Manufacturers directory

[RJ3]

Hi guys, do you know any reliable manufacturer directories online?
Thanks.

 

[Mr D]

Any particular country or type of product?

 

[RJ3]

Country: UK and other countries
Industry: Consumer electronics

 

[The Byre]

The list of exhibitors at any consumer electronics trade show.

Simples!

 

[Mr D]

The list of exhibitors at any consumer electronics trade show.

Simples!

That would tell you which companies are exhibiting. Many of them would be sellers rather than manufacturers.
Need to narrow it down a lot.

 

[RJ3]

How does one tell the difference between manufacturer and sellers?

 

[Mr D]

How does one tell the difference between manufacturer and sellers?

Research. Some companies you quickly find have their goods manufactured by someone else.
Some companies specialise in certain things but not the production of their product. Bit like you.

 

[MBE2017]

Forget the official name, used to use a directory nicknamed the blue book 30+ years ago.

 

[MOIC]

If you are looking to get into consumer electronics as a business . . . . . .and then need to ask for directories on how to find suppliers . . . . . . . I suggest consumer electronics is not what you should be getting involved with.

In order to be involved in any product, you should be fully aware of potential suppliers, competitors as well as much more.

A Google search is where to start.

What research have you done to-date?

 

[Ray272]

A few years back we were led to believe:

Global sources was a good route for manufacturers and alibaba was mostly traders.

I'm not sure if it is like this or even if it ever was but we used to find items on GS which were never on alibaba.

I expect everyone and their mom is on alibaba nowadays so I imagine it's more difficult to identify who is who.

What I used to do if I found a good trader was cut them in to all purchases via China providing they handled all comms and we paid them.

So for example we needed to order 2k of these flasks and we found the "source" negotiated the deal directly and then sent our chap in there with a simple remit.

They quoted us $4, we would agree a deal for 4.2 with him and he would go in and likely get a deal lower than the one we got.

I only stopped using the guy as out of the blue he told me he had closed his company and moved to a different city but could still do the biz but only to his personal account.

 

[RJ3]

If you are looking to get into consumer electronics as a business . . . . . .and then need to ask for directories on how to find suppliers . . . . . . . I suggest consumer electronics is not what you should be getting involved with.

In order to be involved in any product, you should be fully aware of potential suppliers, competitors as well as much more.

A Google search is where to start.

What research have you done to-date?

Interesting! why wouldn't you recommend consumer electronics?

 

[MOIC]

On the contrary, I would advise consumer electronics (it’s what we are mostly involved with), but if you need to ask a forum for directories to find suppliers, it seems you have not done any research yourself.

Generally you will get involved in a business where you know and understand the products, as well as doing thorough research into both suppliers and competitors.

If you are asking a forum for directories, then you will not get to the best suppliers.

My advice is to visit trade shows, not directories, but this will depend on your order quantities.

If you are looking to order 2000 pcs per style, visit China, if you are looking to order in the range of 50 to 100 pcs, then visit fairs in the UK.

Good luck.