How can I find suppliers for my online store?

You’ve got an online store, or you’re thinking of getting one.
If you don’t want to produce and deliver your products yourself, dropshipping is the ideal solution, enabling you to sell products that don’t belong to you, while earning a commission.
With dropshipping, the success of your e-commerce business depends largely on the quality of your supplier.
They’re responsible for product quality, delivery times, after-sales service, etc.
That’s why it’s so important to find reliable suppliers.
In this article, we’ll try to answer the question: “How do I find suppliers for my online store?”

How can I find reliable dropshipping suppliers?

This is the first question you need to answer when you start dropshipping.
Your entire e-commerce business depends on the reliability of your dropshipping wholesaler.
Here’s a list of things to consider if you want to find reliable, trustworthy suppliers.

The reputation of the dropshipping supplier

Many are getting into dropshipping, and as a result, the number of unscrupulous and fraudulent wholesalers is increasing.
Before you order, check your supplier’s reputation.

• Look for reviews on the Internet.
• Check that you can reach the supplier easily by email and telephone.
• Talk to him to ensure his professionalism.
• Make sure it’s not a reseller, but a direct supplier.

Value for money

Many dropshipping suppliers are located in China and offer very attractive prices.
However, don’t forget that the reputation of your store depends on the opinions of your customers, and therefore on the quality of your products.
Buying cheap is good, but not just for any quality.
So make sure the quality is there.
Note that there are discrepancies between the standards of suppliers in China and French standards.
So be clear about your quality requirements.

Potential margin

Remember, you’re selling to make money.
So if the margin isn’t attractive, you need to ask yourself some questions.
The product must have the potential to generate a margin that will enable you to generate a positive ROI.

Delivery times and after-sales service

Even if your supplier is in Asia, that’s no reason to make your customers wait weeks for their parcel.
As a French seller, you need to know that few people are prepared to wait 3 weeks for an item purchased online.
What’s more, in France today, deliveries in less than 48 hours are increasingly common and appreciated by consumers.
You need to find reliable suppliers with short, respected delivery times.
Ideally, your suppliers offer a parcel tracking system.
For after-sales service, your dropshipping supplier should have a good returns policy for damaged packages, without charging a fee.

Red lights

Normally, a supplier doesn’t charge a monthly fee.
Start getting suspicious as soon as a wholesaler charges you a monthly fee, or even just a fee at all.
We’re talking here about direct suppliers, not supplier directories that provide you with a list of wholesalers for a fee.

How do I find suppliers in China?

Today, the majority of suppliers are located in China.
Here are a few ways to find suppliers in China.

Via AliExpress

AliExpress is the reference when it comes to finding products for your dropshipping store.
The choice of products is quite simply infinite: high tech, jewelry, bags, beauty products, clothing, watches, and more.
The advantage of AliExpress is that you don’t need to buy stock in advance, so you don’t take any risks if you don’t make a sale.

Alibaba as supplier

Alibaba is a Chinese wholesaler specializing in BtoB.
As such, it won’t deliver directly to your customers.
However, it does allow you to buy items in bulk.
And some suppliers even allow you to add your own brand and logo.
The downside is that you’ll be in charge of product shipments for each purchase, and depending on the type of product, you’ll need storage space.

Other Chinese suppliers

As well as No. 1 AliExpress, there are other reliable suppliers such as BestOfferBuy and Gearbest, which specialize in electronics, and FocalPrice and NearbyExpress.
These are the best-known suppliers in China, but there are many more.

Dropshipping suppliers in other countries

China is the country where you’ll find the most dropshippers of all kinds.
But don’t forget that there are other countries in Europe and the USA where you’ll find suppliers of different types of product.
The disadvantage is that the price generally won’t compete with that offered by Chinese suppliers.
The advantage is that, in terms of quality, you often take fewer risks.

Local suppliers

This method deviates slightly from the usual modus operandi of many e-commerce site owners; but it can be effective.
Simply go out and meet local suppliers.
Explain to them what dropshipping is, and ask them to work with you.
You’ll have the advantage of knowing your supplier well, and having him nearby in case of problems.
You’ll also be able to judge the quality of their products at first hand.

Direct manufacturers

If you’ve spotted a particular product you’d like to sell, contact the manufacturer directly.
It can be quite difficult to convince a manufacturer, especially if they already have their own distribution channels.
However, if you have an e-commerce site that already generates significant traffic, the manufacturer may be interested in additional sales.
If you offer them a win-win partnership, they’re likely to accept!

To conclude on finding suppliers for your online store

Finding suppliers for your online store can be very time-consuming, whether you’re looking for a supplier in China or in the West.
But you can save a lot of time by setting your own criteria in advance.
Quickly eliminate suppliers from your list who don’t meet your reliability criteria.
This will save you time later.   To take your Prestashop e-commerce experience a step further, I invite you to explore my specialized modules for managing your sales.