Welcome to BuildIt Material Exchange (BME). This Vendor Setup Guide is designed to help new vendors move from subscription to live product listings as smoothly as possible.

Purchase Your Vendor Subscription

In order to sell on BuildIt Material Exchange you will need to purchase a vendor subscription. The vendor subscription is $49.99 annually and allows for unlimited products.

Purchase a vendor subscription as a vendor. You will be asked to fill out personal and business information that will help fill out the vendor dashboard. When complete click register and finish billing and payment information.

Once payment is complete, click on the Vendor Login on the BuildIt Material Exchange homepage in the top left corner. Your credentials should automatically fill in, but if they do not, use the password you just set up.

You will be redirected to your vendor account. Click on “Go to Vendor Dashboard”.

[vendor login screen]

[vendor account screen]

Vendor Registration Form

Once you arrive on your Vendor Dashboard, you will see “Complete Vendor Registration Form.”

This form helps us verify your business so you can be approved to sell on BuildIt Material Exchange and ensure a trusted experience for all users.

[Complete verification form screen]

Have the Following Information Ready

Business and Contact Information

• Legal business name
• Primary contact name and email address
• Alternate email address (optional)
• Business website or online presence, if applicable
• Business address (this is the address where pickup or shipping will originate)

Business Details and Verification

• Business category
• Business structure
• Federal EIN or Sales Tax Number, if applicable
• One form of business documentation uploaded as a file

Marketplace Information

• Primary product categories you plan to sell
• Estimated number of items you expect to list
• Typical condition of items you plan to sell
• Product distribution method

Agreements and Confirmations

• Confirmation that you will provide accurate product information
• Agreement that you will handle shipping and/or pickup arrangements directly with buyers
• Acknowledgment that payouts occur after pickup or shipment confirmation
• Confirmation that you have the legal right to sell the items you list
• Acceptance of the BuildIt Vendor Terms, Marketplace Rules, and tax responsibilities

Your submission will be reviewed by the BuildIt Material Exchange team within 24 hours.

Complete Your Vendor Profile and Store Settings

In your dashboard open up the settings menu. You will see options for Store, Payment, Shipping, Social Profile and Store SEO.

[Complete verification form screen]

Store Setup

From your Store settings, complete the following:

Store Name

Store Banner and Profile Image

• Banner: 625 x 350 pixels
• Profile: 150 x 150 pixels

Store Categories
Select the option that best describes your business.

• Lumberyard / Hardware Store
• Contractor / Builder
• Liquidator / Surplus Seller
• Manufacturer / Supplier
• Independent Seller
• Other

Business Contact Information

Address, phone, and email will be shown on your storefront and visible to buyers.

Terms and Conditions (Optional)

Vendors may include their own Terms and Conditions to outline important details for buyers.

You may include:

• Shipping or pickup details
• Returns and refunds
• Item condition and accuracy
• Communication expectations
• Order fulfillment timing

Set up Payments

BuildIt Material Exchange uses Stripe Express to process customer payments and deposit funds directly into your bank account. BuildIt does not store or access your banking information.

From your Vendor Dashboard:

• Go to Settings
• Locate Payments
• Click on Payment Method

Click on Stripe Express and complete setup.

[payment screen]

Important notes:

• Stripe setup is required before products can be sold
• No additional payment methods are needed
• Payouts are released after pickup or shipment confirmation

·         Stripe set up is separate from buildit Material exchange and documentation can be found within Stripe.

Shipping

Before your products can be purchased, you must set up your shipping.

How Shipping Works

Shipping on BuildIt is set up in two parts.

Shipping Zones determine where you ship:

• Local Area
• Regional
• United States

Shipping Methods determine how you deliver items:

• Pickup
• Delivery
• Parcel Shipping
• Freight Shipping

Important:
You will set up shipping methods based on the types of products you sell, not for each individual product. Product descriptions will tell the buyer which option to choose. This means that when you add products that require a special type of shipping or delivery you put it into the individual product description.

