I’m planning to start a private-label underwear brand and am researching manufacturing options. I’ve seen many people recommend China, Myanmar, and Bangladesh, but I’m unsure where to begin. Should I contact manufacturers directly or use marketplaces like Alibaba and Global Sources to find suppliers? For those with experience, how did you get started, and what should I consider when ordering samples and negotiating MOQs?

Hi everyone,

I'm looking for some advice from people with experience in international B2B sales, industrial equipment, or export business.

I'm a new salesperson working with a manufacturer of stone processing machinery, including bridge saws and other equipment used in the stone fabrication industry. Our goal is to expand into international markets and build long-term relationships with overseas distributors.

However, I'm still trying to figure out how to approach potential customers and turn conversations into actual business opportunities.

I've been working at the company for three months, but I haven't closed a single deal yet. Most of the potential customers I contact never reply to my messages. Occasionally, someone responds, but the conversation eventually goes quiet, and they stop replying altogether.

I understand that industrial machinery can have a long sales cycle, and I know I'm still learning. However, I'm not sure whether the problem is my approach, the quality of my leads, the way I follow up, or simply that I'm contacting the wrong people.

I'd really appreciate some honest advice on a few questions:

• Finding distributors: What are the most effective ways to identify reliable overseas distributors for industrial machinery? Do you recommend LinkedIn, Google, trade shows, industry directories, or other channels?
• Getting responses: If most of your cold messages get ignored, what would you change first? How do you write an initial message that gives a potential distributor a reason to respond?
• Following up: When someone replies initially but then disappears, how do you follow up without being annoying or sounding desperate? How many follow-ups are reasonable?
• Qualifying leads: How can I tell whether a potential customer is genuinely interested or just browsing?
• Improving as a beginner: If you were starting your first B2B sales job again, what skills would you focus on developing during the first three months?
• Setting realistic expectations: For high-value industrial machinery with a relatively long sales cycle, how should a new salesperson measure progress before closing the first deal?

I'm particularly interested in advice from people who have sold industrial equipment, machinery, or other high-value B2B products internationally.

I don't expect to close deals overnight, but I want to understand what I'm doing wrong and improve instead of repeating the same mistakes.

If you've been in a similar situation, I'd love to hear what helped you get your first few customers. What would you do differently if you were in my position?

Thanks in advance for any advice. I really appreciate it.

This seems like an interesting issue in international sourcing.
Imagine a buyer starts working with a trading company.
The trading company identifies a suitable manufacturer, arranges introductions, coordinates samples and helps resolve technical questions.
The buyer eventually learns the manufacturer’s identity.
A few months later, the buyer realizes it could potentially purchase directly from that factory.
Would going direct be a normal sourcing decision, or would it be unfair to the trading company?
I can see both perspectives.
From the buyer’s side, dealing directly with the manufacturer may reduce intermediary costs and simplify certain technical discussions.
From the trading company’s side, identifying and qualifying manufacturers is part of the value it provides.
If buyers can simply bypass the intermediary after receiving that information, there’s less incentive for trading companies to invest in sourcing and supplier development.
But not every intermediary provides the same service.
Some manage quality inspections, logistics, supplier communication and production problems.
Others primarily introduce buyers and manufacturers.
There’s also the question of contractual arrangements.
If the buyer agreed to confidentiality or non-circumvention terms, that obviously changes the situation.
Without such an agreement, the ethical question can be less straightforward.
Maybe a reasonable solution is to define the intermediary’s role and compensation clearly at the beginning.
For example, the parties could agree on a sourcing fee, commission or ongoing management service.
For buyers: Would you approach a factory directly after being introduced by a trading company?
For trading companies: What arrangement would make you comfortable sharing your manufacturing partners with customers?
I’m curious how people balance legitimate cost reduction with maintaining fair long-term business relationships.

用哪个平台做跨境电商更好一点呢？

有没有朋友一起钻研跨境电商的呢？

或者有没有大佬说一下需要避坑的地方以及注意事项，感恩❤️

Hi, I am a German of Bangladeshi origin, I can supply/export textiles/garments of all kinds from Bangladesh. My advantage is that I am based in Germany and what I need is to find buyers here. Where and how to get started? I want to work with small businesses/brands who would like to import from Bangladesh.

I'm based in India, around the Mumbai and Pune region, and have been learning more about international trade and how businesses source products from Indian manufacturers.

I'm curious about the experience of business owners in the US, UK, and Europe who import goods from India or work with Indian manufacturers.

What are the biggest challenges you face when sourcing from India? Is it finding reliable suppliers, verifying product quality, handling logistics, negotiating MOQs, or managing communication across countries?

I'd be interested in hearing real experiences from importers and entrepreneurs, especially those running private-label or white-label businesses.

I’m curious how many international businesses are considering expanding into South Africa but haven’t taken the first step.
With a population of over 60 million, South Africa presents opportunities across different industries, but entering a new market comes with its own challenges.
If you’re running a successful business outside South Africa, have you ever considered bringing it here?
What’s holding you back? Is it market uncertainty, regulations, finding the right local partners, or simply not knowing where to start?
I’d love to hear which industries are looking at South Africa and what would make entering this market more attractive.

service in customing plastic injection mould and mass produce plastic parts as autoparts,Medical parts,electronic,houseware and etc

我是来自中国的电商从业者，请问国外现在还需要什么货物？

My family runs a clothing factory, and for many years most of our orders have come through trading companies.

