It’s undeniable that Alibaba is the most popular among companies, especially online sellers worldwide when sourcing products and suppliers. Therefore, it was probably the first and best option you have back then. Being a B2B E-commerce giant, Alibaba has always been the favorite platform of most companies importing from China and from other Asian countries. While it’s true that being famous means that it’s exemplary in certain areas, it doesn’t necessarily mean that it’s the best and only option out there.
I bet you’re here because you’re having some issues finding reliable suppliers through Alibaba and that you’ve realized that some of its flaws are deal-breakers. Well, good for you ‘coz you’ve come to the right place.
Read on and let us help you find legit and some amazing alternatives for your product sourcing needs.
The struggles of sourcing from Alibaba
Most companies turn to Alibaba to find some “real manufacturers,” hoping to get the best price and best quality products possible. However, more often than not, you might end up dealing with more intermediaries and trading companies than real manufacturers, which is one of the real pains when sourcing through Alibaba.
It’s true that Alibaba is very accessible and is more convenient than flying to China to source products. However, this convenience also attracts many mediators, such as trading companies who pretend to be real factories. This makes finding genuine manufacturers not as easy as it should be. Although working with trading companies is not necessarily a bad thing, not knowing that you are working with one definitely is.
Another bummer with sourcing through Alibaba is that most of your competitors are likely using it too. And what does this mean to you? Simple. You may end up selling precisely the same products as them, except if the product you’re trying to source is your design or idea. In case you’re trying to source generic products, you and your competitors may likely end up finding the same supplier. While it’s not wholly a bad thing, since it may mean that the products are of excellent quality, this may also mean that the competition between you and your competitors may be price-focused. Being unable to differentiate your offering from the rest may mean you will have to participate in a price war to gain the advantage.
Lastly, some of the best suppliers and manufacturers in China don’t even have a listing on Alibaba. This makes it even harder for you to find them if you rely heavily on this popular platform.
The good news is that there are a couple of good alternatives to Alibaba, and the best of the best are listed below. So let’s go!
Search Engines & Other B2B Platforms like Alibaba
Search engines like Google or Bing and local B2B online platforms are the most convenient, most comfortable, and cost-effective way to find suppliers. By merely typing what type of products or services you need, these search engines can provide you with tons of listings with supplier details. Scan, filter, and pick the one that you think is best. Communicating with suppliers is very convenient too as you can directly send them a message within the platform. Easy-peasy!
B2B platforms even provide you with a list of verified and unverified suppliers, which is really a nice thing since it can save you time and effort. Be sure to look for verified suppliers with business certifications as it proves their credibility. In case you found a bad supplier though, most B2B platforms offer customer protection but this should be your last resort. Thus, conducting a thorough supplier screening is a must.
Listed below are the best B2B platforms that you may want to check out:
Global Sources
With over 45 years of global trading experience, Global Sources is one of the best options if you’re planning to move away from Alibaba. They have a wide range of online product and supplier selections from electronics, home and kitchen essentials, lifestyle, fashion, and so much more. They also conduct regular trade shows in different Asian countries where you’ll get to meet many reliable and real manufacturers.
Global Sources is pretty much like Alibaba only with a smaller online directory of suppliers. Despite having fewer options, you may find that most suppliers on this platform have more experience in the global trade and export market. The suppliers’ extensive experience makes them more efficient and reliable in providing for your needs. There are also fewer fictitious factories here. In fact, it’s you as a customer who would need to prove yourself first.
Unlike Alibaba, suppliers from Global Sources won’t immediately provide you with quotations until you’ve proven yourself as a buyer and that you are a right fit for them. Just like how you’d like to get the best supplier, they also like to get the best customer. You might be asked a few questions about your company’s background. Purchase volumes are also a big concern for suppliers you will find in Global Sources which is a downside of using this platform.
In general, sourcing from Global Sources is an excellent option but you would need to put in more work than you would in Alibaba in order to get quotations from suppliers.
DHgate
If you’re new to the e-commerce game, then DHgate may work for you. This online directory of suppliers targets small volume buyers, so MOQ or minimum order quantities wouldn’t be an issue. Unlike Alibaba and DHgate, suppliers may not be willing to work with you if order quantities are small. DHgate also has a wide selection of products across broad categories, including electronics, toys, fashion accessories, jewelry, and a whole lot more.
The website design may feel a bit overwhelming, however. And prices widely vary, so you may need to put a lot of work to go through tons of listings to find the best product and offer.
Unfortunately, you will need to be very critical when dealing with suppliers. Many mediators pretend to be genuine manufacturers, so you need to work hard to find the hidden gems in this platform.
Chinabrands
Chinabrands is a site catering to companies or customers who are mainly dropshipping.
So this might not work for Amazon sellers but is an excellent option for those who own an online store.
Amazon buyers expect fast handling times and free shipping, so dropshipping products from China is not a likable option for them. However, if you own an e-commerce store or selling on a site like e-Bay, then this is a platform that you can turn to. They may have limited offerings, but it means that finding unique products is highly likely, which is really a good thing.
Made-in-China
Made-in-China is another great option if you’ve outgrown Alibaba. This site is exclusive to Chinese suppliers and manufacturers. It’s very similar to Alibaba with its broad selection of products and suppliers across different categories. Some of these categories include manufacturing & Processing Machinery, Industrial Equipment & Components, electronics, construction, apparel, auto parts, health, arts and crafts, and so much more.
