Hey friends! Are you looking to start selling shoes online but don't know where to find reliable suppliers? Don't sweat it, we've got your back! Sourcing good quality shoes at affordable prices can be tricky if you don't know where to look. At Ecomax, we help ecommerce sellers like you find the best suppliers for all kinds of products including footwear.
In this post, we'll share 10 awesome tips on how to find reliable shoe suppliers so you can start your shoe selling journey on the right foot (pun intended!).
Why Selling Shoes Online Is A Smart Idea
Let's start with why selling shoes can be a very profitable ecommerce venture. Here are some key reasons:
Huge demand - Everybody needs shoes! They wear out and need to be replaced often. This creates a steady demand you can tap into.
High profit margins - Shoes have among the highest margins of any product category online. You can sell them for 2-3x your cost price.
Sizes and styles - From sandals to sneakers, boots, heels and more, there's so much variety. Catering to different sizes and styles allows you to reach a wider audience.
Brand consciousness - Customers love branded shoes and are willing to pay more for them. Brands like Nike, Adidas, Skechers already have great awareness you can leverage.
So if you're considering jumping into the footwear niche, it has huge potential for profits! Now let's look at the best ways to find suppliers who can deliver quality shoes reliably at good prices.
1. Alibaba
Alibaba is the world's largest B2B marketplace connecting suppliers and buyers from across the globe. It has a huge directory of shoe manufacturers, trading companies, factories, wholesalers etc.
Pro Tip: Focus your search on suppliers from China, Vietnam, India, Indonesia and Thailand. These countries have the biggest shoe production capacities.
How to find legit suppliers:
Check for a Gold badge on their profile. This is given to vetted, trusted suppliers.
Look for suppliers with a high trade assurance rating of above 4.5. This indicates positive feedback from buyers.
Check their verified transaction history and reviews. Reputable companies will have many reviews praising product quality and professional service.
Avoid new companies with no reviews. Their credibility and quality is unverified.
Talk to suppliers before ordering to check responsiveness and language skills. Legit suppliers will readily answer questions.
2. GlobalSources
GlobalSources has been connecting export manufacturers in Asia with international buyers since 1970. They have a trusted network of suppliers verified for product quality and service.
Best categories to find shoe suppliers:
Fashion Accessories & Footwear.
Apparel & Accessories.
Baby & Children’s Products.
Sports & Travel Products.
You can filter by country, minimum order quantity, certifications, response rate and more to find the most suitable suppliers for your needs. The RFQ service also allows you to submit requirement details for quotes.
3. China Wholesale Markets
Visiting wholesale markets in China’s manufacturing hubs allows you to meet and evaluate suppliers in person.
Top locations are:
Guangzhou - Canton Fair complex has 15,000+ wholesale shops selling every product. Great place to source fashionable shoes.
Yiwu - Yiwu International Trade Market has over 75,000 shops selling cheap products for export. You can buy in bulk for very low cost.
Wenzhou - Known as China’s “Shoe City”, Wenzhou has thousands of shoe factories and wholesale markets. The Lucheng Shoe Market has over 500 shops.
Putian - Putian is called the “Shoe Capital of the World” producing over 700 million pairs annually. The Putian Shoe Market has row after row of wholesale shops.
Hiring a local Interpreter can help you communicate effectively and negotiate better deals.
4. Trade Fairs
Trade shows and fairs provide a chance to meet a high concentration of exhibitors from a product industry. Attending footwear trade fairs allows you to find suppliers, inspect products and place orders conveniently in one location.
Top footwear trade fairs in Asia:
China (Guangzhou) International Shoes Fair (CGISF) - Held in Guangzhou biannually, it attracts over 1000 exhibitors and 3000 booths displaying every type of footwear.
Hong Kong International Shoes Fair (HKISF) - Held biannually in Hong Kong, it showcases trendy and designer shoe brands and wholesale suppliers.
