When the term “manufacturing hub” is mentioned, the first country that comes to peoples’ minds is China.

And the country still possesses major competitive advantages over its counterparts, even with the rising wages.

However, the rising uncertainty caused by the U.S tariff rise against China, considering other alternatives, is not a bad idea.
China Sourcing Alternatives
This is exactly why we will be comparing Made in China vs. Alibaba in the article.

A lot of nascent companies in South-East Asia have joined the competition in a bid to become the next manufacturing hub in the world.

The top five countries on this list are India, Malaysia, Vietnam, Indonesia, and Thailand; they are called the “Mighty Five.”

These different alternatives have their advantages as well as disadvantages. So, you have to put in the time and effort to find out which works best for you. In the section below, let’s take a look at the advantages of sourcing from China.

Advantages of Sourcing From China
Lower Costs
This is probably known by everyone, but this can be hampered by the high shipping fees that are encountered by importers.

Generally, manufacturing in China is cheaper. Before you neglect the importance of manufacturing your products at a lower cost, we would recommend that you speak to someone who has worked in retail.

Undoubtedly, that individual will tell you that discounted costs mostly result in higher sales.

However, they cannot compare with big companies who care less about reducing their prices because those companies have put hundreds of millions of dollars into marketing, which helps position their brand as a luxury product.
China Sourcing Alternatives
Therefore, the low manufacturing cost in China is a major appealing factor as to why you should use the suppliers there. Some other advantages of manufacturing in China include:

Better Service
Chinese manufacturers are more likely to render better services from the outset if you are a small startup. We have personally experienced a slight difference in the service provided by domestic manufacturers we have partnered with.  

Partnering with a Chinese manufacturing facility means that you get to enjoy reduced production costs without any reduction in product quantity. This is a major reason why companies and entrepreneurs put up with the disadvantages of manufacturing in China.

Increased Output in Less Time
Most local factories around the world have a limited capacity and time, but the case is different from Chinese manufacturers. Cheap labor plays a crucial role in this.  People can be hired to complete volume-demanding production with less money than domestic facilities do.

However, you must consider certain ethical factors when it concerns the low labor costs in China. Also, not every facility is exploitative; if you research, you can find the good ones.

Easy Market Expansion Opportunities
Goods produced in china have an easy and accessible market. Outsourcing companies offer more services than overseeing the manufacturing process by processes such as establishing supply chain and local marketing. They hire local employees and acquire equipment to support their ventures.

Shipping goods from overseas isn’t necessary because the factories are already in China. Accessibility of over 1.3 billion potential consumers, you have reliable returns. This is a big advantage if you have plans to enlarge your market and selling your product abroad.

Reducing the risks
When sourcing products from China, a well-managed and reliable sourcing process can assist you in curbing and managing the potential risks in sourcing, since you will be personally involved in the sourcing process, the risks of fraud, untimely deliveries, and undue profits can be reduced to a great deal.

Freedom to Choose Factory Suitable To Make Products
While working with a local importer, you don’t have the opportunity to choose your manufacturer. As regards the usual working process, all that is required of you is to inform your supplier of the specific product you want.

If their factories are able to meet up your requirements, you will surely get your product; otherwise, you will try harder. This is not only necessary in mass production but also in the processing of creating your other china businesses.

Every manufacturer possesses its own sets of strengths and weaknesses. Thus, it is very much possible that the manufacturer with whom a supplier is working with does not possess the correct combination of strengths and reliability required.

This might lead to a compromise on the desired quality, timely delivery, and services, meaning the chances of getting the desired quality is slim.

However, if you source your products directly from the factories in China, you get the freedom to choose from a variety of factories.

In fact, if you have contacts with the right kind of people, you will be introduced to various factories dealing with the manufacturing of your product. Thus, there’s the freedom to move to another factory if you feel the current factories can’t offer you all you desire.

Thus, when directly sourcing from China, you get to even choose which products are more appropriate for production in a particular factory. You can choose the products that are low in price, sensitive, and even tougher to make. There is a chance of choice in sourcing from China, unlimited choice.

Made in China VS Alibaba VS Global Sources

China Sourcing Alternatives

Made in China
Made-in-China.com is a leading comprehensive third-party B2B e-commerce platform in China.

