A business that provides goods or services to buyers, often as a manufacturer, wholesaler or distributor.
A supplier is any business that provides products or services to another business. In B2B trade a supplier may be a manufacturer that produces goods, a wholesaler or distributor that resells them, or a trading company that sources on behalf of buyers.
Choosing the right supplier is one of the most important decisions in sourcing. Buyers evaluate a supplier on product quality, production capacity, pricing, lead time, certifications, communication and verification status.
On a B2B marketplace, verified suppliers give buyers added confidence that the business is genuine and capable of fulfilling orders.