So you want to sell on eBay? You want to take advantage of the $60 billion dollar marketplace, grab your piece of the pie? That’s great, but where can you find product to sell?

That’s likely the most common question that comes up for new eBay sellers. You’ve gotta have something to sell. No products, no sales. No sales, no business, right?

This is where many people get stuck, but it doesn’t have to be complicated.

Once you have an idea in mind of what you want to sell, you need to realize that there are one or more manufacturers looking to sell those products. Let’s say it’s WidgetX.

Maybe you can find WidgetX in retail stores, online stores, or catalogs. Regardless of where you can buy it today, you probably don’t want to start at the retail end of the supply chain. The top of the supply chain is the manufacturer. The best prices are going to be closer to the manufacturer.

That’s why you need to get in touch with the manufacturer, and then find their authorized wholesalers. One of the best ways to get in touch with the manufacturer (aside from calling them directly on the phone) is to go to a trade show. Trade shows are designed to get retailers and manufacturers together. Trade shows have been where business deals have been made for years, and for you in your eBay business, this is no exception.

First, determine which industry creates your product and then the trade show that is involved. Selling consumer electronics? Check out the Consumer Electronics Show. Selling garden supplies? Check out a gardening trade show.

Getting into a trade show is a bit trickier. Make sure you have your eBay business registered and the appropriate paperwork filled out with your government. You must be able to prove that you’re a real business. If you can’t prove you’re a real business at the door, they might not let you in.

Once you’re inside though, you have a gold mine of suppliers. New product ideas will be all around you. Talk to suppliers, get business cards and contact information. Make some deals for selling products and you’ll have an endless supply of products to sell on eBay.