RETAIL & WHOLESALE INSURANCE
BLIS helps retailers, distributors, and online sellers protect inventory, property, employees, customers, products, vehicles, and revenue. We build the conversation around how goods move from supplier to shelf, warehouse, or customer.
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Protect the flow of goods
Tell us what you sell, where inventory is stored, and how it reaches customers. A licensed advisor will guide the coverage review.
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Your business
Retail and wholesale businesses depend on three things: a place to operate, inventory ready to sell, and people who keep goods moving. A boutique, a grocery market, a distributor, and a gas station may share those basics, but each needs protection shaped around its products, customers, property, and daily workflow.
Commercial property can protect an owned building, tenant improvements, fixtures, and stock against covered losses. Business income can help replace lost revenue and pay continuing expenses when a covered event closes the store or warehouse. Accurate inventory values—including seasonal peaks—help owners avoid finding out too late that yesterday's limit no longer matches today's business.
General liability can cover third-party injuries and property damage. In retail, that often means a customer slipping in the store or on a walkway. Product liability is usually included within GL and can protect distributors or online sellers when a product harms a buyer. Marketplace agreements commonly ask sellers for $1 million in commercial GL, but you should confirm the exact terms in your agreement.
Gas stations with convenience stores also face environmental concerns from underground storage tanks (USTs). Standard property and GL policies usually exclude this type of pollution. Owners may need separate pollution coverage or may qualify for a state UST assurance fund. Requirements vary by state.
Theft and shrinkage can come from shoplifting, robbery, or employee dishonesty, and a property policy may not fully address each type of loss. If the business handles significant cash or valuable inventory, crime coverage deserves a practical review alongside property and liability.
Businesses we help
Choose the business type closest to yours to see the everyday risks, coverage choices, and information that may matter when you request a quote.
Product liability and commercial general liability for third-party marketplace sellers. Coverage addresses the platform requirements and product exposure common to e-commerce operations.
Property, general liability, and product liability for wholesale distributors. Coverage addresses inventory exposure, third-party product claims, and the premises liability of warehouse and distribution operations.
Property, GL, UST pollution liability, and crime coverage for gas stations with convenience store operations. This sector carries distinct environmental and premises exposures.
Commercial property, general liability, and crime coverage for apparel retailers. Coverage addresses inventory, customer premises exposure, and the service needs of active retail operations.
Product liability, cyber liability, and commercial general liability for online sellers and e-commerce businesses. Coverage is structured around how digital commerce operations actually create risk.
Property, general liability, liquor liability (where applicable), and business income for grocery stores and independent markets. Coverage addresses the premises, inventory, and licensing exposures of food retail.
Commercial property, GL, crime, and liquor liability for convenience store operators. Coverage reflects the cash-handling, customer traffic, and licensing realities of this operation type.
Property, stored-goods, equipment, business-income, liability, workers compensation, crime, and cyber coverage for warehouse and fulfillment operations.
Coverage
These are common coverages to consider, not a one-size-fits-all package. What makes sense depends on how you operate, your contracts, state requirements, and the policy options available.
Commercial property can protect an owned building, tenant improvements, fixtures, and inventory against covered losses such as fire, theft, vandalism, or certain weather events. Business income can help replace lost revenue and pay continuing expenses while a covered loss keeps the store or warehouse closed. For an established business, the interruption may cost more than the physical damage itself.
General liability can respond when a customer or another third party alleges bodily injury or property damage connected to your premises or operations. For a store, that may involve an aisle, entrance, walkway, or parking area you control. Products coverage within the policy can also address certain claims involving goods you sold or distributed.
A retailer, distributor, or online seller can be named in a claim involving a product even when another company manufactured it. Product liability is usually included within general liability, subject to its limits and exclusions. Imported, private-label, children's, electronic, food, and other specialized products may need closer review.
Shoplifting, robbery, and employee dishonesty are different types of loss, and a standard property policy may not fully cover each one. A crime policy or endorsement can protect money, securities, and inventory against certain theft by employees or outsiders. This coverage deserves a closer look when the business handles significant cash, high-value stock, or consumer electronics.
