China is the most common product market for many Amazon sellers; however, you must know that you can source some products from other countries such as India. With its similarly large labor force and low labor costs, India has grown to be cited as alternative sourcing to China.
WHY WOULD I NEED AN ALTERNATIVE SOURCE?
The need to source outside China may arise in instances where you do not find the products you are looking for in China, where you have language barriers, and where you encounter trouble with the allowed purchase quantity.
ADVANTAGES OF SOURCING FROM INDIA
As alternative sourcing to China, the advantages are;
- LOW PROBABILITY OF LANGUAGE BARRIER
In India, English is one of the official languages. This makes the country to be easily recognized as a business destination. Therefore, unlike China where the language barrier is prominent, it is easier for you to directly communicate with your suppliers in India with a language you can both understand, making it easier to do business.
- SIGNIFICANT REDUCTION IN LABOUR COST
Since minimum wages in India are relatively low, the labor cost during production is much less than expected. This is an advantage as you get to save on expenditures as your products are being prepared.
- LESS PURCHASE QUANTITY RESTRICTIONS
Unlike some suppliers in China who only allow large-scale purchases, there are fewer restrictions in India. This is particularly advantageous to start-ups who are likely to buy products in smaller quantities. With various brands moving production to other countries such as India, you are therefore lucky to get a chance to order small-scale from India.
POPULAR SUPPLIERS IN INDIA
As you conduct your online search for suppliers, you will discover that India has two popular platforms that link buyers to suppliers, these are; Tradeindia.com and IndiaMart.com.
- IndiaMART.com
This is the largest Business to Business (B2B) marketplace in India which aims at providing a forum for both SMEs and large enterprises. It covers a 60% market share of the online B2B marketplace in India.
- Tradeindia.com
This is an online marketplace for small businesses across the globe. It has a wide range of business profiles and product catalogs in over 2000 different product categories and subcategories.
CONCLUSION
With easier communication, fewer production restrictions, and less expenditure, it is no surprise that India makes it as alternative sourcing to China. Therefore, if you happen to have barriers to trade in China, be sure to find suppliers within India for a wider variety and better experience.