What’s nice about this platform is that many suppliers you can find here have been audited in certain aspects of their businesses, including ISO certifications. You can see those badges under their listings. It’s important to verify those certifications still as they may have only been audited for certain aspects like general business information while other aspects like working conditions and processes may remain unclear.
Custom Import Records
This option may not be very familiar to many importers, but smart businesses use custom import records to find their competitors’ suppliers or other companies’ suppliers within the same niche.
And why is this a smart move? Pretty simple. Looking for a major brand’s supplier under the same niche can mean that you can work with a supplier who meets a major brand’s standard. Thus, will probably meet yours too.
It’s also safe to assume that major brands have already done all the necessary research, audits, product development, safety, and even ethical checks for you. By doing this, you are significantly increasing your chances of getting quality products from a quality supplier.
Port Examiner is a good site where you can search for customs import records for free, while Import Genius and Panjiva offer more sophisticated results for a fee.
Referrals
Referrals have always been a powerful tool when finding reliable suppliers. A supplier vetted by a friend, a colleague, or your business acquaintances is undoubtedly a company you can trust too. Knowing that a supplier has already been working with someone you know, especially if they are quite satisfied with the products and services, is someone worth trusting and working with.
Referrals can also include online review platforms and social media. Though these aren’t necessarily ideal platforms for finding suppliers, it can be a good source of feedback or reviews from existing or past customers. However, it’s very important that you do not fully rely on these platforms. Remember to do your own due diligence and further research, since most information found online is unverified. As for reviews, sample sizes may be too small to be reliable enough.
Among social media platforms, we recommend checking LinkedIn for legitimate supplier profiles. LinkedIn groups focused on sourcing in China have been growing recently which would be worth checking out. Here are a few of them:
●China Sourcing
●China Sourcing Forum
●China Sourcing, Networking, Import, Export, Trading, Manufacturing
●China Sourcing Group
●China Trade Group
Trade Shows
Attending trade shows is a great way to meet reliable and legit suppliers in China. With Chinese culture deeply rooted in relationships, meeting them, face-to-face would be a great start for both of your businesses. Having a personal business relationship with your suppliers can help you better compromise on price, payment terms, product quality, modifications, customizations, and many more.
Also, if you’re on the hunt for unique products, a tradeshow is an excellent opportunity to discover new products that aren’t revealed elsewhere yet. Meeting suppliers face-to-face can help you find opportunities and products that are yet to be discovered by your competitors giving you the upper hand.
Matchmaking Events
Matchmaking services are offered by online sourcing platforms and some offline trade shows. However, this option is more favorable to established sellers whose purchase volumes are already growing. B2B platforms like Global Sources offer private matchmaking services where they organize meetings with suppliers that fits your buying needs and requests. This service is very beneficial as it can save you time and effort finding quality and targeted suppliers easily. However, it’s worth noting that you should still conduct your own research about the suppliers after meeting them. The downside of this option though, is that the suppliers you will meet will be limited to the suppliers already on their platform.
Yiwu Wholesale Market
The Yiwu Wholesale Market is a huge wholesale market featuring thousands of shops in Yiwu, China. The place is open and 24/7 and is intended for foreign buyers like you. In this wholesale market, you can find almost every product type from most categories. However, most products are cheaply made and aren’t favorable for small niches. But still, if you have plans of flying to China for product sourcing, then you should definitely visit Yiwu Wholesale Market.
Factory Visits
Aside from attending trade shows, visiting factories in China is another great opportunity to assess suppliers and their business. It will allow you to see their facilities, workers, equipment, production line, manufacturing processes, etc. This would also be a great opportunity to sit down with the management and introduce your business and set your expectations with each other.
Factory visits, however, may be costly and time-consuming. So if flying to China may sound overwhelming, then jump into another excellent option below.
Professional Sourcing agents
Depending on your budget and needs, hiring a professional sourcing agent may make more sense to you. Outsourcing this arduous and time-consuming work will not only save you time, effort, and headaches but will also give you a better presence of mind to focus more on the core of your business.
In general, sourcing agents can find way better quality suppliers and prices through their network and experience. Being physically located in China, they can negotiate better pricing and other terms with factories. A reliable sourcing agent is also more efficient in picking up red flags and handling logistics. Moreover, they can do onsite factory visits and inspections on your behalf.
However, just like assessing and choosing suppliers, it would be best to be very careful when hiring a sourcing agent. Not all agents are as transparent and reliable as they should be. So conducting your research beforehand would be crucial. On the other hand, finding a trustworthy and dependable sourcing agent can benefit your business by finding you quality and reliable suppliers, and most importantly, improving the quality of your supply chain.
Lastly, as mentioned earlier, some of the best suppliers and manufacturers in China intentionally avoid listing their profiles on online B2B platforms like Alibaba. Thus, hiring a physically located professional in the country can give you a better and sure chance of finding those hidden gems.
Final words
Our final piece of advice, if Alibaba didn’t work out well for you, it makes sense to try other ways to source for suppliers and products. Remember that sourcing isn’t a one-size-fits-all discipline. Invest your time and effort in finding the right channels which will work for you and create a sustainable and profitable business. Good luck on your hunt for quality suppliers!
I hope you find this post useful. Let me know what you think by dropping a comment below. If you’d simply like to say hi, go for it!
Author: Charlie Lin founder of BizShenzhen Sourcing (www.bizshenzhen.com)
Co-author: Joy, a seasoned procurement manager to a successful Amazon business.
Also available in Hubpages: https://hubpages.com/business/Product-Sourcing-Best-Alibaba-Alternatives
