Sourcing guide · US sellers and resellers
How to find a supplier for your products in 2026
· Nolyn research team
This guide is for people who sell physical products: Amazon and TikTok Shop sellers, resellers and small shops buying stock. It covers where suppliers are, what each channel asks of you, how to check a supplier before you pay, and what changed in 2025–2026 for goods shipped from China to the US. The 1688 figures come from our own data pull, not from a survey.
How do I find a supplier for my product?
Pick the channel by your first order: US wholesalers, wholesale marketplaces and trade shows for small, fast orders; Alibaba.com or 1688 (usually through a sourcing agent) for factory prices. Then ask for samples, compare landed cost, and pay with protection. In 660 1688 listings we pulled on October 24, 2026, 56% of those that showed a price ladder started at 1 piece, and 81% of those that named a business type were manufacturers.
Where to find suppliers: six channels compared
The right channel depends less on the product than on your order size, how fast you need stock and how much checking you can do. A reseller testing ten units needs a different supplier from a private-label seller ordering 1,000.
| Channel | Best for | First order | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|---|
| US wholesalers and distributors | Branded goods to resell, fast restocks | Set by each wholesaler; often a dollar minimum | Brand authorization on Amazon; thin margins on branded goods |
| Wholesale marketplaces | Small shops trying many brands in small quantities | Set by each brand on the marketplace | Retail-style pricing; check the marketplace terms before you order |
| Trade shows (ASD Market Week, Canton Fair) | Meeting many suppliers at once, seeing samples | Negotiated at the booth | Travel cost; ASD next runs March 2–4, 2027 in Las Vegas |
| Alibaba.com | Factory prices with English-speaking suppliers | Set per listing; often hundreds of units | Pay through Trade Assurance; ask for samples first |
| 1688 | The lowest prices in China, small test orders | Often 1–3 pieces (81% of listings with a price ladder in our sample) | Chinese-only checkout and domestic shipping; most US buyers use a sourcing agent |
| Sourcing agents and services | 1688 orders, quality checks, consolidating many suppliers | Depends on the agent's service | Agree the fee, inspection and shipping terms in writing |
Supplier channels for US sellers (official facts checked October 24, 2026)
US wholesale suppliers for a small business
For a small business, US suppliers trade a higher unit price for speed and fewer import steps: goods are already in the country, there is no customs entry for you to file, and restocking takes days, not weeks. Look for them through the brand itself (most brands list a wholesale or "become a retailer" contact), category distributors, and wholesale marketplaces where brands set their own minimums.
Trade shows put hundreds of suppliers in one room. ASD Market Week, which describes itself as the largest wholesale merchandise show in the US with 1,800+ vendors, runs next on March 2–4, 2027 at the Las Vegas Convention Center, with an August show planned for August 3–5, 2027. Bring your resale certificate and business details; shows register buyers, not consumers.
If you resell branded goods on Amazon, ask the supplier for invoices you can show: some brands and categories need approval, and a receipt from a retail store is not proof of supply.
Suppliers in China: Alibaba.com, 1688 and the Canton Fair
Alibaba.com is the export marketplace: suppliers quote in English and US dollars, and Trade Assurance holds your payment in escrow until you confirm receipt, with refunds when an order is not shipped, goes missing or arrives defective. Minimums are usually higher than on 1688 because listings are built for export.
1688 is the domestic Chinese marketplace that many Alibaba.com sellers buy from. Prices are lower and minimums are small, but the site, checkout and shipping are built for buyers inside China, so US buyers usually order through a sourcing agent who pays, collects, inspects and ships.
The Canton Fair in Guangzhou runs twice a year in three phases. The 140th session ran Phase 1 (advanced manufacturing) October 15–19, Phase 2 (home goods, gifts and decorations) October 23–27 and Phase 3 (toys, fashion, stationery and more) October 31–November 4, 2026; the spring session follows the same pattern.
