How to Find a Product Supplier — Recommendations from DiFFreight

Choosing a supplier is one of the key steps in business development. It determines product quality, delivery times, 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 churn. In this article, we’ll break down how to find good suppliers to keep your products competitive and your partnerships comfortable and productive.

How to Find a Good Supplier: Whom and Where to Look For

Main types:

• Manufacturer. These are factories that work directly with clients. They can produce goods under your brand, modify characteristics or materials. They deal only in large volumes and long-term cooperation. Each manufacturer has an MOQ (minimum order quantity) they are willing to produce or sell.
• intermediary
• intermediary
• Intermediary. Also known as a trader who purchases goods from manufacturers and resells them in smaller quantities. This is suitable for businesses that are not ready to order large batches. Naturally, prices are less competitive.

The B2B (business-to-business) segment offers various platforms for finding wholesalers.

Alibaba

The world's largest B2B platform with Chinese manufacturers. Millions of products from various categories, built-in seller verification tools (Gold Supplier, Verified Supplier). You can order samples and negotiate terms.

Minuses:

• middlemen may pose as manufacturers;
• prices are not always the lowest.

Made-in-China

A Chinese B2B platform focused on factories. A good option if your supplier search in China aims at finding a manufacturer for your brand. Certified sellers with verified products.

Minuses:

• Many sellers do not speak English, complicating negotiations.

Europages

A directory of European manufacturers and intermediaries (Germany, France, Italy, etc.). Primarily focuses on industrial goods, agriculture, and technology.

Minuses:

• Not all orders can be made through the platform; you must contact companies directly.

Kompass

An international business directory featuring companies from Europe, Asia, and America. Very useful for the B2B market in the industrial, logistics, and agriculture sectors.

Minuses:

• not all companies list prices immediately;
• commercial proposals must be requested directly.

Amazon Business

Amazon's B2B platform for companies wanting to purchase goods in bulk with corporate discounts. A convenient tool for small and medium businesses.

Minuses:

• fewer wholesalers compared to other platforms;
• not all product categories offer bulk purchases.

You cannot physically examine products on marketplaces, so a good alternative to find a supplier is to visit wholesale markets and trade shows:

• Hannover Messe (Germany) — an industrial trade fair covering automation, mechanical engineering, energy, and advanced technologies.
• CES (Consumer Electronics Show) (Las Vegas) — a global consumer electronics show featuring the latest IT and gadget innovations.
• Canton Fair (Guangzhou) is the largest trade fair in China, where you can find partners in every sector to procurement of Goods from China.

B2C (business-to-customer) marketplaces like AliExpress are not cost-effective for medium and large businesses.

Search for supplier in China

Get more information

How to Assess Supplier Reliability

Importing from the U.S., Europe, or China can be expensive in terms of logistics. Therefore, finding a reliable supplier is crucial. DiFFreight experts recommend paying attention to the following:

• Seller ratings on platforms/marketplaces. Platforms assign stars, diamonds, or scores based on completed orders and customer feedback.
• Product certification is always a plus. It indicates that the potential partner has found a good manufacturer or is a manufacturer themselves. Unreliable companies usually don’t spend time and money on obtaining certificates.
• Transparent cooperation terms. A reliable partner won’t refuse a factory tour or send test samples. They’ll be ready to sign a contract and specify penalties for breaches.
• Bulk discounts. The more you order, the more favorable the terms. This is more common with factories than intermediaries.
• How long does it take to ship the batch? For stable cargo delivery from China to Ukraine, your supplier must avoid delays.

Word of mouth is also a great way to verify reliability. If you have friends or partners, you can ask for feedback and recommendations.

How to Find a Low-Cost Wholesale Supplier

Low cost ≠ poor quality. Factories and manufacturers offer the best conditions:

• no middleman markup;
• bulk orders are always cheaper: it’s more profitable for a factory to sell in large quantities rather than retail;
• large enterprises have access to better raw material prices.

That’s why DiFFreight recommends finding a manufacturer rather than an intermediary on any platform. Yes, you’ll have to negotiate and sign contracts, but you’ll get far more benefits for your business.

Supplier Search Service from DiFFreight

DiFFreight is not just about cargo delivery from Ukraine to the USA, from China to Ukraine, and other destinations. We offer comprehensive business development services, including supplier search:

• finding products that meet your criteria;
• negotiating with intermediaries or manufacturers;
• conducting inspections in China;
• providing warehousing services and checking shipments;
• arranging purchases.

A reliable partner in supplier search will save you time and money. We are familiar with the European, American, and Asian markets, so our experts will find profitable products for your business. Book a consultation to learn more about this service!