Learning how to wholesale and buy cheap shoes made for women, men, and kids. These include sports shoes, boots, sneakers, heeled shoes, and safety shoes. 

Since ancient times, humans have been wearing shoes to protect our feet from the elements and terrain. Today, shoes are more than utilitarian objects. Shoes can be used to compliment an outfit, to keep us comfortable while working or getting our bodies in shape and to boost our self-confidence as we glide across the dance floor. It’s no wonder that shoes can mean big sales in the retail and e-commerce world.

Finding wholesale shoe sources is very important if you are a retailer looking to find quality, but inexpensive products to fill your physical or virtual shelves. As a reseller, you want to optimize profits. To do this, you have to find desirable items that will appeal to your customer base. You also have to find these items at a cost that allows for maximum mark-up. Thankfully, fashionable and even designer shoes can be found at deeply discounted prices from wholesalers in China. Finding these great deals doesn’t have to be difficult. Once you know where to go to find wholesale suppliers, you will be able to start choosing your inventory and be well on your way to a successful retail business..

If you are an individual shopper purchasing shoes for yourself, you can still benefit from finding wholesale shoe sources. Shoes account for a large portion of many people’s wardrobe budget, so finding quality shoes at a discounted price is a smart way to stretch your clothing budget. Having feet that look stylish and feel comfortable often comes at a price, but with wholesalers, your wallet can feel as good as your feet look in your new stylish shoes.

Whether you are an individual looking to expand your footwear wardrobe or a retailer looking to expand your inventory, check-out these 7 wholesale and cheap shoes websites. Here you are likely to find your next favorite pair of shoes or your next hot seller at a fraction of the typical retail price.

1.Alibaba.com — www.alibaba.com

Alibaba is a popular website among retail operators and is widely respected in the industry. With a wide selection of shoes and literally thousands of other items available on their website, it is a one-stop-shopping experience for shoes, laces and other related (and unrelated) wholesale items. The company is based in Hangzhou, China but has suppliers from all over the country.

You will need to create an account at the Alibaba website to place an order from the site, but you can browse as a visitor. You will not need a wholesaler license to create your account.

Once you have landed on the Alibaba front page, click on the “Categories” tab on top left side of the page. Find the “Shoes & Accessories” tab to start searching for the type of shoes you are looking to purchase. Narrow your search by selecting shoes for women, men or children or search for specific sizes and styles. You can narrow your search even more by choosing the type or color of shoe you are looking for such as a pump, sandal, sneaker or even slippers in a particular color.

The cost of the shoes vary depending on the style and supplier you select, but it isn’t unusual to find shoes for as low as a couple of US dollars. The site is free to join and offers a thirty day return policy on your purchases.

2. Global Sources — www.globalsources.com

Global Sources is a company that is based in Hong Kong. It offers business-to-business purchasing with buyers from around the globe. The company has been around since 1970 and is a big name in the wholesale supplier industry. The company does more than e-commerce supplies too. They host China Sourcing Fairs where manufacturers and suppliers can come together to do business with potential buyers at trade fairs. These trade fairs are held in many major cities around the world.

As mentioned above, this company is specifically designed to connect retailers with suppliers in Hong Kong and other parts of the world through trade shows, but for those who can not attend the trade shows, the company offers great connections on their website too.

Want to check-out what Global Sources has to offer? Head to their website. Hover over the “Fashion Accessories & Footwear” tab to bring-up a menu with several footwear options. You can find shoes for every member of the family at deeply discounted prices at Global Sources. Some of the shoes you will find on this site are only available with large minimum orders, but you can often find resellers who are willing to send a sample or have a smaller minimum order. Global Sources does not offer a guarantee but does have a dispute center should your order not be completed to your satisfaction.

Global Sources is known around the industry for vetting their suppliers. This helps to assure that buyers are getting quality items from reputable suppliers.

3. Ali Express – www.aliexpress.com

Individual buyers can find great deals at the Ali Express website. Many sellers will sell their shoes individually and at lower than retail prices. At the Ali Express website, you will find a variety of shoes at discounted prices. Either hover over the “Bags and Shoes” tab under “Categories” or click on the “Shoes” link. From here you can narrow your search by a variety of factors including price and shipping options, as well as the type of shoes you are wanting to buy. You can also type in specific keywords into the search bar at the top of the page to see specific listings, such as “girls slippers” or “blue flip flops.” Ali Express offers a 24/7 help center and a buyer protection plan. There is also an app that you can download for use on your smartphone and other mobile device.

