Product Sourcing for Private Label Question

nortong

Sourcing products for resale is probably the biggest hurdle in setting up an Amazon or Ebay business. I would much prefer to source from the UK as I feel that the higher prices here are more than offset by the perceived worry and hassle of buying from China or other far-east country. Made worse as I want to private label my stuff.

Am I right in this assumption or does the experience of the established Amazon sellers here dictate otherwise? I am stuck in a state of frozen inertia wondering which is the best course to take. I suppose what I am really driving at is, are there any sellers on this forum who are finding success by exclusively sourcing here in the UK?

As a side thought, would buying from China be easier using a third party fulfilment agent? I think reading all these 'how to' courses on selling end up as 'now I don't know how to' (King Hell )

RFW

nortong wrote: »

I suppose what I am really driving at is, are there any sellers on this forum who are finding success by exclusively sourcing here in the UK?

Yes. My main product I can't really get overseas, it is mostly manufactured in the UK.
I've also dealt with a few companies over the years that are easy enough to get a living from. If anything the Chinese markets can be more competitive with Chinese sellers sending items direct for less than the UK postage costs.
I also source a different product range in China that I pack in the UK. It's more or less a growing sideline at the moment. I've never used an agent, early on I messed around with buying a few items on Aliexpress and Ebay and one of the better sellers has their own website.
Another supplier I found following a product label.
Chinese companies are hit and miss so you need to land on a good one. I found one that had the right products and prices but would send items short or just wrong, eg order 16 blue widgets and receive 10 red and 4 green widgets. All my earlier purchases were small orders to test what I would get.

nortong

RFW wrote: »

Yes. My main product I can't really get overseas, it is mostly manufactured in the UK.
I've also dealt with a few companies over the years that are easy enough to get a living from. If anything the Chinese markets can be more competitive with Chinese sellers sending items direct for less than the UK postage costs.
I also source a different product range in China that I pack in the UK. It's more or less a growing sideline at the moment. I've never used an agent, early on I messed around with buying a few items on Aliexpress and Ebay and one of the better sellers has their own website.
Another supplier I found following a product label.
Chinese companies are hit and miss so you need to land on a good one. I found one that had the right products and prices but would send items short or just wrong, eg order 16 blue widgets and receive 10 red and 4 green widgets. All my earlier purchases were small orders to test what I would get.

Oh good, I was really interested to read your comments. Certainly in the near future I shall concentrate on home suppliers.