Buying Liquidation Pallets in Atlanta: The Definitive Guide

2022-04-05

Buying liquidation pallets to resell can be an inexpensive way to start a business. With our guide to buying liquidation pallets in Atlanta, you will learn what liquidation pallets are, where you can buy liquidation pallets in Atlanta, and helpful information about the market for liquidation merchandise in the region.

Why Start a Business in Atlanta – The Numbers

The 2020 United States census reported that Atlanta had a population of 498,715.
6,089,815 people, however, live in the 28-county metro area.
The population increased by 15.2% between 2010 and 2020 and 28.6% between 2000 and 2010.
Atlanta is the largest aviation hub in the country – and has been the busiest airport in the US each year since 1998.
The city is a transport hub because it is within a two-hour flight of 80% of the US population.
Georgia is the logistics and transportation hub of the Southeast.
Invest Atlanta provides access to business loans to help you get started. There are even loans specifically for street vendors, redevelopment areas, and starting a business in low-income neighbourhoods.
Georgia offers an “Amber Grant” – a $10,000 grant of free money given each month to a woman-owned small business starting in the area. It is free to apply to be in the draw.
Atlanta’s ‘General Assembly’ organizes business networking events, workshops, and numerous opportunities to upskill.
Georgia’s corporate tax rate of 5.75% is among the lowest in the US.

Source: US Census Bureau, 2020.

The Market for Discount Merchandise in Atlanta

Despite having large wealthy areas, and a vibrant economy, Atlanta also has areas of extreme poverty. The city tops the list for income inequality of all US cities. This favors entrepreneurs who start discount merchandise businesses – which are ideal for those looking to resell merchandise from liquidation pallets in Atlanta. Not only are these areas looking for cheaper goods, but they are crying out for access to retail stores. One of the biggest complaints from the residents in these poorer neighborhoods is the lack of access to retail or grocery stores.

As of December 2020, only 2 out of 46 neighborhoods in Atlanta had any retail stores within their area. Eleven neighborhoods, all in the Southwest, do not have a retail store within 2 miles. This huge market currently has no easy access to stores, let alone sales of discounted merchandise.

It isn’t just the prevalence of poor neighborhoods that contributes to your potential customer pool; Atlanta is also a hub for students, tourists, and business travelers.

The total student population of Colleges in Atlanta is 136,000. Many of these students live below the poverty line – those enrolled in undergraduate schools have a poverty rate of 43.1%. Students enrolled in graduate and professional schools have a poverty rate of 30.0%. This represents another significant market for low-priced electronics, appliances, and clothing.

Tourists and business travelers contribute to a large transient population in Atlanta. Atlanta is the largest aviation hub in the country and has been the busiest airport in the US each year since 1998. Atlanta is within a two-hour flight of 80% of the US population.

Commercial rent in Atlanta is more affordable than in other major cities. Rentals cost on average $1.74/SqF – lower than Boston, DC, New York, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Seattle, Chicago, and Houston. This makes setting up shop in Atlanta more affordable – helping your discount merchandise business be more viable.

As you can see, the opportunities for those looking to sell discount merchandise for profit in Atlanta are vast. If you’re looking for a low cost source of merchandise you need to consider liquidation pallets. So, what types of merchandise can you expect from these liquidation pallets, and where can you find them?

What Can You Expect from Liquidation Pallets?

Retailers have to handle and liquidate surplus merchandise. This surplus merchandise falls mainly into three broad categories:

Customer Returns

A customer return is a product that a customer bought from a store or online shop and then returned to the retailer. This may be due to a number of reasons, including everything from simple buyer’s remorse to the item not working. If the returned product cannot be put back on the shelves (or relisted online), the retailer liquidates it. Customer returns inventory can come in a variety of conditions and may need work or repair to make items saleable. With this required effort comes a lower acquisition cost making it perfect for discounters.

Overstock

Overstock is brand-new stock that has never been sold to customers. These are mainly seasonal or end of life products. Overstock products are also known as ‘store stock’ liquidations.

Shelf Pulls

Shelf pulls are items taken off the store’s shelves unsold. These include seasonal products or end-of-life products similar to overstock. Some liquidators call these products ‘jobouts.’

Closeouts

Closeouts are products sourced from stores that are closed, have moved, or are being renovated. This merchandise is brand-new.

Source: Georgia Government, 2022.

Where to Buy Liquidation Pallets in Atlanta

The Home Depot, Coca-Cola, Delta Air Lines, UPS, and Gulfstream are all based in the area, and Walmart’s eCommerce distribution center is also based in the city. In fact, Walmart plans on further expanding its distribution operations in Atlanta in 2022. On top of this, 85% of the world’s top 3rd party logistics companies have operations in Georgia – mainly in Atlanta. With this vast amount of logistical and distribution operations conducted by retailers, Atlanta is a great place to find surplus merchandise.

