How to Source the Best Products to Sell on Amazon
If you do a research on how to sell on Amazon, you will find many resources that give in-depth strategies on how to earn money through the world’s largest shopping website. Still, all these planning and techniques will quickly come to a halt if you can’t zero in on the right products. Marketing is one thing; the quality and relevance of your product are another
Luckily, you don’t have to rely on guesswork when it comes to finding best-selling products on Amazon. If you already have an item in mind, it’s best to examine it objectively and see how it will fare on the market.
Learn how to source the best products to sell on Amazon through these techniques:
1. Define a Good Product
Just because something is unique, trendy, or convenient to sell doesn’t automatically make it a good product for Amazon.
Remember that ideal Amazon products are:
- Able to pull a consistent stream of customers — is it something that you know people will use for the next year? Or is it only a hit for a specific season or holiday?
- Small and easy enough to pick up — remember that bulky and heavy items will cost higher shipping rates and complicated return and storage conditions.
- Able to sell twice as much as its buy price — you want a product that buyers can’t easily find anywhere. For this, you’ll have the luxury to double its buy cost.
- Not trademarked or sold on big shopping outlets — you don’t want to get tangled with complaints from manufacturers who don’t want their products sold on Amazon or any online websites. In the same way, it’s also unwise to sell products that shoppers can conveniently pick up when they go to Target or Walmart.
2. Research Where You Can Find These Products
After narrowing down the best product for you, it’s time to scour the internet for the top places to get them. Here are the best sites to start with:
- Amazon — before you look far, make sure to do your research on Amazon. It will give you an idea as to how other sellers are presenting their products and what makes customers go for these items.
- Alibaba — this website is a goldmine for online sellers. It gives you the convenience of checking out overseas suppliers so you can do a canvass of the best prices.
- eBay — eBay may be a competition of Amazon in online shopping but it can prove to be a useful tool for your research. It is the best place to investigate the most ideal prices and volume that you can sell your products for.
- Etsy — not many people have yet to discover the shopping perks of Etsy. This means if you want the products imported, Etsy is a good place to look.
3. Find the Best Suppliers
How do you get your hands on your products? You find the best sources that will supply them to you. The ease of your Amazon business will significantly be influenced by your supplier. That’s why you need to:
- Use appropriate filters when searching in Alibaba — make sure to tick the Gold Suppliers and Assessed Supplier in your search.
- Message the suppliers — let them know that you are starting a business and are interested to know their price list. Ask if they can send you samples of the said product. You don’t have to go into the specifics of your business. Just give them a general idea of your needs.
- Decide as soon as you can — you should hear from the suppliers within 24 hours. Filter out the ones who take a longer time to respond. You wouldn’t want slow communication to be a part of your future supplier relationship. Narrow in on the one with the most comprehensive and useful response. Their replies should include the product specs, the complete price list, and the answers to your questions. Make it clear that there are no hidden fees. Communicating with various suppliers will give you a feel of which one is easier to work with.
TIP: Use an alternate or specific email for this purpose. Otherwise, you’d be bombarded with promotional emails from different suppliers.
Managing your business in the world’s biggest shopping website won’t be as complicated if you’re selling quality products. Whether you are starting out alone or are already working with an Amazon seller VA (Virtual Assistant), knowing how to source the best products to sell on Amazon will make business more convenient.
Catherine vanVonno, the author, is the President and Executive Director of 20Four7VA, a global Virtual Assistant (VA) Service Provider. She holds a doctorate degree in Applied Statistics, Research Design and Program Evaluation from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University and has over 10 years experience in facilitating evidence-based strategic planning, product development, brand management, legislative communications, and medical policy. She is married and has four children. You can reach her at communications@20four7va.com.
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