💡 Quick Answer: The best place to start is SaleHoo Directory because of its comprehensive list of verified suppliers, including over 8,000 pre-vetted manufacturers. SaleHoo makes it easier than ever to connect with reliable partners in China and beyond. By offering a wealth of trusted partners and insights, SaleHoo empowers you to make informed decisions and navigate the sourcing process with confidence. So, if you're looking to kickstart your search for Chinese manufacturers, SaleHoo Directory is a trustworthy and cost-effective starting point.
Finding reliable and trusted manufacturers for your private label product is a crucial step in your online business journey.
Think about it: you're entrusting these manufacturing companies with your hard-earned cash to kickstart your business.
It's probably the biggest financial leap you'll take as an eCommerce newbie, so getting it spot-on is non-negotiable.
Rest assured, though. While the internet may seem like a vast and daunting place, this guide is your compass, leading you through this maze with confidence. With the right knowledge of how to find them, you'll navigate to the best manufacturers with ease and certainty.
But how do you separate the real deal from the talkers? How do you know which one is the perfect fit for you? With product manufacturers scattered all over the internet, each boasting about their quality, reliability, and prices, it's easy to feel overwhelmed.
Now, take a deep breath! This guide is your go-to roadmap to kickstarting your business with the right manufacturer by your side.
Did you know that China is hailed as the 'world's factory,' accounting for a whopping 28.7 percent of global manufacturing? That's one powerhouse player on the world stage!
Businesses flock to China to find suppliers, and it's no wonder why. Here are a few compelling reasons:
But hey, it's not all sunshine and rainbows. Prepare to navigate some bumps in the road, like ensuring product quality, tackling language barriers, dealing with MOQs (minimum order quantities), and managing shipping times.
Nevertheless, with the right approach and a bit of savvy, tapping into China's manufacturing prowess can open up a world of possibilities for your business! Read on for our top, proven methods—from specific websites to find manufacturers to trade shows and social networks.
Before we dive into how to work with Chinese manufacturers, we'll first go through the type of manufacturers that exist so you'll know which one is right for your business.
OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer)
An OEM manufacturer is a company that makes the components and parts of a product that is made by another company. OEMs tend to focus on B2B sales (business-to-business sales) and put their primary attention of manufacturing the parts rather than the finished product. An example would be OEMs for companies who sell computers. These companies won't directly make the parts needed for the computer, that's done by the OEMs. Instead, they will buy from several companies, like OEMs, who have the capacity and knowledge to specialize in each computer part.
ODM (Original Design Manufacturer)
You can think of ODMs are "private labelers" where they select an already-existing product design from an OEM, CM, or any factory, make changes (could be small or very prominent) and sell it under their own brand name. Some of these changes can have to do with branding, colors, packaging types, or even some small adjustments to the components and function. ODMs need to be on the ball with product ideation and spotting new market opportunities for them to take advantage of.
CM (Contract Manufacturer)
If an OEM doesn't have their own capacity, knowledge, or skills to create the product, they will go to a Contract Manufacturer (CM). All CMs have to do is get the product specs and produce the product to the best of their ability. Even though CMs will receive all the design requirements, their clients are the ones who will retain all IP rights.
TC (Trading Company)
You can think of a trading company as a kind of 'mediator' among manufacturers and discount providers since they usually understand customers better than the manufacturers so are more suitable to know what the demand is for their market. They also specialize in import and far rules so are better to manage manufacturing organizations. By working with a trading company, they usually will have better communication than if you directly worked with a manufacturer and in most instances, you'll still be able to take advantage of the low prices offered by manufacturers.
Communicating with Chinese manufacturers and suppliers can be difficult at times. But to make it easier we have narrowed down a few tips to keep in mind:
Keep emails short and to the point- Try to stick to one topic per email to avoid confusion. Use bullet points and short sentences where possible. It’s likely they will be putting your email into a translator so make sure your email has no spelling mistakes and makes sense!
Use pictures or visuals where possible- This is for more complicated topics. For example, if the product you receive needs adjusting, creating a video or labeled picture will help clarify things.
Get on WeChat- If email or phone isn’t working. You may or may not have heard of this online chat system but basically, everyone in China uses it including businesses!
It offers a lot more than just an online chat system but for your purposes, this is what you will use it for. The great thing about the app is that it has a built-in translation feature. Meaning you both can talk in your native language and the app will translate your responses. Communication is made easy!
