The majority of people look towards China and other Asian countries when it comes to finding suppliers to sell products online because the price of labor is much cheaper.
But it is costly to work with Asian sellers. For example,
- You have to deal with the language barriers.
- You have to adapt to the cultural differences.
- You have to pay for import duties on the goods
- You have to pay a high shipping cost from the other countries.
Working with suppliers in the USA, by contrast, is much easier.
There is no barrier to communication. The minimum order volumes are generally lower and shipping costs considerably lower.
Moreover, no import duties are imposed.
One of the greatest mistakes new importers make is that tariffs on certain raw materials are not taken into account. And these extra taxes can increase your costs for goods substantially depending on the product.
Method #1: Use ReferenceUSA
I am puzzled that nearly nobody ever mentions ReferenceUSA as a resource throughout my years of eCommerce education.
It is not only 100% free of ReferenceUSA, but probably the most comprehensive and best database in the US.
What is the ReferenceUSA?
Check for any kind of companies nationally, Research executives of any business company
- Find opportunities and providers for your eCommerce store
- Find producers to produce your products, but there is a small catch.
ReferenceUSA offers the most up-to-date information about businesses and can be used to locate…
Only your local library can access ReferenceUSA, but most libraries support it.
How to access this…
Step 1: Call and ask if you have been referred to your local libraries
ReferenceUSA has a handy library locator online here.
Step 2: Get a Library Card
Most of you have probably not been in a library since the dawn of the Internet, but physically you’re going to have to go to get your library card.
Library cards are free and, in addition to ReferenceUSA, you can actually rent films, videos and books
Step 3: Use the Library Web site for access ReferenceUSA
You will most likely be asked to type a ReferenceUSA in your library card number and 4 digit pin.
How to Use ReferenceUSA
You are asked what you want to search if you login to ReferenceUSA first. Click U.S. corporations. From here, I click the following:
Advanced Search Include unverified companies– This tells you that smaller companies are included in the search
SIC / NAICS keyword- This enables you to search by keyword or by the subject
City / States– This allows you to search locally.
Then I enter the geography I’m searching for. Let’s say for instance that I want the Santa Clara, CA plastic mold company.
I will be presented a list of plastic mold producers in my area after I click “View Results.” This is so straightforward!
All in all, ReferenceUSA is an excellent way of finding contact data in the United States for every company. The only disadvantage is that ReferenceUSA will also return retail companies.
As a result, the results are often necessary to search for real providers.
Method #2 Using ThomasNet.com
ThomasNet.com is another US supplier database which mainly supplies industrial and trade suppliers. ThomasNet ThomasNet.com. What is good about ThomasNet is that ThomasNet only covers real suppliers and not retail stores compared to ReferenceUSA.
You won’t therefore have to screen the results of ThomasNet as much. The downside, of course, is that ReferenceUSA is far greater than ThomasNet, because every company in the United States has access.
I like to start with ThomasNet for all practical purposes and then use ReferenceUSA if I don’t find anything good.
Let’s look at Thomas.net plastic mold manufacturers using the same example from ReferenceUSA above.
As you can see, ThomasNet provides very specific, specialty plastic suppliers. You can then limit the results on a geographic basis.
Thomasnetzipcode Again, ThomasNet is more focused on industrial providers, which means that you won’t probably find consumer general products. But ThomasNet.com is an excellent resource if you want to produce your own designs whether clothing, plastic or metal.
Furthermore, if you want to produce your own personalized products from scratch you can find CAD designers and clothing designers too.
Method #3: Use Worldwide Brands
Worldwide Brands is a service that combines light bulk and dropship wholesalers in a beautiful directory that can be searched for. These providers are also pre-empted to make sure they are legitimate.
Now that I have a Worldwide Brands account since 2011, it’s an excellent resource to locate light bulk and dropship suppliers in the US even though I’m not using the directory very much these days.
What is the exact meaning of light bulk?
A light bulk provider for suppliers requiring a minimum buy of $500 or less is a term coined by Worldwide Brands. In this way, you can start up for a lot less than a traditional manufacturing facility.
Although it sounds great to start-ups, it is because I don’t sell any other peoples ‘ products and I’ve not used Worldwide Brands in ages.
Indeed, MyWifeQuitHerJob.com readers long know that I have generally been pretty anti-dropshipping. But I have sufficient questions to answer about dropshipping. In any event, this is how the WorldWide Brands interface looks when you login.
