Imagup General Magazine 2024
Finding a reliable, valid, authentic Chinese manufacturer for your business needs, can be a daunting task if you don’t know anyone in China. You want to make sure you get the best deal possible, and most importantly, you want to avoid scammers. There are a lot of ways to find a manufacturer in China, but there are also a lot of things you need to know to be successful in your search.
In this article, you will find all the best tips and advice for when you’re looking for a Chinese manufacturer.
Start your search online
The first place to start is probably B2B services like Alibaba. Input the product you want into the search bar, and you can find information about the manufacturers.
When looking for manufacturers on Alibaba, you have to be careful. A lot of companies there are at the top of the page only because they paid for advertising. Always do some more research on the company to see if they’re really a factory or not. Sometimes they will be selling products on Alibaba that they don’t actually produce. Always avoid companies who have a label of a „Trading Factory“.
Another place to search for manufacturers is, of course, Google. Just type the name of your product and add the „Chinese manufacturer“ keyword next to it. If you can’t find anything, play around with keywords until you get the results you need. For example, on this website, you can find a China plastic molding company with all the information you need.
Unfortunately, there is not much information on Google when it comes to Chinese factories. This especially goes when it comes to some specialized, smaller factories. The Google search engine is not available in China, and people there rely on other search engines. If some smaller Chinese factories do have a website, it’s probably all in Chinese. If you do speak Chinese, then you may have a higher chance of finding the right manufacturer for your needs, but if not, don’t worry since there are still a couple of different ways to find them.
Ask a friend
Getting a personal reference is one of the best ways to get a hold of reliable Chinese manufacturers. Maybe your friends, family, or coworkers worked with factories from China before, or you have business partners who have done the same in the past.
If you’re only starting your business, knowing people who had previous experience with manufacturers from China is a bit improbable. Still, you can join communities like Facebook groups or Reddit subs to look for advice. You should be careful when trusting people online, look for proof of their experience, since internet trolls and scammers are everywhere nowadays.
Trade fairs
Global trade fairs are a great way to find what you’re looking for while being completely sure your choice is a reliable one. Chinese manufacturers will present all the information you need before getting involved with them. It would provide you with some face to face communication so you know exactly who you’re dealing with.
Other than that, you get to see a lot of suppliers on a trade fair, you are able to compare them with each other. This would make the process of choosing so much easier!
Hire professionals
There are many sourcing companies around that specialize in this kind of thing. They will be able to provide you with advice and help in your search for reliable suppliers. They will save you a lot of time and research, making it one of the cheapest options available. Even if you found a supplier by yourself, these companies can help you in checking their reliability.
Of course, these kinds of services may be unavailable to you, and if they are, there is still a lot of things you could try instead.
Go to China
Before you pack your bags, you should have a list of potential manufacturing partners you want to check in China. Make a list by doing online, or any kind of research. Going to China to meet your future business partners could be very beneficial to you. You will know exactly what their situation is, and there will be no room for manipulation with any facts or information which could, of course, impact the price.
Still, traveling to China can be pretty expensive. Depending on your budget and order size, going to China may not be worth it. It all depends on your specific situation.
How to choose?
Okay, you have done your research and now you have a long list of suppliers to choose from. How to pick one?
Well, this will mainly depend on your business needs. The most important thing is to compare prices, certifications, technology, and customer ratings.
Other than that, don’t forget to ask for a sample. This will help you assess the quality, speed, and efficiency of their company. Getting a sample is crucial for anyone who is serious about working with any kind of supplier. Make sure that their capabilities are enough to satisfy your needs. Try to look for any past customer feedback, it could be extremely valuable.
Remember to ask a lot of questions, and make sure their answers are direct and satisfactory. Their answers can tell you a lot about them! Beware of some red flags like evasive answers and unresponsiveness. You want someone who will value your business, with great customer service and detailed answers to your questions.
All in all, be careful and research a lot. Check the prices of their competitors so you don’t end up paying a lot more then you need to. Get in contact with local businesses if you can, as they can provide you with tons of useful information and advice.
The takeaway
The most important thing to do when looking for Chinese manufacturers is research. There are many online platforms like Alibaba and TradeWheel where you can find a lot of useful information. Unfortunately, Google wouldn’t be very helpful, since smaller factories usually work with trading companies so they don’t need much SEO. You can get advice from your business contacts, sourcing companies or you could simply go to an international trade fair to find reliable suppliers.
All in all, finding a Chinese supplier is not easy, but it’s absolutely possible if you put enough work and research into it.
