How to Find the Right International Supplier

Do you want to import goods from overseas? Finding the right international supplier can be problematic. By following specific steps, you will get the best one to work with and develop a long-lasting relationship.  

Here are the steps to get the best overseas supplier:

1. Determine the type of supplier you want to work with

A supplier refers to anyone who is capable of providing you with products. This means that suppliers can be manufacturers, wholesalers, and even drop shippers. To find the best supplier that matches your needs, you should know the types that are available. Some handle everything you want from product idea to actual shipping, while others may only do a specific thing such as only shipping.

Manufacturer

If you have a product idea, then working with a manufacturer is the best option. Manufacturers in China can turn your product idea into reality at a cost-effective price. All you need to do is provide the product designs and instructions. After the manufacturer makes the right sample, you can go ahead and order the product you want to sell in your country.  

Supplier

The supplier can also be a manufacturer and distributes products of existing brands at the same time. If you just want to source products of existing brands, then working with suppliers is the perfect option. You can purchase the products at a lower cost and then ship it to your country.  

Drop Shipper

A drop shipper’s function is to complete the orders for existing brand products and ship them to countries where the buyers are located. If you are running an E-commerce store, then you will need a drop shipper to deliver the goods ordered by customers.  

2. Search for the supplier

Once you have decided on the type of supplier to go with, the next step is to identify the right one to work with. Obviously, the internet is the best place to start conducting your research. Here are some sites where you may find what you are looking for:

Directories

Do you know that there are online directories for international suppliers? These directories contain thousands of suppliers including their contact and the types of products they deal in. Alibaba is one of the directories where you can find suppliers.

Referrals

Have you ever considered asking friends who are already in the import business about suppliers? You may find the best leads by tapping into your professional network. They will recommend only the ones that they have worked with well.  

Consider joining Facebook groups and online communities where e-commerce owners hang out. Identify suppliers that have attractive reviews within the groups and contact them to engage them at a closer level.   Create a list of potential suppliers and then later down the line, you will further shortlist them out until you find the best one to fit your needs.

3. Request for quotation

Remember the list you created while doing your research? Now is the time to identify a suitable supplier by eliminating the ones that don’t have favourable terms. Approach these potential suppliers by requesting for a quotation. Determine the questions you intend to ask to get the most important information about each supplier.  

Here are some questions to ask to get correct information from the potential suppliers:

Minimum Order Quantity

Also referred to as MOQ, minimum order quantity refers to the least number of products that you can order from the supplier. You would want to determine if the minimum order quantity is affordable and manageable. Some suppliers have a high MOQ which may discourage buyers due to the price. Plus, first time buyers may be worried that the product may not do well.  

Sample Pricing

Sample pricing is the amount the supplier may charge you for the samples of the product before you make the full order. You would want to check the samples and be satisfied with the quality of the product before buying the minimum order quantity. Some suppliers may send the samples at a discounted rate while others may just sell the samples at the normal price.

Production Pricing

If you are working directly with a manufacturer, then inquiring about product pricing would be necessary. You can inquire if they offer discounts when you make bulk orders.  

Turnaround Time

This one defines how long it will take to produce your order. By knowing the duration, you can calculate when the product can arrive in your country and then you can make realistic plans for your business.

Payment Terms

From my experience, most manufacturers demand that new businesses pay the full amount for the order upfront. You should inquire about this from your supplier because it may be hard raising the full amount of money at once.  

4. Choose the Best Deal

After receiving the quotations from each of these suppliers, the next step is to identify the best one that matches your needs. There is no point in going for a supplier who presents a risky deal. If you don’t get the right deal from the potential suppliers’ responses, clarify your offer and send it to other suppliers. However, if you find the right deal, then you can move to the next step of negotiations for the minimum order quantities.  

Conclusion

Finding the right international supplier is simple. By following specific steps, you are assured of identifying the right supplier that can deliver the goods at a favorable rate. Begin by searching for potential suppliers on online directories such as Alibaba etc, then request for quotations from each of these suppliers to determine the best one to go with.

Tell us how you find the right International Supplier for Your Product in the comment box below. You might also be interested in reading about Why Ecommerce is the Future.