pockets per
panel. Price includes attractive full-color sign, as well as metal basket
holder for our Catalog and Garden Guide! Ball bearings make this rack extra
easy to spin.
Already have this rack, but want to upgrade to a larger size? We offer
hardware to change the size of this rack.
You can upgrade your wire spinner to 120 or 160 pockets! Email for details.
SINGLE WALL-MOUNTABLE WIRE PANEL
40-Pocket $110
Filled rack starting at $456
39.7″H × 17.6″W × 2.875″D
Our wall-mounted wire panels are formed from heavy gauge wire and designed to
last for years. Great for stores with limited floor space! Each panel comes
with a full color decorative sign. A holder for our catalog and garden guide
or seasonal gardening literature is available upon request. Mounting hardware
not included. Each panel has 40 slots for seed packets.
WOODEN RACKS
WOODEN COUNTERTOP RACK
12-Pocket $200
Filled rack starting at $304
10″H × 15″W × 6.5″D
Designed and handmade by members of Twin Oaks Community, this custom display
is made of white oak, with 12 pockets. Great for offering impulse purchases
and Christmas “stocking stuffers.”
HANDMADE CUSTOM WOODEN RACK
40-Pocket $350
Filled rack starting at $696
84″H × 27″W × 21″D
80-Pocket $450
Filled rack starting at $1106
84″H × 27″W × 21″D
Designed and handcrafted by members of Twin Oaks Community, this free-standing
custom rack is made of white oak and finished with natural oils, with wire
pockets on one or both sides. Price includes attractive full-color sign, as
well as metal basket holder for our catalog!
CARDBOARD RACK
FREESTANDING CARDBOARD RACK
48-Pocket $65
Filled rack starting at $461
56″H × 30.25″W × 20″D
Great for first-time customers! Constructed of sturdy corrugated cardboard
with 48 pockets. Price includes attractive full-color sign. Can be folded flat
for storage. Shipped with seeds placed in the rack.
HELPFUL SELLING TIPS
PROVIDE OUR FREE CATALOG & GARDEN GUIDE
Our catalogs feature charming artwork and a wealth of knowledge that will
inspire your customers to dream big. These are available free of charge to
display with your seed rack.
PLACE YOUR RACK STRATEGICALLY
Make your rack easy to find. Many customers look for seeds in the produce
department. Or set your rack near the checkout or where there is high traffic
and space for browsing. RESTOCK REGULARLY
Providing your customers with the seed varieties they are looking for will
keep them happy and coming back for more.
CHOOSE YOUR VARIETIES
OUR COLLECTION OR YOURS?
We offer two options for selecting your collection: let us choose for you with
one of our Curated Collections of regional bestsellers, or you may choose to
Create Your Own Collection to order à la carte, selecting from hundreds of
heirloom and organic varieties.
CREATE YOUR OWN COLLECTION
You can select your varieties online through our webstore when placing your
order, or quickly select from our Availability List: download the current
Availability List found under the resources tab on our website, and fill out
the quantities column in multiples of 5.
Not all varieties available through our retail mailorder catalog are
available for our wholesale seed racks program. Please browse our Wholesale
Availability List to see our current offerings.
RECEIVE A CURATED COLLECTION
Let us create a regionalized custom order for your store, composed of regional
best sellers carefully selected for your market. Reach out to us at
202-681-4141 or email us at:
seedracksales@southernexposure.com
OUR PACKETS
DESIGN
We take pride in our artwork.
Our packets will beautify your store while informing and exciting your
customers.
Our attractive, informative packets feature botanical art, a description of
the variety, growing instructions, a planting chart, and our contact
information. No MSRP is printed, allowing you to set your own price (usually
$3.25–$3.50). Packets are re-sealable. Our packets include a stamped lot code
and Packed For year. Packet size is 3.25 x 4.75 inches.
SELECT YOUR FILL LEVEL
SEASON OPENING ORDER
Your Season Opening Order is your initial order: the minimum Season Opening
Order is 150 packets, in multiples of 5 only.
