No doubt, Alibaba is the biggest platform to find manufactures in China. Since its launch, there hasn't been a year that Alibaba have not experienced an exponential growth in the B2B market. Is very common to hop over this giant web platform to find what you need. However, there are other sources and additional ways that can lead you to the right supplier on time. |
Below are the 3 ways to find suppliers in China by not using Alibaba.
No. 1: Global Sources
Global Sources (www.globalsources.com) is the 2nd best portal where you can locate suppliers in China. A Hong Kong based B2B platform, Global Sources is even 29 years older than Alibaba (founded in 1970, Alibaba was founded in 1999), by doing global trade magazines since their founding.
Global Sources platform and interface is very much similar to Alibaba’s, however, is always worth take a look of your products, just for the important fact that many manufacturers which are on Global Sources are not registered in Alibaba, and I personally have seen that.
Besides Global Sources, there are other web B2B platforms which you can look up into, like Made in China (www.made-in-china.com), and HKTDC (www.hktdc.com), diversifying your sources can let you find a supplier that fits better for your needs.
Related: How to Search Better in Alibaba
No. 2: Relationships
China is big, literally big, there are manufacturers everywhere, for everything. There are a lot of manufacturers, good manufacturers, that do not even have a website or registered in B2B platforms, but they do try to get into exhibitions and trade fairs.
If you have the budget, take a trip to China, and visit some of the trade fairs made every year, there is a guarantee you will find suppliers that are willing to help you and work with you. At the end, in China relationships comes first, then business, so having a face to face conversation with the manufacturers will give better results that contacting them by internet.
If you do business already with Chinese manufacturers with some specific category of products, is very likely that your current suppliers may also produce the new product you are looking for.
It had happened many times that people take the time and effort to find new products and new suppliers, then realizing at the end that one of their current partners can actually provide such item. This brings benefits; one of them is the opportunity of mixing your old products with the new one, saving the trouble and extra time to deal with an extra shipment in another factory.
Related: 3 Reasons Why Buying in China is Cheap
No. 3: Purchasing agent
If you don’t have the budget to travel to China, or you just don’t have the time to meet the suppliers personally. Then a purchasing agent is your best choice.
A purchasing agent is the intermediary party which you can considerably call your right hand in China, they provide you the services of representing you or our company to the manufacturers, and they also help you to do follow-up on the orders and coordinating the logistics and exportation activities necessary to send the goods to your destination.
There are many other benefits of having a purchasing agent in China working for you. Go to our website and contact us to learn more about our services and what we can do for you.
Name the product and we will find it.
Do you think there are other smart sources to find suppliers in China and Asia? Please let us know your comments.
No. 1: Global Sources
Global Sources (www.globalsources.com) is the 2nd best portal where you can locate suppliers in China. A Hong Kong based B2B platform, Global Sources is even 29 years older than Alibaba (founded in 1970, Alibaba was founded in 1999), by doing global trade magazines since their founding.
Global Sources platform and interface is very much similar to Alibaba’s, however, is always worth take a look of your products, just for the important fact that many manufacturers which are on Global Sources are not registered in Alibaba, and I personally have seen that.
Besides Global Sources, there are other web B2B platforms which you can look up into, like Made in China (www.made-in-china.com), and HKTDC (www.hktdc.com), diversifying your sources can let you find a supplier that fits better for your needs.
Related: How to Search Better in Alibaba
No. 2: Relationships
China is big, literally big, there are manufacturers everywhere, for everything. There are a lot of manufacturers, good manufacturers, that do not even have a website or registered in B2B platforms, but they do try to get into exhibitions and trade fairs.
If you have the budget, take a trip to China, and visit some of the trade fairs made every year, there is a guarantee you will find suppliers that are willing to help you and work with you. At the end, in China relationships comes first, then business, so having a face to face conversation with the manufacturers will give better results that contacting them by internet.
If you do business already with Chinese manufacturers with some specific category of products, is very likely that your current suppliers may also produce the new product you are looking for.
It had happened many times that people take the time and effort to find new products and new suppliers, then realizing at the end that one of their current partners can actually provide such item. This brings benefits; one of them is the opportunity of mixing your old products with the new one, saving the trouble and extra time to deal with an extra shipment in another factory.
Related: 3 Reasons Why Buying in China is Cheap
No. 3: Purchasing agent
If you don’t have the budget to travel to China, or you just don’t have the time to meet the suppliers personally. Then a purchasing agent is your best choice.
A purchasing agent is the intermediary party which you can considerably call your right hand in China, they provide you the services of representing you or our company to the manufacturers, and they also help you to do follow-up on the orders and coordinating the logistics and exportation activities necessary to send the goods to your destination.
There are many other benefits of having a purchasing agent in China working for you. Go to our website and contact us to learn more about our services and what we can do for you.
Name the product and we will find it.
Do you think there are other smart sources to find suppliers in China and Asia? Please let us know your comments.