Starting a business might be tough once you don’t have products to sell. In the event you’re not making things yourself, you’ll need to seek out an excellent supplier who can source or manufacture the items your customers want.
The excellent news is, in case you’re starting what you are promoting on Shopify, there are a lot of options for sourcing products. Through the use of integrated retail or dropshipping suppliers, you’ll be able to stock your store with popular items. You may even team up with suppliers that specialise in area of interest products or offer product customization.
Able to source profitable products for what you are promoting? This guide shows you the most effective ways to seek out products, including eight product sourcing apps that connect suppliers with Shopify stores.
What’s product sourcing?
Product sourcing is the means of finding and acquiring products for resale in a business. It may possibly involve methods like direct purchasing from manufacturers, working with wholesalers, or commissioning custom products.
Some product sourcing options work using a dropshipping success model. Meaning your supplier will manage inventory and ship orders on to your customers.
Where are you able to source products from?
Listed below are five popular ways to source products on your online or physical store.
Wholesalers
If you ought to get what you are promoting up and running quickly, buying products wholesale might be an excellent strategy.
Wholesale product sourcing means purchasing goods in large quantities directly from a manufacturer, marketplace, or distributor. This permits you to profit from lower, bulk pricing. By buying products wholesale, you’ll be able to quickly stock your store and begin selling with no need to attend for manufacturing or delivery before fulfilling a customer order.
Retailers often achieve profit margins of greater than 50% when selling products sourced from wholesalers. Low purchase prices result from ordering in bulk and negotiating a lower cost per unit.
The downside of sourcing products through wholesalers is that you simply’ll need resources for storing and managing your inventory, in addition to the money flow to pre-pay for stock (unless you’ll be able to arrange a payment plan).
Dropshipping suppliers
Dropshipping isn’t only a product sourcing technique, but additionally an order success method. As a dropshipper, you don’t hold inventory or handle shipping. As an alternative, you partner with a dropshipping supplier who takes care of storing and shipping products for you.
The method is easy:
- Discover a reliable dropshipping supplier.
- Add their products to your store.
- Market your store and products to your customers.
- If you receive an order, the supplier is notified they usually handle shipping.
There are two predominant ways to work with dropshipping suppliers:
- Working directly with a dropshipping supplier: You create your personal process for managing orders and communicating with the supplier.
- Using a dropshipping app: An app connects you to a marketplace of suppliers with a longtime system for relaying customer orders. You may manage multiple suppliers conveniently in a single place.
Manufacturers
There are two primary ways to source products directly from manufacturers:
Order white label products
White label products are generic items produced by manufacturers, which may often be modified with what you are promoting’s branding or logo.
Commission a personal label product line
With private label products, manufacturers create a custom version of an existing product exclusively for what you are promoting. Depending on the manufacturer and the product, you might find a way to request unique branding, materials, ingredients, and features to distinguish your product from other versions.
Working with manufacturers offers more control over branding and pricing. You may ensure the standard of the ultimate product, which could also be difficult with other sourcing methods like dropshipping. While there might be upfront expenses involved, manufacturing may end up in lower costs per unit and better profit margins.
Downsides include minimum order quantities (MOQ), which are sometimes required by manufacturers and will mean investing 1000’s of dollars upfront. Also, the means of prototyping, sampling, refining, and producing a product can take an extended time.
If you ought to source products from manufacturers, Alibaba’s manufacturer marketplace might be an excellent place to begin.
Trade shows
Trade shows are events where businesses come together to showcase their latest services and products. These events often happen in convention centers in major cities and span several days. It’s also possible to find smaller, local trade shows with regional businesses.
Attending trade shows offers a chance to experience products firsthand, network with business owners, and gain inspiration for brand new product ideas.
Create your personal products
In the event you start a business based in your passion or area of experience, you may create your personal products as an alternative of sourcing them.
Whether it’s beauty products, clothing, or jewelry, handcrafting products gives you complete control over quality and branding.
Nevertheless, it’s essential to notice that this method might be time-consuming and difficult to scale. When making your personal products, consider additional costs, reminiscent of raw materials, warehousing and storage, and labor.
It’s often advisable to begin small with a single homemade product and progressively grow what you are promoting. For instance, science teacher Kyle LaFond began his personal care business, American Provenance, from his homemade natural deodorant.
8 Shopify product sourcing apps
Using these apps, discover a wide selection of products so as to add to your store while streamlining the product sourcing process:
1. Faire
Greater than 100,000 brands and independent makers sell their products to retailers using Faire.
With Faire, you’ll be able to seek for home, clothing, beauty, and lifestyle products—and examine detailed details about items and manufacturers before buying.
Each independent brand that appears on Faire is vetted by a team of retail experts, reducing any risk for retailers when working with a brand new supplier. Eligible retailers may buy now, pay later, with as much as 60 days to pay for the products they order.