Keep in mind cultural differences- Expect to build a personal relationship with your manufacturer as well as a business one. Hierarchies are also important in Chinese culture. If you have an issue don’t automatically assume you need to speak to a superior, try to find a solution with your contact first. Additionally, addressing the person you are talking to by their title and last name is a sign of respect.
Think about the time difference- Make sure to figure out the business hours in relation to your timezone and communicate when they are available.
With a massive selection of suppliers and manufacturers to choose from, how do you narrow it down? Below are a few tips to keep in mind so you can pick the best manufacturer for your business.
Minimum order quantity (MOQ)- This is a predetermined order requirement meaning the manufacturer will only work with you if you meet this. The number depends on the manufacturer but is likely to start no lower than 50 items. They have these requirements in place to ensure that they can make a profit and it is worthwhile working with you.
Product Quality- It’s pretty important you receive a test product to check the quality before you begin selling it to your customers.
Communication- It’s important you are able to contact them quickly and they are efficient in answering your queries. Especially when things go wrong.
Payment options- Every manufacturer has different requirements. The most common ones you will see are PayPal, MoneyGram, T/T and Western Union.
Price per unit- Check that you are on the same page and ask if you get a discount for bulk purchases.
Make sure they are not a reseller- You want to be working with the manufacturer but it isn’t uncommon to find that you are actually working with a reseller. A simple way to check this is to do your research.
For example, get to know the regions in China and what they specialize in manufacturing. If you are after electronics and your manufacturer is in Nantong (specializes in textiles) you might want to triple check you are actually working with a manufacturer as Shenzhen commonly specializes in electronics.
Production- It’s important to make sure your manufacturer can produce the quantity of products you need. If you are a small eCommerce entrepreneur then perhaps you would want to work with a small or medium sized manufacturer. As your business and capacity grows you might want to find a bigger factory with larger production capacity.
Ask questions- A few things you may want to ask when contacting a manufacturer is how long they have been in business and their business licenses. See if they have any certifications and also their history with working with businesses from the western world.
Alright, now you know a few ins and outs of working with Chinese manufacturers let's get stuck in with 12 different ways to find manufacturers to make your product.
We’re confident that at least one of these resources will connect you with a reliable, good quality manufacturer.
Trade shows (also known as trade fairs) are exhibitions where companies and manufacturers showcase their products and services in an attempt to attract new customers.
They are a great place to meet manufacturers face-to-face, which can provide you with greater confidence and peace of mind than emailing back-and-forth with a faceless company overseas.
At trade shows, sellers can ask questions and have them answered while looking the manufacturer in the eye.
Prior to the internet, trade shows were the main way that manufacturers and sellers built relationships and did business.
Today, trade shows are still a great way for sellers to meet manufacturers, see their products, and foster lasting business relationships.
By visiting local trade shows you’re more likely to meet local manufacturers, which can be beneficial when it comes to logistics and shipping.
However, there are hugely popular trade shows all over the world, including the global manufacturing hub, China.
SaleHoo is building a list of local trade shows around the world, organized into specific niches. This will become a go-to resource for sellers wanting to meet manufacturers in their niche at trade shows in their area.
Otherwise, the best way to find trade shows in your area is by searching on Google. Trade fairs will most likely be listed on local event websites. There are also Facebook groups you can join to stay in the loop.
China is the world’s largest manufacturer. It’s also one of the most common places that online sellers turn to for manufacturing. If you’re up for making a trip to China to meet manufacturers in person there are plenty of great trade shows to choose from. Some of the biggest trade shows are The Canton Fair in Guangzhou; The Yiwu Commodities Fair in Zhejiang; and the East China Import and Export Commodity Fair in Shanghai.
There are trade shows for almost every industry all year round in the United States. A quick Google will give you lots of options. The Trade Fair Dates looks like a good resource, providing an up-to-date list of most of the trade shows in the US.
Etradeasia.com is one of the world’s largest trade portals and online marketplaces with more than 700,000 members and a million products.
It’s a great place to source suppliers and manufacturers. A search of ‘clothing’ suppliers found 1003 matches. No matter what your niche is, you’re bound to find suitable manufacturers on this website. It’s a lesser-known option than some of the major online marketplaces and could therefore contain untapped potential.
