Returning to the offline model from Module 1 — local sourcing has real advantages worth weighing against online suppliers:

• Local wholesale markets — in many cities, dedicated wholesale districts/markets let you inspect physical quality before committing, and negotiate pricing directly, something impossible with an overseas supplier you’ve never met.
• Local manufacturers/artisans — for certain product categories, partnering with a local maker can mean faster fulfillment (same city, same day/next day) and a genuine “locally made” selling point overseas suppliers can’t offer.
• Consignment arrangements — as covered in Module 1, placing stock with a local retailer and paying them only on sale reduces your upfront risk further.

The trade-off: local sourcing usually means a smaller product catalog to choose from than AliExpress’s millions of listings — it works best once you already know your niche from the validation work in Module 3, not as a starting-point browsing method.

Evaluating any supplier before committing

1. Order a sample yourself first — never sell a product you haven’t personally received and inspected.
2. Ask directly about average processing + shipping time, and verify it against their actual recent order history/reviews if available.
3. Confirm their return/defect policy in writing before your first real customer order.