Step 1: Open Your Shipping Settings

Go to:
Vendor Dashboard → Settings → Shipping

Step 2: Set Where You Ship (Zones)

You must complete each zone for it to work.

Local Area

• Turn on Restrict to Specific ZIP Codes
• Enter your local ZIP codes

Example:
51501, 51503, 68102

Regional

• Select the states you ship to

Example:
Iowa, Nebraska, Missouri

United States

• Select United States (US)
• 

Step 3: Add Shipping Methods for Each Zone

for all methods choose Flat Rate (and then you will change the name.  Choose Free for pickup if it is free.

Local Pickup

• Cost: 0.00

Local Delivery

• Example Cost: 35.00

Parcel Shipping

• Local: 8.00
• Regional: 15.00
• United States: 25.00

Freight Shipping (Quote Required)

• Cost: 1.00

Important:
The 1.00 amount is a placeholder so this option appears at checkout. You will provide the actual shipping cost after purchase.

Step 4: How to Match Shipping to Your Products

Shipping is not set per product.

Instead:

• You offer shipping methods in your settings
• You tell the buyer which method to choose in the product description

Examples to Put in Product Description (when adding products which is explained in a section below)

Freight Item
Shipping Notice: This item requires Freight Shipping. Please select “Freight Shipping (Quote Required)” at checkout.

Pickup Only Item
Shipping Notice: This item is available for local pickup only.

Step 5: Vendor-Arranged Shipping

Some items cannot be shipped using standard methods.

Examples include:

• Pallets of lumber
• Doors and windows
• Large appliances
• Bulk materials
• Oversized construction supplies

In these cases:

• Shipping is not fully calculated at checkout
• You will contact the buyer after purchase
• You will arrange shipping and pricing directly

Step 6: If the Buyer Selects the Wrong Shipping Option

If a buyer selects the wrong shipping method:

• Contact the buyer to arrange the correct method
• Or cancel the order and issue a full refund

Store SEO

This will help your shop and products be found when buyers are searching for certain things. Below is a guide to help you fill out each section successfully.

SEO Title

This is the title search engines display in search results.

Example:
Midwest Lumber Surplus Materials | BuildIt Material Exchange

Tip: Include your business name and the type of materials you sell.

Meta Description

Write a short description of your store.

Example:
Family-owned lumberyard offering surplus building materials, doors, windows, and hardware at discounted prices.

Keep this between 1–2 sentences.

Meta Keywords

This field is optional and not required.

Example:
lumber surplus, building materials, contractor supplies, discount doors, windows

Facebook and X (Twitter) Settings

These fields control how your store appears when someone shares your store page on social media.

If you would like a custom preview:

Facebook Title
Example:
Midwest Lumber Surplus Materials

Facebook Description
Example:
Browse discounted building materials available through our BuildIt store.

Facebook Image
Upload a photo of your store, logo, or a product image.

The same information can be used for the X (Twitter) fields.

If you do not fill these out, your store page will still work normally.

Recommended Image Size

If uploading a social sharing image, use:

1200 x 630 pixels

This size displays best on most platforms.

Adding Products

Adding Products One by One (Manual Entry)

Use this method if:

• You are adding a small number of products
• You want to upload photos directly from your computer
• You are editing or updating an existing product

Each product is added individually through your Vendor Dashboard.

STEP 1: Product Title

Enter a clear, descriptive product name that buyers will recognize.

Good Example
Engineered Hickory Hardwood Flooring – 3/8″ Tongue & Groove

Tips

• Include material, size, or finish when possible
• Avoid internal SKUs or abbreviations
• Think like a buyer searching for this product

STEP 2: Product Type

Leave this set to Simple Product

Only choose Variable if you are selling different sizes or variations.

STEP 3: Category (Required)

Choose the category that best fits your product.

You may select more than one category.

