Member Workshop: Sourcing Products with Multiple Types of Suppliers-Mar 20 in Community Help Boards in Community

Last Post Mar 20, 2007 12:18 PM by: deirdre@ebay.com

Replies: 45

Member Workshop: Sourcing Products with Multiple Types of Suppliers-Mar 20

Feb 27, 2007 2:07 PM

Report

Topic: Member Workshop: Sourcing Products with Multiple Types of Suppliers

Host: whatdoisell
Date: Tuesday 03/20
Time: 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Pacific time
Location: Workshop Board

Description: Product sourcing is a cornerstone of every successful eBay business. But where to get your products? Most people rely on one or two avenues of suppliers to purchase their inventory. But in order to be successful in today's diverse online marketplace, you'll need to source your products from multiple types of suppliers. Please join Lisa Suttora Founder/CEO of What Do I Sell.com and best-selling author of "What to Sell on eBay and Where to Get It" (from McGraw-Hill publishers) as she discusses the different supplier options available to your business and how to use them effectively.

Cheers,

Deirdre
eBay Community Development

Page: of 4

.lw-paginator-jump { display: none; visibility: hidden; } Pages: 4 - [ Previous | 1 2 3 4 | Next ]

Member Workshop: Sourcing Products with Multiple Types of Suppliers-Mar 20

Mar 19, 2007 10:27 PM

Report

A few final thoughts –

Sourcing Products is a Numbers Game

Sourcing products and working with suppliers is truly a numbers game. On average, for every 30 suppliers you contact, you will find one that you will want to do business with. That is why the more contacts you make, the faster you will find the right suppliers for your business.

Working with multiple types of suppliers and contacting new suppliers on a regular basis will breathe new life into your product sourcing, your business and your sales!

Member Workshop: Sourcing Products with Multiple Types of Suppliers-Mar 20

Mar 19, 2007 10:29 PM

Report

For Further Information

If you like what you’ve learned here today and would like to find out more information about locating suppliers, how to contact them, how to negotiate the best pricing, and the best strategies for working with all types of suppliers… we are putting the finishing touches on a special audio training to answer these questions and more!

If you’d like to find out more information about this audio training when it’s ready go to Link

At What Do I Sell.com™, we’ll show you how to:
- Determine what products the buyers want
- Locate suppliers for those products
- Plan your inventory line
- Write listings that sell your products
- Provide quality, value and service to your customers which will bring them back to your eBay store to shop, time and time again
AND
- Help you connect with a dynamic group of eBay sellers who are growing their business just like you.

In addition you’ll have access to our private, members only interactive forum which is moderated by What Do I Sell.com™ Founder/CEO and best-selling author, Lisa Suttora.

We look forward to having you as a part of the What Do I Sell.com™ community in 2007!

Come join us today! Link

View Listings

Posts: 3,846

(17 of 45)

Member Workshop: Sourcing Products with Multiple Types of Suppliers-Mar 20

Mar 19, 2007 10:34 PM

Report

Hi everyone:

We've posted the workshop material early to allow you to read through this wealth of information.

We'll be back tomorrow (Tuesday), March 20th at 11:00 a.m. Pacific time at which time we'll open the workshop for questions and comments.

Thanks,

Deirdre
eBay Community Development

View Listings

Posts: 3,846

(18 of 45)

Member Workshop: Sourcing Products with Multiple Types of Suppliers-Mar 20

Mar 20, 2007 10:59 AM

Report

Welcome and thanks for joining us today!

We love workshops to be interactive, so please feel free to ask your questions that directly relate to this topic.

Added note: If you click on the "Watch this discussion" link, you will receive an email each time someone posts to the workshop.

Stop Watching: If at any time you no longer want to receive updates on a thread you are watching, just click on the link titled "Stop Watching Thread" found in the specific thread being watched. Also you can remove any watched thread by clicking on the "Watched Discussions" link located in the log in bar and deleting the watched thread.

If you're new to the discussion boards, please be sure to check out the board tutorial:

Link

A from our Legal Department: The statements and opinions made in this discussion board are those of the workshop host only and do not reflect eBay policy or eBay's opinion with respect to such statements.

Cheers,

Deirdre
eBay Community Development

Member Workshop: Sourcing Products with Multiple Types of Suppliers-Mar 20

Mar 20, 2007 11:04 AM

Report

Hi Deidre,

What is the typical policy for going directly to manufacturers for purchases? Is this an advisable strategy.? Do they require all customers to have licenses of some sort, or is there produst available to anyone? What are the typical volumes required to purchase directly from a manufacturer?

Thanks,
JayDee

Member Workshop: Sourcing Products with Multiple Types of Suppliers-Mar 20

Mar 20, 2007 11:08 AM

Report

I have a problem finding a legitimate wholesaler. How do I go about it? I have tried to Google but haven't found anything that I can use. Most of them aren't really wholesalers.

Member Workshop: Sourcing Products with Multiple Types of Suppliers-Mar 20

Mar 20, 2007 11:09 AM

Report

Oh I forgot to tell you that I am a corporation. Does that make a difference?

Member Workshop: Sourcing Products with Multiple Types of Suppliers-Mar 20

Mar 20, 2007 11:10 AM

Report

I am looking into the possibility of opening a "brick and mortar" store as long as an ebay store. When trying to find what there are out there for suppliers, do I need any kind of licenses or permits just to look?