If you are a retailer and are looking for a good deal on shoes to sell at your brick-and-mortar or e-commerce store, Ali Express is a good place to start. You will be able to find shoe suppliers that offer a wide range of options at deeply discounted prices. Another great feature of Ali Express is that the site allows you to negotiate with suppliers regarding price, quantity restrictions and other factors.

4. Made-in-China – www.made-in-china.com

Made-in-China helps to connect international buyers with Chinese suppliers. Use the drop-down menu and click on the “Apparel and Accessories” link or simply type in your specific keywords into the search field to find what you are looking for to purchase. This site provides many options for those looking for suppliers for their retail business. Individuals can also find great deals at this site too. Simply utilize the “Min. Order” search filter to find shoes that are offered with a minimum order of a single pair. This site also offers an app for shopping on the go and a “New User Guide” to help new users navigate their site with ease.

If you are a retailer and want to make face-to-face connections with potential suppliers, simply apply to meet the suppliers by clicking on the “For Buyer” link at the top of the page. The company will help facilitate a face-to-face meeting with the supplier or suppliers of your choice.

5. DHGate – www.dhgate.com

DHGates, located in Beijing, helps connect buyers with suppliers worldwide. DHGate mainly sells items produced by small or medium size Chinese factories.

To shop for shoes, hover over the “Shoes * Accessories” link which will bring-up a whole new menu with plenty of options to choose from. You can also type in specific keywords at the top of the page in the search bar. This site encourages you to shop from their app by offering you lower prices on the app than on the website on specified items. They also offer coupons and discounts that can be delivered to your inbox by signing-up for their email list. Some resellers offer free shipping and there are ratings for each item too, given by other customers. This site is perfect for individuals who are looking for a great deal on shoes as the site offers items at single quantities and does not require you to buy in bulk. However, because of the low prices, retailers can also find good deals on items they intend to resell.

Be sure to utilize the rating system on the DHGate website. These ratings will help you to determine the best suppliers and to choose the best products. The seller ratings show you the reactions of the buyers who have made purchases from these suppliers before. The system rates on things like communication, delivery time and whether or not the supplier described the item accurately.

DHGate accepts all major credit cards and processes your purchases through their own system so your personal payment information is not shared with the individual supplier.

6. Yiwugo.com – www.yiwugo.com

Yiwugo offers a huge selection of shoes and every other item imaginable. With over 210,000 suppliers, 70,000 physical stores and 1.7 million products in Yiwu,China, this site has it all. The website Yiwugo (yiwugo.com) mainly displays the location of their suppliers’ physical stores on the website, but you can also look for specific items.

Look for the “Apparel, Shoes & Parts” link under “Categories” on the left side of the site. From there you can search through the options or you can type in specific keywords into the search bar at the top of the page. Some suppliers offer a set price for their shoes and others are willing to negotiate with you on the cost. Simply contact the seller through this site and provide them with the necessary information in order to get a quote.

7. 1688 – www.1688.com

This site, www.1688.com, is mainly geared toward domestic Chinese customers but customers with US currency can also make purchases. This site is written in Chinese but can be translated into English. To translate this site into English, open it it in your Chrome browser and right-click anywhere on the page. Select the “Translate to English” option and wait for the page to load.

Please note that if you are a customer living outside of China, you will need an agent who is able to purchase and ship your shoes and other merchandise for you. Most of the suppliers at 1688.com do not speak English and do not offer international shipping. Foreign companies and individuals (non-Chinese) cannot purchase and pay directly at the website. Contact us for more information.

You will find a variety of shoes available at this site with offerings in all sizes and styles. This is a great resource for retailers who are looking to stock their shelves at low wholesale prices.

Helpful Tips for Buyers

As with any online purchases, it is wise to check customer reviews for the specific sellers and products you are interested in purchasing. It is also wise to research specific postal and import laws that pertain to your area. Some suppliers have warehouses in other countries which can cut down on shipping cost and time. For instance, if you are a customer in the United States and you want to make a purchase at Alibaba, look for a supplier with a warehouse in the United States to avoid dealing with customs.

