Contacting Suppliers & Manufacturers When Starting ...

Author: Daisy

May. 06, 2024

Furniture

Contacting Suppliers & Manufacturers When Starting ...

Countless entrepreneurs keep their entrepreneurship dreams on hold because they’re unsure of how to deal with suppliers.

Are you interested in learning more about Plastic Chairs Wholesalers? Contact us today to secure an expert consultation!

If you are just about to start your e-commerce business, you probably hesitate to approach suppliers too because you’re not sure if they’ll take you seriously.

In truth, suppliers are business owners like yourself. They want the same things as all businesses do: more sales, less risk, and reliable payments.

The risk appetite for suppliers depends on four things:

  • The size of the order in dollar terms
  • The past relationship with the buyer
  • The payment terms for the order (upfront payment equals lower risk)
  • The size, reputation, and seriousness of the buyer

For new businesses, getting suppliers on board is simply a matter of reducing their exposure to risk. The easiest way to do this is by offering to pay upfront. Suppliers won’t care about the size or age of your business as long as they’re getting paid.

Besides upfront payments, you can also show your legitimacy by:

  • Using a company email address (“yourname@website.com” instead of “yourname@yahoo.com”)
  • Having a website. Even a simple free Instant Site will help.
  • Incorporating your business and getting necessary tax numbers
  • Using a professional, serious tone in your emails
  • Knowing what you want. Being clueless is a clear sign of an amateur business owner.

Below, we’ll show you how to deal with different suppliers based on your business model.

Related: Should You Make, Manufacture, Wholesale or Dropship Your Product?

How to Approach Wholesale Suppliers

In the wholesale model, you buy products from a large supplier at low rates. You then sell them to customers at retail rates. Wholesalers might carry a single product-type (such as socks) or a range of products from different brands.

Since you are paying upfront for the product, the wholesaler’s risk is almost non-existent.

It doesn’t matter whether you have a great website or no website. As long as the seller gets paid, he’ll be happy to work with you.

In fact, a number of wholesalers even operate online stores. You can buy from these stores just as you would buy from Amazon.

The shopping process is the same as any e-commerce store. You can add the product to your cart, enter your shipping details and make the payment. At no point are you asked for your business details at all.

However, not every wholesaler operates the same way. Some operate a customer-facing website where you can order limited quantities (as low as 1 item) at retail prices. To get wholesale rates, you have to create a “wholesale” account. This often requires submitting your tax information.

At DyeMurex.com, you have to create a wholesale account to get wholesale prices. You can also buy smaller quantities, but you’ll have to pay retail prices for it.

To create a wholesale account at Dyemurex, you need a US tax number. If you are outside the US, you have to have a valid website and/or social media presence. This requirement will vary from supplier to supplier and country to country. Consult your country’s local tax laws on how to get a tax number.

Not every wholesaler maintains websites where you can order products. And few wholesalers offer their best possible rates and sales terms through their websites. In such cases, you have to communicate with wholesalers directly and strike a deal. Here’s how to do it.

1. Find a sufficient number of wholesale suppliers

Step one is to find a number of target wholesalers. In the US, you can use websites like WholesaleCentral.com and TopTenWholesale.com to find wholesale suppliers. You can also use TSNN’s search to find trade shows and visit suppliers in person.

2. Filter the reliable ones

Before you spend any time communicating with wholesalers, evaluate whether they fit your requirements and standards:

  • Check whether they carry the exact products you want.
  • Check if they have stated their minimum order quantities (MOQ) and prices. This is usually negotiable, however.
  • Check their reviews on Better Business Bureau by searching for the company name (for US, Canada or Mexico based businesses).
  • Google their company name to check for fraud reports, reviews and comments from existing customers.

Once you are fairly certain that you’re dealing with a reputable company, proceed to the next step.

3. Communicate your requirements

This is the part where most new entrepreneurs hesitate, especially if they don’t have a website or store.

The trick is to portray confidence. You don’t have to lie, but it doesn’t hurt to project an image of being slightly bigger than you are. Your objective is to get the best possible deal, after all.

This confidence is conveyed in the length, tone, and content of your communication. Be concise and exact in your messages. Make it clear that you know what you want.

There are a few tactics you can use to make your emails more persuasive:

  • Order volume: Wholesalers are a volume business. The higher volume you buy, the more negotiating power you have. Lure them in by asking for prices for a range of order quantities (say, 100-10,000).
  • Don’t email yourself: Most larger retail businesses have purchasing agents to handle procurement. In your email, identify yourself as “purchase manager” or “purchase agent” instead of “founder/CEO”.
  • Use a company email address: Even if you don’t have a website, you can still get an email address at your own domain (like “firstName@company.com”) using services like Google Apps.

Once you have the information you need, you can negotiate for better terms such as Net-30 payments (i.e. payment for goods after 30 days of receipt) or lower prices for higher order volumes.

Wholesalers sometimes offer drop shipping services as well. We’ll show you how to deal with them in the next section.

