Where to Find Suppliers for Your Business

PWhether you are thinking of starting a retail or online store (or even for eBay trading), one of the critical steps is to find suppliers for your business. If you want to sell, you need to find out where you can get the items you want at a price that would allow you to earn profit.

Here are some places where you can find suppliers:

1. Trade shows. Trade shows are where manufacturers and suppliers gather looking for you -- the potential buyer. As such, the best source of finding suppliers for your business is through attending trade shows.

First determine the products you want to sell in your store, and find tradeshows and exhibits for that product line. Start with the biggest tradeshow in the industry. If you want to sell shoes, for example, the best show to attend is the World Shoe Association's Global Footwear and Accessories Marketplace http://www.wsashow.com/. For fabric sourcing, be sure to attend Sourcing at Magic participated by manufacturers, fabric and textile mills, trim & component, textile/print design studios and supply chain service providers.

To find the must-see tradeshows, check out industry directories and sites as they will often have a list of the most important tradeshows. Or you can check out at trade show directories such as TSNN.com. Note though that some tradeshows are open to the public, but there are shows that are open only to verified members of the industry. When you register, some shows require proof such as business registration, business cards, invoices demonstrating your purchase history; or if the business is yet to be started, a letter of intent from a lawyer or bank indicating your intention to start a business in the industry.

2. Trade Magazines. Suppliers and manufacturers typically advertise in magazines focusing on their industries. For example, manufacturers of scrapbook products from albums to stickers to scrapbooking tools advertise in magazines such as Creating Keepsakes or Simple Scrapbooks magazine.

Some trade magazines even publish an annual buyer's guide directory. Greetings etc., the magazine of the Greeting Card Association publishes a Buyer's Guide where you can find anywhere from manufacturer reps to distributors to manufacturers of various industry related products.

3. Online Wholesaler Resources. You can check out online wholesaler directories such as GoWholesale.com -- though watch out for scams and fake sites as there are many out there. Also check out the print magazine WebWholesaler , which is the magazine for online wholesale resources and features legitimate wholesaler resources (check out the ads, too, which are all wholesalers).

You can get more ideas on how to find suppliers for your business from my previous post "How to Find Suppliers for Your Business"

How to Find Suppliers for Your Business

If you are starting a retail business, whether online or off, one of the first things you need to know is where to get the merchandise you will sell. And that means getting in contact with possible suppliers for your business.

If for example you want to start a craft and greeting card store, here are places where you can find the suppliers you need for your new business:

• Check out the products you want to sell and contact the manufacturers. Establish a wholesale account with them though be prepared to purchase in their required quantities
• Attend craft tradeshows. You will meet the manufacturers and suppliers in the industry and will allow you to start networking and establish relationships. Go to sites such as http://www.tsnn.com to find out trade shows in the industry that are upcoming
• Subscribe to trade publications. These magazines always have ads from manufacturers and suppliers in the industry. Often, they will have an annual buyers guide that lists all the manufacturers and suppliers in the industry. This guide contains very valuable information for anyone who wish to be involved in the industry.
• Join trade organizations. For the greeting card industry, for example, you can join the Greeting Card Association http://www.greetingcard.org/ - they will have suppliers list for the industry as well as other resources that you need
• Contact sales agents. They will help you in touch with manufacturers and wholesalers in the industry. You can check with retailers and ask them for recommendations of agents. Or check the industry association for information on sales agents working your area. Visit the Manufacturers Agents Sales Association http://www.manaonline.org/ for listings of sales agents in your industry
• Use the web. Thomas Register http://www.thomasnet.com/ which is the most comprehensive resource for finding information on suppliers of industrial products and services in North America. Or use your favorite search engine to find companies in your industry.