It’s also important to consult the size charts for the specific item or items you wish to purchase. Sizing in China may be different than sizing in your home country, so it is important to consult the sizing charts for each individual item.

If you plan on selling the shoes you buy at wholesale websites, consider buying a sample before making a large order. If a particular supplier doesn’t offer a sample price, contact them. You might be able to negotiate a price for an individual item.

If you are an online retailer looking to make a profit from selling shoes that you have found at these discount prices, be sure to look for suppliers who offer drop-shipping. Drop-shipping can save you a lot of time and money and can help you service your customers in a timely fashion.

How We Can Help

We can help you avoid making time consuming and costly mistakes. Allow us to help facilitate your wholesale purchases from China. We will provide you with customs clearance and customs services in the United States, Canada, Mexico and Europe (Europe includes: Britain, France, Germany, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Belgium, Ireland, Spain, Italy, Austria, Denmark, Czech Republic, Finland , Hungary, Poland, Sweden, Slovenia, Slovakia, Romania, Greece, Lithuania, Estonia, Latvia, Portugal). We can also provide pick-up service in China from the suppliers of your choice to your address (door to door service). We offer air, sea, express and rail (Europe) shipping to expedite your order in the least amount of time possible.

Shopping for shoes, whether for personal use or for resale, will never be the same once you have discovered the joys of paying less for your favorite styles at wholesale shoe websites.

Learn more about shoes

Shoes are an essential part of our daily life. We need to wear shoes every day. Everyone must choose comfortable shoes and find ones that are right for them.

1.)Distribution of Chinese shoe manufacturers

Wholesale shoes are widely distributed in four major regions of China: Guangdong (mainly in Dongguan), Fujian (mainly in Quanzhou), Zhejiang (mainly in Wenzhou), and Sichuan (mainly in Chengdu). In these four areas, you can wholesale shoes of any style from China.

2.)Type of shoes

There are many types of shoes. For starters, there are men’s shoes, women’s shoes, children’s shoes. On top of that, there are a variety of different styles, including boots, sports shoes, outdoor shoes, high heels, travel shoes, sandals, cloth shoes, slippers, tennis shoes, hiking shoes, rubber shoes, cotton slippers, canvas shoes, casual shoes, safety shoes, and baby shoes, etc.

3.)Material

The main material of the shoe is divided into three parts: face, sole, and interior. There are a wide range of materials that can make up any one of these three parts, and some are preferred more than others by specific consumers. It is best to educate yourself on this range of materials and adjust your orders accordingly. Let us examine various materials to make different parts of the a shoe.

(1)Shoe surface

All materials for making uppers are collectively referred to as leather, which can be either natural leather and artificial leather.

1.1 Classification of leather:

Cowhide:

Cow hide is divided into both yellow cowhide and buffalo leather. Generally, the strength of yellow cowhide is better than that of buffalo. According to the cow’s age, cowhide can be divided into fetal cowhide, calfskin, medium cowhide and cowhide. Generally, the younger the cow, the higher the price, and the higher the grade. However, the higher price does not always mean higher strength.

The cowhide can be generally divided into a first layer and a second layer. The first layer is generally used for making a shoe upper, and the second layer is generally used for making a foot of a sports shoe or a leather shoe. The price of the first layer of cowhide is much higher than the price of the second layer of cowhide.

Sheepskin:

Sheepskin is divided into two categories: sheep skin and goat skin. Generally, goat skin is superior to sheep skin, as the softness and comfort are better of sheep skin is better than that of goat skin. Sheepskin is generally not classified according to the age of the sheep.

Pig skin:

Pigskins are generally used less in the upper areas of the shoe, and relatively more in children’s shoes. The prices of pigskin are lower than that of other skins.. It is commonly used in adult shoes to make materials for internal structures. Pig skin generally has a first layer and second layer. The strength of the first layer is better than the second layer, but the price of the first layer is about 3 to 6 times more expensive than the second layer.

Other animal skins:

Let us use this area for all variety of other skins which can be used for shoes, including crocodile skin, kangaroo skin, deer skin, lizard skin, snake skin, pearl skin, ostrich skin, ostrich skin, and frog skin. These skins are often scarce due to situational unavailability of their sources, but that rarity does not mean that these leather materials are any better than more commons ones in terms of use and longevity.

