Thoughts:
“You don’t need more products. You need one product and one supplier that won’t mess you up.”
“Real profit starts the day you stop buying from anybody and start buying from somebody who cares if your product fails.”
“Hot products will come and go. But a solid supplier relationship can print you money every month.”
Let me tell you the truth they won’t post on Instagram…
Sourcing isn’t about who can message the most suppliers (local or in China).
It’s about who can build relationships that make money move faster.
And 90% of new Ecommerce owners are getting this wrong.
There was a time I used to jump from supplier to supplier like I was tasting suya at a street corner.
Every time one person delayed or one price looked small on the surface, I’d switch.
Until the orders started failing.
Late deliveries.
Fake products.
Price hikes overnight.
It hit me hard when a customer called and said…
“Oga, I paid for original. Why you send me imitation?”
That thing humbled me.
It wasn’t just about “finding a supplier.”
It was about building a real relationship with one.
One that understood urgency, quality and the fact that my entire business
And my reputation – was riding on their product.
Here’s the mindset shift:
Don’t treat your suppliers like you’re buying puff-puff.
Treat them like business partners.
Because that’s exactly what they are.
When you build trust, things change.
You stop begging.
They start chasing.
They’ll call you with new hot products before it even hits the market.
They’ll agree to payment on delivery if they know you’re serious.
They’ll keep your price stable when others are crying about inflation.
They’ll give you credit without collateral…
Think about it like dating:
If you jump from one partner to the other, nobody will take you seriously.
But once you commit, you gain access to benefits outsiders will never enjoy.
Same thing with suppliers.
Here is what to do now…
1. Stop chasing “cheap.” Start chasing “what works.”
Everyone’s looking for cheap suppliers.
But cheap isn’t always smart.
A cheap product that gets returned 40 out of 100 times is NOT cheap.
It’s bleeding you quietly.
It’s like buying a N2,000 power bank from traffic…
You charge it overnight, wake up, and the thing is DEAD.
You didn’t save N13k – you WASTED N2k.
Same with your business.
If a “cheap” cream spoils in heat, or a “cheap” red light massage belt shocks your customers…LOL
You’ll spend more replacing orders, refunding angry customers, and killing your own brand name.
Real sellers calculate TOTAL cost.
Cost of the item + cost of wahala = True Cost.
If your “cheap” choice is costing you peace, time, returns, and reputation… you’re paying the real price in stress.
2. Don’t beg from day 1. Build the bridge first.
A good supplier will give you better prices.
But not on the first date.
Buy a few times.
Send feedback.
Be polite.
Let them see you’re serious.
Then ask: “Oga, I want to buy more… any better price?”
That’s when they’ll open the real door.
This is the same reason mechanics charge new customers more
Because they don’t trust you yet.
But once you become their guy, they say things like:
“Don’t worry, I go remove money for you.”
Relationships print discounts.
And discounts print profit for your business.
3. Always ask – even if you’re not sure they’ll say yes.
One of the biggest sins in Ecommerce?
Assuming your supplier won’t say yes.
You see price: N4,000.
You say “That’s the price now.”
And you close mouth.
What if you asked:
“If I pay today, can I get it for N3,700?”
“If I buy 10 pieces, will you remove something?”
Worst case? They say no.
Best case? They say YES.
And you just added N300 profit per sale.
Here’s the math people ignore:
Just N300 saved per unit.
100 orders = N30,000 saved.
500 orders/month?
That’s N150,000 back in your pocket.
That’s not small change.
That’s ad budget.
That’s a staff salary.
That’s TESTING a new product and making more money.
Asking is business.
Be brave with your price.
Closed mouths don’t increase margins.
Also ask for credit… you can get it but there is a way to go about it.
Let me know if you want to learn about it.
Let me add this…
Sometimes the supplier won’t even trust you enough to reduce price…
BECAUSE you haven’t built trust.
If they think you’re not serious…
If you’ve never followed through…
If you ghost them or give attitude…
They won’t give you their best service.
They’ll prioritize someone else who’s consistent and respectful.
So do this:
✅ Build the trust
✅ Fulfill your side
✅ Then ASK confidently.
You’ll be surprised how much money you’ve been leaving on the table…
Just because you were scared to open your mouth.
Most people are not broke because their product is bad.
They’re broke because their supplier is wrong or their approach to the supplier is wrong.
Product sourcing is not a hustle. It’s skill.
That’s why inside Ecommerce Success Launchpad, we teach it like a science.
If you want to stop wasting time testing random products or chasing unreliable suppliers…
Then you need to join Ecommerce Success Launchpad.
Inside the “Product Sourcing “ module, we’ll show you:
- How to find local and China suppliers that are reliable
- How to negotiate with confidence (even if you’re new)
- How to get lower prices without sounding desperate
- PLUS, access to a Done-for-You Hot Product Database and Supplier List that’s already working for others
We’ve done the hard work. You just need to plug in.
Because once your product and your supplier are set?
Half of your stress disappears.
Don’t guess your way through sourcing.
Learn it. Master it. And let your profit show it.
Join Ecommerce Success Launchpad now and start sourcing like a smart business owner-not a wandering hustler.
