"With Alibaba.com, I was able to develop new supplier relationships globally, creating direct relationships with _rst-tier manufacturers."

 

Brandon Dupsky, OnFair.com, Alibaba.com member since 2006

 

Increased competition and low profit margins drove Brandon Dupsky to Alibaba.com's international suppliers directory. He found more than bargains.

 

VITAL STATS: Brandon Dupsky, Owner and CEO of OnFair.com in Lincoln, Nebraska; Alibaba.com member since 2006

 

COMPANY: Online retailer across many marketplaces specializing in consumer electronics and surplus inventory

 

NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES: 1

 

PROJECTED 2008 REVENUE: Approximately $1 million online

 

Brandon sources directly from manufacturers in order to give the savings back to the consumers. As his site's tagline says, "deals so low, it's funny!" On his website, there are closeout specials on numerous items including consumer electronics, toys, tools, sporting goods and even car parts. "My previous company, Sell2All grew into one of the largest sellers on eBay in 2004. At that time, we sourced most of our merchandise domestically in the US. With increased competition globally, our supply channels were no longer competitive, ultimately driving the company out of business," explains Brandon. "With the use of Alibaba, I was able to develop new supplier relationships globally, creating direct relationships with first-tier manufacturers. These relationships offer a more competitive and profitable supply channel for my new website, OnFair.com."

 

Brandon has used the power of technology and e-business to take his business global. He has created relationships with international suppliers and buyers and maintained those relationships so it is a win-win situation for both sides. "In addition to buying wholesale, I have drop ship relationships in Hong Kong that will deliver directly to my customers around the world,"  explains Brandon. Without having to pay for extra warehousing and shipping expenses by drop shipping, he's able to save on costs and remain competitive in the e-business industry. For Brandon, the secret's in the relationship. "The best relationships you can build are the personal ones where you know your supplier very well. You can call them anytime to discuss topics and you can work together to build additional value for both parties," says Brandon.  "Find a niche that interests you and then find the best suppliers for those products, but keep in mind that it will take some effort to find the really good suppliers. These relationships become your competitive advantage over time."

 

Brandon has been selling online for over a decade. He has written his own guides for eBay sellers on how to harness the power of Web 2.0 and how to increase traffic. He also shares his experiences by speaking at seminars, conferences, summits, and other events. His business has received numerous awards, but before he reached his business success, he had his failures and even had to close his business down. However, when competition increased for Brandon, he found his solution at Alibaba.com. "When the global competitive pressure increased, I was receiving competition directly from manufacturers in China on products that I could not compete profitably with anymore. Rather than giving up, I developed a relationship directly with the same manufacturer through Alibaba.com and together we both benefited even more than when we were competitors," notes Brandon.