A Do-It-Yourself Guide to Joining the International Marketplace

Napkins, dental equipment, bamboo products, translation services, and much more…Just a sampling of the thousands of products small business owners may need to get their company off the ground. A new entrepreneur may need to find napkin suppliers for his restaurant, an inventor needs a manufacturer to make her unique idea come to life, maybe a dental equipment company is looking for exporters, or a publisher is in need of translation services.  No matter what business you’re in or want to be in, it is vital to find a marketplace that allows small businesses to interact with a community of like-minded people that want to buy, sell and create products in order to realize a dream and boost the bottom line. 

In The Official Alibaba.com Success Guide: Insider Tips and Strategies for Sourcing Products from the World’s Largest B2B Marketplace (Wiley; November 2009; $24.95), authors Brad and Debra Schepp level the playing field for small business as they show the incredible sourcing opportunities offered by the world’s leading B2B ecommerce marketplace. With flexibility, convenience and lowered costs available for any business, Alibaba.com turns ideas into products and products into sales. 

Founded in 1999, Alibaba.com makes it easy for millions of buyers and suppliers around the world to find exactly what they need to make their business a success. “Once viewed as the province of only the biggest and most experienced corporations, looking across the globe for your next great product idea is now possible, no matter how small your business may be or how inexperienced you may feel as you embark on this journey.” 

This accessible book simply takes readers through:

• A step-by-step guide on how to offer and discover international sourcing opportunities
• How to chart the course in finding the right trading business partners and doing it safely
• The crucial components to successful importing
• The key aspects of working with suppliers to develop long-term relationships
• The best way to make Alibaba.com’s 5 million+ storefronts, offering manufactured products in 42 different categories, work for any business
• Tactics to closing a deal and completing an overseas transaction
• How other successful entrepreneurs used global sourcing to build their business 

With the internet presenting so much possibility for businesses today, it is vital to have a comprehensive resource to guide you through the door of international opportunity.