What 660 real 1688 listings show
On October 24, 2026 we pulled the first page of 1688 search results for 11 small-goods keywords (60 listings each, 660 in all) through Nolyn's data layer. 161 of the 660 (24%) were paid placements; the figures below use the other 499.
Minimum orders are low. 231 listings showed a price ladder; in 129 of them (56%) the first tier started at 1 piece and in 187 (81%) at 3 pieces or fewer. Only 14 started at 100 or more. Volume discounts were modest: across the 127 listings with two or more tiers, the top tier was a median 10% below the first.
Most sellers say they make the product. Of the 294 listings that named a business type, 238 (81%) were manufacturers (生产加工) and the rest traders. Of the 316 that showed a location, 242 (77%) were in Zhejiang province, 193 of them in Jinhua or its county-level city Yiwu, the small-goods wholesale hub. The median repeat-purchase rate shown was 15% (259 listings showed one).
Prices are first-tier list prices converted at 1 CNY = US$0.1499 (ECB reference rates, October 23, 2026). They exclude China domestic shipping, the agent's fee, international freight and US duties, which together often cost more than the product on items this cheap.
| Product type (1688 keyword) | Listings | Median first-tier price | Median minimum order (listings showing one) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ceramic mugs (陶瓷马克杯) | 48 | ¥10.90 ($1.63) | 1 (19 shown) |
| Scented candles (香薰蜡烛) | 47 | ¥6.00 ($0.90) | 1 (30 shown) |
| Desk organizers (桌面收纳盒) | 47 | ¥5.80 ($0.87) | 1 (12 shown) |
| Squishy toys (捏捏乐) | 43 | ¥3.00 ($0.45) | 1 (19 shown) |
| Plush keychains (毛绒公仔挂件) | 44 | ¥2.20 ($0.33) | 1 (18 shown) |
| Journal stickers (手账贴纸) | 44 | ¥2.05 ($0.31) | 1 (26 shown) |
| Bag charms (包包挂件) | 41 | ¥1.84 ($0.28) | 1 (19 shown) |
| Capsule toys (扭蛋玩具) | 48 | ¥1.49 ($0.22) | 3 (21 shown) |
| Novelty stationery (创意文具) | 46 | ¥1.35 ($0.20) | 2 (29 shown) |
| Acrylic keychains (亚克力钥匙扣) | 45 | ¥1.00 ($0.15) | 2 (24 shown) |
| Hair clips (发夹发饰) | 46 | ¥0.94 ($0.14) | 1 (14 shown) |
Median first-tier price and minimum order on 1688, organic listings, October 24, 2026
How to check a supplier before you pay
Most supplier problems are visible before the first payment if you ask for the right things. Use the same checks on any channel.
- Manufacturer or trader: both can be fine, but a trader adds a margin and may switch factories between orders. Ask which factory makes the product.
- Samples first: order a sample of the exact variant, with your packaging if possible, and test it as a customer would.
- Written terms: unit price per tier, minimum order, lead time, packaging, who pays shipping to which point (the Incoterm), and what happens with defects.
- Protected payment: Trade Assurance on Alibaba.com, an agent with a written inspection step on 1688, or net terms or a card with a US wholesaler. Avoid a first payment by personal transfer.
- Track record: years on the platform, repeat-purchase rate, reviews from other buyers, and whether the listing shows real photos rather than brand images.
- Compliance: for children's products, food-contact items, cosmetics and electronics, ask for the test reports the US requires before you order.
Landed cost and the 2025–2026 import changes
Compare suppliers on landed cost per unit: product, domestic shipping, agent or service fee, international freight, duties and customs fees, and the cost of getting the goods to your warehouse or fulfillment center.
Small parcels from China no longer enter the US duty-free. US Customs and Border Protection ended the de minimis exemption for goods from all countries from 12:01 a.m. on August 29, 2025, and Executive Order 14388 of February 20, 2026 continued that suspension. Every shipment now pays the duties that apply to it, so look up the product's HTS code and duty rate at hts.usitc.gov, and expect a customs broker or your freight forwarder to file the entry.