WorldWide Brands returns a list of suppliers when entering a product. You can obtain contact information of the provider, minimum order quantity and seller site by clicking on the “See Complete Details” button.
You can save WorldWide Brands a lot of time if your efforts to find Dropship Sellers in the United States are difficult.
Method #4: The Row Makers Row
Row is a directory of more than 10,000 American producers in a dozen different industries. Row Makers Row and you can search by location and ability, similar to ThomasNet.
Makers Row is regarded as a premium service and is available monthly. However, their interface allows you to get estimates, book reviews and reach real American manufacturers easily.
It’s like this here.
You can browse their manufacturer’s directory once you register.
What’s good is that Makers Row offers a beautiful view of the factory and includes reference samples, photos and videos. You can find out about the manufacturer, get in touch and book a consultation.
Makers Factory Makers Row offers project management software to provide product details and to manage your production once you have selected the factory.
Project Makers Please is aware that Makers Row is adapted to companies that seek to produce their own products from scratch.
And like ThomasNet and ReferenceUSA, in contacting and interacting with manufacturers you have to do the most difficult lifting.
The 4 above-mentioned tools serve different purposes when it comes to the sale of products to be sourced.
ThomasNet.com and Makers Row are a lot more useful if you plan from scratch to create and produce your own product. As a result, you will not find many providers selling branded products from other persons on either service.
ReferenceUSA is a directory that is much more flexible than ThomasNet for all US firms. You will however need to look more closely at the results of your searches to find a provider that meets your needs.
Try to include a keyword “wholesale” along with the terms you are searching for wholesale vendors.
Worldwide Brands is also a directory of the United States ‘ pre-checked wholesale suppliers of dropship and light bulk. There are suppliers who want to drop their own brands. They are here.
In the United States, a full cost benefit analysis with a Chinese manufacturer equivalent pays off.
- Cost of inspection
- Cost of freight forwarding
- Cost of importation taxes and duties
Besides the pure dollar cost, make sure you pay the “mental anguish” tax in a small amount. Cost of inspection In addition to the cost of the Chinese factory.
After all, Chinese suppliers often take away some of your health, since they always try to cut corners and save costs.
Sometimes it’s worth using a manufacturer in the USA when all is said and done, even if the cost is a little higher. After all, lead times are much shorter, so that you can be more flexible in your business.
Finding American Dropship Suppliers for Your Online Store
You’ll get acquainted with the cash creating formula most individuals use if you want to begin a dropshipping company (or you’re already running one).
It feels like this: find Chinese vendors ‘ inexpensive wholesale products and sell them to clients in the US, Europe or Australasia for a huge profit.
The company model continues to work today. BUT, we see more and more Chinese goods flooding the market with increasing numbers of individuals using this formula.
This isn’t a bad thing necessarily. But it doesn’t matter, particularly if you reliance on crowded marketplaces such as eBay and Amazon, to distinguish your company from all others.
One way you can distinguish between them is by using US-based vendors.
You don’t even have to live in America to make this a healthy choice. If you have a powerful client base in the US, or want to break into the US industry, it makes a lot of sense to use local dropshippers.
I know, I know, the lure you find on Alibaba or Aliexpress from cheap Chinese suppliers is strong, but you’re going to want to hear me out.
There are many advantages of working with Dropshippers in the USA and I will even share some of the best US suppliers with you.
Let’s get into that. Let’s get into it.
Why dropship from the United States?
Many excellent producer and manufacturer in the US give dropshipping facilities. There are many of them.
You could not understand it, however, since most dropshipping proponents push the concept to purchase inexpensive Asian products and to sell them on important benchmarks on Western markets.
Let us look at some of the advantages for your online store using US vendors.
Shipping Benefits
When you buy anything online, we all understand how significant shipping is. The use of dropshipper in China is one of the primary disadvantages. The reception of a customer’s packaging may take days and weeks. All of this can render our clients unhappy and unlikely to purchase again from you.
Working with US dropshippers guarantees that fast shipping usually happens within 1-3 days for US customers. So, your client can purchase something and have it supplied the following day from your shop. A happy client is your greatest marketing instrument, because it can lead to your shop repeating advertising in company and word of mouth.