How to Approach Dropship Suppliers

Dropshipping is when you act as the retail arm of a manufacturer or wholesaler. Instead of buying and stocking products yourself, you only sell the product to customers. Your drop shipping partner takes care of fulfilling the order, usually under your own brand name.

On paper, the higher involvement of drop shippers means higher requirements from retailers as well. In reality, the intense competition among drop shippers means that drop shippers have to fight hard to win over retailers.

This intense competition has led to the fragmentation of the market into two categories. This brings us to the first tip.

1. Understand who you’re dealing with

The options include drop shipping aggregators and wholesale drop shippers.

Dropshipping aggregators are websites that give you access to hundreds of drop shipping suppliers from a single platform. Examples include Syncee, Spocket, Sup Dropshipping, Doba, SaleHoo, etc. These aggregators usually charge an upfront fee to access the suppliers. They also offer plugins and APIs to easily import products into your store.

Here are a few things you must know about dealing with drop shipping aggregators:

  • Easy sign-up: Aggregators are easy to sign-up with and require only an email. You don’t have to have a store, website or even a business email to get started.
  • Higher prices: Since you can’t negotiate with individual suppliers, you will have to pay the fixed price offered by the aggregator. This usually means higher prices and thus, lower profit margins.
  • Monthly fee: Most aggregators charge a monthly fee. This can eat into your margins if you’re just starting out.

Dropshipping aggregators are an easy way to start selling. However, use them only as a stop-gap approach. Once you have a proper store and a history of sales, it is better to approach individual drop shippers and get better deals.

Wholesale drop shippers are wholesalers who also offer drop shipping services to a select few retailers. A vast majority of drop shippers fall in this category. Usually, they cover a single product-type such as knives or sports gear.

To work with these drop shippers, you’ll have to create a wholesale account and provide your business information. You get access to the catalog only after the drop shipper approves your account.

Most small-time drop shippers do this to discourage one-time bargain hunters. Some drop shippers like MagnumTuning even mention this on their sign-up page:

Many drop shippers will be happy to waive off approval requirements if you place a large initial order or send them deposit money. Having a seller’s permit or sales tax number is also helpful.

While the signup process is harder, you get much better rates than drop shipping aggregators.

In some industries such as t-shirt printing, drop shippers have easier requirements. For example, Printful gives free access to any retailer regardless of volume (and integrates with Ecwid.)

Once your business is ready, this is the right way to go if you want to drop ship. If you’re using Ecwid, you can use the WholesaleB2B app to make integration with drop shippers easier.

Also, check out more dropshipping services that can be integrated with your Ecwid store.

2. Ask the right questions

Here are a few questions you can add to the email template shown above if you contact a potential drop shipper:

  • What are your shipping costs and policies?
  • What kind of payment methods do you accept?
  • Do you offer an API or automated method to place new orders?
  • What brand name will the order be shipped under?
  • Will your (the drop shipper’s) name appear on the packaging?
  • How long does it take to process and ship an order to {your primary market}?
  • Can I use your product images and descriptions on my website?
  • What kind of tax information and permits do you require from retailers?
  • What is your policy for damaged and returned products?

Besides wholesalers and drop shippers, you can also source products from manufacturers.

How to Approach Manufacturers

Manufacturers are companies that can:

  • Help you make your own products, or
  • Sell you their manufactured products at wholesale prices.

Manufacturers are different from wholesalers and drop shippers in that they have high order requirements and significantly lower prices. Since each order is made from scratch, most manufacturers require an upfront payment to cover the manufacturing cost.

The upfront payment means that most manufacturers are very flexible in who they work with. The nature of manufacturing is also such that it attracts a lot of entrepreneurs trying out new ideas who might not have websites or sales.

Consequently, most manufacturers are easy to work with as long as you meet their minimum order requirements.

Related: How To Find a Manufacturer for Your Product Idea

There are a few things you should keep in mind when approaching them.

1. Ask about minimum order quantity (MOQ) and deposit

Manufacturing costs go down as the volume increases. Consequently, MOQ is one of the most important metrics when dealing with manufacturers.

Ask about the manufacturer’s MOQ in the first email you send them. Don’t waste time dealing with a manufacturer who has higher MOQ than your requirements.

If you’re taking the Alibaba route, most manufacturers would list their MOQ on their profile itself.

Some manufacturers might be wary of dealing with new businesses who are only interested in the minimum possible order volume. To get around this problem, ask for prices for a range of order volumes (say, MOQ to 50,000 units).

Also, ask what kind of upfront deposit will the manufacturer require to kick start production (and the refund process in case of a dispute).

Related: Checklist: How to Find the Right Supplier on AliExpress

2. Ask about manufacturing capacity, shipping, and packaging

The manufacturing capacity and shipping time are two important factors in choosing a manufacturing partner. Not asking about these might set off red flags for the manufacturer.

So in your email, ask about the following:


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  • The number of pieces they can manufacture in a day
  • Where the products will be shipped from/shipped to
  • Expected shipping time and carriers used
  • What kind of packaging will they use
  • Any customization (on packaging or product) offered
  • Extra value added services (such as Amazon FBA selling) offered

3. Ask for samples

No serious business will choose a manufacturer without asking for product samples.