Lightinthebox offers lifestyle products at attractive prices direct from the manufacturers — no middleman needed. It’s a global online retail company specializing in apparel, small accessories and gadgets and home and garden products. (If you're interested in garden dropshipping check out our article here).
While it’s not officially a supplier directory, many of the listings include contact details for suppliers. This means that you can contact them directly to ask about manufacturing. With more than 6 million Facebook likes, this website is popular and trusted worldwide.
Alibaba is the world’s biggest supplier directory. It’s largely set up as a B2B service. Whatever your niche or product is, you can almost guarantee you will find a manufacturer here.
Most manufacturers on Alibaba have an MOQ (minimum order quantity), which means you have to buy in bulk. This is good in terms of getting the best price, but can be a stretch financially when you’re starting out.
You can find suppliers and manufacturers simply by searching your product and the words ‘private label’ or ‘manufacturer’ in the search bar. However, if you become a verified buyer you can gain access to Alibaba’s more detailed supplier directory. This allows you to search for experienced suppliers, view their trade records, see some of their main customers, and other background information.
While you can find trusted manufacturers off your own back, becoming a verified buyer provides you with more information and security. It’s also recommended to seek out Gold Supplier members, which have been verified by Alibaba.
AliExpress is owned by Alibaba, but it was built to serve a different market. You won’t find as many manufacturers on AliExpress, but the plus side is that you can place smaller orders, which makes it a good option if you’re starting with limited capital.
You will need to do a bit more digging on AliExpress to find manufacturers. It will require contacting suppliers and seeing if they can manufacture your product for you. The good thing about AliExpress is that you can buy one of lots of different products in your niche before settling on the one that you want to have manufactured. One way to ensure you’re dealing with reliable suppliers is by sorting listings by ‘seller rating’.
The SaleHoo Wholesale Directory has more than 1,000 low-cost suppliers and 1.6 million products and brands. The SaleHoo team checks and verifies each supplier before adding them to the directory, which means that you don’t have to worry about dealing with potentially problematic suppliers.
While not all of the suppliers in the directory are manufacturers, you will still find hundreds, if not more, of them in the directory. It then just takes one click to see all of the manufacturer’s contact information, including phone number, email, and physical address, as well as details such as their trustworthy score, product range and quality, and customer service information.
But we are not completely biased. There are other wholesale directories that you can also check out. See our article on 16 of the best wholesale directories here!
The Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) is the international marketing arm for Hong Kong-based manufacturers, traders and service providers. It’s a lesser-known supplier and manufacturer directory for a huge range of products, from auto parts and accessories to electronics, jewelry, textiles, and toys.
It’s very simple to contact suppliers. There’s even a pop up message box to email the supplier directly. Just make sure you check that the supplier is verified and has a third-party reference before you contact them about possibly manufacturing your product.
MFG has been described as “the eBay of manufacturing”. It’s a global database of manufacturing companies. But you won’t find any cheap novelty items here. MFG.com specializes in heavy duty products like gears, molds, and machined parts.
If you’re an entrepreneurial engineer looking for a manufacturer to undertake die casting, injection molding, or rapid prototyping, then MFG.com is your best bet. It’s free to create an account and get started. Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos is an investor in the company, so you can be sure that it’s legitimate.
Clothing is one of the most popular eCommerce niches, but it can be a challenge to find good quality manufacturers, particularly when you’re relying on offshore mega factories.
Creating patterns, choosing fabrics, having samples made up, making alterations, and placing orders can be a laborious process, so you want to be sure that the final product is exactly what you imagined. Here are a few examples of reliable clothing manufacturers located in different parts of the world.
But don’t take our word for it. Make sure to do your research, just like you would with any other manufacturer, to be certain that they’re the right fit for you and your clothing line.
Makersrow.com connects clothing designers and small to medium-sized businesses with States-based factories and manufacturers. This is a great option if you want to slap an ‘American Made’ tag on your clothing line, or simply prefer to work with domestic manufacturers. The company has provided over 80,000 businesses with opportunities to work with domestic manufacturers.
Sqetch.co is based in The Netherlands and connects clothing brands with European manufacturers. It has a user-friendly interface where you simply input the type of clothing you want to produce, as well as the fabric and number of units. You can then contact a range of suppliers that fit your requirements and work with them throughout the production process. The directory has more than 1000 manufacturers that have worked on more than 2500 projects.
