Audience: New Brands, First Time Sourcing Experience
We get quite a few inquiries from new brands, companies looking to sell on Amazon, or companies looking for products as line extensions to their existing product line. While there are a list of things to watch out for, we’ve come up with some basics to cut costs with suppliers.
Shop Around
These days you wouldn’t walk into a car dealership and just buy the first car that seems nice. Shop the market. If you are using a platform like Alibaba, find multiple manufacturers that can serve your needs. Not only does quality vary between manufacturers, you can use the quotes to negotiate your prices. You’ll want to make sure you’ve outlined all your specifications for the item you are looking for to make sure all the details are comparable.
Order Frequently
Your business understands the value of repeat customers. For manufacturers, it’s even more important because of the setup required to get all your specific details takes time. Placing multiple orders throughout the year shows them your business is consistent and they can count on you for consistent orders. You can use this as a negotiating token after you’ve started this trend.
Build a Relationship
Not all manufacturers will cut there costs right away, especially if you are bordering on their Minimum Order Quantity (MOQ). Think of a friendship with another person. You’re more likely to do a favor or help out a friend when you’ve spent some time together or gone through experiences together. This is no different. A supplier or manufacturer needs to get to know things like, how big are your orders, how fast do you pay, etc. As your sourced products start selling, you’ll be in a better position to negotiate.
Pay Early
For new brands, this is sometimes difficult to manage when cash flow is limited. Paying for products before the very end of your terms limit will give you more negotiating leverage. Some domestic small businesses will offer a percentage discount for early payment. The old saying Cash is King is the reality.
Order Higher Volume
There are always price breaks for larger quantities. For manufacturers, it takes time to switch their manufacturing operation from one customer’s product to the next. Every minute their machines are down for a new customer, they could be running for a customer with a larger run. Machine time is money, therefore your larger run will cut their costs and those costs can be shared with you.
Guarantee Orders
Predicting sales is tough, but one your product gets going you’ll have an idea what kind of volumes you are selling. A manufacturer loves repeat predictable business. From the comment above, if manufacturing equipment isn’t busy, the company doesn’t make money. Their company’s scheduling wants to be able to organize work most efficiently. Not only will this help your inventory control of your business, you can use this as leverage for negotiating price if you seem as you’re delivering your promise.