Now that you have an Ecommerce store, the most important thing you have to give attention to is finding the best products to sell. And, to find the best products you have to do product sourcing.
Product sourcing involves finding dependable vendors from whom you can purchase quality products. You need to get these products at the lowest price so that you can sell them at a higher price and enjoy profits.
Now, the question running in your mind likely is how to source products for your Ecommerce store. Well, there are quite a few methods to do so and we shall learn about them right away.
DIY Products
Creative artistic handmade things have a special place in the market. Since there is a lot of scope of personalization it creates a great impact on the users.
Every individual likes being treated personally and thus they love unique products. It is true that it will not be easy for you to come up with unique ideas every time. But, your products still will be unique when compared to the so many ready-made stocks that you find in the market.
When you started making products you perhaps did the entire task on your own. That was pretty good as long as you were doing it just as a hobby or just to gift your DIY items to somebody. But, now that you have your own Ecommerce store, you will have to make products on a large scale.
It will be wise if you use some machinery or even hire a few people to help you. This will ensure you always meet the demands of your customers on time and can grow your business more and more.
Get Your Products Manufactured
To source products, you can even take the help of manufacturers. There are many well-known brands that get the products that they sell from another manufacturer.
If you source product from another company/manufacturer then you will not have to bear any operation costs. Yes, the quality of products can be at risk, but if you are able to find a trustworthy and reputable manufacturer then this will not likely be an issue.
When you let a manufacturer do the production task for you then you will also be able to increase your business capacity. If the products that you were so long making have already become a hit, and the demands are increasing, then taking the help of a manufacturer will be the wisest thing to do.
Just make sure the manufacturer you select is capable enough to produce the number of products that you need on a regular basis. If you run out of stock frequently then it can have a negative impact on your business.
Yet another amazing benefit of selecting a manufacturer is that things can turn out to be less expensive compared to when you do it yourself. Since manufacturers are producing products on a huge scale and they know they have a competition to deal with, they readily offer you their services at good rates.
Buy Products from a Wholesaler
If you do not intend to sell products of your own brand and are ready to sell the creations of others, then you can source products for your eCommerce store from a wholesaler.
Generally, manufacturers sell their products in huge amounts to wholesalers, who, because of the huge amount that they buy, get the products at great discounts. Wholesalers then sell these products in huge quantities to retailers. Since retailers too buy in bulk, they also get to enjoy a good discount. This gives them the chance to sell their products keeping a reasonable margin. The more you buy as a retailer, the cheaper will be the price, and the higher the profits or margin that you will be able to enjoy.
If you choose this method there are two things that you need to be aware of. Firstly, when you buy in bulk it can have an impact on your cash flow. If you spend too much on buying products then you will have very little left with you to handle situations if something goes wrong.
If you buy a product which you are not able to sell completely then you can be in a difficult situation. But, what you can do is sell the remaining products at the price that you brought them. This way, you will not have profits but can save yourself huge losses.
The next thing you need to know is that you may have to face huge competition. Others may be selling the products that you are and shoppers can easily search for the best price. Larger companies can easily offer products at low rates. But, if you are a startup or a small company, then to play it safe, you must focus only on niche markets and become an expert in a small range of products.
Use a Dropshipper
Dropshipping is a great way to source products, particularly, when you do not have much to spend in your inventory. You just need to partner with drop shippers, sell the products of wholesalers/manufacturers in your Ecommerce store and enjoy the benefits. You do not even need to buy these products at all.
When you partner with drop shipping companies you will enjoy complete access to their catalogue. Select the products that you like and sell them in your store. Once you get an order that request will be sent to your partnered drop shipping company also. That company will pick, pack, and then ship the products using their shipping partners on your behalf.
The main advantage of using drop shippers to source products is that you need no warehouse and nor do you have to worry about the inventory. Just sell products and enjoy your profits.
To Conclude –
Each of these ideas can help you source your products. Together with these, you can also visit offline events and flea markets that target your niche. This will give you great ideas and you also will be able to get connected with local vendors and manufacturers/suppliers that you will not be able to meet online.
Also, remember to use various ideas and not depend on a single source and that will help keep your business alive and popular.