PRICING TIER DISCOUNTS
We offer tiered discounts for larger orders! You can benefit from greater
savings when you order 400 packets or more.
Pricing Tier: determined by Season Opening Order Size| % Discount**|
Guaranteed Sale Price Per Packet| Outright Buy Price Per Packet
---|---|---|---
Tier 1: 150–399 packets| —| $2.30| $1.73
Tier 2: 400–999 packets| 5%| $2.19| $1.61
Tier 3: 1000+ packets| 10%| $2.07| $1.50
Pricing Tier Discounts do not apply to rack purchases. Pricing Tier
Discounts will apply to every location for chain stores.
When is the best time to place your initial order?
Place your Season Opening Order 8 weeks ahead of when you would like to
receive it to ensure your order is ready for you when you need it.
Ready to Re-Order?
The minimum reorder is 25 packets, preferably in multiples of 5.
High Volume Discount:
Ordering more than 2000 packets per year? For returning customers, we will
automatically give you the highest discount tier, regardless of the size of
your initial order. Let us know if you believe you qualify. Does not apply to
new customers.
Retail Site Discount:**
We offer a 10% discount code on our Retail website for current racks
customers.
Email us for your code.
FINALIZE YOUR ORDER
ORDER WITH THE AVAILABILITY LIST
If you are using the Availability List to select your varieties, we prefer you
email a digital copy to us at:
seedracks@southernexposure.com
If you submit your Availability List by fax or as pictures, mistakes are more
likely. We are not responsible for transcription errors.
ORDER ONLINE
seedracks.southernexposure.com
Ordering online through our webstore is the easiest way to place your order.
ORDER OVER THE PHONE
540-894-7890
You may place your order over the phone. This is a great option for new
customers, who will need to set up a new account.
Wholesale Order Form
Southern Exposure Seed Exchange Seed Rack Program
seedracks.southernexposure.com
email: seedracks@southernexposure.com
phone: 540-894-7890 fax:
540-377-0524
100% Organic!
Company …………………………………………………
Buyer’s Name……………………………….
Phone (business)…………………………..
Phone (mobile)……………………………..
Email………………………………………..
Shipping Address: Street……………………………
City……………………………………….
State………………………………………
Zip…………………………………………..
This address receives: USPS mail UPS
Desired Ship Date……………………………….
Net30; Credit App Attached……………………….
Credit Card #……………………………..
Exp………………………………………………
CVV……………………………………….
Name on Card
Billing Address (if different from shipping)
Billing Contact……………………………..
Billing Email…………………………………..
Which best describes your business: Garden Center/Nursery How did you hear
about us?
Hardware Store Grocery Store Farm/Feed Store Gift Shop
-
Choose your program for the season:
Outright Buy: Save 25% on every order placed. Not eligible for returns.
**** Guaranteed Sale: Return up to 40% of packets ordered, for 100% credit toward next year’s order. We accept returns between June 1–October 1. Not available for initial orders shipping after May 1st. -
Choose your rack:
Cardboard rack (48 slots)
Wooden rack, single-sided (40 slots)
Wooden rack, double-sided (80 slots)
Wire spinner, 2-panel (80 slots)
Wire spinner, 3-panel (120 slots)
Wire spinner, 4-panel (160 slots)
Wire panel, wall-mountable (40 slots)
Wooden Countertop (12 slots)
Using our own rack: Please indicate number…………………………. slots -
Fill your rack:
Best-sellers collection for your zone.
Unique varieties for your zone.
I want to create my own collection -
Pick your fill-level:
Fill my rack with 5 packets per variety.
Fill my rack with 10 packets per variety.
Other** ……………………………….
** Season Opening Order minimum is 150 packets ordered in multiples of 5 only.
Backorders and Out-of-Stock:
Include “Out-of-Stock” cards with my order.
Backorders OK, please ship items when they become available.
No backorders, please credit my account for unavailable items.
