Having identified a worthwhile product for your business, the next significant step to attain success in selling physical merchandise is to find trustworthy suppliers.
An efficient supply chain will save you from unnecessary headaches, infinite refunds, and complaints. It allows you to invest time more wisely to increase sales and improve your overall lifestyle.
Even if you’re unfamiliar with Chinese culture or business environment, this article will guide you on how to assess a supplier’s business background. We’ll go through eight crucial aspects to determine whether a supplier is worth partnering with:
- Comprehend the Supplier’s Business Model
- Inspect Supplier’s Range of Products
- Determine Supplier’s Location in China
- Examine Supplier’s Business Track Record
- Consider Their Export History
- Check Supplier’s Compliance Certifications
- Validate the Factory’s Credentials
- Don’t Overemphasize Export Licenses
- Comprehend the Supplier’s Business Model Chinese suppliers generally fall into three categories:
Manufacturers: They produce goods from scratch, and many have a presence on Alibaba, at trade fairs, or in wholesale markets. A manufacturer typically offers the lowest prices but requires high MOQs (minimum order quantities) of around $2,000 – $5,000.
Trading Companies: These entities source products from manufacturers they’ve built long-standing relationships with. They cater to specific product categories and can be beneficial for businesses at their initial stages, given their reasonable MOQs.
Wholesalers: They essentially resell products procured from manufacturers and trading companies, with MOQs typically lower than the other two categories. Wholesalers are ideal for short-term transactions or testing the market, but less suitable for long-term engagements or customization needs.
Inspect Supplier’s Range of Products Usually, a manufacturer specializes in products made from similar materials or through related manufacturing processes. Trading companies should offer products within a related range, while wholesalers might offer a broad array of unrelated items.
Determine Supplier’s Location in China China boasts multiple industrial clusters each specializing in certain products. Knowledge of these clusters is crucial to gain a competitive edge. Suppliers from these clusters can offer the most competitive prices.
Examine Supplier’s Business Track Record If you’re aiming for a long-term relationship with a supplier, check their business history. Companies operating for at least three years are often more dependable and experienced.
Consider Their Export History A supplier’s export history can give insights into the quality of their products. If the supplier has a record of exporting to your target market, it could be a good indicator of their compatibility with your business needs.
Check Supplier’s Compliance Certifications Depending on the product and the country, you might need certain compliance certifications. You can save costs and time by choosing suppliers who already possess the required certifications.
Validate the Factory’s Credentials Qualification checks are usually important for larger buyers. However, small to medium businesses can still benefit from this step as it can offer insights into a supplier’s professionalism and past experience with large retailers.
Don’t Overemphasize Export Licenses Many small manufacturers and trading companies in China do not have export licenses. However, this does not necessarily reflect their reliability.
Remember, there is no such thing as a “perfect” supplier. As long as they meet your core business needs, they could still be an excellent fit for your business.
We hope this guide proves useful. For any queries, feel free to leave a comment below.
As a premier sourcing company in China, we assist clients in finding the top manufacturers, ensuring product quality, and managing shipments. If you wish to source products to improve formatting and readability. See context to find skipped messages.
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