If you’re reading this, I’m sure you’ve been there:
You spent 20 minutes crafting an email to your first ever supplier. You made sure every word was right, and you included all the info you thought they needed. And then…
...crickets.
They never respond to you. What’s the deal?
Suppliers are very busy people or at least like to think they are, so you should treat them as such!
One big reason suppliers don’t respond to your emails is due to the sheer volume of inquiries they get on a daily basis — many of which aren’t serious. Your email may be too vague; if so, they probably need more details (which I’ll cover in the next section).
Additionally, the supplier may not be convinced of your investment in your business. Anyone can send an email. Fewer people take the time to make a follow-up call or visit a sourcing fair.
It’s also possible they’re not as organized as they should be and your email simply got lost.
Some other factors to consider include:
So now you know a few reasons a supplier may not have answered your email. Understand the supplier likely deals with a lot of spam inquiries, so give them the benefit of the doubt and try again!
There are plenty of ways you can improve your chances of getting a response:
First things first, make sure you ask for every piece of information you need. By showing them you know about the product and the product market, you’ll stand out in a supplier’s inbox and show that you will be a serious client.
Product requirements include:
The more details you can provide, the less email “back-and-forth” you’ll have to deal with — which makes things easier for you and your supplier, and increases the chances they’ll respond.
Show that you mean business.
This means using proper spelling and grammar, doing your research before you reach out to suppliers, and showing them that you know what you're talking about.
Featured Resource: If you need help drafting a great email, SaleHoo provides its customers with free templates that cover every kind of email you might need to send.
Of course, it’s OK to not know every last detail of your desired product or its market. A good supplier will help you learn more about it. Just be aware that if you come off as someone who wants free training and will take up a lot of the supplier's time, they’re less likely to answer you.
Additionally, if you come off as a knowledgeable professional, suppliers are more likely to quote you a lower price. On the flip side, if you sound like a newbie, they’ll quote you a higher price.
Bottom line:
Do your research!
This is a simple, but important, concept. If you take one thing away from this article, take this:
Be someone you would want to work with.
That means:
Finally, don’t be afraid to get on the phone and tell a supplier that you just sent an email. Not only will this make you appear more professional, it also gives you the opportunity to see how well the supplier knows their stuff and decide whether they are a good fit for you.
Remember: Your supplier is basically your business partner. If they screw up, it’s on you to fix the problem for your customers, so choose wisely.
Before you call a supplier, be prepared with a few questions. A few well-chosen queries will not only signal to the supplier that you know what you're doing, but being prepared will also help reduce the nerves from making a call, especially if you’ve never done so before.
Some questions you can ask include:
For more questions and details about each question, take a look at this forum post on our forum.
If you follow the steps outlined above and keep in mind the golden rule (being someone you’d want to work with), suppliers will be much more likely to answer your emails and even quote you lower rates.
If you have any questions or extra tips to help get a better response rate from suppliers, leave them in the comments below! I love hearing from my readers, and I’m always here to help.
Also, don’t forget that SaleHoo customers have access to different templates you can use when contacting suppliers in the SaleHoo directory, which already include most of the crucial details.
Good luck, and happy selling!
Comments (8)
Lizzie Tendayi on 4:14 20 Sep
Good to know what's best selling productJustin Golschneider on 11:40 20 Sep
Hi Lizzie! You can find current top-selling items in the Labs: https://www.salehoo.com/labstogethr on 16:42 25 Oct
I bet this approach works for FBA!! So what about the one for dropshipping?Richelle Monfort on 6:06 30 Oct
Hi together,The same tool can be used for dropshipping too! The Market Research Lab was not created for FBA exclusively rather for online selling. Cheers!
Eliazar Campos on 21:00 31 Oct
Hi,I am confused about taxes. If I sell in the USA and my suppliers are inside USA ¿Who pay the taxes?
Richelle Monfort on 2:37 2 Nov
Hello Eliazar,Generally, states require businesses to pay the sales taxes they collect quarterly or monthly. You'll have to use a special tax return for sales taxes, and report all sales, taxable sales, exempt sales and amount of tax due. Hope this helps!
Eliazar Campos on 16:23 7 Nov
I am a seller, I earn profits by doing dropshipping. What taxes do I have to pay?angela on 16:50 14 Jan
how to take pctures of product for saleand how to sell cheap jewellary on line
like ebay
Richelle Monfort on 2:21 18 Jan
Hello Angela,This blog should help you get photos that will help you convert customers to sales - https://www.salehoo.com/blog/how-to-take-product-photos-and-boost-conversions
And to help you sell jewelry online check this out: https://www.salehoo.com/blog/selling-jewelry-online-sucks-unless-you-know-these-important-facts
Hope these help :)
Kristy Glenn on 10:03 15 Jan
Great work!!Appreciated Bill!!!
Richelle Monfort on 2:27 18 Jan
Thanks Kristy :) All the best!Susanna Chan on 14:53 22 Feb
where can I find the access to different templates that I can use when contacting suppliers?Richelle Monfort on 3:57 26 Feb
Hello Susanna,The templates are available when you contact the suppliers from their SaleHoo supplier profile page. It is explained more thoroughly here : https://www.salehoo.com/support/how-salehoo-works/how-to-contact-suppliers
Hope this helps!
clothing manufacturers usa on 14:24 20 Nov
Really Good to read your article I was enjoying its reading really informative thanks for sharing.Rhea Bontol on 6:32 23 Nov
Yes, such scenario cannot be avoided. Always best to call suppliers to get straight priority.custom clothing manufacturers on 16:32 23 Nov
I just read it really informative post thanks for sharing keep wellRhea Bontol on 6:25 26 Nov
Glad you found this informative. This article is also helpful in communicating with suppliers: https://www.salehoo.com/blog/common-communication-problems-with-suppliers