How to efficiently find and evaluate cross-border suppliers
When conducting cross-border trade, finding the right supplier is a crucial step. This article will integrate multiple methods to help you systematically find potential suppliers.
1. Publish procurement information to find suppliers
Publish purchasing information directly
Currently, most industries are in a buyer’s market, and importers only need to publish purchasing information to attract suppliers to proactively contact them. The specific release channels are as follows:
Traditional media
Publish purchasing information in domestic and foreign trade magazines.
Official website
Open the company’s official website, choose a domain name with the .com suffix, and provide at least one foreign language version (such as English) to display the company’s development history, product information and purchase information.
Trading platform
Use cross-border trading platforms such as Alibaba and Global Resources to publish procurement information.
2. Contact suppliers through industry exhibitions and associations
Participate in industry exhibitions
Many international trade shows are held around the world every year, and importers can find trading partners through exhibition opportunities. Participating in such events helps to understand industry information, examine market conditions and evaluate the quality of suppliers’ products and services.
Use the Importer and Exporter Directory
Worldwide importer and exporter directories published publicly at home and abroad and catalogs provided by exhibitions usually contain basic information about importers and exporters for reference by importers.
Ask for help from trade promotion agencies
Contact the foreign trade association, chamber of commerce or other trade promotion agency where the supplier is located to obtain information about local suppliers.
3. Use the Internet to search for suppliers
Search engine
Use Google, Yahoo, Bing and other search engines for keyword searches.
Industry website
Visit industry websites or industry exhibition websites to retrieve member lists or exhibitor directory.
Yellow pages website
Check the Yellow Pages or supplier directory websites.
Large enterprise database
Consult information from large enterprise databases.
B2B website
Access B2B platforms such as Alibaba and Global Resources.
World Trade Network Alliance
Join the World Trade Outlet Alliance to get more resources.
4. Find suppliers through self-recommendation or introduction
Importers recommend themselves
Send a letter of intent to the exporter via email to establish a trade relationship.
Customer testimonials
Ask overseas customers to recommend local suppliers.
Recommendations to trading entities
Introduce local exporters through banks, shipping companies and other institutions.
Consulting company introduction
Submit procurement requirements to domestic and foreign professional consulting companies, which will select appropriate partners.
Recommendations from public service agencies
Please ask the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade, the Economic and Commercial Counselor’s Office of the Chinese Embassy abroad and other institutions for introduction.
5. Cross-border e-commerce looking for suppliers
Google deep search
Don’t just focus on the search results on the first page, but also try various keyword combinations for searches.
Platform website
Use domestic and foreign supplier websites such as 1688, AliExpress, Thomas Net, Maker’s Row, etc.
Social networks and forums
Find supplier information on social networking platforms such as LinkedIn.
NAICS code search
Use NAICS codes to find manufacturers and suppliers in North America.
6. Finding suitable cross-border suppliers
Online search
Use large-scale B2B websites such as 1688 or vertical category purchasing websites.
Product communication
For spot payments that do not require design modifications, information such as product packaging, procurement costs, inventory, and dropshipping needs to be communicated; for products that require micro-innovation, it is necessary to find a manufacturer-type supplier with product development capabilities.
Offline market
Consider looking for suppliers in Yiwu Trade City or areas with concentrated industrial belts.
7. The importance of inspecting suppliers
Suppliers directly affect the marketing effect of enterprises, including factors such as timeliness, stability and price changes of supply. Investigating suppliers can help companies better control costs, ensure product quality, and maintain good supply chain relationships.