China used to be the premier location for sourcing products. Still, rising labor costs and increased tariffs make manufacturers look for alternatives to China. Trump’s 25% tariff on imported Chinese goods raised the costs of sourcing products in China. The rising wages in large Chinese cities also make it hard for investors to profit while maintaining their factories on Chinese soil.

Alibaba is the standard for sourcing in China, but now so much in India. So what are the best Alibaba Alternatives for India? Sourcing Hub lists the best resources for sourcing suppliers, manufacturers, and products. This guide will include tips for finding wholesalers in India and manufacturers. We give a total overview of importing from India for businesses of all sizes.

Global Sources Vs. Alibaba, which is the best resource to find products overseas? We look at the two most popular options, Global Sources and Alibaba, to determine the best supplier database to connect with suppliers. We look at what is best for your FBA business, Private label, e-commerce, or retail business.

A production manual is a set of instructions you present to a manufacturer in a factory to ensure your product gets made at a high-quality standard. Writing a production manual is easy! The production manual can be simple instructions written in Microsoft Office or Adobe Illustrator. We’ve outlined a 5-step guideline for writing a production manual below. Welcome to our official guide on creating a production manual for a product. There are language barriers to manufacturing products in nations like China and Vietnam, so your instruction manual has to be concise and easy to follow for the manufacturing team.
Our step-by-step guide will focus on the key software tools, writing instructions, and methods needed to convert spec sheets and tech specs into a top-tier product manual that factory owners can follow.

Creating a clothing tech pack for your clothing project requires time and commitment to bring concept ideas to life.
Suppose you want to create a clothing brand. In that case, you will spend hours developing illustration ideas by gathering inspiration and creating mood boards and hand-drawn drawings. But when it gets to turn those designs into real clothing, your factory will need more than just that imaginative data collection.

China has been a significant global apparel and garment industry player for almost two decades. However, as part of being a member of the World Trade Organization, Chinese garment and clothing production and sales have improved significantly, primarily due to increased western industry. With more than 100,000 suppliers, the Chinese textile industry is enormous and employs more than 10 million people. In 2012, China manufactured 43.6 billion pieces of clothing worth US$ 153.2 billion for export.

Do you want to know what it takes to create a successful clothing line business in fashion? With the competitiveness, the uncertainty, and even the coercion of the fashion world, you may be afraid that as an outsider with no expertise, you may not be able to launch your brand of clothes.
Starting a brand of clothes can be an excellent way for an entrepreneur to create a new business. Suppose you’re trying to create a basic line of printed garments or would like to develop a whole range of cut & sew featuring different items and decorative additions. In that case, this article will teach you how to begin a clothing line. Depending on the sort of clothing line you choose to create, there are likely to be several different steps associated with the process. The longer you want to be interested in clothing manufacturers and developing your line, the more time, commitment, and resources you’ll have to spend.

Electronics is a major Vietnamese trade resource. The country is a main contributor to the electronics import and export market. It is known for its stability, affordability, and attractive tax incentives.
Because Vietnam offers so many benefits in the electronic industry, it’s a good source for businesses looking for wholesale products. But navigating trade in a foreign country comes with its share of challenges. This article will give you a breakdown of Vietnam’s electric manufacturing industry so you know what to expect.

In the complex tapestry of international trade and manufacturing, sourcing agents stand out as crucial facilitators, bridging the gap between global businesses and local markets. As companies increasingly look beyond their borders to enhance their product lines, reduce costs, and tap into new markets, the expertise of sourcing agents becomes indispensable. This article delves into the multifaceted role of sourcing agents, highlighting how they operate as the linchpins in the intricate world of global sourcing.

Check out our step-by-step guide on Barcodes for Amazon FBA. FBA Barcodes are critical to ensuring that Amazon can receive and stock your FBA product. You must understand what type of barcode you need and how to apply it. We cover everything you want to know!

If you are selling on Amazon, you must know that you have to have a barcode so that amazon can track your products in its system. Amazon is very strict about what barcodes can be used and how they are applied. So please read this guide in full so that your product arrives in Amazon’s fulfillment center ready to sell.