OK with regionally-appropriate substitutions.
Please contact me before making substitutions.
https://seedracks.southernexposure.com/pages/useful-documents
Visit the resources tab on our website to download our most recent availability list. Use it as an order form if you wish to custom select your varieties and quantities.
TERMS AND CONDITIONS
-
Minimum season-opener order is 150 packets, in multiples of five. Item quantities not in multiples of five will be rounded up. We are not responsible for transcription errors on orders sent by picture or fax.
Please email a spreadsheet or order online. -
Payment terms are net 30 if you have established credit with SESE. We reserve the right to hold orders if a payment is overdue. Please send invoice requests to accounting@southernexposure.com.
-
A shipping and handling fee is charged per order, with a minimum charge of $8. We charge no shipping on backorders.
Our shipping quotes are estimates and will be finalized at time of shipping. -
Delivery time: Orders generally ship in 3-7 business days.
Orders larger than 500 packets may take additional time to process. -
The Federal Seed Act states that no seed packet may be sold more than 12 months after germination testing. We cannot guarantee germination of seeds sold outside this window. We ask that retailers not sell our seed after the year for which it is packed.
-
Please report any defects, shortages, or overages in your order to us immediately so we can remedy the error. Credit will be issued for items returned within 10 days and in good condition. Orders that are refused will be charged a 20% restocking fee.
-
Occasionally, due to circumstances beyond our control, we are unable to restock an item. Let us know whether you will accept substitutions for out-of-stock items.
-
We guarantee that your customers will be 100% satisfied with our seeds, or we will replace the unsatisfactory item or refund the purchase price according to their choice.
-
Back orders: By default, we will ship back-ordered items as they become available. If a back-order needs to be canceled we will refund you using the same method of payment you used to place your order.
-
Racks need to be kept in a climate controlled environment.
Shelf life is dependent on environmental conditions. -
We only sell racks to customers who buy seed packets from us. We reserve the right to refuse orders.
MORE HELPFUL SELLING TIPS
ADVERTISE EARLY
To take full advantage of your selling season, make sure to advertise early.
Most of your customers may not realize that for much of the country the
planting season begins in February, especially when growing from seed. Place
signage on or around your rack to draw customers in to the possibility of
planting their gardens a little earlier this year. Seed sales are in full
swing by late-December — so get that rack out there!
IN-STORE EVENTS
In-store events are a great way to get your customers excited about buying
seeds.
Someone on your staff may have special experience or knowledge that could be
shared at a gardening workshop or cooking demo.
You may also be able to partner with your local Master Gardeners to create a
community educational event in your store. Examples of in-store events are
workshops on topics like seed saving, starting plants from seed, and season
extension, as well as a variety of
cooking demonstrations. Feel free to contact us for support and suggestions
about events in your store.
STAY INFORMED
Sign up for our e-newsletter and share info, tips and recipes with your
customers.
We have been in the business of growing seeds for more than 30 years.
Allow us to share our wealth of knowledge with you so that you may confidently
advise your own customers in their growing efforts.
We are a small cooperative seed company specializing in open-pollinated, non-
GMO, traditional and heirloom varieties of vegetables, herbs and flowers,
including many unusual Southern heirlooms. We emphasize varieties that perform
well in the Mid-Atlantic and Southeast, although gardeners and farmers all
over the country grow our seeds. We are a worker owned and run company with a
strong cooperative ethic. Over 60% of our varieties are grown by small farmers
we know and contract with directly. Our mission is to promote organic
gardening, preservation of genetic resources, and seed saving. All of our
wholesale seeds are certified organic, and proven bestsellers.
Our wholesale program is designed to introduce more gardeners to the special
varieties we offer.
Please let us know how we can work with you to best make our varieties
available to your customers.
seedracks.southernexposure.com
email: seedracks@southernexposure.com
phone: 540-894-7890
fax: 540-377-0524
seedracks.southernexposure.com
References
Read User Manual Online (PDF format)
Read User Manual Online (PDF format) >>