Compare Local and Global

Once you’ve identified reliable suppliers, the next question is: should you source locally or globally? Both options come with trade-offs, and the right choice depends on your product, your budget, and your brand values.

Local suppliers give you speed, accountability, and often higher consistency. Shipping is cheaper and faster, communication is easier, and you can often visit the factory or workshop. If your brand emphasizes craft, sustainability, or “made local” authenticity, this can become part of your story. The downside? Local suppliers usually cost more, and your product selection may be limited.

Global suppliers—often based in Asia, Eastern Europe, or Latin America—can offer lower costs and greater variety. They’re well-suited for products that need scale from the beginning. But you face longer lead times, tariffs, and higher shipping costs. Timing becomes crucial: delays at ports or customs can derail a launch. And since your end customer may be in another part of the world, you may need to bridge the gap with third-party fulfillment centers to keep delivery times reasonable.

Neither path is “better” across the board. The trick is to know your priorities. Do you need the fastest turnaround and tightest control? Local might be the way. Do you need to stretch your budget or access more specialized categories? Global may open doors.