How to Source Goods and Suppliers in China?

China today is full of incredible business opportunities for business owners, and although the cost of manufacturing in China has risen slightly during the recent years, the country is still many times the cheapest location to source goods or parts. When starting to source goods or parts, a business owner can easily find himself tackled in the endless swap of supplier lists the Internet has to offer. This is why today, I present you some very cheap options where to start your sourcing activities. This post is especially for small companies, who don’t have and currently cannot afford any overseas offices or operations, but still want to effectively source suppliers in China.

1. Internet Search

Even though I just said you easily find yourself lost in the Internet, it is still one of the easiest ways to start sourcing. The most cost-effective way is to simply start searching for “Suppliers in China” on the Internet via a search engine such as Google. Remember to try the search also in Bing or Yahoo, as everything may not be available in Google because it is blocked in China.

B2B sourcing platforms like Alibaba, Global Sources, and Made-in-China.com are also valuable webpages. Thousands of suppliers are listed on these sites, and you can streamline your search and increase the number of legitimate sources by filtering results for only those entries labeled as “gold member,” “verified supplier,” “onsite supplier,” or “accredited supplier.” Good reviews offer some indication that the supplier is legitimate. Some B2B sourcing platforms have endorsed service provider lists and supplier blacklists. For example, Alibaba has a list of banned members.

Some sites also offer special services to further protect buyers. For example, Global Sources has credit-check services and supplier-capability-assessment services. Be aware that verified suppliers at these sites may only mean that the companies are verified to exist; it does not necessarily mean that their reputation, production capability, or quality have been verified (for example, a gold member at Alibaba is a paid status). Further, while these sites have large directories of “suppliers,” some are simply traders or wholesalers, not manufacturers. You won’t get the best price from traders or wholesalers, so you need to do your own diligence on potential suppliers.

2. Social Media

Social media is not necessarily an ideal platform to identify suppliers. Only some suppliers have a social media presence, but they can be a good source for feedback or reviews of potential suppliers. Therefore, be cautious when relying on such platforms and remember to do your own due diligence as the information provided is often unverified, reviews are often anecdotal, and sample sizes may be small.

Also, there are many professional LinkedIn groups worth checkinhg that are focused on sourcing in China:

In addition, some forums such as the Alibaba forum, Smart China Sourcing at Global Sources, and China Sourcing Blog offer good tips. Finally, be sure to check on any complaints other people may have shared at Ripoff Report and Supplier Blacklist

3. Trade Shows

Trade shows are another way to find legitimate suppliers. By attending trade shows, you have the opportunity to talk to potential suppliers face to face about their companies, products, production capacity, qua

lity-control procedures, and other key business areas. Such direct interaction can help you evaluate suppliers and verify their abilities. You can find all the upcoming trade shows here. You can filter them by industry, country and city.

4. Sourcing Companies

China sourcing companies, such as SBE International, can provide you a hassle-free experience by providing you a full package of sourcing services. This way, you get a detailed pool of potential suppliers straight on to your desk. Just pick the most potential one and the sourcing company will take care of factory audit and supplier’s legal registration checks. What is more, sourcing companies offer services to assist you with your business trips so that your expectations and requirements are met. If you would like to go attend a Trade Fair, but you cannot afford or have time to do it, sourcing companies offer Trade fair Representation, where sourcing specialists go to trade fair and deliver you as many supplier’s profiles as you need.