Sourcing 101

“Do I need a sourcing agent in China?” Many people who plan to buy direct from China consider this question regularly. After all, you can get suppliers to deliver products to your doorstep with a few mouse clicks on China sourcing websites like Alibaba. Is it really necessary to hire a sourcing agent when you can find suppliers independently?

Consider this.  Large retailers like Wal-Mart still need to use purchasing agents – even though they have a large purchasing department in China. This is because professional buyers know that hiring a buying agent service is not a waste of money but a great investment.

A professional china sourcing agent can bring a lot of value to buyers.  We help you:

Let’s dive in.

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When you are sourcing products from China, you may want to get help from a professional China sourcing agent. You already know that a purchasing agent can bring many benefits to your business, and you already know the responsibilities of a purchasing officer. Now all you need to know are agent fees.

• How much do sourcing agents charge for their services?
• Is there a formula to determine their prices?
• Are they worth the money you spend?

If you are looking for the answers to these questions, then you are in the right place.  Today we are going to discuss how buying agents charge, and how much they actually make from you.

Let’s start.

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Many people will seek the help of China sourcing agents when sourcing products from China, and these people have realized that sourcing companies can help them save worry, effort and money. It is important to note the vast majority of buyers who have just started contacting sourcing agents only pay attention to the price of the product. Few people will take the initiative to ask sourcing services companies about what does a sourcing agent do, what responsibilities the sourcing agent will assume and the specific sourcing processes.

Some beginners assume that the main difference between different product sourcing companies is price. In fact, there are thousands of purchasing agents in China. Each sourcing company has its own strengths and weaknesses, and while the core tasks are similar, the specific details of each sourcing company vary greatly. In today’s article, we provide a significant number of the tasks and responsibilities of the purchasing agent as well as the workflow Our goal is to leave you without any assumptions. You will know exactly what a sourcing agent can and cannot do for you.

We will cover the following:

• Buyer needs analysis;
• Supplier selection process;
• Design product prototypes and collect samples;
• Assist in negotiations;
• Make a quotation;
• Enter into contracts and agreements;
• Follow up the production progress;
• Product packaging and labeling;
• Assist in quality control;
• Warehousing Services;
• Arrange the transportation of goods;
• Assist in customs clearance in the destination country;
• Solve problems when they arise;

Let’s begin!

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Mention sourcing agent, and many beginners will have similar questions.  They want to know things like: “How can a sourcing agent benefit me?  Why should I have a sourcing agent?  How do I find a sourcing agent that will meet my specific needs?”

This article is going to answer these questions and provide some basic information on what sourcing agents do.  The goal is to help your business get off the ground and become profitable.

Our recommendations include:

There is no better time than now, so let’s get right into it!
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As you are looking for Chinese products for your business, you may see the acronym OEM.  If you are curious about:

• The meaning of OEM;
• Why OEM matters for your company;
• OEM product examples;
• And a few more things along the way;

You have come to the right place!  We have the information you need to understand what OEM stands for.  Get comfortable, and get set.  We are going to jump right into it!

Continue reading “OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) – A Comprehensive Review”

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If you need to:

• Learn MOQ meaning
• Learn why MOQ matters in the supply chain
• Learn how to calculate MOQ formula
• Learn about MOQ on Alibaba and 1688
• Learn different examples of MOQ (low, high, none)
• Learn how to negotiate a lower MOQ
• Learn how to meet MOQ
• Learn what to do if you cannot meet MOQ

Then this all new, comprehensive guide from Sourcing Nova has everything you need.

Grab a cold beverage, get comfortable and let’s get started!

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You have found a strong profitable nice product and some top suppliers of your Chinese product.  Now you need to send a Request for Quotation, the RFQ, to that supplier.

Great!  How do you send an RFQ to that top Chinese manufacturer?
Continue reading “Request for Quote (RFQ): How To Approach A Top Chinese Manufacturer?”

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Sourcing Nova is now into its second decade as a purchasing agent.  We started with products from the wholesale marketplace, then direct factories and now from carefully vetted manufacturers of top world-class OEM and ODM brands. Read our story.

 

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From product manufacturing to packaging and shipping, sourcing products from China incurs significant costs that vary widely depending on the size of the business, needs, and industry. Below is a breakdown of the fees you can expect to pay.

Continue reading “What will be the cost of sourcing from China in 2022?”

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The decisions facing today’s buyer when sourcing products from China are numerous.  Factories, trading companies, wholesalers, distributors, purchasing agents and the like.  This can be an overwhelming situation because of the sheer number of choices.  Is there any difference between each of these?  What is the most cost efficient option for you and your Chinese products?

Continue reading “Manufacturer vs Trading Company vs Purchasing Agent: 12 Differences You Must Know in 2022”

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