Sourcing
Alibaba
Supplier discovery, OEM sourcing, quotations, and manufacturer comparison.
Hi, I'm Eli. đź‘‹
Your Sourcing
Guy.
Product Sourcing & Procurement Specialist
Need a supplier? Have a product idea? You're in the right place. I help brands find reliable manufacturers, negotiate better pricing, and turn product ideas into real products.
So, what are you working on?
Product Research
Researching product...
A
AlibabaSupplier discovery
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Made-in-ChinaManufacturer search
âś“G
Global SourcesSupplier comparison
âś“Okay, here's where I come in.
What I Do
Services
Click a card to see how each service works.
Finding a supplier is only the first step.
Why Work With Eli?
More than supplier links
Anyone can search a marketplace and find a supplier. The harder part is what comes after: comparing and vetting manufacturers, negotiating MOQ and pricing, coordinating samples, following up on production, and keeping logistics on track. That is the part I handle for you.
Supplier Research
I look beyond the first search result and compare manufacturers against your actual requirements, not just their listings.
Negotiation
I help negotiate pricing, MOQ, terms, and other project details where there is genuine room to improve the deal.
Hands-On Coordination
I can stay involved through sampling, production, packaging, and logistics, depending on what your project needs.
Practical Approach
I focus on what actually works for your product, budget, timeline, and market. No overcomplicating things.
Wondering how I actually source a product?
It's Pretty Simple
A Simple 5-Step Process
Click any step for the full breakdown.
Here's some of the work I've been involved in.
Featured Work
Products I've Sourced
Over 50 products sourced and developed across beauty, personal care, home, wellness, and industrial categories, from concept to delivered goods. Below is a selection of what I can share publicly. These categories are examples of past work, not limits. I source across any product category your brand needs.
* Most projects are covered by NDAs (non-disclosure agreements) with my clients and cannot be disclosed. The products shown here are a representative sample. Click any product to see how I was involved.
Tools & Platforms
Tools I Use
A selection of research, sourcing, productivity, AI, and communication tools I use throughout the product sourcing process.
Sourcing
1688
China domestic supplier research and factory discovery.
Sourcing
Made-in-China
Manufacturer discovery and supplier comparison.
Sourcing
Global Sources
Supplier discovery and international manufacturer research.
Market Research
Amazon
Product research, market validation, pricing, and competitive analysis.
Market Research
Helium 10
Amazon product research, demand analysis, keywords, and competition.
Market Research
Similarweb
Market intelligence, competitor research, and traffic analysis.
Market Research
Meta Ads Library
Competitor advertising research and product positioning analysis.
Market Research
Google Trends
Search demand, product interest, and market trend research.
Market Research
Google Shopping
Product pricing, competitor research, and market comparison.
Productivity
Microsoft Excel
Costing, quotation comparison, supplier analysis, and sourcing data.
Productivity
Google Sheets
Collaborative sourcing trackers, costing, research, and supplier databases.
Productivity
Microsoft Office
Business documentation, analysis, reporting, and procurement workflows.
Productivity
Google Workspace
Research, documentation, communication, and collaborative workflows.
Productivity
ClickUp
Project tracking, supplier follow-up, sourcing tasks, and workflow management.
AI & Research
ChatGPT
Research assistance, analysis, documentation, and sourcing workflows.
AI & Research
Claude
Research, document analysis, writing, and workflow support.
AI & Research
DeepSeek
AI-assisted research, analysis, and information processing.
AI & Research
Perplexity
Web research, market research, and source-based information gathering.
Communication
Supplier communication, quotation follow-up, and production coordination.
Communication
China supplier communication and manufacturer coordination.
Communication
Gmail
Supplier outreach, quotation follow-up, and client communication.
Communication
Zoom
Supplier meetings, client calls, and project coordination.
Communication
Google Meet
Supplier meetings, client calls, and remote collaboration.
A closer look at a few projects.
Case Studies
Selected Sourcing Projects
Natural Crystal Nails
The Need
The brand wanted a luxury nail product that went beyond standard press-ons: nails carved from genuine natural crystal.
What I Worked On
This is lapidary work, not typical nail manufacturing, so the search was unusual. I researched feasibility, located specialist workshops capable of carving thin, curved nail shapes from real stone, and managed sampling and quality checks until the pieces met the standard the product needed.