To access top surplus merchandise in this huge regional hub, we have compiled a list of the best sources for liquidation pallets in Atlanta and the surrounding area:

Direct Liquidation
8400 Tatum Road, Palmetto, GA 30268

Atlanta Wholesale Liquidators

3960 Shirley Dr, Atlanta, GA 30336

Express Liquidators

3958 Shirley Dr, Atlanta, GA 30336

Valuedations

4411 Commerce Cir SW, Atlanta, GA 30336

Closeout Express

1320 White St SW, Atlanta, GA 30310

Royal Liquidations

1600 Indian Brookway Norcross, GA, US 30093

Matt’s Warehouse Deals

695 Red Oak Rd, Stockbridge, GA 30281

Chappy Pallet Liquidation

1336 Hiram Acworth Hwy, Dallas, GA 30157

Pallet Liquidations

5540 Atlanta Hwy, Flowery Branch, GA 30542

Prime Finds Liquidation

367 Curie Dr, Alpharetta, GA 30005

Wholesale Crazy

2210 Sylvan Rd Unit E, Atlanta, GA 30344

Georgia Wholesale Group

202 Rope Mill Rd Suite A, Woodstock, GA 30188

Elegant Wholesale Outlet

215 Prospect Park STE 300, Peachtree City, GA 30269

Source: SimpleFlying, 2022.

Top Flea Markets and Swap Meets in Atlanta

Flea markets and swap meets are well-trafficked and inexpensive venues for you to sell discounted merchandise from your liquidation pallets in Atlanta. We’ve listed some of the largest below:

Moreland Flea Market

2000 Moreland Ave SE, Atlanta, GA 30315

Website | 1 404-627-5786

People Flea Market

2649 M.L.K. Jr Dr. SW, Atlanta, GA 30311

+1 404-699-2405

Starlight Drive-In Theatre and Flea Market

2000 Moreland Ave SE, Atlanta, GA 30316

Website | 1 404-627-3641

International Discount Flea Market

4140 Jonesboro Rd, Forest Park, GA 30297
Website | 1 470-343-2860

Scott Antique Markets, Atlanta

3650 Jonesboro Rd SE, Atlanta, GA 30354

Website | 1 404-361-2000

285 Flea Mart

4525 Glenwood Rd, Decatur, GA 30032

1 404-289-4747

Bill’s Flea Market

11001 Veterans Memorial Hwy, Lithia Springs, GA 30122

Website | 1 770-949-1188

Unique Collections

2660 Godby Rd, Atlanta, GA 30349

1 678-733-8378

My Favorite Place

5596 Peachtree Blvd, Chamblee, GA 30341

Website | 1 770-452-8397

Greenbriar Market

2975 Headland Dr. SW, Atlanta, GA 30311

1 470-424-3484

Metro Mart USA

1919 Metropolitan Pkwy SW, Atlanta, GA 30315
1 404-763-3078

Storage Units in Atlanta

Source: Atlanta Small Business Network, 2018.

When you buy liquidation pallets in Atlanta, you need space to store your merchandise. If you’re just starting, your best and least expensive option is to use a spare room or garage. But if you want to expand and start renting storage space, there are plenty of storage units in the Atlanta area. We’ve listed 5 of the most affordable:

Security Self-Storage

1555 Memorial Dr. Se Atlanta, GA 30317

https://www.securityself-storage.com/self-storage/ga/atlanta/memorial-dr-se

Pricing

5’x5’: $29 /month

10’x10’: $159 /month

10’x20’: $319 /month

Forest Park Self Storage

5160 Old Dixie Hwy, Forest Park, GA 30297, United States

https://www.forestparkselfstorage.com/

Pricing

5’x5’: $45 /month

10’x10’: $95 /month

10’x20’: $180 /month

Brookhaven Storage

2740 Apple Valley Rd NE, Atlanta, GA 30319, United States

https://www.brookhavenstorage.com/

Pricing

5’x5’: $44 /month

10’x10’: $180 /month

10’x20’: $248 /month

Dobbins Storage

1108 Old Chattahoochee Ave NW, Atlanta, GA 30318, United States

https://www.dobbinsstorage.com/

Pricing

5’x5’: $53 /month

10’x10’: $105 /month

10’x20’: $197 /month

Space Shop Self Storage

151 14th St NW, Atlanta, GA 30318, United States

https://www.spaceshopselfstorage.com/locations/georgia/atlanta/space-shop-self-storage-14th-street/

Pricing

5’x5’: $52 /month

10’x10’: $225 /month

10’x20’: $400 /month

Atlanta is a city with a lot of wealth, the busiest airport in the country, and a large student population. Atlanta offers generous grants, networking events, and workshops to help small businesses grow.

Looking beyond the wealth – Atlanta is a city with deep income inequality, student poverty, and a stark lack of access to retail; the city is ideally placed to start a business reselling discount merchandise. Buying liquidation pallets in Atlanta is easy because the city is a major regional hub for transport, logistics, and retail distribution producing a large quantity of surplus inventory.