How To Find Suppliers From China
How To Find Suppliers From China
You’ve started a business? That’s great but now you need someone to supply the raw materials or the product itself. You can choose to go local however, it can be quite costly and very limited. What most business owners do is find a supplier from China itself. Most local suppliers would have likely gotten their stocks from there anyway so you would just be skipping the middle person and going straight to the source.
Suppliers from China are a lot more affordable especially if you buy things in bulk and nowadays, the items they make are of exceptional quality. Another benefit to using suppliers from China is niche products and products never seen before in your country are much easier to obtain. With that said, let’s look at how to find suppliers from China.
HOW TO FIND SUPPLIERS FROM CHINA
- Check Online
This is the go-to method for most business owners simply because of how convenient it is. Searching for suppliers online means you don’t need to leave your home to look for them. In places like Alibaba, Taobao or 1688, you can even check the full range of the products they offer and look at the reviews left behind by previous customers. Additionally, online stores such as these will often have a system in place where you can easily get your money back should you request for a refund.
The downside to using online methods when looking for suppliers is that you can only rely on pictures and videos to evaluate the product you want to buy. Although you can buy samples, you still have to wait for the samples to arrive to your doorstep which can take time. Speaking of time, you will also spend quite a while looking for the right supplier. You have to filter through thousands of them after all which can often times be overwhelming especially if you are just starting out.
- Ask people who have suppliers from China
Another way to find suppliers is by asking any of your fellow business owners for recommendations. These referrals are a good guarantee that the supplier can be trusted to deliver good quality products at a reasonable price. Furthermore, your network can even warn you of certain suppliers so you know who to avoid. Even if they are not in the same business as you, they can still tell you about their experience and methods when looking for a supplier which can prove to be invaluable.
If you don’t have anybody in your social circles that use suppliers from China, you can also go to private or public groups present in social media platforms like Facebook, LinkedIn and online forums. These are great alternatives as they are hundreds of groups out there that can help you in your journey in finding a supplier. Apart from that, you can also get the services of third parties, who have experience in dealing with import and export of goods from China. As an example, BGST RESOURCES SDN BHD has extensive experience in “How To Import From China” and so on.
- Visit trade fairs
For those of you who prefer face-to-face interactions, you should take a look at trade fairs. Trade fairs are live exhibitions where people from all industries gather and promote their wares. Some trade fairs are only opened to professionals while others are also opened to the public. It’s a great place for you to look at your options as well as expand your network. So be sure to check if there will be any trade fairs in your country at your local convention centers.
If your local convention center is too far, some conventions like China’s Canton Fair, offer virtual trade fairs as well where over 20,000 exhibitors showcase their products and negotiate with buyers virtually. Try to look up who the organizer of the trade fair is and ask them if they have a virtual option available.
Finding good suppliers is not easy; even more so for those of you who have very niche businesses. Sometimes, you might need to do all three of these methods before you find the one you can trust. It’s important you take the time to find a supplier that can consistently give high quality products on time so you won’t have to suffer any potential loss for the business in the form of either refunds or brand reputation.