Tokyo Shoes Expo (TSX) - Japan’s largest shoemaker trade show displaying Japanese and international footwear brands.
Shoes & Leather Vietnam (SLV) - Vietnam's premier footwear trade exhibition held annually in Ho Chi Minh City.
Booking a booth allows you to exhibit your brand and meet potential partners. Attending as a visitor is free and lets you connect with hundreds of suppliers.
5. Facebook Groups
Join relevant Facebook groups in your niche to connect with suppliers and manufacturers directly. Useful groups include:
- Shoe Sellers Club
- eCom Elites Product Sourcing
- Dropshipping & Wholesale Suppliers Mastermind
- Ecom Hunt - Get Your Suppliers Here
Interact in the groups by commenting on posts and asking questions. Once you build relationships, suppliers may share catalogs, contacts and pricing privately.
6. Amazon and eBay
Check the biggest shoe sellers on Amazon and eBay in your country. Reach out to them asking if they manufacture in-house or can connect you to their suppliers.
Many may be open to helping you since you won't directly compete with them on the same platform. Ask for introductions to their suppliers on Alibaba/GlobalSources.
7. Thomasnet
Thomasnet is a huge B2B product sourcing and supplier discovery platform. It has 500k+ company listings in the USA and Canada.
Use their intelligent filtering to narrow down shoe suppliers by:
- Location
- Certifications
- Materials worked with (leather, rubber, textile)
- Products dealt in (athletic shoes, sandals, heels etc)
- Minimum order quantity
The quoting service lets you describe your requirements for quotes from relevant suppliers.
8. Sourcing Fairs
Sourcing Fairs organized by state authorities help connect local manufacturers with overseas importers. They are hosted across major manufacturing countries in Asia.
Vietnam hosts the annual Vietnam Sourcing Fairs in Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi. India has the India Sourcing Fairs held regularly in Mumbai and New Delhi.
They showcase suppliers of products the country specializes in. For example, the Vietnam fairs feature many footwear suppliers as they are a top shoe exporter.
9. TradeKey
TradeKey is an online B2B marketplace and sourcing directory with over 700k supplier listings globally. You can search by product category and country.
Useful categories for shoes include footwear, shoe accessories/parts, shoe fabric, leather etc. Filter by Gold and Silver star suppliers for credible manufacturers. You can submit a buying lead for free quotes.
10. Industry Associations
Join relevant industry associations as a member to gain access to their supplier databases and contacts. Useful organizations include:
Footwear Distributors and Retailers of America (FDRA).
American Apparel & Footwear Association (AAFA).
Confederation of Indian Footwear Industries (CIFI).
Vietnam Leather, Footwear and Handbag Association (LEFASO).
Their events, conferences and trade missions are great for networking with suppliers too.
So there you have it, 10 awesome ways to source amazing shoe suppliers for your ecommerce business! Finding the right partners is crucial to get quality products and steady supply to grow your online shoe store. Do your research, ask around, and don't rush the supplier selection process.
At Ecomax, our experts can also help you find verified suppliers in Vietnam and manufacture custom branded shoes. Contact us for assistance with your ecommerce sourcing and shoe selling needs!
Conclusion
Selling shoes online presents a lucrative business opportunity given the huge demand and high profit margins. However, finding the right suppliers is key to get quality products at competitive prices.
This guide shared 10 excellent ways to source reliable shoe suppliers - from leading B2B platforms to trade shows to industry networks. Do your research and evaluate suppliers carefully before selecting partners. With a bit of work, you can build a supply chain that delivers great products steadily to help your shoe ecommerce business thrive.
At Ecomax, we have years of experience helping online sellers find and connect with the best manufacturers and suppliers for all kinds of products including footwear. Our experts offer end-to-end ecommerce solutions tailored to your business needs.
Want help finding the perfect shoe suppliers and advice on running your online shoe store profitably? Contact us for a free consultation! We'll be happy to assist your ecommerce journey.