Product Sourcing for Home Business
Filed under Sourcing Tips
Finding product sources for your home business . . .
Finding product sources requires thought and research but otherwise is quite a doable and straight forward process. In my opinion, the hardest part of the work where small, home, micro business is concerned is nailing down your market and identifying your customers. Of course, this may seem like an impossible task in the beginning, but once you understand the basics, the process will start to fall into place.
Finding and securing agreements with product suppliers is an essential part of your business plan. Many people, however, make the mistake of worrying about sources of product supply before they figure out exactly what it is they want to sell. Perhaps this describes you. If so, don’t worry about it, but do take the time to sort out what product or products you want to market. Knowing that will simplify the process of finding your supply sources.
In earlier posts, I have talked about how to go about finding product suppliers using the Internet and other offline resources. (If you
scroll to the bottom of the page, you will see a list of earlier product sourcing related posts.) In today’s post, I’d like to cut to the chase and mention 3 tools that you can put to use to help provide a wide variety of product sources for your home business. These are product sourcing services and require payment, though not too much. However, they should be able to help you find wholesale and drop ship product distributors as well as liquidation-closeout specialists, factory distributors, and other distributors who specialize in surplus and discounted goods.
I mention these services because rather than you doing all of the research to find suppliers, these will hand you the contact information for thousands of suppliers serving many different product niches. If you are not interested in paid membership services, I understand, but they are available to help you reduce your research time. For free resources to help you find product niches and suppliers, please see my post, How to Find Products to Sell Online Right Now.
First, the Salehoo online wholesale directory:
Salehoo is an online directory of resources. It also includes an active forum where members share information. Salehoo verifies the legitimacy of all suppliers listed and actively encourages member feedback.
Next, a newcomer to product sourcing for home business, Aid and Trade:
Aid and Trade is also an online directory of wholesale and dropship suppliers. It offers several subscription options and is relatively inexpensive.
The third resource is from Chris Benard. Chris Bernard has over a decade of experience in the wholesale and drop ship industry and says the truth is that dropshipping sucks:
Chris Bernard writes, “. . . the key element to drop shipping was, and still is, a secured market. The companies . . . sell products exclusively through personal sales reps and do not sell in retail outlets, to wholesalers, to the public. This is what makes them work. The prices, distribution channels, and markets are all tightly controlled.”
Chris Bernard’s Better Sources guide is not just a list of wholesalers. In fact, what makes this a novel, out of the box sourcing solution is that it is not just a list of wholesalers. Chris says that his guide is a, “complete manual for finding profitable products you can sell anywhere.”
Probably every resource you will ever need can be found by research on the Internet, at your local library (ask the librarian!), through the local chamber of commerce, and through national associations for manufacturers and wholesale distributors. The above resources may help you get a leg up and cut to the chase of finding the products and products suppliers who will suit your needs. However, it is important that you are serious in your reasons for seeking product suppliers. If you have or are planning a home business, these may solve some of the problems of product sourcing.
For an inside look into online product sourcing for home business:
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There are tight restrictions to protect many markets electronics being one, the other is Aftermarket. MAP policies (Minimum Advertised Price) are the Industry standard for a level playing field. Everyone tries to keep prices in line, if not, no one makes money and it ultimately degrades the brand to a swap meet mentality.
We provide sourcing for any Industry. We have over 25 years experience with an emphasis on drop shipping.
Our specialty is Automotive Aftermarket.
Denise
Our home business in our village is a small catering service. The profit is good in the food and beverage business. **