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6 Steps to Find Reliable Artificial Plant
Suppliers in China

Finding a trusted artificial plant wholesale supplier is the ultimate solution for your business. It is not only about finding deals but also about building long-term relationships. If you are looking for the best suppliers of artificial plants from China, this article is for you!

China is the leading manufacturing marketplace of artificial plants. And it is the complete solution to finding your partner. Chinese suppliers will help you generate a high turnover. The low-cost raw materials enable companies to gain more benefits. The more outstanding manufacturing capabilities ensure that factories can deal with mass production.

This economic benefit seems perfect for you. But, you can do careful research when choosing your suppliers. Finding a Chinese supplier is easy. Finding a reliable and trusted supplier in China is harder. But, with a few tips, you can find the best artificial plant suppliers. 

 

Search Suppliers on business-to-business platforms and the InternetThe business-to-business platform connects with businesses to make the transactions in bulk. There are Alibaba, Made in China, Global Sources, AliExpress, and DHgate.

  1. Alibaba:

Alibaba is the most used platform for searching for suppliers in China. This marketplace enables you to speak to the manufacturers. 

Are they reliable suppliers?

To create a safe buying environment, Alibaba lists the verified profiles of suppliers. It will help you to check whether the suppliers are reliable or not.

Another method is the Alibaba Trade Assurance. 

Alibaba Trade Assurance is the key performance indicator. It protects you until the product arrives and meets your expectations. Alibaba will always guarantee your money is safe.

  1. Made in China & Global Sources

Made In China is one of the leading Chinese wholesale B2B platforms. This business-to-business website is a bridge between suppliers and importers worldwide. Like Alibaba, you can review the company profile listed with their products. 

The other marketplace you can go to is Global Sources. There is a wide range of B2B suppliers on this site. You can check the China Sourcing Reports on this site which show you an in-depth look at the suppliers. This website is also known for its trade shows in Hong Kong, where buyers and sellers can meet face to face.  

The large number of suppliers on Alibaba will make you go crazy. You can go to the Made in China and Global Sources for alternatives. These two platforms have more strict auditing standards and higher fees for members. So, the probability of finding a reliable supplier is also higher.

  1. AliExpress & DHgate

AliExpress is an offshoot of Alibaba for Chinese suppliers. Many buyers that buy with low MOQs use AliExpress.

DHgate is an online platform where buyers can find quality products at low MOQ. With the handling system on this site, the money goes to the seller when the buyer confirms receipt of goods. 

The MOQ on the two sites is small. If you start your business with small orders, you can visit AliExpress or DHgate. If you search for long-term partners, I will not recommend these two sites.

Except for the B2B platforms, internet searching is another choice for you.

With a simple google search, you can also find a list of Chinese suppliers with good reviews on the websites. Sourcing artificial plants supplier in China, you can dig a little deeper on the first page of Google. The websites will introduce you to many options of whom to contact. And you need to verify if the manufacturer is genuine or not.

  • Referrals

Word-of-mouth referral is the safest and easiest way when look for reliable results. These referrals are helpful because of the services they receive. And, you will receive the same experience. Thus, asking your network for supplier recommendations is a good way.

Asking for referrals will deliver better results than searching on the Internet. Your friend or colleague will recommend a good artificial plant supplier to you. You will have similar experiences. So, you can contact the professionals at your side to ask for recommendations. You can also join groups on Facebook, LinkedIn, and other online communities. Networks can help you reach people in this field who sell similar artificial plants.

  • Come to China for a visit.

It is the best way to find reliable suppliers – you will know well about the company if you visit it. You can negotiate the prices, payment terms, and delivery time with them face to face. Here are some practical methods when you visit China.

  1. Attend trade fairs

China organizes many import/export trade fairs where you can find various suppliers. There are two kinds of exhibitions in China. They are comprehensive exhibitions and professional exhibitions. The comprehensive exhibition is easy to understand. You can find a wide range of product categories at the fair. Canton Fair is one of the most popular comprehensive exhibitions in China. Canton Fair covers every industry. When attending this exhibition, you can collect the business cards of the suppliers. 

But, professional exhibitions only show single-category products. You can reach various suppliers in one product category at these exhibitions.

The global pandemic in 2020 has halted the global trade fair. The 127th Canton Fair still carried on as a virtual trade fair. It set forward a new path for international trade.

  1. Search from the marketplace

There are various marketplaces for different product categories in China. You can find many China wholesale suppliers online.

Guangdong, Zhejiang, Tianjin, and Hebei are four major marketplaces in China. If you want to find the right supplier, I recommend visiting these areas. Guangdong province is a high-end market. Zhejiang is the mid-market. Tianjin & Hebei is the low-end market.

No matter which markets you want to go to, here are some suggestions: 

  • Most suppliers don’t accept US dollars, only take RMB
  • Go with a competent interpreter to help you negotiate with the suppliers.
  •  Consult with the freight forwarder about import matters in advance.
  • You can find a local sourcing agent to help you complete the buy. And they can also arrange the delivery to your country. 
  1. Visit the Company or Factory 

Visiting the factory is the best way to verify the reliable suppliers – you can know much about them. You can negotiate prices, quality inspection, and delivery time face to face. 

When you visit a factory, you can pay attention to the plant size and the production lines. Sometimes, the factory is not in the same place as the office. 

As a part of the selection process, I recommend that you go to China and visit the suppliers.

  • Identify what you need.