1.2 Classification of artificial leather:

Fabrics that are commonly used to make uppers are collectively referred to as artificial leather. If an upper fabric is not made from natural leather, it is made from artificial leather. Artificial leather is usually made from a fabric base, then coated with synthetic resins and various plastics. There are two kinds of PVC artificial leather that are found in widest use, those bind PU artificial leather and PU synthetic leather.

(2)Sole

1. Sole material classification:

Rubber Sole: Natural rubber is generally both wear-resistant and cold-resistant, and has good performance. However, the rubber used to make the sole is often diluted with other low-cost materials. If these materials are added in an improper ratio, the folding and wear resistance of the product will be greatly reduced. Rubber soles tend to be very heavy.

PVC Sole: Cold resistance is poor. The lower the temperature, the harder the sole is. Conversely, the higher the temperature, the softer the sole is. The folding resistance and wear resistance are also determined according to the material.

TPR Sole: This material is lighter than PVC soles and rubber soles. The surface is dull and cold resistance is good. Folding and abrasion resistance are determined according to the material.

PU Sole: The weight is lighter, and it is generally resistant to folding, abrasion, and cold temperatures.

Leather Sole: The sole of the leather is breathable, has good sweat absorption, good cold resistance, good folding resistance, and good general wear resistance, but this leads to it being higher priced. Leather soles are generally made from cowhide.

EVA Sole: Light weight, but the pressure resistance is poor. It is easy to deform after pressing, and it is not easy to rebound. Good cold resistance, wear resistance, and folding resistance.

Composite Sole: The combination of one ore more materials is generally referred to as a composite bottom. The composite sole can be combined in tandem with the advantages of the above materials. The cost of a composite bottom is generally higher than the above four types of outsole.

TPR, PVC, and PU: These three are more common materials. Among the three, PU is the lightest and most wear-resistant. Given that, its price is also the most expensive. The sole of PU material is very well recognized because it is very light and the holes in the sole are round. There are many people who can’t distinguish the soles of PVC and TPR even thought these two materials are very well recognized in the shoe industry. One noticeable factor is that weight of the soles of PVC materials are heavier than that of TPR. Conversely, the sole elasticity of TPR materials is better than that of PVC. The easiest way to tell the difference between the two is to hold the soles firmly and drop them naturally. If you can bounce them, the soles are made of TPR. PVC materials are cheaper than TPR, but the quality is not as good, being most notable during the winter. The soles are easy to broke. It.’s actually very simple to identify a rubber sole because if you smell it with your nose, it has a rubbery scent which can be easily identified.

(3)Interior of the shoe

The inner materials of shoes can be generally divided into two categories, leather and artificial leather.

1. Authentic leather:  Pig skin, sheep skin, cowhide.

Pig skin: Can be divided into the first layer and the second layer. According to the surface treatment, it can be divided into water-dyed pigskin and a coated pigskin. Water-stained pigskin is breathable and has good sweat absorption, but is easily faded. Coated, or painted, pigskin usually does not fade, but it is breathable and absorbent. The strength of the second layer of pig skin is much lower than that of the top layer.

Sheepskin: Usually used to make materials in high-end shoes. It does not fade easily and has good ventilation and sweat absorption . The price is usually three to four times that of the first layer of pig skin.

Cowhide: It is generally used to make the inner material of high-grade shoes. It has good ventilation and sweat absorption, but a high price.

2.Artificial leather:

PU, PVC and other composite leather materials. Artificial leather generally has a lower cost, but some prices are higher than pig skin. PU and PVC leathers that have not been treated by special processes are breathable but have poor sweat absorption. However, some PU leathers have been treated with special processes to improve air permeability, therefore increasing sweat absorption. This leather is commonly known as breathable leather. Finally, artificial leather does not generally fade.

4.)Size of the shoes

The shoe size is used to measure the size of a human foot . At present, the sizes of shoes used in countries around the world are not consistent, but generally include two measurements of length and width. The most popular shoe sizes are European, UK, American, Japanese and Chinese.

Below is a size comparison chart that can help you solve the problem of how to pick the right size. After measuring the length of the foot and the width of the foot, you can pick the right shoes.

