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How to spot a supplier selling fakes

Retailers need to be highly wary of suppliers claiming to be selling authentic branded or designer goods because often their products will be fakes. If you buy into re selling fakes, you could face severe consequences including prosecution. Furthermore, when you buy fakes, you are supporting a syndicate of crime gangs who run the counterfeit industry and often enslave children to produce these fake goods, which is hardly something most people would want to associate with.
Buying branded or designer items and managing to distance yourself from such syndicates of crime is not easy and finding a genuine supplier will take a lot of time. To help you along on your quest, I have put together this trusty step-by-step check list for retailers to refer to when they are researching new suppliers:

Step 1: Check the supplier's web site and contact details
Before you do anything else, start by checking how old their website is by visiting Domain Tools and entering their URL and checking how long their site has been online for. If they have been around for anything less than two years, they are much more likely to be selling fakes.
Verify their contact details by calling and asking a few questions, and sending a few emails to get a feel for the people you will be dealing with. When you call, check that the person answers the phone professionally by telling you the company name and their personal name. When emailing, you should expect to have a fast and thorough response to all your questions.

 Step 2: Check that they have safe payment methods such as PayPal or Escrow.com. If they only accept Western Union or telegraphic or wire transfers, do not do business with them! PayPal and Escrow offer buyer security which means that the buyer only gets paid when you receive your shipment , which means if there is ever an issue, you can get your money back much more easily.

Step 3: Ask the supplier for original documentation from the manufacturer or product owner. This is the best proof that the supplier is an authorized distributor of genuine merchandise. If they don't have original paperwork, ask for a Sanitized Invoice. This should show the legal trademark of the product owner with the price, date, contact info blanked out. It's not as good as original paperwork though.

Step 4:  Order in a few samples from the supplier you are researching. When you receive the items, you'll need to go through them with a fine tooth comb to ensure that they are legitimate. To get an idea of what to look out for, try Googling the name of your product + "how to spot a fake" e.g Armani Jacket + "how to spot a fake". Here are a few links to fake spotting sites for some commonly replicated items:

GHD Hair Straighteners iPods Other Electronics Chanel Handbags  Tiffany and Co Jewelry Fragrances Baby Phat Jeans

Shoes:
Ugg Boots and Prada Shoes Sneakers Dolce and Gabbana Apparel

Sunglasses and spectacles:
Cartier Oakley Chanel Dior Designer Cosmetics

Still worried about winding up with fake goods? Find great suppliers with 100% authentic goods at SaleHoo.com

How to Find Cheap Wholesalers

Are you wondering how some sellers can survive (let alone make any money) on the rock bottom prices they sell their items for? Believe it or not, many long running sellers are not only surviving while selling at those rock-bottom prices, many are also be making more profit than others who are listing the same items at a much higher price! This is because these big-time sellers can get their goods super-cheap from the very best wholesalers, meaning they can buy more, sell more and make more profit!

Why can large retailers can sell goods so cheaply?

Because they buy their items in big bulk (and I mean big!) and as a result, they can sell their items for very competitive prices. They order huge quantities at a time, often spending hundreds of thousands of dollars on a single bulk order which considerably reduces the price per unit. Large retailers have often spent years building relationships with their suppliers which means they get the best possible deals when they buy in such high volume. While you might be a few years away from being able to spend a few hundred thousand on making a bulk order, there are plenty of things you can do to help you get the best deals possible from the very best suppliers. Here are a few tips to follow when you search for new suppliers:

• Avoid any suppliers who charge extra fees. This will help to keep your costs per unit down and there are plenty of suppliers out there who will not charge any extra fees such as monthly memberships or charges to access their web site's store - you wouldn't pay a supermarket to look around at what they have to offer would you? So don't do it with any suppliers!
• Be prepared to spend a lot of time do conducting pricing research. This is absolutely essential for all retailer sellers. Top sellers differ from other sellers in that they understand the amount of time that goes into pricing research and they get stuck in and do it! Pricing research will help you to determine whether it is possible for you to compete in a particular market.
• Go for suppliers who offer a guarantee or warranty for all items they sell to you. This is very important for keeping your costs down and profits up, as if you end up with a few faulty items, you need to be able to return them to your supplier, rather than refund your buyer yourself. This also helps to increase your sales as it gives buyers confidence in your products and your customer service. Usually, the warranty will be between you and the supplier - meaning if the items proves to be faulty, your buyer will return it to you then you will return the item to your supplier for a refund or exchange.
• Import your items! You can save (and make!) a lot of money by importing goods from abroad. Countries such as China and India are much cheaper to produce items in than Western countries which means you can make a lot of money when you sell them in your own country.

How do they find these amazing suppliers?

There are several ways to find the very best suppliers out there:

1. Call manufacturers directly - this can help you get in touch with the very best of their retail suppliers, and if you can call and say "Hi, I'm Mike. Gary from Precision Manufacturing gave me your number and told me you are the man to talk to about...". Here you can search for manufacturers by entering the name of the product you are looking into sourcing then following the links to the contact information for the manufacturer.
2. Use online wholesale directories such as SaleHoo which lists over 8,000 of the very best suppliers on the web.
3. Go beyond the Internet. There are other ways to find great suppliers - try trade magazines and trade shows - a great way to build all-important relationships with suppliers. You can find trade shows near you by Googling 'your state + trade fair/trade show'.  By using the above tips and information to find your next supplier, you'll be profiting like an eBay PowerSeller in no time!