Indiamart.com is an online marketplace, similar to Alibaba and AliExpress, only smaller. It’s a valuable resource if you’re looking at manufacturing clothing in Asia. A search for ‘ladies jackets’ showed more than 4000 different suppliers, many of which would also offer manufacturing services. Factories in Asia are likely to be much cheaper than those in the USA and Europe, so if the price is the most important factor to you, it’s worth checking out Indiamart. As with many of the other websites listed above, make sure to go with verified suppliers where possible.
A B2B portal founded in 1998 that is centered around finding quality products made in China. It is a platform where you can find suppliers, factories, manufacturers, wholesalers and exporters. It’s definitely worth checking out!
Chinese manufacturers are realizing the power of social networks to connect with foreign buyers. Facebook and LinkedIn are good options. If you type in “[product/industry] manufacturer” you might come across a suitable manufacturer.
However, the best option is probably joining relevant Facebook groups and searching through the post threads/asking a question. There seems to be a group on Facebook for almost anything these days!
Finding a supplier is as easy as typing in “[product] + manufacturer in China.” It’ll return a bunch of results and a lot of them will be supplier directories or resellers. Take your time sifting through all of the results and do as much research on the manufacturer as you can before you even make contact.
Keep in mind many Chinese manufacturers and suppliers don’t have websites. And if they do they don’t spend a lot on advertising so it might be hard to find them. They are focused on manufacturing after all! And usually have no problem finding business on domestic platforms such as 1688.com.
Our SaleHoo Directory is full of vetted and trusted manufacturers and suppliers from around the world, including China! To get you started, below is a list of 11 Chinese manufacturers in a few different industries.
Industry: Womenswear (Dresses)
Supplier Type: Manufacturer, Wholesaler, Dropshipper
Minimum Order: 50 pieces
Where they ship to: Worldwide
Years in Business: 12
Miusol is a dress manufacturer known for great fitting, top quality, and popular designs ranging from bridesmaids dresses, cocktail dresses, maxi dresses, beachwear, and more. Because it can produce over 1 million stunning dresses annually, Miusol is very popular with distributors.
Industry: Homegoods
Supplier Type: Manufacturer, Wholesaler
Minimum Order: 1,000 pieces
Where they ship to: Worldwide
Years in Business: 14
Shantou Liqishi Plastic is a premium quality products manufacturer that specializes in lunch boxes, water bottles, bakewares, and personalized frozen plastic food containers. Their products are very high quality and are certified by the likes of FDA, LFGB, EU, ISO 9001:2008. Their products are all BPA-free. They ship internationally, accept PayPal, and have turnaround times of 20-25 days.
Industry: Corporate gifts
Supplier Type: Manufacturer, Wholesaler
Minimum Order: $101 - $500 USD, 500 pieces
Where they ship to: Worldwide
Years in Business: 11
Based in Guangdong, China, Sunsky Technology has been in business for over 10 years and offers engraved and printed corporate manufacturing gifts such as keychains, medallions, cufflinks, money clips, magnets, necklaces, cell phone charms, and more. They ship internationally and accept PayPay and AliPay. If you order more than 500 pcs, you’ll be able to enjoy huge discounts.
Industry: Jewelry and accessories
Supplier Type: Manufacturer, Wholesaler
Minimum Order: $1 - $100
Where they ship to: Worldwide
Years in Business: 14
Since 2008, this jewelry manufacturer has been offering over 1 million different styles of high fashion products to wholesalers. They are very reputable in the industry and have worked with over 500,000 resellers and boutique owners. They offer OEM and private label services at very reasonable prices.
Industry: Toys for kids
Supplier Type: Manufacturer, Wholesaler
Minimum Order: 3,000 pieces
Where they ship to: Worldwide
Years in Business: 36
If you want to get into the toy or kids/babies industry, this is the supplier you want to work with. Having been in the business for over 35 years, this supplier has worked with big brands such as Disney, Coca-Cola, and McDonald’s. Some of the things they manufacture are stuffed toys, plus pillows, education products, baby blankets, and event pet toys and pet clothes.
