To find out where a company imports from, researchers can use a variety of online tools that provide data sourced from the U.S. government’s database of shipping manifests. Most methods can provide searchers with information on suppliers, commodities, shipping quantities, and even pricing.
Despite the large size and worth of the ecommerce market, standing out and being successful long-term isn’t an easy feat. Just figuring out how to find suppliers that you can rely on is a challenge. The solution? See how the competition does it. You might be surprised to discover how easy it is to find out where a company imports from.
When you’re entering a market that’s worth over $6.3 trillion globally, but also has a 90 percent fail rate - it pays to do a little extra research.
When you’re searching for suppliers for your ecommerce business, it makes sense to start by analyzing the competition. Information on suppliers, as well as pricing and common lead times, serves as a strategic asset.
It’s common to use a two-step process:
Public databases are treasure troves of information about where companies import from.
Government Resources Available to the Public:
The United States Customs and Border Protection (CBP) keeps records that can be requested and searched to understand trade flows. Among the information they release are Shipping Manifests and Bills of Lading, which reveal the supplier names, shipment details, and other data points.
Online Trade Databases:
These companies pull information from the CBP and organize it in a way that is easy for just about anyone to search. Platforms like Panjiva, ImportGenius, ImportYeti, and others allow visitors to search by company name as well as industry.
They’ll provide the same information as the CBP, but break it down further. For a small fee, they’ll usually supply data on volumes, frequency, and even shipping ports.
The ability to search records can give new and existing business owners a very detailed snapshot of their industry competitors. However, that amount of information can be overwhelming.
Having the information is one thing, but knowing what it means for your business is much easier with a little professional help. After gathering information on the competition, the next step is to work with a professional trade consultant.
Their professional insights may include:
If you’re truly serious about starting your own business and need to set up for importing, professional advice provides both clarity and saves you time that can go towards finalizing other details.
In saturated markets, knowing your suppliers can be the difference between thriving and failing. Should you manage to carve out a specific niche within a saturated market, the ability to stay there isn’t guaranteed.
To stay on top, you need to make your business efficient and find strategies that keep you ahead of the competition.
Efficiency comes in the form of a well managed supply chain. The start of that chain, at least for most ecommerce businesses, is the supplier. There are three significant areas to focus on:
By combining these with other efficient strategies designed to target other areas of your business, you increase your chances of success.
Supplier insights can position your business ahead of competitors. Some insights, such as those provided by trade data, can give businesses an extra edge. However, access to that knowledge by itself, will only take you so far.
When you take the time to reach out and connect with the suppliers you find, more opportunities come your way.
Remember, in e-commerce, differentiation is key to capturing and retaining customers.
Having explored how to find where your competitors import from, it's clear that your supplier information is valuable – and vulnerable. It’s a double-edged sword; as easy as it was for you to find this information, it’s equally easy for others to find yours.
When thinking of your own supplier information, you really do need to consider the worst case scenario. If a competitor really wants to undermine your business, the information on your suppliers and shipping routes gives them a blueprint to do so.
In a market with as high of a failure rate as ecommerce, every advantage makes a difference.
90% | Ecommerce businesses that fail with 120 days |
48% | Fail rate of businesses after five years |
23% | Businesses that cite being outcompeted as their reason for failing |
29% | Businesses that cite price and cost issues as their reason for failing |
If you’d like to be in business long-term, then you need long-term strategies for success. There are things you can do as a company to protect your most sensitive information.
Yes, these steps all help keep your business secure. From an internal security perspective, all these things are important.
Here’s the issue: none of those steps will prevent the CBP from releasing your shipping data and supplier details to trade organizations and data mining companies.
For that kind of protection, you need to go straight to the source.
Your Shipping Manifest is Public and Available To Your Competitors.
Purchase Your Manifest Confidentiality and Protect Your Business!
Now, the CBP won’t stop collecting your data. Don’t get your hopes that high. Whenever you import products, there are taxes and fees to be paid, inspections to run, and other minutiae that goes with clearing U.S. customs.
What you can have a say in is what the CBP can do with the information after they’ve collected it. Businesses that enroll in the CBP’s Manifest Confidentiality Program can prevent their shipping manifest data from being publicly disclosed.
That’s right. The CBP will have your information, but even if someone were to specifically request your company’s data, they won’t reveal it.
Now, it won’t erase past data. Unless you’ve entered the program prior to any shipping activity, there will be some records still available. The good news is that most people trying to undercut you as a business are looking to do so easily. If your information isn’t obvious, those with bad intentions will likely seek out an easier target.
Learn More: CBP Confidentiality Request: Protecting Company Privacy
The importance of safeguarding your business's competitive edge should never be overlooked. USA Customs Clearance is here to provide you with an easy, hassle-free option to secure your business data.
We offer Manifest Confidentiality filing, a service designed to keep your import data secure and your business strategy protected.
For more information on our Manifest Confidentiality filing service and other import solutions, or to start safeguarding your business, call us at 855-912-0406 or visit our manifest confidentiality service page.
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