HOW TO SOURCE PRODUCTS AND FIND RELIABLE SUPPLIERS FROM ALIBABA.

Alibaba is a vast global digital economic system that connects businesses by connecting manufacturers directly to suppliers. It has created a digital bazaar where suppliers from around the world can showcase their products, and millions of users can get access to a wide web of international buyers and sellers.

Some of the Benefits of Alibaba include

Cost effectiveness.

This digital marketplace allows suppliers to get products at wholesale prices, hence very cost-effective.

Variety

Since Alibaba is global, it creates a vast reach to different suppliers across the globe ranging from small scale businesses in third world countries to the biggest companies in the world.

Ability to customize products.

Manufacturers can be able to customize products to suit the business's needs since Alibaba uses algorithms to be able to match manufacturers to their suitable business matches.

Define Alibaba

Alibaba is a digital space that connects businesses directly across the world. One can therefore describe it as a wholesale marketplace where businesses can list products they want /offer to other businesses and vice versa from over 190 countries globally.

Products available at Alibaba

 Alibaba has a wide range of products, from household essentials to personal items at an affordable rate. The platform displays products to potential customers as advertised by established brands and start-up businesses. It offers a vast variety of products from different parts of the world, ranging from production, processing, marketing, and selling of different products, both large-scale and small-scale businesses.

Private labelling, custom orders, and shipping logistics.

This digital marketplace also provides private labelling, custom orders, and shipping logistics. This investment in logistics brought about the formation of Cainiao, which is responsible for smooth, fast, and reliable services. This arm is also responsible for warehousing and shipping products globally.

How to use Alibaba

Set up your account.

Sign in:

The first step you need to take is to set up an account on Alibaba. Go to the Alibaba website, which is www.alibaba.com.

You'll be required to fill in your email address, create a password, fill in your company name, country /region, and business role (either a buyer or seller).

Account verification:

You'll be required to verify your email, whereby Alibaba will send a verification link to your email, which you click.

Search for products.

Alibaba is quite easy to navigate through, since products are listed based on category, region, and price range. Filters available for quality, price, and supplier credentials include;

Quality.

To be able to filter out poor quality products on Alibaba, one can use business certification whereby you filter out businesses that are not certified by fda, iso, etc, to be able to identify quality products.

Alibaba has a verification feature on its website where you can be able to access businesses that have been verified by Alibaba from businesses that haven't.

Price.

Cost effectiveness is everything in Alibaba; hence, for you to be able to get the best deals for the products that you want, you should check for discount offers from the different businesses available, where you can find some businesses that offer big discounts for a certain time frame.

Supplier credentials:

Customer reviews are available on the website where you can be able to see from other users how they rate the products and hence be able to make an informed decision.

Also, the number of years a business has been running can be used to filter a business based on supplier credentials.

Evaluation of suppliers.

One can be able to evaluate a supplier using ratings on their list and feedback from previous buyers. Communication and response time are also key elements in evaluating suppliers, since you don't know them personally. Supplier response time gauges a business on how active its account management and customer service are. The average response time should be 4 hours.

Request quotes and samples.

To gauge the quality of the products, you should request quotes and samples from the suppliers. This can be done by;

One, you can post a buying request. Whereby you go to my Alibaba and request for quotation (RFQ)-submit RFQ. Fill out the forms with your requirements, and suppliers will contact you with quotes you can compare.

Two, you can contact the supplier directly, where you can go to the chat now icon after you've identified a product that you want.

To request samples, you ask a supplier to send a sample after the supplier responds, then provide your shipping details.

Note: some samples are paid for while some are offered free by the supplier, where you only pay for the shipping.

Negotiate price and terms.

It is advised that you ask for a price breakdown on the unit price and shipping cost of the products. Ask for a price breakdown on the unit price and shipping cost of the products. Asking for quotes and samples is also a negotiation skill you can use.

Compare among 4-6 quotes to get the best deal on the market and start negotiations from the unit price to the shipping fees.

You can also use trade assurance, whereby you request to pay via Alibaba Trade Assurance to build trust with the supplier.

Order and shipping.

Alibaba values your money and investment, thereby creating a free buyer protection service that ensures your products are safe and credible and will arrive on time. Bulk orders and shipping have been made easy on Alibaba by the use of Alibaba Trade Assurance.

Cainiao, an Alibaba arm, offers logistics support for Alibaba users globally. It offers shipping quotations, tracking of shipments, customer clearance, and door-to-door delivery.

WHY ALIBABA IS A TOP PRIORITY FOR MOST ENTREPRENEURS AND SMALL BUSINESSES

Are you a small business owner or an entrepreneur looking for convenient suppliers for your products? Look no further, Alibaba has proven to be the most reliable online store that connects buyers and sellers globally. Here are some of the reasons why it is perfect for you:

Affordable sourcing.

Alibaba offers wholesale pricing that allows small businesses and start-ups to access cost-effective products.

Customization

Whether you are looking to add to your brand logo or modify your product. Alibaba offers flexible customization options such as color and size options, logo and design modifications, and even personal labeling, among many more.

Global reach

Alibaba connects over 190 countries worldwide; hence, you have access to suppliers across all continents and also locally.

Reliability

Reliability is assured with Alibaba since it vets supplier credentials and also verifies legitimate suppliers on the website.