Industry: Outdoors goods
Supplier Type: Manufacturer, Wholesaler
Minimum Order: 538 pieces
Where they ship to: Worldwide
Years in Business: 17
Foshan Yuelong Metal Manufacturing is one of the leading manufacturers in China when it comes to barbeque tools, girl, kitchenware, and wire. They make everything from BBQ accessories, outdoor fire pits, hamburger grills, smokers, to pizza ovens. They provide OEM and private label services.
Industry: Adult Toys
Supplier Type: Manufacturer, Wholesaler
Minimum Order: 60-100 pieces (depending on product)
Where they ship to: Worldwide
Years in Business: 13
Since 2009, Shenzhen S-Hande Technology Co. has been manufacturing adult toys and gadgets. They have an OEM services that’s available at low cost, and also ship internationally with PayPal as a payment method.
Industry: Beauty electronics
Supplier Type: Manufacturer, Wholesaler
Minimum Order: None
Where they ship to: Worldwide
Years in Business: 9
If beauty electronics is the industry you want to get to, you’ll want to check our Wenzhou Fansure Information Technology. This Chinese manufacturer has years of experience with electric shavers, toothbrushes, weight loss devices, facial steamers, hair straighteners, and more. They offer private label, OEM, and blind dropshipping services and don’t have a minimum order.
Industry: Gadgets
Supplier Type: Manufacturer, Wholesaler
Minimum Order: 200 pieces
Where they ship to: Worldwide
Years in Business: 12
Since 2010, this Chinese manufacturer has been manufacturing hoverboards, scooters, 3D glasses, and other interesting gadgets. They ship internationally and accept PayPal, Alipay, and telegraphic transfers.
Industry: Sportswear
Supplier Type: Manufacturer, Wholesaler
Minimum Order: 50 pieces
Where they ship to: Worldwide
Years in Business: 16
Based in Guangdong, this sportswear supplier can handle everything from soccer jerseys to cycling shorts to MMA shorts and even cheerleading uniforms. This Chinese manufacturer can create custom athletic wear for you and are able to ship internationally.
Industry: Beauty
Supplier Type: Manufacturer, Wholesaler
Minimum Order: 10,000-50,000 pieces
Where they ship to: Worldwide
Years in Business: 18
For those who want to get into the beauty industry, Zhongshan based Nox-Bellcow is a Chinese manufacturer you’ll want to get in touch with. They mainly produce non-woven fabric and its downstream products such as wet wipes, facial masks, hand gel, household cleaning products, antibacterial products, and more. They have a certain MOQ for each product type so you’ll need to contact them for specific requirements.
Once you have found a quality product it’s time to place your order, right? Well, you may as well see if you can negotiate a better deal first!
Create a win-win scenario- Bear in mind negotiations will never end. It’s likely you will hear “I need to increase the price” soon. But to get you started try to create a scenario where both sides win.
State that you are after a long-term relationship- This is appealing to both you and the manufacturer for continued business.
Price per unit- Generally the more units you buy the cheaper the price. However, if you are just starting out you might not have the capital to buy in bulk. It’s still a good idea to see how much the manufacturer is willing to budge. Identify their price for 1000 units and then the price for the MOQ. This will give you extra bargaining power. But try not to be too tight!
It’s important to add that you will need to know what price per unit you are comfortable paying. Think about things such as shipping costs, listing fees, import taxes, packaging and marketing. A nice profit margin will be upwards of 100%.
Create FOMO (fear of missing out)- Obviously, you will be getting quotes from different manufacturers. You can use this as leverage if you have found a supplier you would really like to work with. However, it depends on how much they want your business. But it is worth a shot!
There you have it! Our best tips for finding manufacturers in China. Hopefully, you found this article useful and if you have any questions please let us know in the comments below!
Any Amazon seller will tell you that the risk of finding dishonest Chinese supplier or getting stuck with a poor-quality shipment is high. Whether you delve into an online B2B marketplace, an online supplier directory or visit a tradeshow or wholesale market, you’ll need to watch out for the few bad apples. In this post, we discuss your sourcing options and recommend the best way to find a dependable supplier for long term relations.
China’s largest import/export convention is held twice a year and covers virtually every industry that makes physical products. It is so huge that it runs in three phases:
Phase 1: Electronics, machinery, building materials and chemical products
Phase 2: Consumer goods, home décor and gifts
Phase 3: Textiles, recreational products, office supplies, shoes, medical devices and health products
You can attend for free but once you’re in, be prepared for what’s in store. Here’s a teaser:
- The sales representatives can speak basic business English. Some are hired for the fair and may not work for the company. You’ll learn about MOQs and some product details only.