It’s developed and operated by Focus Technology Co., Ltd. Founded in 1998 and dedicated to serving the global trade field, providing high-quality Chinese products and suppliers information for global trade.

Recently, Made-in-China.com is becoming a world-leading B2B portal, specializing in bridging the gap between global buyers and quality Chinese suppliers.

Pros

Lower Production Cost
High Output in Less Time
Quality of service

Cons

Language Difficulty
Shipping
High Minimum Order Quantities

Alibaba
Alibaba started in 1999, bridging the gap between Chinese factories and suppliers and its global retailers. Since its birth, it has made tremendous growth topping China’s rapidly expanding middle class.

Their utilization of the Internet has created one of the world’s biggest Web-business. Goldminers and investors are hungry to jump on IPOs, like Alibaba’s, that have run so parallel to China’s rise. Alibaba was founded when only 9 million people in China used the Internet. There was limited patronage.

Just last year, the number has gone to 600 million. Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. is a known massive, elaborate, and wildly profitable company that is ahead in online trading in China: Eighty percent of the stuff sold online goes through an Alibaba site.

Like eBay and other online marketplaces, Alibaba isn’t the sole owner of the stuff that it sells on its Web site. It provides a platform for business owners like us to sell our products. Note though that apart from taking a cut on each sale that we make, they also charge us for extra adverts. 

Pros

Low Startup Costs
Minimal Risk
Flexible Location
No Inventory
Low Overhead Costs
Sell Unlimited Products

Cons

Highly Competitive
Reduced Control
Shipping Time
Complicated Refund/Return Process

Global Sources
Global Sources has a spanning experience of 45 years’ on international trade, and they offer a reliable online directory for suppliers. A platform similar to Alibaba, and they go as far as organizing trade shows in the continent of Asia.

A look at the difference between Alibaba vs. Global Sources vs. Made in China?

Generally, we believe it is the quality of suppliers on Global Sources that make them better than the other two. They have more exportation experience, so they are likely to understand your needs better.

Furthermore, you will find less suspicious factories than on Alibaba and Made in China. In fact, a lot of big-box stores utilize Global Sources as part of their sourcing strategy.

Conversely, these suppliers expect more from you. Usually, they will inquire about your company background as well as your purchase volumes. This is fair because they know if you are the best fit for them.

Therefore, using Global Sources may involve more initial effort to breed trust and get straightforward responses from suppliers.

A lot of listed suppliers in the Global Sources’ online directory also attend offline fairs to showcase themselves, and this builds up their credibility. They do not mind investing time and money into buying booth spaces, so get more involved in the game than an online middleman who can disappear anytime.

We are not saying that Global Sources doesn’t have any trading companies. Trading companies and middlemen are on Global Sources; however, they identify themselves, which makes it more transparent than other platforms.

Global Sources also offers a better user experience for buyers.

Made in China Alternatives: Other Ways to Source Products from China
LeelineSourcing
Establish in Hong Kong in 2009; this platform started working with small and medium scale businesses. However, the company has grown over the years and currently specializes in product sourcing.

My company has helped thousands of small businesses source the best products worldwide. Allowing them to expand and eventually grow through our guidance.

We offers comprehensive services that cover all the necessary requirements to source from China. My team of professionals whose painstaking efforts have been putting smiles on the face of importers since their existence.

Quality control inspections
Though a good working relationship is the best way to start with your supplier, you must never overlook occasional quality control checks. This is to ensure that the quality of manufactured products meets market standards.

With this, you avoid future costly mistakes. Studies have shown that problems identified later in the production process are costlier than those caught in the initial stage.

Final Thoughts on Profitable Products to Import from Made in China
With the advancement in technology and the development of the world at large, individuals are seeking ways to make trade easier, and we have developed a level of unwavering trust for these suppliers we don’t see.

Made in China has helped build this trust by giving assurance and on-time delivery. They have remained reliable regardless of many constraints. Now individuals can trade online, importing anything and everything.

The profitable products to import from Made in China vs. Alibaba are clothes, shoes, and electronic material, amongst many others.

Due to the impact, these online stores have had for long, reliability is assured on online trading to a huge extent, but one still needs to be very careful.
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