Essential Tips for Drop Shipping Clothing

Did you know that clothing, shoes and accessories are eBay's second top seller? Clothing is a great market to get into for several reasons; there are so many different categories; there is always a demand for clothing; shipping of clothing is low risk; and there are many niche markets to explore such as men's plus size swim wear, petite maternity wear, and kids colored jeans.
What does drop shipping clothing involve?
As with all drop shipping, selling clothing through a drop ship supplier starts with finding a reliable supplier who stocks the items you want to sell. Finding a supplier who stocks the items you want isn't always easy, but there are several ways you can go about finding yourself a drop ship supplier:

• Try Googling 'the name of your product you want to sell + drop shipper'. Remember that the best suppliers aren't always on the first page of search results. Keep in mind that when you search for suppliers this way, you run the risk of encountering con artists who prey on taking newbies sellers for a ride (and taking their money for a ride to down to the bank!). One way to check that a supplier is legitimate to visit Domain Tools and enter the URL of a supplier you are looking into. Look under 'Registration Record' and see when the site was created. If it is less than 2 years old, we recommend that you find yourself another supplier, don't be tempted to give them a try because they are the cheapest you can find, they are highly likely to be a fake supplier who is attempting to lure you in then take your money and run!
• Use a reliable supplier directory such as SaleHoo which guarantees their suppliers as safe and legitimate.
• Look through trade magazines - TradePub.com offers free downloadable trade magazines with information on suppliers as well as handy tips about what products are up and coming for the next season

Once you have found your drop ship supplier, it's time to start listing! Pull the photos and product descriptions from your supplier's site and make your own listings on eBay or wherever you intend to sell. When deciding on a price to sell your goods at, keep in mind the extra charges involved with drop shipping. Usually, a drop shipper will attach around US$2-US$5 onto the advertised price.
When the item sells, visit your supplier's site and buy the item which you have just sold and enter the buyer's delivery address at the checkout.
Your drop shipper will then send the item out to your awaiting buyer. Easy!
Tips for successfully selling clothing

• When selling on eBay, make use of acronyms. These help to give you better item titles and tell the buyer a lot about the item you are selling. For example, NWT = New with tags, so the buyer will know that the item is brand new, unworn and because it still has tags attached, it's suitable as a gift, if necessary. Here are a few more helpful acronyms you may wish to use when selling clothing:

            EUC: Excellent used condition
            FC: Fine condition
            G: Good condition
            HTF: Hard to find
            NBW: Never been worn
            NM: Near mint (condition)
            NWOT: New without original tags

• Describe the item in detail. Does it have pockets? Where? How many? Does it have vintage buttons or perhaps French cuffs? Make sure you describe the item as accurately and with as much detail as possible. This helps the buyer make an informed decision, and prevents any surprises when they open the parcel later
• List basic measurements such as armpit-to-armpit and shoulder-to-waist. If drop shipping, your supplier will have to provide you with these details. This is essential for encouraging buyers when they are skeptical about wasting time and money on buying something online that may not fit them.
• Keep up with trends by reading fashion blogs and articles so you can source next season's hot items
• Sell easy-fit items like scarves, hats and neck ties. People are more likely to buy these as there is little to no risk of them not fitting the buyers.

Finding Wholesale Electronics Suppliers

What to look for in a great wholesale electronics supplier:

• Quality products. To make it big in selling electronics, you need exceptional quality of products. Unless you are dealing in second hand or factory seconds items, you will need flawless products and packaging with manuals and instructions. It's so worth the time it takes to find a supplier with great quality items as it will save you a lot of time spent on processing refunds and dealing with angry emails from frustrated customers.

• Quality Service. You need a supplier who will deliver on time and will respond to any queries thoroughly and quickly. The very best suppliers will communicate with you regularly, even long after you have placed a large order with them. You should also go for a supplier with a strong personal interest in electronics and technology - this will help when you have technical questions and will help to ensure that they will stock the latest products.

• Product guarantees: Of all the products you could sell, electronics is probably one of the most potentially problematic. Your supplier should be able to guarantee all their products.

• A partnership approach. A strong and mutual relationship will benefit both you and your supplier, and will have your supplier acknowledge how important your business is, and you acknowledge how valuable their great service and product range is for your business.

• A clean record. For online suppliers, you can conduct a search on them on the Better Business Bureau's site which can tell you if the site has had complaints laid against them. Look closely at the results - even some of the best sites have had complaints lodged on BBB but if there are many that are consistently about the quality of the products, it's best to take this as a sign that they aren't a great supplier.

Where can I find the best wholesale electronics suppliers?
The best suppliers aren't always easy to find but with a few hours of solid searching and researching, you can definitely find some great online suppliers.

• Google searches work well, but to really narrow your results down to finding only the best search for "award winning + electronics suppliers" or use other key words like "legitimate", "trusted" or "recommended".