- You can hire an interpreter at the fair at 400-500 RMB or $60-$75 per day. Service charges are higher for minority languages.
- Suppliers bring samples so you can see and touch the product to get an idea of quality.
- Low prices and not-so-great quality go hand in hand. Unless you’re willing to pay more than the advertised price, you won’t see the quality you want.
- After you speak to suppliers, they will ask for your business card to follow-up with you after the fair. Some Amazon sellers are hesitant to give their business cards to every vendor they meet out of a fear of their details being sold to other vendors. For etiquette’s sake, they may pass out fake cards to give to everyone except the suppliers they’re interested in.
The Canton Fair is HUGE. Find the list of exhibitors and their booth location on the trade show’s website in advance to save time and energy. The same suppliers participate each year, so novelty is missing. Don’t expect to see innovation either – the companies with a newer design or function may show prototypes and only be looking for distributors rather than OEM or private label manufacturing.
Disclaimer: Yiwu wholesalers are trading companies, not manufacturers.
The Yiwu Market in Zhejiang is open all year round. It has 40,000 shops and should be on your radar ONLY IF you want to source bags, shoes, textiles, watches and accessories at low prices. This is because the marketplace is heavily tilted towards buyers in India, Africa and the Middle East, and therefore their products don’t reflect the regulations and safety standards in the EU or USA. If you want toys, cosmetics or medical devices, you should look elsewhere.
Here, prices can go as low as you want but quality will go up or down accordingly. If your target market is highly segmented and you’re selling on multiple channels or distributing to other sellers, Yiwu Market can be an option. Some sellers use Yiwu as a complementary supplier for their existing suppliers when their stores are empty and need filler products.
Yiwu wholesalers work with factories in Zhejiang and Jiangsu. An advantage is that you can buy products off-the-shelf on the spot or have them shipped to your location in bulk.
If the goods you want aren’t ready for sale, make sure you’re clear about your quality requirements so that your supplier can place the order with a matching factory. Bickering on price will only result in the factory using cheaper materials which results in adjusting quality downwards.
You can hire a purchase manager to simplify sourcing. Yiwu agent services typically include picking you up from your hotel and driving you around the market to meet wholesalers, negotiating price and order terms, and coordinating procurement, including collecting different orders in one shipment. Agents are not responsible for reviewing quality control at factories.
You will bump into fake products at the market. Any famous brand you see at a Yiwu shop is likely a knock-off. Not to knock on Yiwu but it should have a place in your sourcing strategy only for equivalent products at low prices.
You want to find the actual factory, not a trading company posing as one.Trading companies can pose as manufacturers, making it essential to know who you’re dealing with. Here are tips to differentiate correctly:
- Most factories make a specific type of product or focus on a specific type of manufacturing process to keep costs and overheads low. A company that advertises a range of items is more likely to be a middleman rather than a manufacturer.
- Trading companies generally have business names that appeal to global buyers. On the other hand, manufacturers usually include the town or city they’re based in within their company name.
- Check the company’s business card for the factory address. If the location is a downtown area or on the 20th floor of a building, you may be looking at a trading company. See if a separate office address is mentioned – it could be their sales office and located in the city.
- Trading company websites are in English to cater to foreign buyers. Small Chinese manufacturers may not even have a website, or it may be a basic site with inadequate Chinese to English translation, although bigger manufacturers may have sophisticated sites. This could be yet another clue to the company’s true identity.
- Ask for the company’s quality certificate (CE, UL and other certifications). A factory will be listed as an ‘owner’ on the certificate.
These checks become necessary when you seek out China suppliers without help from a sourcing agent that not only cooperates with but has strong relationships with Chinese factories. Agents are a safe bet to source quality goods in a hassle-free way.
3. B2B marketplaces - China Suppliers online, be wary
Your search for Chinese suppliers can start online. Alibaba, Made in China and Global Sources are all popular websites to find suppliers and manufacturers in China. As always, you’ll need to be wary of a few things in order to avoid getting scammed on these B2B marketplaces:
- Resellers may advertise as manufacturers, which isn’t much of a problem if you’re sourcing toys, clothes, accessories and cheap electronics. For products that must be made to specific technical requirements, only a manufacturer will do. So, if the product you will sell is made using a manufacturing process like metal stamping or plastic injection molding, you will need to verify the supplier’s capabilities early on. These websites rate their suppliers, but nothing is 100% transparent. For instance, suppliers who become premium members on Alibaba with an annual fee can get gold supplier status, which increases their visibility on the site but doesn’t mean anything as far as ethical behavior and quality levels are concerned. So, the vendors that get the most exposure on Alibaba – the ones who may pop up when you search for their product category – must still be vetted.
