For wholesale distributors
A specialty SKU for the projects standard racking can’t solve.
A meaningful share of American homes have slate or cedar-shingled roofs — the company cites a figure near 5% — and most solar mounting catalogs have nothing engineered for them. The patented SlatePlate™ is a USA-made mount built specifically for existing slate roofs, with training that helps your installer customers get productive fast. You supply the line; the contractors you serve do the work.
Tell us your territory, the lines you carry, and your estimated volume — we’ll scope the fit.
Patented slate-roof mounting system (U.S. & E.U.) · made in the USA · training that lowers your support burden
Made in U.S.A.
manufactured in Hudson, MA
Not another mounting SKU — the one source your installer customers can turn to for slate jobs they’d otherwise decline.
A line worth carrying
The gap in your catalog — and the chance to own it
Slate-roof homeowners and institutions want solar, and the installers chasing those jobs need a reliable wholesale source. Most catalogs don’t have one. That’s the opening.
An underserved niche your customers keep hitting
Slate and cedar-shingled roofs sit on a meaningful share of the housing stock — the company cites a figure near 5% of American homes. Standard rail-and-flashing systems aren’t engineered for slate, so installers decline these jobs or improvise. Supply a purpose-built slate-roof mount and you become the source contractors turn to for work they’d otherwise walk away from. You don’t create the demand — homeowners and institutions do — you equip the installers and roofers who execute it.
A differentiated, defensible SKU — not a commodity
Launched in 2017, the SlatePlate is — the company describes — the first system to combine no slate removal with no load transferred to the slate. Its patented spacer is designed to carry the array’s weight to the roof structure rather than the tiles, and is designed to provide weather protection at each mount (company-stated). It’s made in the USA in Hudson, Massachusetts, and patented in the U.S. and Europe. A real problem solved, domestic manufacturing, and patent protection: that’s a line you price with confidence, not a bracket that competes only on cost.
Training that lowers your support burden
A common objection to stocking a technical product is the support it drags behind it. The SlatePlate is designed around that concern: a simple, no-measure method that sets each mount quickly, with training in person, virtually over Zoom, and as on-demand video — the company reports experienced crews getting productive in roughly one to two hours. The manufacturer carries much of the enablement load, so your contractor customers get trained directly and the product is less likely to come back to you as a support ticket or a return.
A channel and margin opportunity to define together
Solar Slate Solutions supplies the SlatePlate to distributors and installers (company-stated) — distribution is part of the model, not an afterthought. The specifics that matter to you — wholesale pricing, margin structure, minimums, stocking levels, territory, and marketing support — are exactly the topics a wholesale conversation should cover. Because this is a specialty SKU rather than a commodity, it’s positioned to be defended on value, not discounted on volume.
Why now
Rooftop solar keeps expanding, and the slate and cedar segment remains largely unserved by mainstream mounting suppliers. The installers chasing these jobs need a reliable wholesale source, and most catalogs don’t have one. Getting a differentiated, patent-protected, USA-made line into your catalog ahead of competitors positions you as the go-to supplier for a niche that isn’t going away. Honest framing: this is an early, define-the-terms-together moment, not a mature program with fixed rate cards — which is precisely why it’s worth a conversation now.
The product & the line
A stockable specialty line, supplied from Billerica
A real, organized supply line — the patented mount, the documentation, and the training that keeps it off your support desk.
See it on real roofs
Installation videos
Real installs and product walkthroughs — play inline, no pop-ups.
A defensible line, not a commodity
Patented, USA-made, and training-backed.
2017
installer-built, in the field since
U.S. & E.U.
patented mounting system
0
slate removed to mount
Engineer-founded · made in the USA (Hudson, MA) · patented in the U.S. & Europe · trains installers in person, over Zoom, and on demand · supplies installers directly and through distributors.
