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Buyer Guide · Step 3 of 6
Step 3: Search and Shortlist Suppliers
Use the supplier directory's advanced filters (sector, certification, location, membership tier) to identify 5-10 potential suppliers. Save them to your shortlist for side-by-side comparison.
Buyer Guide — Your progress
Step 3 of 6
Use the supplier directory's advanced filters (sector, certification, location, membership tier) to identify 5-10 potential suppliers. Save them to your shortlist for side-by-side comparison.
Full Guide
With your buyer account active, you're ready to identify potential suppliers. The BangladeshExport.com supplier directory has powerful search and filter capabilities designed specifically for B2B sourcing.
**Search methods:**
1. **Keyword search**: Use the search bar at the top of any page. Search by product name (e.g. 'cotton t-shirt'), HS code (e.g. '6109'), or supplier name (e.g. 'Dhaka Textiles'). Results include both suppliers and products — toggle between them.
2. **Category browse**: Navigate via /categories to see all major export sectors. Click any category to see sub-categories and then individual suppliers within each.
3. **Advanced filters**: On the supplier directory page (/suppliers), use the filter sidebar:
- Sector: RMG, Leather, Jute, Pharma, Agro, IT, etc.
- Certification: ISO 9001, WRAP, BSCI, GOTS, OEKO-TEX, LWG, SA8000
- Membership tier: Verified (basic), Gold ($100/yr), Diamond ($500/yr) — higher tier = more established
- Location: Dhaka, Chittagong, Khulna, Gazipur, Narayanganj, Savar
- Minimum order quantity: select your acceptable range
- Production capacity: filter by monthly output
4. **SEO pages**: Use our programmatic SEO pages like /verified-rmg-suppliers or /suppliers-in-dhaka to discover pre-filtered lists.
**Evaluating suppliers — what to look for:**
- **Verification badge**: 'Verified' means we've confirmed their legal existence (trade license, ERC, association membership). Unverified suppliers carry higher risk.
- **Membership tier**: Gold ($100/yr) and Diamond ($500/yr) members are more established companies — they've invested in their profile.
- **Certifications**: For RMG, look for WRAP (ethical manufacturing), BSCI (social compliance), OEKO-TEX (chemical safety). For pharma, look for WHO-GMP minimum, UK-MHRA/EU-GMP/US-FDA for higher quality. For leather, LWG (Leather Working Group) certification indicates environmental compliance.
- **Years in export**: Longer history = more reliable. Most profiles show 'Exporting since' year.
- **Production capacity**: Match to your needs. A 50,000 pieces/month factory is wrong for 1,000 piece orders — you'll get poor pricing and priority.
- **Product images**: Look for actual factory photos (not stock images) and product images with the company watermark.
- **Response rate**: Shown on profile — indicates how quickly they typically respond to inquiries.
**Shortlisting strategy**:
Aim for 5-10 shortlisted suppliers per product category. Too few = limited negotiation leverage. Too many = overwhelming comparison. Use the 'Add to Shortlist' button on any supplier profile. Once shortlisted, use the Compare feature (/buyer/compare) to see them side-by-side with sortable columns.
After shortlisting, you're ready for Step 4: sending RFQs (Request for Quote).
**Search methods:**
1. **Keyword search**: Use the search bar at the top of any page. Search by product name (e.g. 'cotton t-shirt'), HS code (e.g. '6109'), or supplier name (e.g. 'Dhaka Textiles'). Results include both suppliers and products — toggle between them.
2. **Category browse**: Navigate via /categories to see all major export sectors. Click any category to see sub-categories and then individual suppliers within each.
3. **Advanced filters**: On the supplier directory page (/suppliers), use the filter sidebar:
- Sector: RMG, Leather, Jute, Pharma, Agro, IT, etc.
- Certification: ISO 9001, WRAP, BSCI, GOTS, OEKO-TEX, LWG, SA8000
- Membership tier: Verified (basic), Gold ($100/yr), Diamond ($500/yr) — higher tier = more established
- Location: Dhaka, Chittagong, Khulna, Gazipur, Narayanganj, Savar
- Minimum order quantity: select your acceptable range
- Production capacity: filter by monthly output
4. **SEO pages**: Use our programmatic SEO pages like /verified-rmg-suppliers or /suppliers-in-dhaka to discover pre-filtered lists.
**Evaluating suppliers — what to look for:**
- **Verification badge**: 'Verified' means we've confirmed their legal existence (trade license, ERC, association membership). Unverified suppliers carry higher risk.
- **Membership tier**: Gold ($100/yr) and Diamond ($500/yr) members are more established companies — they've invested in their profile.
- **Certifications**: For RMG, look for WRAP (ethical manufacturing), BSCI (social compliance), OEKO-TEX (chemical safety). For pharma, look for WHO-GMP minimum, UK-MHRA/EU-GMP/US-FDA for higher quality. For leather, LWG (Leather Working Group) certification indicates environmental compliance.
- **Years in export**: Longer history = more reliable. Most profiles show 'Exporting since' year.
- **Production capacity**: Match to your needs. A 50,000 pieces/month factory is wrong for 1,000 piece orders — you'll get poor pricing and priority.
- **Product images**: Look for actual factory photos (not stock images) and product images with the company watermark.
- **Response rate**: Shown on profile — indicates how quickly they typically respond to inquiries.
**Shortlisting strategy**:
Aim for 5-10 shortlisted suppliers per product category. Too few = limited negotiation leverage. Too many = overwhelming comparison. Use the 'Add to Shortlist' button on any supplier profile. Once shortlisted, use the Compare feature (/buyer/compare) to see them side-by-side with sortable columns.
After shortlisting, you're ready for Step 4: sending RFQs (Request for Quote).
Do-This Checklist
- Use keyword search OR browse by category to find initial suppliers
- Apply filters (sector, certification, location, MOQ, capacity)
- For each promising supplier, click profile to verify credentials
- Check verification badge, membership tier, certifications
- Review product images and production capacity
- Add 5-10 qualified suppliers to your shortlist
- Use Compare view to rank them on key criteria
- Note any "red flags" (no certifications, very low prices, missing product images)
Common Pitfalls to Avoid
- Shortlisting only 1-2 suppliers — no fallback if negotiations fail
- Choosing only Gold/Diamond members — missing good smaller verified suppliers
- Ignoring certifications — risk of quality or compliance issues
- Not checking response rate — slow responders can delay your whole sourcing timeline
- Trusting prices that seem too good to be true — they usually are
Ready for the next step?
Browse Verified Suppliers
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