- After you’ve contacted a supplier, you can request samples and place your order. But the process can be lengthy, taking weeks rather than days from initial contact to receive samples.
- Given the back and forth with the supplier, you’ll wish that both of you shared a common language. The communication barrier makes explaining your exact requirements via email or live chat quite challenging.
- As major B2B sites offer an easy platform for just about any Chinese supplier to showcase before buyers, this over saturated venue may incline many quality vendors to opt out.
Other China supplier directories include:
· DHGate, which is great for buying products in bulk. Over two million sellers and 26 million businesses and individual buyers use the website. A ‘Superior Suppliers’ tab connects you to companies the directory deems reliable. DHGate offers guaranteed refunds and escrow protection on every order.
· The Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) is a statutory body that develops Hong Kong’s trade, and organizes international conferences and exhibitions. Its supplier directory lists fewer companies compared to other directories.
A reminder:
- Trading companies can pose as suppliers on online directories. If they pay a fee, they will rank higher in search results regardless of feedback and ratings from buyers.
- Finding reliable suppliers on B2B marketplaces can be daunting. You need to separately screen each supplier, which should ideally involve a visit to their factory.
- It is easy to get drawn to the lowest prices or MOQs. Rock-bottom prices come at the cost of product quality. Costs can change once production begins, so the massive price advantage is not set in stone. If the supplier has never made the product it has advertised on the site, quality will suffer. Find out the market price/price floor of the product – offers that are 20%-30% below this price should set off a warning bell.
A China sourcing agent is ideal when you need products manufactured to exact technical specifications. Agents based in China visit factories to inspect quality controls closely. After you’ve greenlighted mass production, the agent will visit the factory again to inspect raw materials and even check the first few batches for quality.
Agents with boots on the ground in China are well-versed in Mandarin, so you can overcome the language barrier and communicate your requirements clearly. Chinese suppliers are very careful about what they share – they’re unlikely to inform you about production delays or ask questions if they aren’t sure about your product specifications. Sourcing agents can be helpful here as well, ensuring that the supplier is on the same page as you before production begins.
When you partner with an agent, you get comprehensive support throughout the sourcing process. If you want to get it right the first time and build along-term relationship with your supplier, engaging a sourcing agent is the right way to go.
A Google search of Chinese suppliers may seem like a logical first step for new Amazon sellers. Chinese suppliers have business websites and a presence on social media. Generally, they have generic names like China Direct Supplier or China Wholesale Market on social channels. Some of these suppliers may actually be agents offering to help you find suppliers.
As mentioned earlier, many of the supplier websites in English are traders rather than manufacturers. If you find a manufacturer site that appears genuine, go ahead and make inquiries. You may get a quick quote, obtain a sample without waiting long, and find yourself on a plane to China for a factory visit.
Search using specific keywords for products or location, such as “Langfang furniture suppliers” or “Shenzhen electronics products”. A Google search using key terms is also a quick way to find relevant supplier pages on directories and B2B websites.
Most Chinese use Baidu, and you can use a translation tool to find leads or see if those suppliers are on Google or Alibaba, and follow-up if they look promising. You may find more corporate details or information such as whether they’ve been involved in legal disputes.
Your business contacts may be able to connect you to Chinese suppliers or know someone who can guide you along the way. Also check with local trade bodies and Chambers of Commerce. It’s not just what you know, it’s also who you know.
Your supplier is your business partner
There will be some initial hiccups, and your relationship may weather ebbs and flows but staying on good terms with your supplier will help your business. It’s a lot easier to overcome language and culture barriers when you go through a sourcing agent. But you can manage on your own if you’re willing to travel to China every now and then, and really invest in the relationship.
Sourcing Allies is a team of expert China sourcing agents that has helped western customers manufacture and source products from low-cost regions since 2006.
For more on China sourcing visit our website or write to us at info@sourcingallies.com.