Manufacturers expect this. In your email, make sure that you ask for a product sample. This will not only help you evaluate the manufacturer, but it will also show that you are serious about the business.

4. Ask more about the company and the factory

This includes:

  • The age of the company
  • The number of employees
  • The size of the factory and its location
  • Pictures of the factory

If possible, ask for a Skype tour of the factory. Again, most legitimate manufacturers will be happy to provide this information.

Checklist: 20 Questions to Ask Your Manufacturer

Everything you need to know before calling it a great deal

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To Sum Up

Whether you are looking for a wholesale supplier, a dropship supplier or a manufacturer, remember to do the following:

  • Get a free Instant Site.
  • Do not make a deal with the first supplier you find.
  • Portray confidence and professionalism.
  • Ask a lot of questions.
  • Negotiate to get the best deals.


Learn more

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How to Choose The Best Eames Plastic Chair Replica

Eames Plastic Chair as one of the most common side chairs, is widely used in various occasions. Such as our home dining and living room areas, cafes, restaurants, office and other public areas. Hundreds of factories makes the molded plastic chair replica. So how can we figure out which ones are in good quality? Let’s follow the below suggestions and answers, you could find the desirable chair and supplier.


1.What plastic the manufacturer use in making the chair?

In the 1950s, American designers Charles and Ray Eames succeeded in making furniture in molded fiberglass. However, as the manufacturing process of fiberglass products will cause great environmental pollution. They decided to suspend the design and production of chair until more suitable materials appeared.

Until 2000, furniture manufacturers began to use polypropylene (PP) instead of fiberglass to produce the Eames shell chair, which is what we now see as the Eames molded plastic chair replica.

Today, furniture factories make the chair not only in PP, but also ABS material.


So what's the differences between PP and ABS?

  1. The heat resistance of both materials is similar.

  2. PP has better chemical resistance. And lower price.

  3. ABS has a higher hardness, and gloss than PP.

  4. Briefly speaking, PP material has better toughness, while ABS is brittle.

  5. PP is soft. ABS is hard.

  6. PP is cheaper, while ABS is more expensive.

  7. PP is usually used for home furniture, while ABS usually used as engineering material.

  8. Both two materials are stable and durable. Your choice will be merely depended on your preference of the finish and your budget. The original Vitra Eames Chairs are made of PP plastic. While the ABS was similar to the original fiberglass seat.


NORPEL manufactures and supplies the

Eames DSW N-PP01

and

DAW armchair replica N-PP02

in both PP and ABS. You could tell us which material you need before order production.


2.Which wood the manufacturer is making the chair of?

Most Eames plastic chair reproductions are made of beech because of its high quality and low cost. In addition, beech may be dyed if you prefer a dark surface. Our Eames chairs also offer Ash, oak or walnut base customization. Of course, there's an extra charge.

Buyers need to be aware that some manufacturers may use the words "dyed" and/or "finished" to describe the wood used for furniture. But not mentioning what exact wood they use.

Note that this usually means that the chair is made of low-quality wood and then dyed or finished to resemble higher-quality wood. For example, walnut finish does not necessarily mean that the chair is made of walnut.

But as long as you know what you're buying, it's not a bad thing in itself.


3.What is the thickness of the seat?

The thicker the seat shell, the better support it has. So ask the manufacturer the average thickness of the plastic seat shell.



4.Check the chair springy.

After checking the thickness of the seat shell, you should also pay attention on the springy of the chairs. Just sit on the chair. If the legs are too loose, you should pay attention to the robustness and durability of the chair. A slight rebound is normal.



5. Does the chair has feet glider?

In order to reduce the scratches caused by the legs of the chair, there are four white gliders on the chair feet. As for replica Eames chair versions, most of them have white or black polypropylene plastic gliders. But the worse one has nothing.

So pay attention to your beautiful wooden floor!


6.Does the chair all parts aligned?

With good hardware and carefully designed chairs, the base and seat are almost perfectly aligned. As a cheaper Eames chair copy, nothing is entirely consistent. Some screws cannot be connected to their full extension, which affects the top metal connector and then bends. All these bad designs put extra pressure on the chair and reduce its life expectancy.


Conclution

In short, there are many high quality replicas of Eames molded side chairs on the market. So if you just want to decorate the chairs and put them in the corner, the cheapest chairs on the market can do that. But if you want something more durable, these six questions can help you solve them. The best Eames dining chair replica is the price you are willing to pay for using it.

If you have any other questions or want to order our high quality Eames reproduction, please contact us and we will reply to you as soon as possible.


Want to Know More? (Eames Shell Chairs, price, volume, delivery)

Email: info@norpelfurniture.com

Whatsapp: +86 159 8619 2421

Skype: lillian@norpelfurniture.com

Want more information on Tolix Chairs for an Industrial Vibe? Feel free to contact us.

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