Below you'll find answers to our most commonly asked question. If you don't find the answer you are looking for, please contact us
How did you come up with the results?
We've thoroughly analyzed imports from over 10 million US companies on our platform, covering the period from 2015 to today. We've used advanced algorithms to find the top suppliers for each product category they ship. Our assessment considers factors like shipment volume, the product's share of their total shipments, the number of customers, and more.
The top results on my search doesn’t show familiar companies as their customers. Are they still good quality suppliers?
It's more crucial to understand how specialized a manufacturer is in their product category. Suppliers who focus on a narrow range, like those mainly producing ceramics, tend to be more knowledgeable and deliver better results than those offering a wide variety of products. Additionally, consider the possibility that the company you're searching for may have filed confidentiality requests, which can hide their data and make them appear as non-customers.
I came across a supplier that has never shipped products in the last few months. Is that a bad indicator?
Not always. Common reasons could be:
Customer confidentiality requests hide new shipments.
They ship products seasonally.
They've changed their name.
They've gone out of business.
I’m new to sourcing. How will I know if the supplier will cater my low volume order?
We've narrowed down the search to suppliers offering a broad range of MOQs. Yet, it's generally not advisable to overly emphasize MOQs, as it can create a negative impression with suppliers. By adopting a positive approach, such as proposing mutually beneficial terms and fostering long-term relationships, you can find solutions together.
Which is better, a supplier with higher shipment count but few customers, or one that has lots of customers but only a few shipments each?
Don't make this your top concern; there are other important factors to weigh. Typically, having even a small number of repeat customers suggests the supplier is reliable, offers value, maintains quality, handles big orders, and more. On the other hand, if a supplier has very few shipments to their customers, it's a bit questionable. However, keep in mind that some customers may have filed confidentiality requests.
How do I choose the right keyword to search? Ex. Should I search "leggings" or "women's lycra elastane"?
Being somewhat specific with your keyword is better for results. If it's too broad, you'll get unrelated suppliers, and if it's too precise, you might find no data. The important point to understand is that our data comes from shipment descriptions on Bills of Lading, which often contain generic product descriptions rather than specific models. Knowing different terms for the product you're interested in, like "shoes," "footwear," "sneakers," or "trainers" can improve your search.
I understand the data that I’m seeing but don’t know how it would be valuable to me. Can you explain a few?
Shipment ratio (XX out of XX shipments) - are they focused on manufacturing that specific product area? Total shipment volume - what's their potential output volume and how experienced are they in manufacturing it? Top customers - what's their export experience, and what are the typical company sizes they cater to? Typical shipment description - what are their other product descriptions related to your search?
