So you've finally decided what industry and product you want to focus on. Now we need to source our chosen product. For example sake, I'm going to use false lashes as my chosen product throughout this course. The lashes industry has taken storm and grown rapidly over the last few years and is expected to be worth 1.6 billion dollars by 2025. My research and information tells me that the lash industry is highly profitable and a good investment as it is steadily growing with a high demand and a huge potential for unique products.

I am going to focus on sourcing cruelty free lashes which have the appearance and feel of mink lashes. I know my target audience will be: people who want cruelty free lashes, make up artists, vegans, individuals who wear glamorous false lashes.

Where should I look for my products?

Online:

China is the leading manufacturer of the world. As a result, China is where most companies source or manufacture their products.

Thankfully, the internet has made it very easy to source suppliers.

Advantages of choosing a supplier online:

• The process can be quick and straight forward.
• You can liaise with suppliers via email or WhatsApp.
• It's free to use online resources.
• Large number of suppliers to choose from.

Disadvantages of choosing a supplier online:

• You risk being scammed.
• Your supplier may be a slow communicator.
• You may spend a lot of money on samples because the product is not as described by the supplier.

The 3 leading websites to source suppliers are:

Ali Baba

Ali Express

Global Sources

Visit suppliers?:

Alternatively, you could travel to the country of your supplier to visit factories, which is the option I opted for when I was starting my company.

I chose to travel to China because why I wanted to cut out the middle men and build personal relationships with my suppliers. I also wanted to be able to physically see, feel and choose materials so my products could carry exclusivity and be produced exactly the way I want.

I was also able to see the manufacturing process of my products which was very helpful and informative.

The three places I travelled to with China to visit factories are:

Dongguan

Guangzhou

Zhengzhou

I would suggest travelling with somebody if possible, especially if it is a country you are not familiar with. Or you could hire an agent to help book meetings or simply help with deals and language.

Advantages of visiting suppliers:

• You cut out the middle men so can build personal and long lasting relationships with your suppliers.
• You save money and time testing samples.
• You can witness and have an input in the manufacturing process.
• You are able to have full creative control of production.
• You can negotiate prices a lot easier.
• You avoid being scammed.

Disadvantages of visiting suppliers:

• Can be a costly affair if you are travelling.
• You may not find any suitable suppliers.
• There may be a language barrier which makes it difficult to communicate.