How to Find a Product Supplier — Recommendations from DiFFreight

Choosing a supplier is one of the key steps in developing a business. It determines the product quality, delivery time, price (and thus profit), and most importantly — the company’s reputation. A reliable partner helps you grow, while an unreliable one can lead to losses and customer dissatisfaction. In this article, we’ll go over how to find good suppliers so that your products are competitive and your partnerships — comfortable and productive.

How to Find a Good Supplier: Who to Look For

Main types:

• Manufacturer. These are factories that work directly with clients. They can produce goods under your private label, modify features and materials. They typically deal in bulk and prefer long-term partnerships. Each manufacturer has an MOQ — minimum order quantity.
• Middleman. Also called a trader — purchases goods from manufacturers and resells them in smaller quantities. Ideal for businesses not ready for large orders. Naturally, prices are not the lowest on the market.

Middlemen can also be categorized by the scale of their bulk offerings: small, medium, and large.

Where to Find Suppliers for Your Online Store

The B2B (business-to-business) segment offers various platforms for sourcing wholesale suppliers:

Alibaba

The largest B2B platform globally, featuring Chinese manufacturers. Millions of products across categories, built-in seller verification tools (Gold Supplier, Verified Supplier). You can order samples and negotiate.

• Cons: middlemen are common; prices are not the lowest.

Made-in-China

Chinese B2B platform focused on factories. Great option if you're looking for suppliers in China for private label manufacturing. Certified sellers with verified products.

• Con: many sellers don’t speak English, making communication harder.

Europages

Directory of European manufacturers and suppliers (Germany, France, Italy, etc.) — a good option for supplier sourcing. Focus on industrial products, agriculture, and technology.

• Con: orders aren’t always processed through the platform; you must deal directly with companies.

Kompass

A global business directory with companies from Europe, Asia, and the Americas. Very useful for B2B markets in industry, logistics, and agriculture.

• Cons: not all businesses list prices; quotes must be requested directly.

Amazon Business

Amazon’s B2B platform for companies wanting to purchase products in bulk and receive corporate discounts. Convenient for small and medium businesses. 

• Cons: fewer wholesalers than other platforms; bulk offers are not available for all product categories.

Since it’s hard to physically examine products on marketplaces, a good way to find suppliers is to attend wholesale fairs and exhibitions:

• Hannover Messe (Germany) — industrial trade fair covering automation, engineering, energy, and advanced technologies.
• CES (Consumer Electronics Show) (Las Vegas) — global electronics show featuring cutting-edge tech and gadgets.
• Canton Fair (Guangzhou) — China’s largest trade fair, where you can find suppliers across all industries for product sourcing in China.

B2C marketplaces like AliExpress are not cost-effective for medium and large-scale businesses.

Common Mistakes Beginners Make When Choosing a Supplier

The task of finding good suppliers often ends in disappointment for beginners. The price might seem great — even below market value — and communication may be smooth, but the product never arrives. Let’s highlight the most common mistakes:

• Choosing the lowest price, especially from wholesalers. They can’t sell at a loss. If the price is far below the market average, your business risks receiving low-quality goods, missed deadlines, no guarantees, poor communication, and hidden charges.
• Inadequate reputation and reliability checks. Beginners often neglect thorough background checks of potential partners. This leads to fraud, defective goods, and disappearing suppliers after prepayment. We recommend requesting a full legal check through agents.
• Relying on verbal agreements. Verbal arrangements carry no legal weight! In case of disputes, you’ll have no protection. Always document every condition in writing.
• Blind trust in all matters. For example, a partner might offer you a "great deal" on shipping to Ukraine. Don’t agree until you’ve done your own research. Review all rates and the fine print to avoid overpaying.
• Working with only one supplier. Depending on a single source makes your business vulnerable. Always have backup suppliers or at least a list of potential partners. Diversification is key to a consistent supply.

DiFFreight offers negotiation support — take advantage of this service to learn how to find suppliers, what questions to ask, and what details to clarify.

How to Assess Reliability

Importing from China, Europe, or the USA comes with high logistics costs. That’s why finding a reliable supplier is crucial. DiFFreight experts recommend focusing on the following:

• Platform/marketplace rating. Services assign stars, diamonds, or scores to sellers based on completed orders and reviews.
• Product certification is a strong plus. It means your potential partner found a reliable manufacturer or is one themselves. Dishonest companies usually don’t invest in getting certified.
• Transparent cooperation terms. A good supplier will welcome factory visits, send samples, and be willing to sign contracts with penalties for noncompliance.
• Wholesale discounts. The more you order, the better the price. This model is typical of factories and manufacturers — middlemen offer less flexibility.
• Shipping time for batches. To ensure stable delivery from China to Ukraine, your supplier must ship goods on time.
• Word-of-mouth recommendations are still useful. If you have friends or partners with experience, ask for reviews. It may not guarantee the best terms, but you can start with a trusted seller.

How to Find an Inexpensive Wholesale Supplier

Low cost ≠ poor quality. The best offers often come from factories and manufacturers:

• no middleman markup;
• wholesale is always cheaper: factories prefer selling in bulk over retail;
• large enterprises and workshops get better prices on raw materials.

That’s why DiFFreight recommends searching for a manufacturer — not a middleman — on any platform. Yes, it requires negotiation and contracts, but it gives your business more benefits. On average, the process of finding a supplier for an online store takes 2–3 months. But the time investment is worth the steady supply at a good price.

Supplier Sourcing Service from DiFFreight

DiFFreight is not just about cargo delivery from Ukraine to the USA, from China to Ukraine, and beyond. We offer complete business development services, including supplier sourcing:

• find products according to your criteria;
• handle negotiations with intermediaries or manufacturers;
• perform factory inspections in China;
• offer warehousing and verify shipments;
• organize the purchase.

A reliable partner in sourcing will save you time and money. We’re well-versed in European, American, and Asian markets, so our experts can find the best turnkey deals. Book a consultation to learn more about the service!