Over time, I realized that many of these trading companies are themselves working with overseas importers, distributors, brands, or other trading companies. This made me wonder whether we could gradually build direct relationships with international buyers instead of relying entirely on intermediaries.

To be clear, we still welcome and value cooperation with trading companies. They remain an important part of our business, and we understand the expertise and value they bring to international trade. Exploring direct relationships with overseas buyers is not an attempt to replace them. It is simply one of the steps we are taking to learn, improve, and develop our business.

Before trying to do that, I worked on the practical requirements of exporting, including logistics, customs procedures, documentation, relevant regulations, and the requirements of destination countries.

However, I have found that preparing the export process is much easier than actually finding customers online.

I have tried contacting businesses through social media and other online channels. I usually introduce our factory and provide information that could help establish credibility, such as photos or videos of the production facility, products, production process, previous shipments, and relevant qualifications.

The businesses I contact already sell products similar to ours, so I assume there is at least some potential demand. Nevertheless, most messages receive no response.

I understand that buyers are cautious about unsolicited messages and unknown suppliers. They may already have reliable manufacturers, receive too many sales messages, or have concerns about quality, communication, minimum order quantities, delivery times, and payment security. Still, I suspect that my approach may be wrong.

I am not posting this to advertise or solicit customers. I genuinely want to understand how overseas buyers evaluate unfamiliar factories and what I should improve in my approach.

Any honest feedback would be greatly appreciated.

Good day Sir/Madam, an agent dealing with global imports, can connect you with supplier/s and help you import the following global products or global commodities which are the following:

1. Energy
2. Petrochemicals
3. Metals
4. Minerals
5. Fertilizers
6. And Agricultural products

For information/details just pm or message me for a formal proposal and you will you be contacted by the representative/s

I’m working on an international website that will connect suppliers with business owners looking for products to source. I know I’ll be competing with established platforms like Alibaba and Faire, so one of my main concerns is building a network of reliable suppliers from the beginning.

I want business owners to feel confident placing orders through the site rather than worrying about scams, poor-quality products, or suppliers who disappear after receiving payment. A few bad experiences could seriously damage the platform’s reputation, especially when it’s new.

I’m planning to attend international trade fairs to meet suppliers in person and build relationships, but I’m also considering suppliers who may not attend these events.

For those who have built international B2B platforms or worked with overseas suppliers, how did you identify legitimate businesses and decide which ones to work with? What would you prioritize when building a trustworthy supplier network from scratch?

Hi all, I have a vision of going over to some trade shows in Asia somewhere (or anywhere really) finding some sort of product or products that catch my eye, and importing them back to Canada to sell retail. I am aware it is much harder than I make it sound but I am just wondering how naive am I being about this possibility?

I have capital, I have warehouse space, I have some time to invest and a strong work ethic. I know everyone has the same plan but I would like to find some sort of good quality niche product, buy wholesale, import it and sell it online preferably. Is what I am dreaming impossible? I am well aware there will be dozens of obstacles and challenges and unforeseen costs along the way and probably multiple busts before or if I even find a good quality and well selling product or product line of some sort. Tell me how out to lunch am I? Thank you for any advice.

Hello everyone!

I am based in Manica Province, central Mozambique, and I am looking to connect with international entrepreneurs, investors, business owners, manufacturers, and companies interested in exploring genuine business opportunities in Mozambique.

Mozambique has significant potential across several industries, including agriculture, livestock farming, agribusiness, food processing, logistics, trade, manufacturing, technology, and other emerging sectors. I believe that the right partnerships between international investors and local partners can create valuable opportunities for growth, employment, and long-term business development.

My goal is to work with people who are serious about investing, expanding their businesses, or developing new projects in Mozambique. I am available to help identify local opportunities, connect investors with relevant people and businesses, explore potential markets, and facilitate the initial stages of establishing operations in the country.

Being based in Manica gives me a strategic starting point for exploring opportunities in central Mozambique, while I am open to working with partners and projects across the country.

I am particularly interested in connecting with people who have the capital, experience, products, technology, or business models they want to bring to Mozambique but need a reliable local partner to help them understand the market and explore the possibilities on the ground.

I am open to partnerships in agriculture, livestock, commercial farming, import and export, distribution, manufacturing, and other viable business opportunities. I am also willing to explore ideas beyond these sectors.

I am not looking for quick-money schemes, crypto or forex schemes, MLMs, or unrealistic promises. I am interested in building genuine business relationships based on trust, transparency, shared goals, and mutual value.

If you are an investor, entrepreneur, or business owner interested in exploring Mozambique, I would be happy to connect, learn about your plans, and discuss how we might work together.

Feel free to send me a direct message introducing yourself, explaining your business or investment interests, and sharing what kind of partnership you are looking for.

Let's explore what we can build together in Mozambique.