Important
Choose the category based on what the product is, not how it is used.

STEP 4: Pricing

Enter your pricing.

Price
Enter the regular price (numbers only, no dollar signs)

Discounted Price (Optional)
Enter only if the item is on sale

STEP 5: Tags (Optional)

Tags help with search but are not required.

Examples
surplus
discontinued
clearance
bulk lot

STEP 6: Short Description

Write 1 to 2 sentences summarizing the product.

Example
Discontinued engineered hardwood flooring in a warm hickory finish. New, unused surplus inventory.

STEP 7: Description (Long Description – Most Important Section)

This is the main product description buyers will read.

Start with Shipping Instructions FIRST

This is required for certain products.

Examples

Freight Item
Shipping Notice: This item requires Freight Shipping. Please select “Freight Shipping (Quote Required)” at checkout.

Pickup Only Item
Shipping Notice: This item is available for local pickup only.

Local Delivery Item
Shipping Notice: Local delivery available. Contact seller for details.

Then include product details:

• Material type
• Dimensions (in plain language)
• Condition
• Intended use
• Any important notes

Example
This engineered hardwood flooring features a durable 3/8 inch construction with a tongue-and-groove profile for easy installation. The warm hickory tone is ideal for residential remodels. New, unused surplus inventory.

STEP 8: Inventory Settings

SKU (Optional)
Enter your internal SKU if you use one

Stock Management
Enable if you have multiple quantities

Enter:

• Stock Quantity
• Low Stock Threshold (optional)

Backorders
Set to Do Not Allow

Stock Status
Set to In Stock

STEP 9: SEO (Optional) – Helps product get found buy search through the Marketplace.

Focus Keyword
Enter a simple phrase describing the product

Examples
engineered hardwood flooring
surplus cabinet hardware

STEP 10: Shipping and Tax

This section supports your shipping setup but does not control it. The dimensions for customer inforamtin should go into the description. You can also add it here but should be in description

Enter if applicable:

• Weight
• Length
• Width
• Height

These help buyers understand the size and scale of the item.

Shipping Class
Do not use unless specifically instructed.

Shipping methods are controlled in your Shipping Settings, not per product.

STEP 11: Linked Products (Optional)

Upsells and cross-sells can be left blank.

STEP 12: Attributes (Recommended)

Attributes help buyers find your product and improve search results.

Recommended attributes:

Brand / Manufacturer
Example: Mohawk, DeWalt

Condition (Select One)
New
New – Discontinued
Scratch & Dent
Open Box

Material
Example: Hardwood, PVC, Steel

Color / Finish
Example: White, Natural, Galvanized

Use / Application
Select the closest match

Location (City, State)
Example: Council Bluffs, IA

STEP 13: Other Options

Product Status
Set to Online

Visibility
Set to Visible

Purchase Note (Optional)
This shows after purchase – Would be useful to REPEAT the shipping notes that were put into the description  Remember this shows up after purchase so it is just a reminder. 

Example
Pickup by appointment only. Buyer will be contacted after purchase.

Enable Product Reviews
Leave enabled

STEP 14: Product Images

Click Add Product Image to upload your main image

Add additional images in the gallery if available

Photo Tips

• Use a clean, neutral background
• Show the full product clearly
• Avoid clutter or unrelated objects
• Use good lighting

Recommended:

• 1 main image
• 2 to 4 additional images

Final Step: Save Product

Click Save Product to publish your listing.

Important Reminder About Shipping

Shipping is not set per product.

You:

• Set up shipping methods in your Shipping Settings
• Use the product description to tell the buyer which option to select

This is especially important for:

• Freight items
• Pickup-only items
• Large or oversized materials

Bulk Product Upload Instructions (CSV)

Use this method if:
You are adding multiple products at once
You want the fastest way to get products listed
You are comfortable working in Excel or Google Sheets

All products are uploaded using the official BuildIt CSV template. Found on this page: https://builditmaterialexchange.com/vendor-resources/

Before You Start

Important rules:
Do not change column names
Do not add new columns
Do not merge cells
Use plain text only
Hidden columns are OK
Save the file as CSV (Comma Separated Values) before uploading

Column By Column Instructions

Below is exactly what to enter in each column.