Then check the margin at your selling price: on TikTok Shop US, a 30% margin after the 6% referral fee leaves 64% of the price for landed cost and shipping to the buyer. Our resale page works this out for 47 product types under $25, and our dropshipping page for 30 products at $20–$150.
When a sourcing agent or service is worth it
A sourcing agent buys on your behalf, usually in China: they find and compare suppliers, order samples, pay in local currency, inspect goods, and consolidate several suppliers into one shipment. It is worth it when you buy on 1688, when you buy from several suppliers at once, or when you cannot visit factories yourself.
Ask each agent how they charge (a percentage of the order, a fixed fee per order, or a markup on the product price), whether inspection photos and a written report are included, and who is responsible for defects found after shipping. Get it in writing before the first order.
How to find a supplier in 6 steps
Write a product spec
Materials, size, variants, packaging, target landed cost and the selling price you need. Suppliers quote faster and more accurately against a spec.
Pick the channel by first order size
Under about 50 units: US wholesalers, wholesale marketplaces or 1688 through an agent. Hundreds of units: Alibaba.com or a factory met at a trade show.
Shortlist three to five suppliers
Compare unit price per tier, minimum order, lead time, business type and track record on the same spec.
Order samples
Test the exact variant you will sell. Keep the sample as the reference for the bulk order.
Calculate landed cost
Add shipping, fees and US duties (look up the HTS code) and check the margin at your selling price.
Place a small first order with protection
Use Trade Assurance, an agent with inspection, or a US supplier with terms. Scale up after the first batch sells.
Questions
How do I find wholesale suppliers for a small business?
Start with the brands you want to stock (most list a wholesale contact), category distributors and wholesale marketplaces where brands set small minimums, then trade shows such as ASD Market Week (next show March 2–4, 2027, Las Vegas) to meet many suppliers at once. Ask for a sample or a small opening order before committing.
What is the minimum order on 1688?
Often very low. In our 660-listing sample from October 24, 2026, 56% of the listings that showed a price ladder started at 1 piece and 81% at 3 pieces or fewer. Shipping from the seller to your agent and on to the US is extra.
Is Alibaba.com or 1688 better?
Alibaba.com is built for export: English, US dollar quotes and Trade Assurance escrow, usually with higher minimums. 1688 is cheaper with smaller minimums, but checkout and shipping are domestic Chinese, so most US buyers need a sourcing agent.
What do sourcing services do?
A sourcing agent or service finds and compares suppliers, orders samples, pays suppliers in local currency, inspects goods and consolidates shipments. Fees vary by agent (a percentage of the order, a per-order fee or a markup), so agree on them and on the inspection step in writing.
Do I pay import duty on small orders from China?
Yes. The US de minimis exemption for low-value shipments has been suspended for goods from all countries since August 29, 2025 (CBP CSMS #66065494), and Executive Order 14388 of February 20, 2026 continued the suspension. Look up the duty rate for your product's HTS code at hts.usitc.gov.
How do I know if a supplier is legit?
Ask for samples, written terms and the factory name; check years on the platform, repeat-purchase rate and other buyers' reviews; and pay through a protected method such as Trade Assurance, never a personal transfer on the first order.
Sources
- Nolyn: 1688 product search, first page (60 listings) for 11 keywords, 660 listings, default order, not logged in, pulled 2026-10-24 through Nolyn's data layer (shared with our Japan guide on 1688) · checked October 24, 2026
- U.S. Customs and Border Protection, CSMS #66065494 (August 28, 2025): goods of all countries no longer eligible for the de minimis exemption from 12:01 a.m. on August 29, 2025 · checked October 24, 2026
- The White House, Executive Order 14388 "Continuing the Suspension of Duty-Free De Minimis Treatment for All Countries" (February 20, 2026) · checked October 24, 2026
- U.S. International Trade Commission, Harmonized Tariff Schedule search · checked October 24, 2026
- ASD Market Week: dates, hours and location (Las Vegas Convention Center; next shows March 2–4 and August 3–5, 2027; "1,800+ vendors") · checked October 24, 2026
- Canton Fair (China Import and Export Fair): 140th session, Phase 1 October 15–19, Phase 2 October 23–27, Phase 3 October 31–November 4, 2026, Guangzhou · checked October 24, 2026
- Alibaba.com Trade Assurance: payment held in escrow until the buyer confirms receipt; refunds for orders not shipped, missing or defective · checked October 24, 2026
- European Central Bank euro reference rates, October 23, 2026 (USD 1.1193, CNY 7.4660 per euro) · checked October 24, 2026
Ecommerce research guides & examples
Browse all resourcesResearch example
Stanley vs Owala vs HydroJug: what 447,586 Amazon ratings say about leaks and durabilityAmazon review analysis of 5 best-selling insulated tumblers: 73% of Stanley Quencher leak mentions are negative; durability is Owala's and HydroJug's weak spot.