In short, OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturing) is when a factory makes a product based on your design. ODM (Original Design Manufacturing) is when a factory has already designed a product, and you purchase it with minimal changes, such as adding your logo. Contract Manufacturing is when you design a completely new product from scratch and hire a factory to build it to your exact specifications.

Let me break each of these down based on what I have actually seen on factory floors, in negotiations, and through the hard lessons my clients and I have learned over the past decade.

Incoterms are created by the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) to dictate when and how a shipment will be handed off between a buyer and a supplier. The ICC updated the terms into what is called Incoterm 2020. Incoterms also define who is expected to pay the insurance and when the risk transfer happens between the buyer and the seller. This is the first time that the Incoterms drafting group has included representatives from China.

Incoterms are created by the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) to dictate when and how a shipment is to be handed off between a buyer and a supplier. The ICC updated the terms into what is called Incoterm 2020. Incoterms also define who is expected to pay the insurance and when the transfer of risk happens between the buyer and the seller. This is the first time that the Incoterms drafting group has included representatives from China.

Because home décor is so essential, it is very much in demand in retail markets. Therefore, businesses that sell home goods need to feed this demand. Many do so by sourcing goods from Vietnam.

Vietnam is an excellent source of home goods and other items because the country has a low cost of living. This helps them maintain affordable rates for labor and goods. In addition, many retailers buy goods from Vietnam in bulk and resell them in their home markets to profit considerably.

Vietnam is the world's third-largest garment exporter, with textile and apparel exports reaching $44 billion in 2024 and an industry target of $47 to $48 billion for 2025. For activewear specifically, the country produces for nearly every major global sportswear brand, from Nike and Adidas to Lululemon and On Running. If you're looking for an activewear manufacturer in Vietnam, this guide covers the factories worth contacting, what to look for during vetting, typical MOQs, and the step-by-step process we use with our own clients.

I've been running Cosmo Sourcing from Ho Chi Minh City since 2014, and activewear is one of our most-requested product categories. We've sourced activewear for everyone from first-time brand founders ordering 500 pieces to established labels placing five-figure runs. What I can tell you from that experience is that Vietnam's activewear manufacturing capability is genuinely world-class, but finding the right factory for your specific product and budget takes work.

Vietnam is known for being one of the world’s biggest suppliers of scrubs and work uniforms. It offers low-cost production and labor prices, making it an affordable source for medical practices and suppliers. This article will look at the scrubs industry in Vietnam and provide information to help you find the medical apparel you are looking for.

A trading company is a middleman that buys products from factories and resells them to international buyers at a markup. If you're sourcing products overseas, understanding the difference between trading companies, wholesalers, and actual manufacturers is one of the most important things you can learn, because who you buy from directly impacts your price, your product quality, and how much control you have over production.

I've been in the sourcing industry since 2012, and I've watched countless first-time buyers get burned because they didn't understand this distinction. Let me walk you through what I've learned.

Want to save potentially thousands of dollars on your next project? Check out these tips from our expert sourcing professionals. Like most people, you want to save as much money as possible when you buy your products. By now, you should know that the quoted price is very rarely the final price. Once you’ve narrowed down your list of suppliers to the final few (3 to 8 is a good number), it’s time to get serious about negotiation and getting the final details, and most importantly, price, figured out. In Chinese society, negotiations are expected and are part of business norms. But be warned that many factories have years, if not decades, of negotiating experience. We made this guide to give you a leg up as you prepare to negotiate with your suppliers. 

Goods and products made from bamboo are one of the top products exported from Vietnam. Bamboo is grass and, as a result, can be harvested without killing the plant. In addition, it is fast-growing and one of the most eco-friendly and environmentally conscious materials. Bamboo is native to Vietnam, and for centuries Vietamens artisans have made products ranging from houses, furniture, bowls, and much more from bamboo. However, as the demand for eco-friendly products increases, Vietnam is one of the best countries to source Bamboo goods.

According to the General Department of Forestry, Vietnam's bamboo and rattan exports totaled $474 million in 2019, up 44.4% from the previous year. Vietnam's rattan, bamboo, and sedge goods are primarily sold to European Union countries, accounting for 31.44% of total exports, up 35.36% from the previous year.