From inquiry to reorder
How the partnership works
A clear division of labor: you supply the line, the manufacturer supplies product and training, and the installers and slate roofers you serve do the rooftop work.
1
You request wholesale info
Tell us your company, territory, the product lines you already carry, and your estimated volume. You submit the form; the Solar Slate Solutions partnerships team follows up to scope fit — no obligation.
2
Fit and onboarding review
Together we confirm product-market fit for your contractor base, review documentation and specs, and discuss commercial terms. The SlatePlate team provides product, patent, warranty, and spec materials; you assess catalog fit and channel structure. An honest note: pricing, minimums, territory, lead times, and returns are defined in this conversation — they aren’t pre-set.
3
Stocking setup
You decide stocking levels and logistics — stock on shelf, drop-ship, or a mix — and we align on packaging, SKUs, and replenishment. You set the inventory strategy; the manufacturer in Billerica supplies product and product data. An honest note: drop-ship versus stocking, lead times, and minimums are still to be set together.
4
Training enablement for your installer customers
Your contractor customers get trained on the SlatePlate method — in person, virtually, or on demand — so they can install confidently. Solar Slate Solutions delivers the training; you connect your installer and slate-roofer customers to it; the trades execute the rooftop work. This is the harmony point: you empower the contractor, who serves the demand homeowners and institutions create.
5
Demand support
You’re positioned to capture orders as slate-roof solar projects come up in your region, with manufacturer-side materials — spec sheets, product info, media references — to support your sales team. Homeowners and institutions create the demand; installers quote and execute; you supply the mounting line; the SlatePlate team supports with product collateral. An honest note: co-op marketing support, if any, is to be discussed.
6
Reorder and grow
As your installer base adopts the method, you replenish stock and expand the line’s footprint in your territory. You reorder; the SlatePlate team fulfills and continues product and training support. An honest note: reorder terms, lead times, and any warranty-claim or return process are defined together, not pre-set.
Your concerns, answered
What buyers ask before stocking the line
The questions purchasing and category managers raise most — answered straight.
“Is there real product-market fit, or is slate too small to bother with?”
The addressable base is larger than most assume — the company cites a figure near 5% of American homes as slate or cedar-shingled — and it’s a segment mainstream mounting suppliers largely skip. The fit isn’t “sell to everyone”; it’s “be the one source your installer customers can turn to for slate jobs they’d otherwise decline.” That exclusivity of purpose is the point.
“How complex is this to carry as a SKU?”
The SlatePlate is a focused specialty mount, not a sprawling system — it’s the slate-roof interface used with standard rails and panels, made in one place (Hudson) by the manufacturer. Exact SKU breadth, packaging, and configurations are part of the onboarding conversation, so the line stays simple to carry.
“What’s the training burden on us?”
Minimal by design — the manufacturer carries it. Solar Slate Solutions trains installers directly via in-person, virtual, and on-demand video, with experienced crews typically productive in about one to two hours (company-stated). You connect customers to training; you don’t have to become the trainer.
“What about returns and warranty claims?”
Components, including the SlatePlate, carry manufacturer limited warranties (company-stated), and a simple, no-measure mount with quick installation is designed to reduce installation error — a common driver of returns. The actual return and warranty-claim process for distributors isn’t yet established and should be defined before you stock. Confirm the exact warranty terms in writing.
“What’s the stocking risk?”
That depends on terms still to be set — minimums, stocking versus drop-ship, and lead times are open topics, which means they can be structured to limit your downside rather than imposed. We’d rather scope this honestly with you than quote a number we haven’t established.
“How is this differentiated from commodity racking?”
It solves a problem standard racking can’t — slate — it’s made in the USA, and it’s protected by patents in the U.S. and Europe (company-stated). That’s a value story you can defend on the merits rather than a price you have to discount.
“How does territory work?”
Territory, exclusivity, and channel structure aren’t pre-set — they’re part of the wholesale conversation, which means they can be shaped to fit your region and customer base rather than handed to you fixed.