Member Workshop: Sourcing Products with Multiple Types of Suppliers-Mar 20

Mar 20, 2007 11:11 AM

Report

Hi jaydeeschultz, When purchasing wholesale merchandise you will need to have a business license and a tax ID. You should call the manufacturer and ask them who the wholesalers are for their products. They will tell you if you can buy from them directly or if you will need to go through a distributor or wholesaler. The minimum order volume will vary depending on the manufacturer. That is something you will want to ask them at the time you contact them. In post 6, you will find more information about working with manufacturers.

Lisa
WhatDoISell.com

Member Workshop: Sourcing Products with Multiple Types of Suppliers-Mar 20

Mar 20, 2007 11:15 AM

Report

Hi shirley-mae, In order to find legitimate wholesalers, you'll want to go to the source of the product, which is the manufacturer. Call the manufacturer and ask them who their wholesalers/distributors are. You can find the manufacturer's name on the product box or in literature about the produce you are considering selling. 50% of manufacturers don't have a website, and even if they do, the wholesale side is not easily Googled. So it is best to call direct.

Here is a workshop from eBay Certified Service Provider WorldWideBrands that discusses this process as well.

Link

Lisa
WhatDoISell.com

Member Workshop: Sourcing Products with Multiple Types of Suppliers-Mar 20

Mar 20, 2007 11:16 AM

Report

Hi Lisa,
Is there a list of wholesale warehouse suppliers that you trust that can drop ship for you?
Please advise
Thanks
UniversalSusan

Member Workshop: Sourcing Products with Multiple Types of Suppliers-Mar 20

Mar 20, 2007 11:17 AM

Report

Hi shirley-mae, Since you have a business license you have a tax ID, and so you will be able to work with legitimate wholesalers.

Lisa

WhatDoISell.com

Member Workshop: Sourcing Products with Multiple Types of Suppliers-Mar 20

Mar 20, 2007 11:19 AM

Report

Hi gift-alley, (Let me know if I didn't understand your question correctly.)

Prior to opening a store, you will need a tax ID/business license to even talk with suppliers and get their catalogs. They cannot legally show you their wholesale price lists or catalogs until you have that in place. When you talk to them, you can let them know that you are in the process of opening a retail store (either online or offline) and that you are putting together your product line.

Lisa
WhatDoISell.com

Member Workshop: Sourcing Products with Multiple Types of Suppliers-Mar 20

Mar 20, 2007 11:22 AM

Report

Thank you very much Lisa. And when I get the license, you provide alot of information on your site about wholesalers to contact for different lines of product and how to contact them, is that correct? Thank youso much for your time!

Member Workshop: Sourcing Products with Multiple Types of Suppliers-Mar 20

Mar 20, 2007 11:28 AM

Report

Hi universalsusan, There are a couple parts to this question - First, if you are strictly looking for a pre-defined list of wholesale suppliers you might look at companies such as WorldWide Brands or DOBA who are both eBay Certified Providers. You also might check the eBay Solutions page for other options at Link

Be VERY careful about Googling the words Drop Shipper and going with a website that promises you Nikon, Prada, Coach etc for pennies on the dollar. The rule is - if it sounds too good to be true, IT IS!

Any wholesaler can potentially also drop ship. What a lot of people don't know is that you just have to ask the wholesaler to find out. Many don't advertise that they will drop ship. So if you have a product you are interested in selling, when you call the manufacturer, ask them if they will drop ship.

When drop shipping remember, that you do not have control of the delivery of the product which leaves you open to receiving bad feedback if it is not handled correctly.

This means keeping back stock of the drop shipped product and testing the drop shipper, by ordering the product itself before you list your merchandise on eBay.

Lisa
WhatDoISell.com

Home

Community

eBay Discussion Boards

Community Help Boards

Workshops

Member Workshop: Sourcing Products with Multiple Types of Suppliers-Mar 20

Member Workshop: Sourcing Products with Multiple Types of Suppliers-Mar 20

Member Workshop: Sourcing Products with Multiple Types of Suppliers-Mar 20

Member Workshop: Sourcing Products with Multiple Types of Suppliers-Mar 20

Member Workshop: Sourcing Products with Multiple Types of Suppliers-Mar 20

Member Workshop: Sourcing Products with Multiple Types of Suppliers-Mar 20

Member Workshop: Sourcing Products with Multiple Types of Suppliers-Mar 20

Member Workshop: Sourcing Products with Multiple Types of Suppliers-Mar 20

Member Workshop: Sourcing Products with Multiple Types of Suppliers-Mar 20

Member Workshop: Sourcing Products with Multiple Types of Suppliers-Mar 20

Member Workshop: Sourcing Products with Multiple Types of Suppliers-Mar 20

Member Workshop: Sourcing Products with Multiple Types of Suppliers-Mar 20

Member Workshop: Sourcing Products with Multiple Types of Suppliers-Mar 20

Member Workshop: Sourcing Products with Multiple Types of Suppliers-Mar 20

Member Workshop: Sourcing Products with Multiple Types of Suppliers-Mar 20

Member Workshop: Sourcing Products with Multiple Types of Suppliers-Mar 20

Member Workshop: Sourcing Products with Multiple Types of Suppliers-Mar 20