With the development of the Internet, finding lingerie suppliers in China no longer requires physically traveling to China. There are now many online methods to connect with them. While Alibaba is the platform most people have heard of, finding the right partners isn’t easy, especially for beginners who might find the Minimum Order Quantities (MOQs) on Alibaba too high.
So, I’ll introduce 4 methods beyond Alibaba for finding lingerie suppliers in China online. These methods cater to businesses of various scales, with budgets ranging from $100 to over $100,000.
Finding Lingerie Suppliers on AliExpress and DHgate
Introduction to AliExpress and DHgate
For small-scale operators or those looking to import small quantities from China, AliExpress and DHgate are ideal choices. These platforms are designed for small batch buyers and are as easy to use as shopping online.
You don’t need frequent communication with suppliers; the entire purchasing process can be completed with just a few clicks.
International shipping costs are automatically calculated when choosing quantities or shipping solutions. There’s no need to understand complex import-export procedures, as all parcels are shipped via China Post Air Mail or international couriers like FedEx, DHL. If the received product quality doesn’t meet expectations, you can easily get a refund.
Comparison of AliExpress and DHgate
AliExpress is suitable for orders below $100, even individual purchases of single items. In most cases, there’s almost no difference in price per unit between buying 1 and 100 of the same product. DHgate, on the other hand, is suitable for orders ranging from $100 to $1,000. Many DHgate suppliers set different prices based on purchase quantities, such as 10, 50, 100, or 200 pieces.
When the MOQs of suppliers on Alibaba are too high and the wholesale prices on AliExpress are too expensive, DHgate is a platform worth considering. It’s particularly suitable for small business operators, especially owners of street retail stores.
Another difference between the two is that due to being under the Alibaba Group, AliExpress has more suppliers and a wider range of product categories compared to DHgate. Alibaba encourages suppliers to migrate all their products from Taobao to AliExpress, using tools to translate product descriptions from Chinese to English.
DHgate, as an independent company, sometimes cannot find the exact same products as on AliExpress.
However, neither platform is suitable for rapidly expanding enterprises, as they are mostly wholesalers rather than manufacturers. They typically purchase products from different types of manufacturers or trading companies, making it difficult to ensure consistent product quality across different batches.
If you plan to operate specific products long-term and expect to purchase the same products for thousands of dollars over the next few months, these two small batch wholesale platforms may not be suitable for you.
Finding Lingerie Suppliers on Alibaba
If you have a budget of thousands of dollars and plan to quickly expand your long-term business, undoubtedly you need to use Alibaba or similar B2B trading platforms to find reliable manufacturers or trading companies as your suppliers.
Alibaba is like an online trade show where you can choose suppliers by viewing product photos and descriptions.
Before placing an order, you need to communicate with suppliers via email or Alibaba Trade Messenger to understand different purchase quantities or how to customize products with your own designs or packaging.
Suppliers will help you create invoices and contracts. After receiving your payment, they will start manufacturing brand new products and then arrange shipping to your country. This is the common process of traditional trade business.
Two Main Types of Suppliers on Alibaba
There are two main types of suppliers on Alibaba:
- Manufacturers
- Trading companies
Manufacturers produce and sell products directly to foreign buyers. Trading companies do not manufacture products but purchase them from their cooperating manufacturers and resell them to foreign buyers.
Trading companies (such as lingerie sourcing)often choose manufacturers without English-speaking salespeople, and their prices should be more competitive. Finding such manufacturers on Alibaba is not easy. This means that even if you purchase through Alibaba’s trading companies, the prices will not be too high, and trading companies can provide more professional and efficient services.
Two Ways to Find Suppliers on Alibaba
You can search for product keywords directly and contact suppliers one by one, or use RFQ to submit purchase inquiries and let the most suitable suppliers contact you.
Transactions on Alibaba
When placing an order, you can send funds to suppliers via wire transfer to complete the transaction, similar to traditional trade. Although this sounds insecure because there is no third-party company to protect you.
Alternatively, you can choose to use Alibaba’s Trade Assurance to handle transactions. If the products are not received on time or the product quality is poor, you can get a refund through Alibaba.
Using Google Search to Find Suppliers
Some may wonder why B2B trading platforms like Alibaba can aggregate so many suppliers?
This is because they have a large amount of traffic from potential buyers.
Alibaba is so well-known because people often choose it as their first option when looking for suppliers. They spent 20 years and countless funds building this powerful brand.
Another significant reason is that Alibaba gets a lot of traffic from Google, including organic search results and paid ads.
Alibaba sells this buyer traffic to suppliers, who compete with each other for qualified buyer inquiries. In short, Alibaba profits by acquiring buyer traffic and reselling it to suppliers.
In recent years, competition among suppliers on Alibaba has become very intense, and the cost of obtaining qualified buyer inquiries has also become very expensive.
Therefore, some people realize that they can also use Google ads or Google SEO to obtain more potential customers at a lower cost without having to pay high fees. In addition, by leveraging ecommerce SEO strategies, they can also gain some organic search traffic.
Using Social Media and Trade Shows to Find Suppliers
Social media platforms like LinkedIn and Instagram are not only good tools for building brands and connecting with customers but also powerful platforms for finding suppliers. On these platforms, you can find manufacturers or trading companies, contact them directly, and learn about their products and services.
Trade shows are another important way to find suppliers. China hosts many professional clothing and lingerie exhibitions, such as the Guangzhou International Lingerie Fair, Shanghai International Lingerie Fair, etc. By participating in these exhibitions, you can meet multiple suppliers face-to-face, inspect product samples on-site, and build reliable business relationships.
Choosing the Method That's Right for You
Choosing the right method depends on your budget, business scale, and needs. For startups or small-scale operators, AliExpress and DHgate provide quick and convenient options. If you have a larger budget and are looking for long-term partnerships, then Alibaba is a better choice. You can find suppliers at lower costs through Google search and social media, and trade shows provide you with face-to-face business opportunities.
Regardless of the method you choose, finding lingerie suppliers in China requires patience and caution. Make sure to fully understand the advantages and disadvantages of each method before making decisions, and communicate and compare with multiple suppliers. Establishing a long-term stable supply chain relationship is crucial to the success of your business, so do not overlook the important step of selecting the right suppliers.