Greetings,

I'm a corporate attorney in his late twenties who recently realized that his life and career are not going in a desirable direction. As such, I decided to move back to my native Puerto Rico (USA) and become an entrepreneur. As the first of three offspring, it is somewhat expected of me to keep the family business going on what has become an increasingly difficult market. In order for things to keep moving forward I have found that we must diversify.

I'm currently in the early stages of starting my business. I stumbled upon this wonderful place as I searched for a supplier/manufacturer (something I have yet to find). Any help as to what supplier to work with and what platform to use would be greatly appreciated. I hope to help others in my situation someday. Only time will tell if I made the right decision. Right now, I'm just excited to get to work!

Hi Prime,

Welcome to Wholesale Forum

To find the best verified UK and global wholesale suppliers, we recommend using the three largest online trade directories of verified suppliers:

• eSources
• Wholesale Deals
• Worldwide Brands

All three list tens of thousands of verified wholesalers, distributors, manufacturers and drop shippers of several hot market products such as fashion accessories, apparel, consumer electronics, home appliances and many more. Have a look at the following links:

• Apparel & Clothing UK Wholesale Suppliers Directory - Wholesalers, Importers, Dropshippers & Distributors
• Computer & Software UK Wholesale Suppliers Directory - Wholesalers, Importers, Dropshippers & Distributors
• Home Supplies UK Wholesale Suppliers Directory - Wholesalers, Importers, Dropshippers & Distributors
• Sports & Leisure UK Wholesale Suppliers Directory - Wholesalers, Importers, Dropshippers & Distributors
• Food & Beverages UK Wholesale Suppliers Directory - Wholesalers, Importers, Dropshippers & Distributors

The following past discussions could help you to search suppliers:

• How to Find Trade Suppliers - The Best Wholesale Dropship Suppliers’ Lists - Dropship Forum - Dropshippers Reviews
• How to find wholesale suppliers - Finding and verifying new trade sources - Wholesale Forum
• How to Find Suppliers - Methods, Techniques, Tips and Tricks to Find Legitimate Verified Suppliers Quickly - Wholesale Forum
• How to find Suppliers in America & Overseas - International Foreign Wholesale Suppliers Search - Wholesale Forum

To learn more about finding and verifying suppliers see:

• Wholesale Sources - How To Find Verified Wholesalers and Drop Shippers Instantly - Wholesale Forum
• eSources or Wholesale Deals - Which verified directory is best for a starting seller - Wholesale Forum

Hope this helps

"I'm currently in the early stages of starting my business. I stumbled upon this wonderful place as I searched for a supplier/manufacturer (something I have yet to find). Any help as to what supplier to work with and what platform to use would be greatly appreciated."

Hi Prime,

You said you were looking for a supplier or manufacturer. If you buy direct from manufacturers you will pay substantially less for the products than if you buy from a wholesaler.

You need to source direct from genuine manufacturers at real ex-factory prices. Many people use the expression "wholesale" in different ways. If you want to buy from a wholesaler you will pay wholesale prices. If you want to buy from a manufacturer, you will pay ex-factory prices, which are the prices paid by the wholesalers who then add their margin.

If you buy direct from the manufacturer you can pocket the difference.

The importing procedure is daunting for most people, but it can be done very simply once you know how to use other people's expertise. I have the experience and training that would enable me to handle all import procedures myself, but when operating my former importing business I left that work to others and that is what I recommend to all newbie importers.