How NRS B2B Marketplace Is Bridging the Gap Between Indie Retailers and Wholesale Suppliers

The Problem with Independent Retail Today

Small independent retailers—convenience stores, bodegas, liquor shops, and tobacco outlets—dominate urban retail landscapes, yet they’ve long struggled with a fundamental challenge: accessing wholesale suppliers and distributors at reasonable terms. Most wholesale networks historically required minimum order quantities that small stores couldn’t meet, lacked the digital infrastructure to handle automated ordering, and faced unpredictable logistics. On the flip side, distributors and suppliers found it nearly impossible to efficiently serve this fragmented market of thousands of small locations scattered across the country.

The result? Limited inventory selection, inflated supply costs, and inventory management headaches for retailers. For suppliers, it meant leaving significant revenue on the table.

Introducing the NRS B2B Marketplace Solution

National Retail Solutions has moved to solve this through its newly launched NRS B2B marketplace platform, designed to fundamentally reshape how independent retailers connect with their supply chain. Operating the nation’s largest POS network dedicated to independent retailers, NRS leveraged its existing infrastructure to create a digital bridge between wholesale distributors and the thousands of small retailers already embedded in its ecosystem.

Here’s how it works: Distributors and suppliers gain direct access to NRS’ extensive nationwide retail network without the headache of fragmented outreach. The platform addresses the logistics challenge through NRS Cinch, the company’s in-house delivery service, which can consolidate orders from multiple retailers to meet minimum order thresholds—or arrange direct, cost-effective shipments for individual stores.

For retailers, the NRS B2B marketplace delivers curated wholesale inventory options alongside AI-powered inventory recommendations. The system analyzes point-of-sale data to suggest which products could boost sales and recommends optimal order quantities to minimize excess cash tied up in unsold stock.

Leadership and Execution

The initiative is helmed by Pavel Danilov, who assumes the role of Vice President for B2B Commerce at NRS. Danilov brings relevant expertise from his stint leading Fridge No More, a New York-based ultra-fast grocery delivery startup. There, he directed the development of an AI-driven inventory management system that automated reordering based on sales forecasting.

Elie Y. Katz, President of NRS, framed the broader vision: independent retailers joining the NRS platform cease being isolated locations and instead become part of a nationwide retail network equipped to compete against established chains. “The NRS B2B marketplace gives distributors streamlined access to a large, dynamic customer base that was extraordinarily difficult to reach previously,” Katz noted.

What This Means Going Forward

The marketplace integrates directly with retailers’ existing NRS POS software, enabling seamless ordering workflows. For suppliers and distributors, it represents a new channel to penetrate a previously inaccessible market segment. For small retailers, it promises improved margins, better inventory turnover, and reduced operational friction—the tools they need to level the playing field against larger competitors.