Are you looking to start an online store? Most people think that marketing and sales are the most challenging part of having a successful eCommerce business. That’s not true. The most critical part of having an eCommerce business is to find the right supplier.

If you are getting top-notch products at reasonable prices, you will be able to make the sales. If you are not getting the best quality or the right price, you will find it impossible to be profitable. All your efforts will go down the drain.

That is why you must find the right supplier. This article will help you start your sourcing journey on a positive note.

Sourcing products can be challenging. You have to know where to look and how to identify reliable suppliers. There are several ways by which you can source products to sell online.

Find manufacturers or wholesale suppliers:

The best way to get a large variety of products is to find manufacturers. A manufacturer will be able to make you practically any product depending on your requirements. You can source a range of products from shoes, handbags, watches, and even clothing.

Another option is to go for retail suppliers or wholesale suppliers. Wholesale suppliers deal in bulk orders. If you are looking to start small, this is probably not your best option. You can check out stores that sell multiple products at wholesale prices.

Product sourcing is explained in online selling courses like Wholesale Ted. Here’s the review of the course to help you decide if it’s legit or a scam.

Find Dropshippers:

A dropshipping supplier will hold the inventory for you. When an order is placed, the drop shipper will ship it directly to your customer. This saves you all the trouble of stocking products or managing inventory.

The best way to find the right drop shipper is to look online. There are several directories available that help you connect with prospective suppliers. 

All you have to do is fill up a simple form and start looking for potential drop shippers. You can narrow your search by location, product range, and price, as well as other criteria. This will help you save time and money as well.

Trade Shows:

Another way of finding reliable suppliers is to go for trade shows. Trade shows are popular events where manufacturers and wholesalers come together to showcase their products. You can get a lot of information by meeting prospective suppliers personally.

Most trade shows are open to the general public as well. This means that you will have other people competing with you when it comes to meeting the suppliers. The best way of finding suitable suppliers at trade shows is by taking your time and attending all the seminars. You can get quality information this way.

Manufacture products: 

You can get the highest profit margins by choosing to manufacture products yourself. You will have to research, find the best materials, and work with some manufacturer to create a product you are looking to sell.

You have to remember that creating a product from scratch takes time. You cannot be sure of success unless you are prepared to invest everything in your idea. So, if you are looking forward to making big money quickly through eCommerce, this is not the best option for you.

Besides finding suppliers, other factors play an important part in sourcing products. They are:

Negotiation skills:

Getting the right price is an integral part of eCommerce success. You cannot sell profitable products if you are not getting the best prices. For this, you have to learn how to negotiate with your supplier. If you have a good track record and a list of positive feedback, you can get the best deal.

Trust:  

It would help if you only worked with suppliers that you trust. Trust is hard to build and easy to lose. There are several cases where suppliers were found infringing copyrights of their clients. So, make sure you know all about your supplier before entering into a business agreement with them.

Personal relationship:

The most successful eCommerce entrepreneurs are those who build personal relationships with their suppliers. It is important to remember that these people will be running your business when you are not around. For this reason, you need to build a strong relationship with them. You can start by attending trade shows and meeting them at social events.

In the end, you should always be looking for ways to improve your eCommerce product sourcing process. You can use a variety of methods when it comes to finding suppliers. When possible, try and find someone interested in partnering with you in a long-term relationship. This way, they will have more incentive to give you great deals on products that are high quality and meet your needs as an online retailer.