Women size

Men size

Kids Size

The Chinese standard uses millimeters or centimeters to measure the size of the shoe. For example, 245 is millimeters and 241/2 is centimeters. The representations of these two are the same size.

Of course, this date can only be used as a reference, and each supplier’s shoes will be a little different in size. So the best way is to use centimeter (cm) as the intermediate unit to convert, using manual methods to measure the length and width of the foot, in centimeters.

How to calculate the size of the shoes ?

here are two kinds of shoe size that are commonly used in China, one is the UK standard and the US standard.

The conversion formula is as follows:
For example: 25*2-10=40, so the length of the foot of 25 cm corresponds to 40 size.

1. The US (US size) and Chinese size conversion methods are as follows:
Men’s shoes: US size × 2+26 = Chinese size
Women’s shoes: US size +30 = Chinese size
Children’s shoes: US size +8=Chinese size
2. Japan: Japanese size × 2-10 = Chinese size.
3. The international size is also calculated in millimeters

How to measure your foot length ?

There are two ways to measure the size of your feet as follows:

1. Place your feet on an A4 sheet of paper, then draw your feet with a pen, using a ruler to measure the length and width of the foot.

You can buy a tool for measuring the size of the foot online (I recommend this method, as it is more accurate)

Tips:
1)If your feet are wider than the average, it is recommended to choose a larger size than the standard size. If feet are thinner or average, choose the standard size.

2)It is always recommended to measure the length and width of your feet before purchasing shoes.

6.)What do you need to consider when wholsaling shoes from China?

We must consider a lot of problems before wholesaling shoes from China. We can consider the best options to wholesale shoes from China from the following points.

1. Market positioning
First of all, we have to decide which kind of shoes we desire to sell (there is a vast array of shoe types). Also, we must consider whether we will be selling men’s shoes, women’s shoes, or children’s shoes. The first step is always to choose the type or types of shoe we will be selling.

2.Source of supply
Sourcing for shoe suppliers in China. There are over tens of thousands of shoe suppliers in China which are located in 4 states/provinces in China: Guangdong, Fujian, Zhejiang and Sichuan. We can find the right suppliers through the above 7 wholesale websites.

3.The price of the product
Before wholesaling shoes, we must know all the prices of the products. If you want to wholesale shoes locally, we need to go to the market to research products and prices, and network for comparisons so that we can accurately calculate the profit of our wholesale shoes. The price of the product is very important to the final outcome. If the price of the product is expensive, it will be difficult for you to enter the market and hope for profit because the price of your competitor may be lower.

4.Product quality

Before massing wholesale shoes, I recommend buying some samples for testing. The quality of the product is actually more important than the price. Quality can keep your customers, and quality determines your future.

You will find many suppliers producing the same shoes in China, but the price may vary greatly. If the price difference is very large, we must consider whether the material of the product is the same. So buying samples for comparison is very necessary from different suppliers.

5.Transportation
What is the best way to transport inventory from China to my country? We must calculate the cost of transportation into the cost of the product if we are to start wholesaling shoes from China. Generally, there are 3 modes of transportation, those being air, sea, or express. Sea shipping is the most economical way to transport, but it takes a long time to arrive. If you are only wholesaling dozens of pairs of shoes, let’s say less than 100 pairs of shoes, you may wish to ship by air or express.

6.Tariffs (Customs & duties)
We must pay customs, duties, and customs clearance fees if importing abroad. Tariffs also affect the overall cost of your product in regards to profit. If you are importing to the US, you can check the tariff rate through this website:  https://hts.usitc.gov/ or learn more about Importing from China to USA:Customs & Duties  .  If you are importing shoes from China to Europe, please learn more about customs & duties here:  Import Customs Duties from China to Europe

If you still don’t understand the import tariff, please contact us. We can provide you with customs clearance and customs services in the US, Canada and Europe (door-to-door service in China).

7.How to find a shoe customer?
If you want to sell your shoes locally, you need to find a local retail store to work with. You can also sell your products through local TV services. You can even sell your shoes directly to consumers through social media, i.e. Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Youtube, Pinterest, Google+, Instagram, Tumblr, Ebay, or Amazon. Selling your products through Google ads is also a good option.

Welcome to leave a message here and contact us if you have any questions.