The Guide to Finding Products and Suppliers for E-Commerce

A manufacturer (factory) is the party that makes the product from raw materials; it offers you the lowest unit cost, but usually requires a high MOQ — often 500-1,000 units — and is less flexible during the sampling process. A supplier or wholesaler, on the other hand, buys goods from multiple manufacturers and resells them to you; it can lower the MOQ to 10-50 units and lets you combine different product types in a single order, but takes a 10-15% cut of your profit margin. If you're just starting out, it makes more sense to work with a wholesaler for a low MOQ, then move to a manufacturer directly as your volume grows to cut unit costs. If you're planning to sell on Trendyol, a wholesaler isn't mandatory — in some categories you can source directly from a manufacturer or importer.

• Manufacturer (Factory) — Lowest unit cost, high MOQ (500+ units), longer custom design/sampling process (7-15 days).
• Wholesaler / Distributor — Low MOQ (10-50 units), fast delivery, ability to mix different products in one order, but a 10-15% narrower profit margin.
• Importer / Agent — Communicates with the overseas manufacturer in Turkish, manages the customs process, and adds a 5-10% commission.

Chambers of commerce and industry (more than 365 chambers under the TOBB umbrella) are among the most reliable sources for free access to officially registered manufacturer and supplier lists; they're ideal for making first contact with companies whose registration number, tax certificate, and line of business have already been verified. Industry trade fairs (such as CNR and Tüyap) let you inspect the product in person, request samples, and meet factory representatives face to face — still a recommended method in 2026. But you don't have to attend a fair: you can also find companies through B2B marketplaces like n11pro, Hepsiburada İş Ortağım, and Amazon Business, then request samples via a video call. When choosing a wholesaler, asking for a tax certificate, trade registry record, and at least 2-3 reference customers greatly reduces the risk of being scammed.

Learn detailed wholesale sourcing steps

Alibaba is still the world's most widely used platform for importing and finding suppliers in 2026, letting you compare millions of manufacturers on a single screen. To spot a reliable company, look for three signals: a Gold Supplier badge (a company that has paid an annual fee and had its address verified), Trade Assurance coverage (a refund guarantee if the shipment doesn't match the agreed terms), and at least 2-3 years of company history. Never make a bulk payment on your first order — place a sample order of $20-100 first to test quality and delivery time. Companies that agree to a factory video tour, rather than refusing one, generally turn out to be more trustworthy. Once the sample is approved, a standard practice for the bulk order is a 30% deposit, with the balance paid after quality control.

Working with a domestic manufacturer cuts shipping and customs time to 2-5 days, gets you a sample in 3-7 days, and removes any customs duty/VAT risk. With imports (especially from China), unit cost is typically 15-30% lower, but you add 20-45 days of transit by sea or 7-12 days by air, plus 0-20% customs duty and 20% VAT depending on the product. Which route is more profitable depends on the product category, volume, and your cash-flow tolerance; domestic sourcing tends to win out for low-volume test orders, while imports are usually more advantageous for high-volume, ongoing supply.

Rates vary by product category; consult a customs broker who can check the HS (GTİP) code for the exact duty rate.

MOQ (minimum order quantity) is the lowest unit count or amount a supplier accepts; it typically starts at 50-100 units for textiles and 500-1,000 units for electronics. A common negotiating tactic is to ask for a 20-30% discount on the first order and offer a long-term contract in exchange for a lower MOQ. Make sure your contract always includes: a payment schedule (usually a 30% deposit plus 70% balance before delivery), a quality-control clause, a return/exchange clause, and a penalty clause for delivery delays. Sample fees typically run $20-100 and are often deducted from the invoice once you move to the bulk order. Clarifying your target profit margin before negotiating strengthens your position.

Dropshipping has no inventory cost and lets you start with low capital, but profit margins are typically limited to 10-20%, and you're the one who deals directly with any supplier stock or quality issues. With stocked sales, margins can rise to 30-50%, but warehousing, capital, and inventory risk fall on you. Most sellers test a product with dropshipping first and switch to a stocked model once demand is proven. Whichever model you choose, once you start working with multiple suppliers, tracking stock sync and price updates by hand becomes error-prone; Ecomiro's Stock Sync module automates this, and its Multi-Store module lets you manage products from different suppliers from a single panel.

Explore the dropshipping model in detail