Domestic Sourcing
Advantages
- Higher manufacturing quality and labor standards
- Easier communication with no language barrier
- Marketing appeal of being made in North America
- Easier to verify reputable manufacturers
- Faster shipping time
- High intellectual property right protection
- Greater payment security and recourse
Disadvantages
- Higher manufacturing costs
- Less product choice (There are many items that just aren’t made in North America anymore)
Overseas Sourcing
Advantages
- Lower manufacturing costs
- High number of manufacturers to choose from
- One-stop services like have made it easy to navigate suppliers
Disadvantages
- Lower perceived quality from customers
- (Usually) lower manufacturing and labor standards
- Little intellectual property protection
- Language and communication barrier can be difficult to navigate
- Difficulty/costly to verify manufacturer and visit on-site
- Longer shipping time
- Cultural differences in business practices
- Product importation and customs clearance
- Less payment security and recourse