8 Ways To Secure Ecommerce Store Suppliers

Intro

A staggering 92% of Brits shop online in 2025. As the ecommerce landscape continues to transform how we buy and sell goods, creating a streamlined supply chain has become essential for online sellers as demand grows.

As we welcome rapid transformation in ecommerce delivery times, the importance of sourcing and shipping products at speed has doubled.

The question is, how do you source products effectively as a new ecommerce store? If you’ve yet to connect with suppliers, we have covered you. Check out this guide on securing your own streamlined supply chain in eight easy steps.

Start Your Search Online

Hunting for a good supplier isn’t as easy as looking up your local options on Google. Supplier research takes time and effort to choose from a wide range of options for a fit that best suits your business needs.

The key here is to search for large, well-reviewed wholesalers that sell only to retailers in bulk. Opting for a wholesaler rather than the manufacturer directly is often safer as you can choose local options without having to manage manufacturer pipelines.

There are also a few wholesalers open to customers too. AliExpress, for example, is a wholesale marketplace based in China that not only ships to retailers in bulk but is open to direct purchases from customers at cheaper prices. In order to reduce competition for the same product, choose a marketplace like Alibaba or IndiaMart that is used only by businesses.

Hunt Local Shops Without An Ecommerce Partner

If your online search is yet to turn up something tempting, take a local angle to your approach. While online wholesalers remain the most popular form of supply, they aren't the only ones that can sell you stock.

Brick-and-mortar partners are a game-changer for small ecommerce businesses and visa-versa. With the ability to list products online and in-store, you double your chances for conversion.

In order to acquire a brick-and-mortar supplier, you need to reach out to local stores in your area. Offer these stores the chance to sell their products to you at a fraction of the markup for a chance to appear on your ecommerce storefront.

Reaching out to independent stores, designers, and artisans is the key to creating a unique online storefront. This is a win-win for both businesses as you stock a product line not sold by any competitors while providing visibility for brick-and-mortar startups.

Rely on Referrals

Remember that some of the best supplier leads come from your current network of adjacent ecommerce stores and your competitors.

Don’t hesitate to ask any of your direct e-commerce contacts for supplier recommendations, and reach out to any successful entrepreneurs in your industry for advice.

Better still, join small ecommerce communities on Facebook and forums online. These are brilliant for sourcing supplier suggestions and reviews.

Take Your Search International

There are plenty of overseas suppliers to choose from as an ecommerce seller. If manufacturers in your area don’t make your desired products or your industry is more popular overseas, it might be time to reach out to international suppliers.

“China is the traditional go-to country for product sourcing—they have a massive arsenal of factories and have years of experience producing various goods,” says Stephen Light, co-owner of Nolah Mattress, an online store selling mattresses.

China and India are great choices for cheaper supplier options. With many large marketplaces such as Alibaba and AlieExpress offering a giant supply of goods from all industry niches at just a fraction of the price, they are well worth considering as an ecommerce startup.

“For beginners, I suggest using B2B websites like Alibaba that connect businesses with suppliers. B2B marketplace platforms are the easiest way to look for suppliers,” says Stephen. “Once both parties trust each other, you can transact outside of the platform to save on service fees.”

Leverage NAICS Codes

For American sellers, NAICS codes could help you identify suppliers that stock specific products.

The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) is a directory that finds manufacturers and their products using individual codes.

This allows you to find relevant suppliers with ease and narrow down your options from a long list of potential candidates. Simply search for the code identifying your product, and you’ll find a wide range of matching results from the United States and Canada to streamline your search.

Consider The Dropshipping Approach

Dropshipping is also a great option for an ecommerce store. Defined as a third-party fulfilment provider, a dropshipping service stores your products for you rather than supplying them in bulk.

When a purchase is made on-site, a dropshipping service ships the exact number of products sold to the customer directly from the manufacturer.

This is especially effective for inventory management as an ecommerce startup. If you’re a small or seasonal business, predicting the number of orders you’ll receive month-to-month can be tricky. This often leads to overordering stock and struggling to break even during low periods.

Dropshipping allows you to order only what is needed rather than bulk ordering risky product ranges or too much seasonal stock.

Research Your Supplier Shortlist

In order to select the best possible supplier for your ecommerce store, ensure that you research your shortlist thoroughly to identify which services tick all of your boxes.

A few key questions to consider asking yourself are:

• How effective is their communication? Strong suppliers have a brilliant communication stream and should be available 24/7 for an international ecommerce store.
• What are their minimum order quantities? If you’re looking to start small with your product supply, ensure that your chosen supplier can handle small/custom orders as well as bulk purchases.
• What are their shipping costs? Every cost should be considered when it comes to choosing a good supplier. Shipping costs impact your bottom line, so don’t forget to add this to your initial quote.
• How quickly can they deliver? Delivery demand is on the rise. Ensure that your supplier can get stock to you in as little as 48 hours to ensure that orders are fulfilled quickly, especially during peak shopping seasons such as Black Friday.

Ask For Quotes And Samples

Once you’ve selected a list of potential suppliers, it’s time to put them to the test.

Start by gathering any samples of their product listings before ordering a large shipment. This is important, as you must confirm the quality of your supplier products before making them live for your customers. Quality manufacturing is essential, especially if you want to maintain a positive brand reputation.

Once you’ve established which suppliers offer the best quality products, weigh up the costs for a bulk order. To do this, meet virtually or face-to-face with your potential suppliers and discuss your requirements. Once you have a quote for their service, it’s important to compare this price across the board with other suppliers for the best possible deal.

Wrapping Up

Finding the best suppliers for your ecommerce business is a long and time-consuming process. In order to select the best options for your product demand, extensive research should be a priority during the discovery phase.

Once you’ve shortlisted a number of suppliers and dropshippers, ensure that your new product supply is sampled before it goes live for the best results.