1.Distinguish Between Genuine Wholesalers and Fake Wholesalers

Genuine wholesalers usually source directly from manufacturers, which means they can offer better prices (but be careful—if the price is too good to be true, their products may be counterfeit). However, many genuine wholesalers aren't good at online marketing, so they can be difficult to find online, many "wholesalers" you find online are just middlemen.

Before searching for wholesalers, it's best to apply for a wholesale account, to prove that you're a legitimate business. This is a necessary step before placing your first order, as most genuine wholesalers will only show prices to approved retailers.

After this, you can start looking for suppliers.

Here's a tip for distinguishing real wholesalers from fake ones: genuine wholesalers are more interested in long-term cooperation rather than charging you a monthly membership fee or service charge.

However, some fees are reasonable, like pre-order fees—this is because the packaging and shipping costs for smaller orders are higher than for bulk orders.

Also, if a wholesaler has a minimum order requirement (MOR), don't be surprised. It's a way for them to filter out small customers who ask a lot of questions but never place an order.

But if your order amount doesn't meet the minimum requirement, buying more products than you need isn’t the smart move. You could try changing your approach: offer to prepay for the minimum order amount and promise to purchase products gradually in the future, which avoids placing a huge order all at once.

2.How to Find Wholesalers

2.1 Contact the Manufacturer

Once you’ve decided on the product you want to sell, contact the manufacturer and ask for a list of wholesale distributors. Then, get in touch with those wholesalers to ask if they do dropshipping and how to set up an account (I recommend preparing a list of questions in advance and calling them directly).

If the supplier only sells through exclusive distributors, don't panic—ask for a list of certified distributors so you can contact them for the products.

Once you have distributor lists from several niche market manufacturers, you can quickly find out who the main wholesalers are for your target products.

2.2 Google Search

As I mentioned before, many wholesalers aren't great at online marketing, which means it can be challenging to find them online. You should be prepared to spend a lot of time searching extensively, and even then, you may not find a satisfactory supplier.

Their websites might not look very professional, so don’t judge the quality of a supplier solely by how their website looks.

Additionally, wholesale websites typically aren’t optimized for SEO, so you need to try various search methods using different terms like "distributor," "agent," "bulk," "warehouse," "supplier," etc.

2.3 Use Competitors

One tactic is to place an order from your competitors. When you receive the package, use the return address to identify their supplier.

However, this method doesn't work every time. You can treat it as a backup option.

2.4 Attend Trade Shows and Exhibitions

If you've already decided on a niche market or specific product, and you have enough time and budget, attending trade shows is also a good way to meet manufacturers and suppliers.

It's notable that many factories won’t be found online but do participate in trade shows.

2.5 Use Dropshipping Platforms

There are specialized dropshipping platforms designed to help dropshippers find suppliers easily. These platforms typically list verified suppliers, providing product catalogs and integration tools, making it easy for merchants to add products to their stores. Examples include Oberlo, Spocket, and Dsers.

2.6 Join Supplier Directories

Some supplier directories—such as Worldwide Brands, SaleHoo, Doba, and Wholesale Central—offer lists of wholesalers sorted by product type or market. These wholesalers are vetted to ensure they are legitimate. Supplier directories are usually offered by for-profit companies and generally involve a fee (which may be one-time or ongoing), which is reasonable.

2.7 Social Media and Industry Forums

You can also find suitable suppliers on social media platforms like LinkedIn or Facebook, as well as on dropshipping forums. Many suppliers use these platforms to promote their services, and experienced dropshippers often share their resources and recommendations there.

2.8 Wholesale Markets and B2B Websites

You can also find suppliers on online wholesale markets, which gather a large number of suppliers and products, such as Alibaba or Global Sources.

2.9 Dropshipping Agents

Dropshipping agents help dropshippers connect with suppliers, handle product sourcing, and manage logistics. They can communicate with factories and arrange shipping, simplifying the dropshipping process and ensuring a smooth supply chain.

3.Characteristics of a Good Supplier

3.1 Industry Focus and Expertise

Top-notch suppliers have knowledgeable sales representatives who truly understand their industry and product line. If you're new to a niche market, it can be invaluable to speak with a well-informed sales rep.

3.2 Dedicated Sales Representatives

A good supplier should assign you a dedicated sales rep to handle all your questions.

3.3 Investment in Technology

Although many good suppliers may have outdated websites, if a supplier invests heavily in technology, like providing real-time inventory, complete online catalogs, or customizable data feeds, they will be much easier to work with.

3.4 Accept Orders via Email

If you have to call every time you want to place an order or manually enter each order on a website, the process becomes very time-consuming. A good supplier should allow you to place orders via email.

3.5 Organized and Efficient

High-quality suppliers have competent staff and efficient systems in place, which means their order fulfillment is fast and almost error-free. You can assess this by looking at their response times, how they handle order processes, shipping speed, and how quickly they follow up with logistics and invoices.

3.6 Good Reputation

This is crucial when choosing suppliers on AliExpress. I recommend working with suppliers who have a “Feedback Score” of over 2000 and a “Positive Feedback Rate” above 95%.

3.7 Other Considerations

You should also assess packaging quality, return policies, inventory management, product variety, and whether they offer customization options.

4.Conclusion

While brand building and store operations are important, selecting the right suppliers is just as crucial. Having stable partnerships with good suppliers can save you a lot of trouble in your dropshipping business and positively impact your conversion rates. Start improving your supplier system today.