How do I find a foreign Manufacturer?

[dwilliams1911]

Hello I am in an African American Fraternity which will be having it's 100 year anniversary next year. I have an idea for a product that I think will sell and I feel it can be produced overseas for a low wholesale price but how do I go about finding an overseas manufacturer?

Does anyone know any companies or how the process should work?

[Sven]

More details required.
Kind of product, materials, quantities. Next year is very soon for overseas manufacturing, especially if you have no contacts and no experience...

[FXFlyboy]

www.alibaba.com for mainly chinese manufacturers.

Good luck

[nataliejoy68]

I will be in the same position ... am currently organising testing for my muse but if all goes to plan I will need to organise the manufacturing of felt lined canvas covers for furniture. I have heard of Alibaba before. Would this be the best option? or are there others in India or other parts that would be better? Would love to hear from somebody with advice in this area.

[dwilliams1911]

The product is basically a wall fixture nothing complex just some shaped plastics layered on top of each other with a red and white color scheme. Quantities? I am thinking about 500. As for next year being too soon that's understandable but it's better to pose the question and get some type of input than sit around wondering if the idea could take on any type of traction.

Any input is greatly appreciated.

[Sven]

That sounds more like a job for a giftware wholesaler that can customise that foreign manufacturing. 500 is a very small number for a manufacturer, especially if it needs to be plastic.

It seems to me that sourcing it locally is the way to go.

[DrummerDave]

The product is basically a wall fixture nothing complex just some shaped plastics layered on top of each other with a red and white color scheme. Quantities? I am thinking about 500. As for next year being too soon that's understandable but it's better to pose the question and get some type of input than sit around wondering if the idea could take on any type of traction.

Any input is greatly appreciated.

+1 on Alibaba.

[jenspeter]

Hi to find manufacturer overseas it requires good contact and influence. It will be difficult to find good manufacturer overseas

[TimW]

alibaba.com and globalsources.com (full disclosure, I worked for them from 2000-2004) are both online directories of companies in Asia (mostly) that manufacture items for OEM clients. OEM means Original Equipment Manufacturer. Essentially, when a company has their name/logo on the item, that's OEM. Think Sears/Kmart/Wal-Mart and their corporate-branded products (Craftsman for Sears, Members Mark for Wal-Mart's SAM'S Club).

Any of these companies can be contacted, but remember, their job is to make large quantities of something for a cheap price for a large OEM customer. This is more than 1, 2, 100, or even 500 items. We're talking, usually, of THOUSANDS of units, shipping by the container-load.

You're not going to get 100 widgets made for their lowest price so you can mark it up 5 or 6 times. That will not happen, so don't waste your time, or their time.

Instead, you find a company that will make your widgets in small quantities. You pay the higher price, and you make less money. BUT, it gets you products with less hassle, and now you can further test your market assumptions about how well your "muse" will work.

If you sell them all, great...re-order from THAT SAME SUPPLIER. If you sell out again, great. Do it again. If you sell out that third time, THEN you can probably consider having the items made from a company you find on Alibaba or GlobalSources.

Of course, finding the right company on there is a different topic/thread altogether.

[kamakiri]

Tim is right on here. I want to echo his advice as well and say that using a foreign manufacturer is like using a sledge hammer to kill a fly. It is more expensive, harder to use, and usually you will miss.

There are literally hundreds of fraternity supply companies looking for a guy like you to buy their personalized products. There are even more companies who will make personalized items, like glasses, flasks, notebooks, folders, shot glasses,...

What is the item you are looking at making?

[nataliejoy68]

Thats great advice on sourcing things locally whilst in the early stages. Does anybody know of a website/service like Craigslist or Alibaba where you can post jobs for AUSTRALIAN manufacturers?

[dwilliams1911]

Thanks everyone for the information. I have been searching for smaller vendors to produce the product and haven't had any luck so far but I'm still looking. I have managed to get the ball rolling for a Apple Application. Maybe Tim can put together a section on the site where members can collaborate on small scale business or product ideas and get them to the market. One of my issues is that my peers aren't willing to take action to create products and launch ideas. I know that means I'm associating with the wrong people and trust me I stay away from them as much as possible but I think a lot of people have a hard time managing risk and are affraid to take that first step.

[TimW]

Thats great advice on sourcing things locally whilst in the early stages. Does anybody know of a website/service like Craigslist or Alibaba where you can post jobs for AUSTRALIAN manufacturers?

I know that Global Sources used to list companies in Latin America, Asia (not just China), Europe and, I think, Australia. You should be able to search them or Alibaba specifically for country-of-origin, but it's been 5 years since I was involved with this stuff.