Underground fuel tanks create environmental risks that property and GL policies usually exclude. A slow leak, equipment failure, or overfill can contaminate soil or groundwater and lead to cleanup costs. UST pollution coverage can address certain releases. Some operators may instead qualify for a state assurance fund, depending on local rules.
Stores that sell beer or wine may need liquor liability in addition to GL. Dram shop laws in many states can allow claims against a seller that serves a visibly intoxicated person or a minor. Insurers may consider licensing history, sales hours, and staff training when offering coverage.
Coverage examples
A few situations to make coverage concrete. These are illustrations only — not actual claims, and not a guarantee of any coverage outcome.
Example scenario: A customer slips on a wet floor near the entrance of a convenience store during a rainy afternoon. They sustain an injury and file a claim against the store. General liability can respond to medical costs and legal defense expenses for covered third-party injury claims, subject to the policy's terms, conditions, and exclusions.
Documented cleaning and inspection practices can also help the owner respond clearly when an incident occurs.
Example scenario: A wholesale distributor ships commercial cleaning products to a restaurant supply buyer. A labeling defect leads to an improper mixture that injures a kitchen employee, and the distributor is named in the claim alongside the manufacturer. Product liability within the GL policy can respond to covered defense costs and liability, subject to limits, conditions, and exclusions.
Product records, supplier agreements, and certificates can help clarify responsibility within the supply chain.
The claim scenarios above are illustrative examples only. They do not represent actual clients, actual claims, or guaranteed coverage outcomes. Coverage for any specific situation depends on the policy terms, conditions, exclusions, and the facts of the claim.
After coverage starts
Once coverage is in place, BLIS can help with certificates and policy changes. A certificate only summarizes policy information; the policy and insurer-issued endorsements determine the actual coverage.
FAQ
Most stores start with commercial property for the space, fixtures, and stock; general liability for customer and product claims; and Workers' Comp when they have employees. Business income can help replace revenue while a covered loss keeps the doors closed. Crime, liquor liability, or umbrella coverage may also make sense based on your hours, inventory, cash handling, licenses, and lease requirements.
Product liability is usually included within commercial GL under products-completed operations coverage rather than issued as a separate policy. The policy limits and exclusions still determine what is covered. Pharmaceuticals, supplements, electronics, imported goods, and other specialized products may face exclusions or require an endorsement, so review the form carefully.
Each platform sets its own terms, and those requirements can change. Many third-party seller agreements ask for commercial GL, often with a $1 million per-occurrence limit. Some also require the platform to be named as an additional insured. Review your seller agreement, then BLIS can help align the policy and supporting certificates with its requirements.
Insurance options depend on what the business sells, where it operates, how much inventory it holds, whether customers visit the premises, and whether it has fuel tanks, alcohol sales, delivery vehicles, or higher-theft merchandise. A conventional clothing store may have different choices from a gas station or an online seller importing many product types. BLIS helps explain those differences and compare available terms without asking the owner to decode insurance-market jargon.
Property insurance covers certain physical losses involving the building, fixtures, and stock, such as fire, wind, burglary, or vandalism. Crime insurance addresses different events, including employee theft, robbery, forgery, and computer fraud. Businesses that give employees access to cash, inventory, or financial records may need both because the policies protect against different types of loss.
From the insights library
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Tell us how your business works and what you want help with. We'll review what you share and let you know what else may be needed.
Coverage availability, pricing, terms, conditions, limits, and eligibility depend on the insurer, state, details of the business, claims history, and policy terms. Nothing on this site guarantees coverage, pricing, approval, or savings.
Illustrative claim scenarios are examples only and do not represent specific claims, predicted outcomes, or coverage guarantees. Whether a specific claim is covered depends on the policy terms, conditions, exclusions, and the facts of the specific situation.
Marketplace platform insurance requirements referenced on this page are general observations only. Sellers should review their specific platform seller agreement for the exact coverage terms and documentation required. Requirements vary by platform and may change.
Blue Lagoon Insurance Services, LLC is an independent insurance agency and is not affiliated with Amazon, FedEx, UPS, or any other parcel delivery service.
