0:00Where do you find suppliers?
0:02And who are you really buying from?
0:05Suppliers fall into two types.
0:07Manufacturers actually make the product.
0:10They set a minimum order quantity that smaller buyers often cannot meet.
0:16Trading companies buy from manufacturers and resell.
0:20They add a legitimate service, at a markup, for buyers who need flexibility.
0:25They are not automatically dishonest.
0:28The problem is a trading company that falsely claims to be a factory.
0:34You can find suppliers in four places.
0:37B2B sourcing platforms,
0:39which Chapter 5 covers in detail.
0:42Trade fairs and exhibitions.
0:44Sourcing agents, who work on your behalf for a fee or commission.
0:49And trade promotion agencies or chambers of commerce in the exporting country,
0:54many of which keep directories of vetted exporters.
0:59Combine more than one channel,
1:01rather than relying on a single platform for your whole search.