Research example
KKV and MINISO best sellers in China: what 31 popular Xiaohongshu posts showWhat shoppers in China like at KKV and MINISO, from 31 popular Xiaohongshu (RedNote) posts: nail polish and must-buy lists at KKV, a guava lip balm at MINISO.
Research example
Best selling products on TikTok Shop right now: the top 10 by units sold (October 2026)Top selling products on TikTok Shop US, ranked by the units sold TikTok Shop shows on each listing: 450 listings from 16 searches, collected Oct 20, 2026.
Research example
TikTok search trends, October 2026: 28 product searches with too few videosWhat people in the US searched on TikTok in October 2026, and where videos are missing: 28 product searches with popularity, 7-day trend and video counts.
Research example
How many followers do you need to sell on TikTok Shop?Sellers need no followers; affiliates need 1,000 (5,000 to lift limits). In our data, 27 of 74 product videos with 500K+ plays came from accounts under 10K.
Research example
TikTok Shop Brazil statistics 202613 TikTok Shop Brazil statistics from 1,912 videos (Oct 2026): 46.5% carry a product link, 52.8% come from accounts under 10K followers.
Research example
Cheap products to resell in October 2026: 47 product types under $25, ranked by demandCheap products to resell, ranked by Amazon US demand: 510 listings under $25 in 47 product types, with price bands and the most you can pay for a 30% margin.
Research example
Trending dropshipping products, October 2026: what sells at $20–$150 and how much margin it leavesTrending dropshipping products on TikTok Shop US: 83 listings at $20–$150 with units sold, price and the most you can spend on product and shipping.
Comparison
Kalodata alternatives: free and cheaper options, from EchoTik and FastMoss to AI researchFree and cheaper Kalodata alternatives compared on data, history, price and limits, checked on each official site: EchoTik's free plan, FastMoss, an AI research option, and where PiPiAds fits.
Comparison
FastMoss vs Kalodata: pricing, data and which to chooseFastMoss vs Kalodata compared on data scale, history, pricing, limits and extras, checked on both official sites, plus what sellers say on Reddit and where EchoTik and an AI research tool fit.
Comparison
FastMoss: what it is, what it costs and who it fitsWhat FastMoss is, Basic, Pro and Ultimate pricing (monthly and yearly), history and daily limits by plan, the 7-day free trial, and the 20 regions it covers. Checked on fastmoss.com on October 18, 2026.
Comparison
Kalodata pricing: what it costs, the free trial and cheaper optionsHow much is Kalodata? Monthly plans from its own App Store listing (US Basic $45.99, US Standard $99.99), how the 7-day free trial works, who it fits and cheaper or free options. Checked October 17, 2026.
Comparison
EchoTik: what it is, what the free plan covers and what it costsWhat EchoTik is, what the free plan includes, Basic, Pro and Enterprise pricing ($13.9 to $57 a month), history and daily limits by plan, regions and refunds. Checked on echotik.live on October 18, 2026.
Comparison
Shoplus has shut down: what it was, refunds and where to go nextShoplus, the TikTok analytics tool, stopped all services on September 18, 2026. What it offered, its last prices, the refund window, and alternatives with checked pricing. Checked on shoplus.net on October 18, 2026.