Faire’s catalog comprises a wide selection of products, making this product sourcing app an amazing technique to find your next bestseller, regardless of your area of interest. A few of the hottest varieties of products you’ll be able to source from Faire include:
- Home décor
- Foods and drinks
- Beauty and wellness
- Jewelry
Faire is fully integrated with Shopify through the Faire app, so you’ll be able to seamlessly manage orders.
2. Printful
Printful is a print-on-demand company that allows you to pick from a big catalog of products to customize along with your own designs.
Depending on the product, customization options might be extensive, including colours, custom designs and graphics, and the power to brand product stickers, package inserts, and labels.
It’s also possible to order product samples at a reduced price, so you’ll be able to confirm product quality before you promote items using your brand.
The varieties of products you’ll be able to source and customize with Printful include:
- T-shirts
- Posters
- Embroidered hats
- Socks
- Phone cases
- Pillows
- Jackets
- (And more)
3. DSers
DSers was built to aid you source and dropship products from supplier marketplace AliExpress.
When you’ve found an item on AliExpress that you ought to sell, you should utilize the DSers app so as to add the item to your Shopify store and relay customer orders on to your supplier.
Using DSers and AliExpress dropshipping, pick from tens of millions of products across almost any area of interest market you’ll be able to consider.
One business idea here is to make use of DSers to curate products for a branded online store that serves a selected audience, like accessories for pet owners or photography gear for travel.
Better of all, DSers gives you data about how each product performs, so you’ll be able to make informed decisions about what so as to add to your store.
Varieties of products you’ll be able to source through DSers include:
- Clothing
- Accessories
- Home goods
- Electronics
- Phone accessories
4. Spocket
Spocket is one other product sourcing app that makes it easier to seek out products from dropshipping suppliers.
Considered one of the advantages of using Spocket is its large directory, which covers the US and the EU. Because of a majority of suppliers being based domestically, Spocket also offers unusually fast shipping times for a dropshipping platform.
Through pre-negotiated wholesale pricing, Sprocket offers as much as 40% discounts on products, enabling higher profit margins. Order product samples from the dashboard to verify quality before selling.
The products you’ll be able to source through Spocket include:
- Earrings
- Apparel
- Sports equipment
- Footwear
- Bath and sweetness items
5. Syncee
With Syncee, you’ll be able to browse a catalog of trustworthy suppliers from around the globe and simply import products into your store to begin selling.
Products you’ll be able to source include:
- Baby products
- Watches
- Fashion
- Toys
- Fishing accessories
- Perfume
6. Creative Hub
Using Creative Hub, you’ll be able to sell art online from popular and progressive creatives. This UK-based marketplace gives what you are promoting access to work from contemporary artists.
For every bit, you’re told the retail price (the minimum price you’ll be able to sell the item for) and your share as a vendor (how much you stand to make on the retail price). Some prints are even limited editions, commanding a better price tag.
There’s a hard and fast international shipping cost, which keeps shipping easy and allows you to sell to anyone, anywhere on this planet. It’s also possible to print your logo on the packaging label, in addition to add inserts to your orders with information in regards to the artist or what you are promoting.
Products you’ll be able to source with Creative Hub include:
- Superb art giclée and C-type prints
- Framed prints
- Canvas prints
7. My Online Fashion Store
My Online Fashion Store is a US-based dropshipper with a big inventory of apparel for girls. From tops to jewelry to shoes, each of its greater than 6,000 items has a suggested selling price to aid you set your profit margin.
This product sourcing app offers free returns and competitive shipping rates from its LA warehouse. Nevertheless, it only fulfills orders for patrons based within the US.
The products you’ll be able to sell include:
- Scarves
- Tank tops
- Lingerie
- Sunglasses
- Handbags
- Hats
- Belts
8. Lulu Direct
Lulu Direct focuses exclusively on books and calendars, letting you employ print-on-demand success to launch your personal book product. You may pick the format and size of the book, whether you would like a hardcover or softcover, color or black and white ink, and the standard of the paper stock.
Have an idea for a bestselling coffee table book? Lulu Direct is a low-risk technique to check out your idea before investing in it.
The varieties of books you’ll be able to create include:
- Hardcover photo books
- Novels
- Comic books
- Workbooks
- Calendars
- Journals and notebooks
Find more custom book suppliers: 10 Best Providers for Print-On-Demand Books
Suggestions for product sourcing
To make sure successful product sourcing for what you are promoting, consider the next suggestions:
Conduct market research
Market research helps you understand the needs and preferences of your target market. It also tells you whether other businesses are competing to serve your potential customers.
By gathering and analyzing details about people, firms, and your industry, you’ll be able to make informed decisions about product sourcing or product development.
When conducting market research for product sourcing, deal with the next elements:
Industry trends
Stay updated on the newest trends in your industry to discover emerging opportunities and adapt your product offerings accordingly.
Keep a watch out for changes in your market. What products are currently hottest, and what products have faded in popularity?
Consumer needs
Understand the needs, preferences, and pain points of your target market to decide on products that align with their demands. How do competitors’ products meet (or fail to satisfy) customer needs?
