Sourcing Guides
Practical, no-fluff guides for Southeast Asia sellers who want to buy wholesale from China's factory platforms — in plain English, no Chinese required.
1. What "1688 sourcing" actually is
1688.com is China's largest domestic wholesale platform — where many of the goods sold on Shopee, Lazada and TikTok Shop originate. Unlike retail sites, prices here are typically factory / bulk prices, and many listings support a minimum order quantity (MOQ) and dropshipping. For Southeast Asian resellers, the appeal is simple: buy closer to the source, protect your margin, and move faster on trending items.
The catch is that 1688 is built for Chinese-speaking domestic buyers. Product titles, prices, seller terms and reviews are all in Chinese — which is exactly where most overseas sellers stall.
2. The 3 biggest barriers for non-Chinese speakers
- Language. You can't read the title, the size/color variants, or the seller's shipping terms, so you can't confidently describe or vet what you're buying.
- Price opacity. The displayed number is often a "from" price tied to a large quantity tier, not the unit price at your order size — so it's easy to think you found a bargain that isn't.
- Supplier quality. Without a way to compare multiple suppliers for the same item, you can't tell a real source factory from a reseller marking it up.
3. How to find factory wholesale suppliers, step by step
- Start from a clear product idea — a keyword (e.g. "ice-silk pajamas") or a reference photo from a bestseller.
- Search in your own language. Tools like Sourmo translate your English / Malay / Thai / Vietnamese keyword into the Chinese terms that actually match 1688 listings, so you're not stuck with broken results from a bad translation.
- Search by image when you don't know the word. Upload the product photo and match it to visually similar wholesale listings — the fastest way to find the same style at source.
- Compare several suppliers for the same item before deciding: look at price at your quantity, whether they stock the variant you want, and their responsiveness.
- Shortlist and verify. Ask for the exact SKU color/size, confirm the real unit price at your MOQ, and order a sample before a bulk buy.
4. How to check a real wholesale price and avoid overpaying
Wholesale listings usually show a tiered price: the cheapest number applies only at high quantities. Before you get excited, always confirm:
- The unit price at your order quantity, not the advertised "from" price.
- Whether the listed price includes shipping, and who pays customs.
- The true landed cost per piece — price + domestic freight + international shipping + duties — divided by quantity.
5. Common mistakes that cost new sellers money
Buying on the picture alone
Same-looking items can differ wildly in fabric and finish. Always read variant details and order a sample for anything you'll resell in volume.
Ignoring MOQ and stock
A great price that requires 500 pieces, or a listing that's out of stock, is a dead end. Filter for ready stock and an MOQ that fits your shop.
Not comparing suppliers
The first result is rarely the cheapest source. Comparing 3–5 listings for the same style routinely saves double-digit percentages.
6. Tools & next steps
You don't need to read Chinese or hire a sourcing agent to get closer to factory pricing. Sourmo is a free-to-start sourcing search tool built for Southeast Asia sellers: type a keyword or drop a photo, get wholesale prices and comparable suppliers, all in your own language.
Related: Trending products for 9.9 · Landed-cost calculator · Image tools · FAQ