Where to buy products to sell on Amazon is a question I often get asked. This post will list a few resources and I will discuss the pros and cons of each. In our internet driven world it is easy for an individual or small business to find and contact any supplier in the world. Aspects to consider when sourcing products are: cost, shipping lead times, reliability, and convenience.

Aliexpress

Aliexpress is the first place I would consider when figuring out where to buy products to sell on Amazon. Aliexpress is a company from Alibaba that launched in 2009. The look and feel of the site is very similar to Amazon.com or any other ecommerce site. Many of the listings provide free shipping and you are able to purchase many of the same products. It is a great starting point for someone who has never purchased products internationally because you do not need to deal with anything related to customs and you are able to test more products for what you should be selling on Amazon.

Alibaba

If you have bigger goals and are ready to jump into the importing, I suggest checking out Alibaba.com. Alibaba is a network of suppliers from around the world but mainly in China and asian countries. The way this site works is you are able to message suppliers back and forth through their messaging network or through email. The advantages of Alibaba include: cheapest prices due to the economies of scale and cheap labor from foreign companies, higher degree of customization if you want a private label logo or packaging, and the greatest selection of possible products. The disadvantages to going through Alibaba include: time it takes to talk with a supplier and actually order the product due to time differences if you are in different timezones and challenges associated with logistics and importing. Being able to go directly to the supplier allows for individuals and small businesses to compete alongside large retailers and take advantage of the globalized economy.

Domestic Supplier

Looking at your own country’s suppliers is another way to find where to buy products to sell on Amazon. The advantage of finding a solid U.S. supplier is that they are easy to communicate with. You would be able to pick up the phone and talk with someone directly if any issues arise. Unfortunately, from what I have seen, U.S. manufacturers are much more expensive.

Make Your Own

A newer trend in online selling has been for ‘makers’ or people who make and sell their own product. The main marketplace for people who make their own products is Etsy, but it can be very lucrative to be selling on both channels.

Retail Arbitrage

Retail Arbitrage is another way you can find to buy products to sell on Amazon. I am not a fan of this method because it is not scaleable. In retail arbitrage you go to physical stores such as Target, Best Buy, and Walmart to find clearance items that have been marked down to a point where they sell for greater on Amazon. This is great for those just getting started selling on Amazon because you are able to see the first hand the process on how to sell.

This post shared where to buy products to sell on Amazon. If there are any other places that I missed, please share in the comments below.