Why should eCommerce brands consider China sourcing?

China, dubbed the 'world's factory', is the go-to destination for sourcing due to its massive manufacturing output, advanced infrastructure, and affordable labor. This makes China sourcing ideal for eCommerce brands looking for cost-effective and high-quality products.

What are the initial steps in China sourcing for eCommerce brands?

The first steps in China product sourcing include researching suppliers on platforms like Alibaba and Made In China. After identifying potential suppliers, verification is necessary, which may involve checking business licenses, reading reviews, or visiting the factory.

How do I verify Chinese suppliers during the China sourcing process?

Verifying Chinese suppliers involves reading customer reviews, checking their business licenses, and possibly visiting the factory. This ensures the supplier's credibility and helps eCommerce brands avoid potential risks during China sourcing.

What are the key aspects to consider when negotiating with Chinese suppliers?

When negotiating with Chinese suppliers, it's important to request quotes from multiple sources to compare prices. This helps during negotiations to secure the best deal. Additionally, asking for product samples is crucial to assess quality before committing to a larger order.

How does shipping work in China product sourcing?

Once production is complete, shipping becomes a critical part of the supply chain. Businesses can consider direct China fulfillment solutions or work with fulfillment companies that have warehouses in major markets like China and the USA to ensure timely delivery.

How can Lansil Global simplify the China sourcing process?

Lansil Global simplifies China sourcing by providing bilingual support, in-house quality control, and deep knowledge of factory processes. This helps eCommerce brands overcome communication barriers and ensures product quality before shipment.

China Sourcing for eCommerce Brands: How to Get Started?

Major Chinese port essential for global sourcing and shipping

Taping into the “world’s factory” brings its fair share of opportunities and challenges, so it’s essential to understand the ins and outs of China sourcing

You’re planning to launch an eCommerce brand or seeking to scale your already established business. That’s all good news. But in the realm of online shopping, China sourcing is crucial to ensure your products can compete on quality and price. Whether you’re planning to source yourself or want to hire a China product sourcing company, it’s important to learn about best practices and how this process works.

But first: Why China sourcing?

Dubbed the “world’s factory”, China has long been the go-to destination for manufacturing and sourcing. The country’s manufacturing output reached nearly $5.57 trillion in 2023, and most forecasts suggest that the number will continue to grow in the coming years. No matter the product you want to produce and sell, there’s a factory for it.

China’s labor force accounts for 740 million people, which is miles ahead of any other country. With wages still within the acceptable range, the cost of sourcing eCommerce products from China is still budget-friendly. It’s not always about cost, though. The country’s advanced manufacturing and state-of-the-art infrastructure allow for efficient production processes, high-quality output, and rapid scalability.

Getting started with China product sourcing

So you’ve decided to get your products from China. Where to start? Whether you’re planning to do it on your own or find a trusted China sourcing company to help you, the process usually follows these stages:

Search and verify

The first thing to do is to go on a research spree. You can check online sourcing platforms such as Alibaba and Made In China to get a general idea of the available suppliers. After finding the suppliers that may be a good fit for your needs, verification will be next.

Verifying Chinese suppliers and factories can be a slog. It may include reading reviews, checking business licenses, or even visiting the factory. If you’re planning to visit, being able to speak Chinese is a must. It helps you communicate effectively and ensure that all your questions and concerns are clearly understood.

Negotiate and ask for samples

After finding the right Chinese supplier for your eCommerce business, it’s time to talk money. Negotiations can be tricky. Factories have years of experience dealing with customers, as they try to extract the maximum amount of money possible for your order. It’s better if you ask for quotes from multiple sources and compare. This can also help you with the negotiations.

If you settle on a price that is acceptable to both parties, the next will be asking for a sample. No matter how precise are you in describing your product to the manufacturer, it’s paramount that you ask for a sample to see how the product will look in real life.

Order and ship

Once you’re satisfied with the sample, you can let the factory know that you’re ready to place the order. Check with the manufacturer how long your order will take to be ready.

After production comes shipping, which is an integral part of your supply chain. If you’re considering a direct China fulfillment solution, or searching for a way to effectively ship your goods to large markets like the USA, you’ll need a fulfillment company with warehouses in China, the USA, or both to ensure timely delivery to your customer.

Simplify China sourcing with Lansil Global

Sourcing from China comes with its fair share of opportunities and challenges. In a country where only a few of its population can converse in English, it’s difficult to communicate with factories and get what you need. Moreover, checking the quality of the product and handling shipping and warehousing presents yet another obstacle to your supply chain.

At Lansil Global, we’ve been the partner of choice of many eCommerce brands seeking to source from China. Based in Shenzhen, our bilingual team is well-versed in dealing with factories to secure you the best deal for your money. If that’s not enough, we also have an in-house quality control team to make sure your product meets your standards before it leaves China.

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