B2B Trade



An online B2B trade typically refers to trade between the manufacturer and the distributor and the distributor and the retailer of merchandise. The contact between supplier and buyer is usually established online, particularly in B2B markets or B2B networking sites. The suppliers describe their business and list their inventory. The buyers, on their part, browse around for the supplier/s that can give them what they need in terms of merchandise type, volume, quality, and price and proceed to contact their chosen suppliers/supplier.

Online B2B trade is not limited by geographical boundaries. A buyer could go to B2B trading sites with a worldwide membership base if he wants to obtain supplies from offshore territories. Correspondence between the trading parties is usually done online and payments are processed through internet funds transfer and banking services.

A B2B trade is similar but not the same as online retailing. It is similar because contact and sales occur online. There are also suppliers who display or auction off their merchandise and there are buyers who look for the best merchandise quality at the best price.

However, the suppliers and buyers in B2B trade are unlike that in online retailing. In the latter, the suppliers are the retailers and the buyers are the end consumers who will use the product or merchandise bought. In the former, both suppliers and buyers are business owners or entities.

The buyers in a B2B trade are not the end users of the traded merchandise. They are one step higher in the supply chain than the end users; they're going to be the direct sellers of the merchandise. In some cases, the buyer may also be a manufacturer who has bought raw materials for his own merchandise production (say a boat builder buying air conditioners for his line).

B2B Trade in Garments and Jewelry

Online B2B trading is particularly useful in the garments and jewelry industry. An American retailer can directly order wholesale sarongs, Aloha dresses, kaftans, crochet dresses, and other types of garments from garment factories in other countries like Indonesia. Sterling silver accessories and jewelry can also be ordered direct from Asian factories or their authorized distributors. Masks, tribal artifacts and carvings can also be bought directly through B2B trading portals.

If you wish to become a retailer of garments and jewelry, you need to seriously consider becoming a member of a B2B trading site so you'd have access to authorized distributors and manufacturers. On the other hand, you can browse through the wholesale garments and jewelry dealers in the web and find those that offer quality merchandise at reasonable prices.