Today customers of a reliable tracking system expect to monitor their package in the mail. US courier companies such as UPS, FedEx, DHL all provide you and your clients with a reliable, extensive monitoring system.
A wide range of shipping choices, gives a range of shipping alternatives, including the shipment of next day, second day and third day. In some cases, they even deliver on the same day. The quicker the shipment, the more the cost is greater. At least, depending on how urgent your package is, it provides your clients a choice.
First of all, let’s talk to the elephant in the room. Usually, American providers for dropshipping are costlier than Asian providers. This is true. It is true. Work expenses, equipment, lease and other variables lead to greater expenses for the product. However, the additional expenses offer consumer advantages that enable you to charge greater rates for your clients. More than pleased to pay those rates, because clients are more aware of fair trade and quality. Let’s examine some of the product advantages of using US providers: U.S. companies of higher quality are famous for quality goods. Whereas in general you can do not have the same reputation as products from China, Taiwan or Vietnam. Why is that important? People will be willing to pay for quality. More quality can be charged. Selling Chinese goods is often a price competition race to the bottom.
“American-Made” approval stamp
You have to stamp your goods “American-made” (if they are made in America, in effect). For many clients, in particular patriotic Americans, this is a certificate of permission. It’s a strong marketing and sales instrument which distinguishes you from most eBay and Amazon vendors. Again, for American made goods, individuals are pleased to pay more.
Higher retail prices
As stated above, greater prices for US-made products are available. The primary appeal of Chinese providers is therefore negated. You can pass these expenses on to your clients very comfortably while paying more for American goods so that your profit margins stay identical or possibly even greater than with Asian goods.
You can create a loyal client base with US Dropshipping Suppliers. You can also improve customer satisfaction. Think of the above-mentioned mixed advantages. Faster shipping, more shipping, quality goods and a feel-good factor in purchasing American goods–they all contribute to the satisfaction of a very satisfied client, who will return time and again to your shop.
Guarantee and return policies
Make sure the respective product guarantees are received, guarantee, and returns data from the provider and use a fine denture comb. You would like to see the provider carry as much accountability as possible if things go wrong with your products.
Easier to make sales
This is merely because fewer individuals go the US-built eCommerce path as most vendors supply Chinese distributors with products. It is simpler to sell, particularly if you are marketing effectively, when you have a distinction and can rely upon the quality of your products. There is a reason why individuals purchase Levi jeans over other, cheaper products, although the “Made in the United States” claim is slightly questionable. The tale that Levi clients wear American made products is often more strong than the product itself.
Just as a dropship is in the United States, it doesn’t necessarily imply that it’s an excellent provider, just because it’s based in the United States. If you are examining a provider, you want to follow the same method. After all, one of your most significant company partners is your provider. You want to pick the correct one.
The most important factors that you should look for in a provider are: trust and reliability. How do you do that? Well, you could use a supplier folder of SaleHoo with over 8,000 providers, including US dropshippers. Websites such as TrustPilot can also be viewed or references asked from the provider. You can search these for feedback if the provider has social media pages.
Even better, try visiting the provider and meeting them face to face. This is a wonderful way to see if you can trust them comfortably.
Friendliness and communication One thing is that your provider is trustful, but also that they are simple to deal with. Aretheyco-operative and friendly or cold and hard?
You may have worked with a provider for many years, so you want to make sure that they are someone with whom you are dealing.
Jump to your mobile and speak to yourself, or visit your warehouse or factory. By the ton of their messages, you can say a lot.
Shipping cost and data
One of the major advantages of using US shipping providers is that your provider is up to date. Shipment expenses and information fast shipping.
You want to ensure that all anticipated shipping alternatives like delivery on the same day and overnight can be provided so you can transfer these advantages to your clients.
Please ensure that the delivery expenses and any other data are requested, as you do not wish to pay more than you must to ship.
Production Capacity
You should also ask about manufacturing ability if your provider is also the producer. This concerns the amount of product they can produce at a moment.
This is essential because if your company starts to grow and you want to understand that your provider can satisfy this requirement in a timely fashion, otherwise they will slow down your company’s development.
Additional costs
Suppliers usually pay a premium for dropshipping, but you must ask what it is so that no surprises exist. It should also be asked whether they have any other fees you should be aware of.
It is likely best to prevent this provider if you get a list of dark charges as they shave the cash away from your profit margins.