Before making the decision, confirm what kinds of suppliers you want to deal with. Here, I elaborate on three kinds of suppliers.

  1. Factory

Manufacturers are the ultimate solution for all kinds of suppliers in the market. The artificial plant factory is always the supplier who will offer you the lowest price. There are two kinds of factories in China. The first manufacturers are those who don’t have their own international sales team. They sell their goods to foreigners through sourcing agents and trading companies. You can not find them on trading fairs or on Alibaba. The most important is that such factories have the best prices.

The second ones are those who have their own international sales team. They usually attend trade fairs in China and abroad. You can reach them through Alibaba or Google Search. 

The prices offered by the second ones are higher than the first ones. But, they are still lower than the prices of a trading company. 

  1. Trade company

Trading companies, also called middlemen, work with many factories. They can help you source products from different artificial plant factories. There are a lot of trading companies on Alibaba. Trading companies and factories have long-term cooperative relationships. So, you can get a small MOQ. You are looking for a supplier that offers more than one kind of artificial plant. Dealing with a trading company may be more suitable. 

  1. Sourcing agents

Sourcing agents pay more attention to their sourcing services. Sourcing agents can provide more services, including finding suppliers to deliver. A sourcing agent is the best choice if you want to buy different products.

 

  • Narrow down the list of suppliers you want to work with
  1. Company Overview

Check more in-depth information, such as business type, company size, and trading capacities. Learn the year established, the picture and videos of the company and products, R&D capacities, etc.

 

2, Certificates 

Verifying Chinese certificates is a good way to build trust with your supplier. Most experienced suppliers should be willing to provide them to you.

 

Ø Bank Account Certificate

This certification proves they are the real holders of the business bank account. Your payments to this account are going to that company. And, you can avoid your money going to an offshore account or a personal account.

 

Ø Foreign Trade Registration Certificate

Chinese companies need to apply for the “China Foreign Trade Registration Certificate.” It is necessary for the business of importing and exporting. It’s not required for all Chinese companies. Chinese suppliers without this qualification will use a trading company. Although it is not a problem, it is something to be aware of.

 

Ø Customs Registration Certificate

Suppliers in China will register with China Customs for this Certificate. They can make customs declarations with this certification. Many factories will own this Certificate. But many small companies will use a broker to assist with the process. It is still useful to request it for a better understanding of their capabilities.

 

  1.  What do they do for you?

Make sure they can provide the OEM and fast delivery service. They can accept factory audits and quality inspections. They can offer lower MOQ and quality assurance.

 

4, The Expertise and Communication Efficiency of their staff

Check if their staff can always reply to your inquiries with professional solutions. And, notice how long it will take to reply. The experienced staff has professional knowledge of the products. And they are always most of the time with higher English skills; they will be the ideal choice for you. 

 

5, Ask for Samples

Before placing the order, ask for a sample even if you have to pay for it. When you have a sample in your hands, you can confirm if the quality and styles match your expectation.

 

Many buyers may skip this part because they think it costs money and time. I will always suggest asking for a sample. It is an important process because it influences the quality of mass production.

 

6, Balance between quality and price

For the same products, you may get different quotes from different suppliers. Some quotations will be low. If the supplier offers a much lower price than others, you should pay attention to the quality. The recommendation is to choose the sellers with mainstream quotes. Do not focus on the price only. Take the price, quality, and service all into account. Buying at a lower price may benefit you in the very short term. Considering the long term, it may reduce your profit in the end. 

 

— Verify the best supplier for a long-term relationship

 

1, Responsibility

A responsible supplier wants to establish long-term cooperation with you. No matter how big or small orders you place, he will always be positive. The attitude to deal with problems also reflects whether a supplier is reliable. Reliable suppliers know the win-win truth. And they are willing to take Responsibility for their mistakes.

 

2, Flexible MOQ

Since most suppliers are factories or manufacturers, they will need you to buy at a MOQ. For your first order, you may want to buy at a lower MOQ. If the MOQ required by suppliers is large for you, you can negotiate with them. The MOQ can be flexible if you discuss it, though. The MOQ is different from supplier to supplier. Find a supplier with a flexible MOQ that matches your desired quantity.

 

3, Fast Delivery time

Reliable suppliers can always keep you informed after you place the order. So, you will know well about the production status. Larger suppliers have larger stocks and better efficiency in making delivery fast. They have mass production capabilities and mass production capacity. If you don’t have a forwarder, they can also arrange an experienced freight agent for you. The forwarder will show you the fast and cost-effective shipping method.

 

4, Conduct factory audit

You can tell your potential suppliers that you’ll arrange a factory audit before you place an order. And, you need their production inspected before shipment. If the supplier makes excuses or refuses to accept the audit, that’s a red flag! A factory audit is a tool to check a supplier’s production capability. There are quality control agencies that offer inspection services according to your needs.

 

5, Better payment terms

Your first order is always at a small amount on Alibaba. You can arrange your payment through trade assurance. When you meet problems with product quality, Trade Assurance will help you.

 

Steady cash flow will keep your business growing fast, especially for e-commerce businesses. So, you can discuss with the suppliers for longer payment terms to improve your cash flow. It may be a challenge to get their support at the beginning. If you have made orders more than three times, it will be a chance to ask for a longer payment term from your supplier.

 

Reliable suppliers will make your business successful. This article shows you the way to find reliable suppliers and avoid some common problems. Hope it is helpful for you.

 

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