Legislative trends
Keep track of any regulations or laws that will impact the products you source, ensuring compliance and avoiding potential legal issues. For instance, in case you are sourcing beauty products, you’ll must stay updated on regulations regarding ingredient safety, labeling requirements, and product testing.
Knowing this information helps you select the proper product before you source a supplier.
It helps you understand an issue or opportunity—for instance, if a newly developed fabric helps hikers wick away sweat and stay dry for hours, your outdoor clothing store will probably want to source products made with this fabric.
There are two predominant ways to conduct market research:
Primary research
Conduct firsthand research by ordering and testing products, or conducting surveys and interviews with customers.
Secondary research
Collect publicly available information from sources reminiscent of magazines, government reports, industry analysts, and trade publications.
Get samples
When you’ve identified a product and located a reliable supplier, it’s crucial to request samples before committing to a big order. Sampling permits you to assess the standard of the products that you simply plan to place your brand’s repute behind. As cool as a product may look in photos, you ought to guarantee it’s adequate to sell to your customers.
A sample run also helps you evaluate a supplier’s competence when it comes to communication, order processing, shipping, and packaging. You’ll understand how they impart delivery information and package products. Making multiple sample orders under different names may aid you vet product consistency.
Tyler Rybacki, a product development expert at subscription coffee company Jot, emphasizes the importance of ordering samples before making a final decision.
“Product samples enable you to examine the extent of quality so which you could ensure every order is price your investment. Having a sample readily available can also be helpful for shooting product photos for sales and marketing materials and your ecommerce website,” he says.
“At all times order a sample product before committing to an order.”
When requesting samples, remember to:
- Provide detailed specifications of the product, including any specific colours or styles.
- Ask the supplier to label the sample package with “no industrial value” to avoid duty charges when sourcing from overseas,
- Ask for an organization tag and model number to distinguish samples during testing.
Tyler suggests sourcing samples from as much as five suppliers to evaluate the range of quality, pricing, and repair. By ordering samples in various colours and styles, you’ll be able to determine which product and supplier best align along with your needs.
Source local when possible
Local sourcing refers to getting products from domestic suppliers as an alternative of international ones. “Local” could mean your immediate community or your own home country. Sourcing locally can reduce supply chain costs, aid you launch products faster, and earn more revenue.
Stephen Light, co-owner of mattress company Nolah, has worked with each international and native suppliers to source his company’s mattresses. He found that shifting to local suppliers helped Nolah avoid supply chain problems and gain more control over the procurement process.
“Suppliers inside your region are more likely to be more reactive to your needs as a business, and in a position to fulfill and coordinate shipments inside a brief timeframe.”
With local suppliers, you may also inspect the products in person.
Work with multiple suppliers
Working with one supplier on your company makes product sourcing easy. Add multiple suppliers to the combination and you might complicate order management.
Nevertheless, a multi-supplier strategy can reduce supply chain risks and help meet customer demand.
In accordance with Stephen, it’s an excellent idea for businesses to be “proactive and construct relationships with multiple suppliers, including backup suppliers.” Having a shortlist of suppliers provides what you are promoting with a security net in case of product shortages and delays.
Any risks of a multiple-supplier strategy might be lessened by working with high-quality suppliers. Before working with a supplier, evaluate the next criteria:
- Product quality
- Delivery and lead times
- Returns
- Defects
- Customer complaints
- Capability
Aaron Alpeter, founding father of Izba, a supply chain consulting, outsourcing, and technology firm, suggests excited about your long-term goals when assessing a supplier.
“To be sure that your supplier’s capability or inventory money flow doesn’t constrain your growth, take into consideration what you would like for the subsequent two-year time horizon and optimize for that,” he says.
“Then, in a couple of months, review that forecast and see in case your needs have modified. By doing so, you’ll spot capability crunches before they arrive and can find a way to take a position in latest capability or relationships while also avoiding sitting on a mountain of inventory.”
Supplier relationships are a competitive advantage, so in case you don’t feel a supplier is working in your favor, reconsider the connection. Renegotiating contracts and exploring other options are a part of owning a retail business.
No products to sell? No problem
With the rise of supplier marketplaces and dropshipping apps, product sourcing isn’t any longer the hurdle it once was. The platforms and techniques in this text should aid you find the proper products to show your small business idea into reality, or offer you an actionable technique to expand your product line. Comfortable sourcing!
Illustration by Gracia Lam
Product sourcing FAQ
How do you source a product to sell?
What’s reverse product sourcing?
Reverse sourcing involves identifying trending and bestselling products, then finding a supplier who can give you those products. This differs from a conventional supplier search, which usually starts with finding a supplier before choosing products.
How do online stores get inventory?
Where can I source products for dropshipping?
Dropshipping marketplaces, reminiscent of AliExpress, allow merchants to source tens of millions of products from vetted suppliers. Contact dropshipping suppliers directly with an app on your Shopify store to begin selling in minutes.
