how to find a supplier on Alibaba & Find a Chinese Manufacturer
To run a successful Amazon business, you will need to strike a fine balance between selling high quality products and outsourcing them at a decent rate. In most cases though, either of the two variables is in extremes- either the product you have on offer is too expensive because of quality or the rate at which you procure it is too high.
It is especially difficult to outsource for products from America because a lot of their products are very expensive and for you to earn proper profit, you’ll need to price the products very highly and this discourages buyers.
It is therefore not surprising that a lot of Amazon buyers are looking to the east and China in particular. A lot of Amazon sellers are opting to outsource their products from China because of the following reasons;
- Quality- Products coming from China are of high quality. Despite the fact that most people associate the Chinese with fake merchandise, a lot of their products are actually of very high quality.
- Pricing- compared to products of the same quality in America, Chinese products are almost half as cheap as their American counterparts. Although this is down to other aspects such as branding and marketing, the Chinese produce mass products at a cheaper cost.
- Diversity- Products from Chinese cover all budgets. You will find a commodity for almost every budget. It is therefore easier to find buyers and still make a profit off the products.
- Shipping from China has become seamless- Gone are the days when you had to wait for months for products from China to arrive in the U.S. Nowadays, you only need to wait a couple of days after placing your order and your products will be at your doorstep.
So, how do you find a Chinese Supplier?
Despite the demand for Chinese suppliers being so high, it is actually very difficult to get a Chinese Supplier who you can trust, who will meet your demands and supply at the agreed rates. There are very many cons who pose as Chinese suppliers when in real sense, all they are is scammers looking to feed on the blood of desperate Amazon sellers.
To help you find Chinese suppliers with relative ease, we have put together tips on how to find a supplier on Alibaba &Find a Chinese Manufacturer
How to Find a Supplier on Alibaba &Find a Chinese Manufacturer
Research on the various platforms
The most reliable platform to look for Chinese suppliers is on Alibaba even though there exists other platforms which have a good number of suppliers as well. Take your time to look for some of the top Chinese suppliers for whatever product you are intending on outsourcing from China.
Be it on Alibaba, Amazon or Google, always take your time to read the reviews from previous buyers, dig deep into the websites of the suppliers, take a look at their experience in the market and their ability to ship constantly to the United States.
Always look out for things like trust badges such as the Trade Assurance, Gold Supplier and Assessed Supplier. Traders with trust badges have a proven track record and can be trusted. In case of any misunderstanding, you are guaranteed to get a full refund in your favor.
Attend International Trade Fairs and Shows
Sometimes, the best suppliers are not on Alibaba or the internet, they are busy showcasing their products in international trade fairs and shows. You should therefore attend international trade fairs especially if the fairs are in the industry of the product you intend to sell on Amazon.
The beauty of using trade fairs to get Chinese suppliers, is that you can land suppliers with products which haven’t debuted in the American market and this can give you an edge in terms of competition.
Take advantage of social media
Yes, as incredible as it sounds, finding a Chinese supplier is as simple as making a social media search on Facebook or Twitter. If you use keywords and locality elements of search correctly, you can end up landing a trustable Chinese supplier who will provide the merchandise you need at very affordable rates.
Make sure that you are dealing with a manufacturer and not a trading company or broker
When looking to outsource for products from China, you should be careful not to outsource from brokers posing as manufacturers. Always ask for proof of manufacturing before you can go into contract with a Chinese supplier.
Be patient
Never commit yourself financially before you are absolutely certain that you have the right supplier within your sights. Rushing to get a supplier can land you in trouble and lead to losses of thousands of dollars. Take your time and ask key questions pertaining the product on offer, the pricing and shipping before you can go into contract with a Chinese supplier.
