What kind of sources of goods should SOHO look for?

Sample and small-order purchasing channels. Taobao is a very good choice. Many factories will open direct-sale stores or set up stores for advertising on Taobao. There are also some powerful retail stores that can place bulk orders and stock up from factories due to large quantities and then handle small-batch orders. This is more cost-effective and labor-saving than finding factories by ourselves. On Taobao, one can purchase sample orders, small-batch orders and ready-made goods. Especially sample orders can save a lot of mold opening and sampling fees. Moreover, Taobao is also a good place to research product prices. By entering keywords and selecting the price from low to high, one can easily find the required accessories, all at wholesale prices. For SOHO, in the early stage, quotations and samples are urgently needed. Factories often lack patience and service, while Taobao can solve this problem well.

Channels of small and medium-sized factories with price advantages. Domestic free B2B platforms like 1688 and Baidu are one of the ways to find small and medium-sized factories. But finding suppliers on these platforms can be tiring, and the service may not be good either. Usually, potential real orders have to be used for testing. Before looking for them, one should organize the detailed order information and questions to be asked. Because their patience is limited and they are also highly guarded, it is best to control the questions within 3 to 5 core questions. In addition, there are many middlemen on 1688. It is necessary to investigate on the spot whether it is a real factory.

Factory channels with cooperation advantages. Such factories can be found on foreign trade B2B websites such as Alibaba and Global Sources, or on platforms like AliExpress and Dunhuang. Such factories usually understand foreign trade and have English materials, which can save trouble. Factories with their own foreign trade departments are stronger and have higher market sensitivity. But when cooperating with them, attention should be paid to protecting customer information from leakage.

Domestic professional exhibition channels. For example, the Global Sources Electronics Show in Hong Kong gathers many domestic and foreign merchants and manufacturers every year, covering almost the latest models sold on foreign trade platforms. There are many exhibition categories. We can understand the best-selling models on Amazon and AliExpress according to our preferences and then choose to cooperate. Manufacturers participate in exhibitions not only for publicity, but also to expand their business by taking advantage of the platform and the flow of people.

Utilize interpersonal relationships around. This is a very important resource. One can ask friends engaged in foreign trade business to recommend products, so that there are insiders to follow up. One can also join industry posts, forums, etc.

In conclusion, choosing the right source of goods requires comprehensive consideration of factors such as product quality, price, delivery time, and supplier reputation. At the same time, it is recommended to establish a long-term and stable cooperative relationship with suppliers to ensure stable supply and reliable quality.