I feel that you should have sufficient expertise as a small scale trader before you start wholesale, especially in some niches. This will give you an idea of what to do and avoid, develop a good customer base fast and know how to get goods at cheaper rates
Some middlemen do their best to cut any wholesaler who tries to eliminate them from the supply chain. It comes at a time when getting jobs is really tough and the only way to make money is to find a way yourself.Manufacturers are most of the time work with the supplier, they sell through suppliers. If the business buys through the suppliers, they end up paying more. Buying directly from the manufacturer is the best idea. But sometimes it is impossible to break the supply chain.