Comparison
Fakespot alternatives in 2026: Amazon review checkers that still workFakespot shut down on July 1, 2025. We checked which Amazon fake review checkers still work in October 2026: Null Fake, SureVett, RateBud and more.
Comparison
Later alternatives in 2026: schedulers, analytics and influencer tools comparedLater alternatives checked on each vendor's site Oct 22, 2026: Buffer, Planoly, Metricool for scheduling, plus tools for analytics and influencers.
Comparison
Social Blade alternatives in 2026: stats, history and what each tool tells youSocial Blade alternatives checked Oct 22, 2026: Viewstats and Playboard for YouTube, Exolyt for TikTok, HypeAuditor for audits, and tools that read content.
Comparison
GRIN alternatives in 2026: 10 influencer platforms compared, with pricesGRIN alternatives checked on each vendor's site Oct 22, 2026: Upfluence, Aspire, Modash, Heepsy, Shopify Collabs and more, with prices and best fit.
Comparison
Upfluence alternatives in 2026: 9 influencer platforms compared, with pricesUpfluence alternatives checked on each vendor's site Oct 22, 2026: GRIN, Aspire, Modash, Influencity, Heepsy and more, with public prices where they exist.
Comparison
Jungle Scout vs Helium 10: which Amazon seller tool fits you in 2026Jungle Scout vs Helium 10 compared on October 23, 2026: plans from $29 vs $99 a month billed yearly, free plan, trial, keyword, sales estimate and PPC tools.
Comparison
Free social listening tools in 2026: what is really free, and what it costs afterFree social listening tools checked on each vendor's site on Oct 24, 2026: 5 are free for good, the rest are trials. Limits, cheapest paid plans, AI features.
Comparison
Best UGC platforms for brands in 2026: prices, usage rights and what you getBest UGC platforms for brands checked Oct 24, 2026: Insense, Trend, JoinBrands, Collabstr, Billo and more, with prices per video, usage rights and free options.
Guide
TikTok Shop fees explained (2026): what US sellers actually payTikTok Shop US fees in 2026: 6% referral fee on price plus shipping, affiliate commission, shipping and FBT fees, with a worked $30 example and sources.
Guide
How to find micro influencers: a step-by-step method with a real exampleHow to find micro influencers in 7 steps, with a real search: 40 TikTok accounts, 9 in the 10K–100K range, 2 active US creators. Free and paid methods.
Guide
Best time to post on TikTok: what 2,369 posts from 52 US brands showWe analysed 2,369 TikTok posts from 52 US brands. Best window: 9 PM–midnight ET; best day Sunday, weakest Friday. Heatmap, method, free data.
Guide
Best time to post on Instagram: what 2,149 posts from 47 US brands showWe analysed 2,149 Instagram posts from 47 US brands. Best: 6–9 AM and 6–9 PM ET; best day Tuesday, weakest Friday. Heatmap, method, data.
Guide
What is BSR on Amazon? How to read Best Sellers RankAmazon BSR (Best Sellers Rank) is a sales rank within a category: lower means more recent sales. How to read it, with real US product ranks from October 2026.
Guide
Influencer outreach: how to contact creators, with email and DM templatesHow to do influencer outreach: where to reach creators (only 7 of 66 we checked list an email), what to say, 5 email and DM templates, follow-ups and FTC rules.
Guide
Ecommerce competitor analysis: a 5-layer framework and a real exampleA 5-layer ecommerce competitor analysis framework and a full worked example: the top 5 Amazon water flossers compared on price, demand, offer and reviews.
Guide
How to find influencers for your brand: where to look, how to vet, who to contactHow to find influencers for your brand: 6 places to look, a vetting checklist and a real search (40 results, 9 in range, 2 worth contacting), plus UGC creators.
Guide
Product seeding: what it is, how to run it, and what it looks like on TikTokWhat product seeding is, how to run a seeding campaign step by step, and how it looks on TikTok: 45% of 263 US product videos we read had a commission label.