• To really ensure that you get the best possible suppliers, use a reputable online supplier directory. The best of these are regularly updated and list only trusted suppliers. To find a list of reputable suppliers, try Googling "product sourcing directories".

• To find local suppliers, you can try visiting local trade fairs or simply pull out your Yellow Pages and looking for manufacturers, suppliers or wholesalers near you.

Building an Online Selling Business from Scratch

If you don't know anything about how to start your own online business, then you have come to the right place. Building an online business really isn't so different from building a regular, brick and mortar one, other than the fact that it can be faster and easier!
Start by putting together a business plan and/or mission statement. Don't be put off by the name, it simply means set some goals and write down what you want to achieve. It could be as simple as "I want to earn $2000 dollars to be able to buy a new car". Once that part is taken care of, ask yourself these few simple questions:

Where will I sell?

While eBay is the most common option, there are also some great alternatives out there such as Amazon, Bonanzle and Craigslist, or you can always set up your own ecommerce store - a great option for those who are looking for independence from fees and rigid selling structures. eCrater is a great provider for this with their free set-up and zero fees and best of all, plenty of support.

What will I sell?

Start by getting some ideas on what sort of products you would like to sell. It's always best to sell things you are interested in or that you have some kind of experience in, e.g. if you have previously worked in a mountain bike store, you will have plenty of background experience and knowledge. Similarly, if you are a keen golfer, selling golfing accessories might be a good idea for you. Research what some the of best items to sell are to get a few ideas, but don't be tempted to enter into highly competitive markets like iPods and DVDs - you are much better off selling a niche item that will appeal to a very narrow audience and then expanding later. eBay Pulse is a great site to find out the latest selling trends on eBay.

Where will I source my items from?

You will need to find a wholesale supplier to work with. Be prepared to spend some time doing this as it is one of the most important steps in creating a good business.
There are several ways to find a supplier: you can visit trade shows and fairs and get to know suppliers directly, or you can search for suppliers online by Googling "your product name + suppliers OR wholesalers". However, beware when using this method as it can make you highly vulnerable to con artists. To ensure you only deal with reputable and legitimate suppliers, try a supplier directory like SaleHoo.com to find verified suppliers which will save you from being scammed. While directories like SaleHoo charge a membership fee, they can save you a ton of money later on when you avoid losing money from being scammed.
There are a few key questions you need to ask when you find a potential supplier:
1.    Do you have a minimum order quantity (MOQ)?
2.    How long have you been a supplier?
3.    Do you ship internationally? (if you are importing from abroad) Which companies do you use? Do they offer tracking information?
So get to it! Your dream of being your own boss and earning money from your own home is just a few clicks away!

Best Wholesale Clothing Suppliers

Are you looking into selling wholesale clothing but don't where to start? Or have you been wondering where your competitors get their amazing products from (and how they get them so cheap!)? Read on to find out how to find the very best clothing wholesalers on the web!

What to look for in a wholesale clothing supplier:

A wide range of products: A supplier who caters for everyone from babies to fashionistas won't just offer you convenience; they will offer you more opportunities to sell to a wider audience.
A taste for what's hot: Fashion moves very quickly with some fads only lasting a few months (remember those awful scarves with skulls on them? Thank God they only lasted a few weeks!), but during those few months, fads can be highly profitable. Therefore you need a supplier who can quickly sniff out the new trends and source them from the manufacturers to bring them to you.
Quality products: Before you place any big orders, get a few samples to take a look at. Suppliers are more than happy to do this - some even expect it. Take a close look at the quality (wear them around and wash them, if you can, you'll get a great idea of how they will wear). Order a few different items like shirts, jeans and coats to really get an idea of their quality standards. Better quality clothing will mean more repeat customers so make sure you spend some time doing this.
Exceptional customer service: When things go wrong, like shipments going astray, or orders are incorrect, the last thing you want is an irresponsive supplier who doesn't return your calls. Before you place an order with your new supplier, make sure you do a little test by emailing or calling them with a few questions. See how helpful they are, how thoroughly they answer your questions and if emailing, how quickly they respond.

How to find the best suppliers

So where will you find suppliers who offer all of the above, I hear you ask? Well, the best suppliers aren't always easy to find but with some time and persistence, you can definitely get there! Unfortunately, it's not really an option to email your competitors and ask them where they source their items from, but with some patience and persistence, you too can find great suppliers who will help to propel you to PowerSeller status before you can say "bootleg jeans"!

• Performing a Google search is a great start, but remember that the best sellers aren't always on the first page of search results. Also keep in mind that when you search for suppliers on Google or any other search engine, you make yourself vulnerable to con artists out there who will take your money and run off into cyber space, never to be heard from again.

• To really ensure that you get the best possible suppliers, use a reputable online supplier directory, such as SaleHoo.com. Be wary of small lesser-known directories, as there are actually only a few reputable ones.

• To find local suppliers, trade fairs or shows are a great way to find out about the latest products and to meet suppliers face to face. Or for a simple option which you can do from home, simply pull out your Yellow Pages and look for manufacturers, suppliers or wholesalers near you.