China is now an industry leader with its expertise in various products, including electrical appliances, electronics, textile, metal, plastic and consumer goods. However, for new starters, it is difficult to start. In this article, I’ll introduce some basic steps to follow.

1. Know Your Product

The first step is often the most difficult. You often don’t know where to start or who to talk to. Knowing exactly what type of product you are looking for is the first thing you need to figure out before anything else. Knowing the product will make it easier to narrow down potential suppliers and then later determine what qualifications the supplier should have. Having a clear photo ready to show suppliers is a necessity. And any additional specifications about the product would be ideal. Basically, the more information you have on your product, such as having a clear description of the material and function of the product, the easier it will be to find a qualified supplier. Making a list of questions to ask suppliers, along with a brief description of your company, will ensure leaving a meeting in good standing.

2. Search for Chinese Suppliers in the Right Places

Your best bet is to start by searching for your potential suppliers on B2B websites. At the moment, the top three websites for sourcing in China are Alibaba, Global Sources and Made-in-China. Using keywords to start your search is best to get the widest range of suppliers possible. Although you may need to change the key words a couple times to find exactly what you are looking for. Apart from just looking on websites, attending trade shows and using search engines are two effective options for finding suppliers.

3. Initial Contact with Chinese Suppliers

When you finally find the product, and have narrowed down some choice suppliers, your next step is to contact them. If you’re attending a trade show, you will likely be able to communicate with a representative directly in person – giving you the benefit of live feedback. Suppliers at a trade fair might also have product samples on-hand at their booth, which can offer practical insight as well.

When contacting a supplier which you’ve found online, reach out to them by email. Email the supplier by using the internal messaging system provided by the website you are using. Have a brief introduction of your company and what product you are looking to source. But most importantly, leave your email address and request for the supplier’s email address. The website may not have this information, so it is important to get it as early as possible. Follow up with the factory by email back and forth to verify their ability to communicate properly and efficiently. This will help you gauge their cooperation level and interest of doing business with your company.

4. Evaluate Your Chinese Suppliers

Get a feel for prospective suppliers’ attentiveness and communication. You might find it helpful to rate each supplier on how comfortable you would feel doing business with them. Judge them on their email and phone call communication, rather than only considering prices. Choosing a supplier based on price alone can prove to be costly in the end, by refusing a batch of worthless product. Some of the most important points to focus on are communication and the supplier’s management ability. A supplier that is slow or dodgy when responding to questions before an order is placed is far more likely to be unreliable once they’ve received your deposit for an order.

5. Further Investigation

Once you have narrowed your search to one or a few potential suppliers that you feel comfortable about, do NOT go ahead and place an order. Before any financial transaction or order takes place, perform an audit of the supplier or hire a qualified 3rd-party to verify the supplier on your behalf. This type of audit, sometimes known as a Supplier Review, is based on internationally-recognized ISO 9001 standards. A Supplier Review looks at various aspects of a supplier, such as production capacity, quality control and management to determine if this supplier is reputable and qualified for manufacturing your product. Find a verified China sourcing agent for help, if you feel difficult to do it.

Conclusion

Sourcing in China can be a daunting task when approaching it from another corner of the world. Remember these important steps to improve your chances of success:

1) Know what you are looking for in order to alleviate the process of finding an appropriate supplier.

2) Utilize B2B websites or attend trade shows to have the most access to viable candidates.

3) In order to establish a strong relationship with a future supplier, send a respectful email to introduce yourself and your company, rather than just requesting a price quote.

4) Evaluate your suppliers carefully and make sure you feel comfortable communicating with your supplier on a regular basis.

5) Carry out an audit to verify the supplier’s information and increase your chance of obtaining the best possible product from your order.

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