Resources for Finding an Outsourcer

A number of Web sites can help you find a manufacturer

ALIBABA.COM
Alibaba has a network of more than 850,000 manufacturers, distributors, and other suppliers from 240 countries, although many are from China. Sellers pay to be listed, but buyers use the service for free. Manufacturers post information such as sales volume and factory size. Buyers can search by country and by product type.

Profiles of the site's 30,000 gold members include online video tours of their plants. User forums give you access to other companies' experiences with manufacturers.

THOMASNET.COM AND THOMASGLOBAL.COM
Thomasnet lists more than 600,000 manufacturers, distributors, and resources in North America, mostly in the U.S. Thomasglobal lists some 700,000 manufacturers and industrial service providers in 28 countries, including China and Brazil. Thomasnet lets you submit the same bid to multiple vendors, making it easier to compare quotes.

GLOBALSOURCES.COM
Globalsources has a free catalog of more than 150,000 manufacturers, predominantly in mainland China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan. Some 15,000 suppliers provide extensive information, including a credit check and sometimes third-party plant inspections. To help narrow the offerings, the site lets you sort vendors by criteria such as products made and markets served.

USCHAMBER.COM
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce has affiliated American Chambers of Commerce Abroad in 100 countries. You can contact them through the site's online directory, and they'll connect you with any of their members--typically Americans who have set up operations in other countries--who might be able to help you with manufacturing. Some, but not all, of the Chambers Abroad will charge you a fee for making the introduction.