The Result
A rare, production-ready luxury product with a vetted specialist manufacturer behind it.
Organic Mouthwash
The Need
A clean oral care line in two different formats: effervescent tablets and a traditional oil-swish formula.
What I Worked On
I sourced organic oral care manufacturers able to handle both formats, coordinated formulation samples for each, reviewed compliance requirements, and sourced packaging suited to the clean positioning of the brand.
The Result
Both formats developed with compliant, retail-ready packaging from vetted manufacturers.
Custom Packaging
The Need
Boxes, containers, cosmetic bottles, and food-grade plastic packaging, each built to specification rather than bought off the shelf.
What I Worked On
I sourced packaging suppliers for each format, evaluated materials against the intended use, negotiated pricing and MOQs, and coordinated samples so every format could be checked in hand before ordering.
The Result
Packaging sourced to spec across multiple formats, from cosmetic bottles to food-grade containers.
“Curiosity started early.
It still drives everything I do today.”
But before all of this...
About Me
I was just a curious kid.
Turns out, that curiosity never really went away.
Hi, I'm Eli Alcantara. Friends and clients call me Eli.
Even as a kid, I was fascinated by how things came together: how ideas, people, and simple resources could create something meaningful. That same curiosity eventually led me to a career in product sourcing.
I'm a Product Sourcing Specialist who helps brands turn ideas into high-quality, delivered products. Throughout my career, I've sourced everything from natural crystal nails and organic personal care to nutrition supplements and custom packaging.
My approach is simple: understand your goals deeply, find and vet the right manufacturers, negotiate terms that protect your margins, and manage sampling, production, and logistics until the goods are in your hands.
Whether you're launching a new product line or improving an existing supply chain, I handle the details so you can focus on growing your brand.
50+
Products Sourced
Diverse
Categories Covered
End-to-End
Project Management
Diverse product categories, with sourcing capabilities tailored to your needs. The portfolio shows examples, not limits.
* Most sourcing projects are protected by client NDAs and cannot be publicly disclosed, so the portfolio shows a representative sample.
Not sure where to start?
You do not need a perfect product brief.
Plenty of good sourcing projects start with a single photo or a half-formed idea. Send me whatever you have, and I can help you figure out what information is still needed.
Any of these is enough to begin:
- A product idea
- A photo
- A reference product
- A supplier link
- A rough description
- Target quantity
- Target price, if you have one
- Any specs you already know
FAQ
Common Questions
The timeline depends on the complexity of the product, particularly its ingredients, formulation, certifications, packaging, MOQ, and whether a new formulation is required. For a simple product with an existing formulation or clear specifications, supplier sourcing and quotation comparison can often take around 1 to 3 weeks. For a more complex product requiring formulation, specialized ingredients, certifications, testing, and multiple sample revisions, the process can take 4 to 12+ weeks. If you already have a complete tech pack, the sourcing stage can be considerably faster because I can focus immediately on finding manufacturers capable of meeting your requirements, then comparing their capabilities, MOQ, pricing, certifications, and lead times. Supplier sourcing and quotation comparison may take around 1 to 3 weeks, while sampling, revisions, testing, and production would follow afterward. The more defined your product is, the faster we can move. A production-ready tech pack removes much of the initial research and specification work, while a product that needs formulation and development naturally requires more time.
No. China is a major manufacturing hub and often the right answer, but not always. The best country to source from depends on your product, budget, quantities, and requirements.
The categories on this site are examples of past work, not a limit. I can research and source across most consumer product categories depending on what your brand needs.
Yes. If you already have a supplier, I can step into the communication, help compare quotations, negotiate terms, and follow up on samples and production.
Yes. Where there is genuine room, I negotiate pricing, MOQs, payment terms, and lead times. I will also tell you honestly when a quote is already fair.
Yes. I can request and track samples, manage revisions with you, and follow up on production milestones through to shipment.
Whatever you have: an idea, a photo, a reference link, or a rough description. We can work out the missing details together.
Have a product in mind?
Let's talk.
You do not need to have everything figured out. Tell me what you are trying to source, and we can work out the next step together.