Product Basics

Type Required.
Enter:
simple

All products on BuildIt are listed as Simple Products.

SKU – Optional.
Enter your internal SKU if you use one, or leave blank. This is so customers can search by SKU

Example:
BME-FLR-001

Name – Required.
Enter a clear, descriptive product name buyers will recognize.

Good example:
Engineered Hickory Hardwood Flooring – 3/8″ Tongue & Groove

Tips:
Include material, size, or finish when possible
Avoid internal codes or abbreviations
Think like a buyer searching for this product
the more details the better the customer will find the product

Published – Required.
Enter: 1
This makes the product live after upload.

Visibility in catalog – Required.
Enter: visible

Short description – Optional (but recommended).
1–2 sentences summarizing the product.

Example:
Discontinued engineered hardwood flooring in a warm hickory finish. New, unused surplus inventory.

Description – Recommended.

This is the main product description buyers will read.

Start with Shipping Instructions when applicable:

Freight Item
Shipping Notice: This item requires Freight Shipping. Please select “Freight Shipping (Quote Required)” at checkout.

Pickup Only Item
Shipping Notice: This item is available for local pickup only.

Local Delivery Item
Shipping Notice: Local delivery available. Contact seller for details.

Include when applicable:
Material type
General dimensions or thickness (written in plain language)
Condition
Intended use
Any limitations or notes

Tax Status

Taxable – Tax and rates are handled in the Build it Material Marketplace. You just need to mark it as taxable or not. Retail/tangeable products ARE taxable in most cases.

Regular price – Required.

Numbers only. No dollar signs.

Examples:
2.75
30
100

Sale price – Optional.

Enter only if the item should display as discounted.
Leave blank if not on sale.

Categories – Required.

Enter at least one category.

You may choose multiple categories using a vertical bar |.

Approved Category Options
Lumber & Plywood
Lumber
Plywood
Flooring
Roofing & Siding
Drywall & Insulation
Electrical
Plumbing & Fixtures
Hardware & Fasteners
Lighting & Hardware
Paint & Finishes
Cabinets & Countertops
Kitchen & Bath Cabinets
Doors & Windows
Molding & Millwork
Decking & Outdoor
Tools & Equipment
Building Materials
Other

Example (multiple categories):
Flooring | Building Materials

Important:
Choose categories based on what the product is, not how it might be used
Category names must match exactly

TAGS

Tag – Optional.
Use commas to separate tags. Tags help with internal organization and search but are not required.

Examples:
surplus, discontinued, clearance, bulk lot

Stock

Enter quantity in stock

Weight (lbs) – Optional

Numbers only. Good to enter if important to what customer is searching for

Length (in) – Optional

Good to enter if important to what customer is searching for

Width (in) – Optional

Good to enter if important to what customer is searching for

Height (in) – Optional

Good to enter if important to what customer is searching for

Shipping class – Optional

See setting up shipping on how shipping will appear for each product

Use one of the following exactly. You set the parameters and pricing in these categories yourself in the vendor dashboard.

Local
Regional
United States

IMAGES

Images – Optional in the CSV.

Rules:
Images must be publicly accessible URLs
Separate multiple image URLs with commas
Leave blank if you plan to upload photos manually after import directly from your computer
If they are on your business page click on the image and save link. that will be the url you can enter

Example:
https://example.com/image1.jpg,https://example.com/image2.jpg

FINAL STEPS

1. Save the file as CSV
2. Upload through your Vendor Dashboard
3. Review your products after import
4. Edit any product to:
   Add photos
   Update details
   Adjust inventory if needed