“Will I be competing with the manufacturer’s own installs?”
Solar Slate Solutions installs directly in New England and trains installers worldwide, while explicitly supplying distributors and installers as part of its model (company-stated). The intent is to equip the channel, not bypass it — exactly how distribution and any regional considerations fit together is a conversation worth having up front.
“Who actually generates the demand I’d be supplying?”
Homeowners and institutions — houses of worship, universities, and historic-building stewards — create the demand; installers and slate roofers execute; you supply the mount. Your role is the reliable source that lets contractors say yes to slate jobs. The SlatePlate team supports with product collateral and (to be discussed) marketing materials.
“What sales and documentation support do we get?”
The product is patented, and the company cites features in AltEnergyMag and Roofing Magazine (confirm before citing), with product information and spec materials available to support your team. The full distributor sales kit — spec sheets, packaging, sell sheets, and any co-marketing — is part of onboarding or being finalized, and we’ll confirm what’s ready when you reach out.
Sizing up a specialty line for your catalog? Let’s open a wholesale conversation and scope the fit.
Common questions
Distributor FAQ
Does Solar Slate Solutions sell wholesale to distributors?
Yes. The company says supplying SlatePlate to distributors and installers is part of how it works. The pricing and terms are worked out in a conversation, not posted publicly.
What is this product, exactly?
SlatePlate is a patented mounting-and-sealing system made for slate roofs that are already in place. It attaches to the roof’s frame so the panels’ weight rests on the frame, not the tiles, with weather protection built into each mount. It’s the slate-roof connector used with standard rails and panels.
Where is it made?
In the USA, in Hudson, Massachusetts.
Is it patented?
Yes — patents in the U.S. and Europe. That protection is part of what makes it a specialty line you can defend on value instead of price.
What are the wholesale prices and profit margins?
Those aren’t set yet and are worked out in the wholesale conversation. The company won’t post a number it hasn’t defined — it prefers to scope it with you.
Is there a minimum order or stocking commitment?
Minimums, how much you stock, and whether you stock it or drop-ship (ship straight from the maker to the customer) are all open topics, so they can be set to fit your business rather than forced on you.
What are the lead times?
Lead times aren’t set yet and should be confirmed before you stock. They’ll be worked out during onboarding (the setup process for a new partner).
How do territory and exclusivity work?
Your territory (sales area) and exclusivity are part of the wholesale talk and can be shaped to your region — they’re not pre-set.
What’s the warranty?
The company says there are makers’ warranties on the parts, including SlatePlate. Confirm the exact terms and length in writing before you quote them.
Is the product UL-listed or otherwise certified?
Certifications matter to distributors, so confirm the current listing status directly with the company before you publish or quote it. They’ll give you the current answer when you reach out.
How are our installer customers trained?
Solar Slate Solutions trains installers worldwide — in person, over Zoom, and with on-demand videos — and says experienced crews get productive in about one to two hours. The maker handles the training, not you.
What’s the return or warranty-claim process for distributors?
The distributor return and warranty-claim process isn’t set up yet and is a topic for onboarding. They’ll define it clearly with you before you stock.
Is there marketing or co-op support?
Product materials and press mentions are available. Any co-op or shared-marketing support is something to discuss as part of the partnership.
How do we start?
Fill out the wholesale info request with your company, territory, the lines you carry, and your estimated volume. The partnerships team follows up to figure out fit and terms.
Add the line your competitors don’t carry.
A patented, USA-made specialty mount for slate roofs — with training behind it.
The SlatePlate is a defensible SKU for projects standard racking can’t serve, backed by training that helps your installer customers get productive fast. Pricing, territory, stocking, and support are exactly what a wholesale conversation should cover — and if you’re ready to stock, ask about becoming a stocking partner. Tell us your territory, the lines you carry, and your estimated volume, and we’ll scope the fit for your catalog and your customers.