Fuby Poyo was originally a French shoe designer. He and his wife founded his shoe brand and company 3 years ago. Now their company’s annual revenue reaches 580,000 euros. How do they do it?

They first found a good shoe supplier to help them produce shoes, then created an online store with Shopify (it only took a week). Fuby Poyo’s wife is a fashion model. She started a Youtube channel, teaching people how to choose good shoes and recommending her shoe store. At the same time, she also showed off her shoes on Instagram. In this way, they direct a lot of traffic to their website.

Fuby Poyo says the key to this business is a good product. And the key to a good product is to find a good shoe manufacturer. He also told several ways to find a good shoe supplier:

1. Online marketplaces

You can start by choosing an online marketplace such as Yellow Page, Alibaba, or MIC. Each platform has its advantages and disadvantages, so consider which one would be the best fit for your needs. Then you can use keywords related to shoes, such as “sneakers,” “women’s shoes,” or “leather boots,” to find relevant results. Consider using location, product type, and price range filters to refine your search.

It is very important to evaluate the suppliers: You could review the product offerings and company profiles of the suppliers in your search. Look for information on their shipping and delivery times, payment terms, and customer reviews to determine if they would be a good fit for you.

Once you have identified a few potential suppliers, you can contact them through the platform’s messaging system to inquire about their products and services. Ask questions about their minimum order quantity, pricing, and lead time.

Once you have received quotes from several suppliers, you can compare them to determine which offers the best value for your needs. Negotiate the terms, such as price and delivery time, to ensure you get the best deal.

Remember to ask for some shoe samples to ensure they are reputable and can meet your requirements in terms of quality.

But I don’t recommend you to use Alibaba to find suppliers because most of the sellers on Alibaba are traders (their shoe company names have “Trading” or “Import&Export”), not factories. So their quotation is higher than the factory’s, and they can’t directly control the quality of the factory’s products. What’s more, generally speaking, you can’t search their official website on Google.

2. Trade shows
First, you need to research trade shows in your area or countries where you are interested in sourcing shoes. You can find information about trade shows on websites by using google the keywords: such as “shoe trade shows, “shoe exhibition,” and “footwear exhibition.” You then choose trade shows specific to the shoe industry to ensure you meet relevant suppliers. Canton Fair, Micam trade show, and Ffany shoe show are good trade shows for shoes.

You must register for the trade show in advance to ensure you have a spot and receive updates about the event. Some trade shows may also allow you to pre-schedule appointments with potential suppliers.

Before you attend the show, you need to research the exhibitor’s list and make a list of potential shoe vendors you would like to meet. Prepare a list of questions to ask each supplier to help determine if they would be a good fit for you.

When you attend the trade show, you can meet with potential suppliers and look at their products. Remember to take notes on each supplier’s products, services, and terms to help you make informed decisions later.

After the trade show, you must follow up with the suppliers you were interested in: Use the notes you took to ask any additional questions and negotiate the terms. Consider visiting the suppliers’ facilities to verify the quality of their products and ensure they can meet your needs.

Remember to thoroughly research and vet any potential suppliers to ensure they are reputable and can meet your quality, delivery, and price requirements.

3. Social media
Consider using platforms such as LinkedIn or Instagram to find a good shoe supplier. Choose a platform that you are familiar with and relevant to the shoe industry.

For example, you can use keywords hashtag related to shoes, such as “sneaker factory in China” “sandals factory in China”,”high heels manufacturer in China“, or “boot manufacturer in China,” to find relevant results on Instagram.

You can also do this on Linkedin, and you can filter such as location, product type, and company size to refine your search.

After that, you review the company profiles and posts of the suppliers that come up in your search. Look for information on their products, services, and customer reviews to determine if they would be a good fit for you.

Once you have identified a few potential footwear supplier, you can reach out to them through the platform’s messaging system or by sending a connection request. Please introduce yourself and inquire about their products and services.

After receiving responses from several suppliers, you can compare their offerings to determine which offers the best value for your needs. Negotiate the terms, such as price and delivery time, to ensure you get the best deal.

You have to remember that not all suppliers found on social media may be legitimate, so use caution and verify any information before making a decision.

4. Industry associations
You can Join an industry association in your country. If you are in the USA, you can join the Footwear Distributors. Retailers of America (FDRA) can provide you with access to their member directories and the latest industry news and events.

5. Manufacturer directories
There are online directories, such as ThomasNet, that list shoe manufacturers and suppliers.

You may wonder who Fuby Poyo’s shoe supplier is and where it is located. Fuby Poyo said his suppliers are from China. Why? He explained: The reason is very simple. Because China has the most shoe factories in the world, and they produce shoes with good quality and timely delivery. And their prices are much lower than European factories.

But how to find the best shoe manufacturers in china? Fuby Poyo gave us several important tips:
1. Only choose factories, not trading footwear companies (the company name does not contain “Trading” or “Import&Export”)
2. This factory must have its own official website (you can search for its company name on Google)
3. The factory has a history of at least 25 years.