Kenn Pluard founded Northwest Computers and Accessories (NWCA) in 1989 in Portland, Oregon to meet the niche demand for printer cables and components for dealers and other wholesalers. Following the “internet boom” of the early 2000s, Kenn evolved the NWCA brand by expanding into hardware products and more equipment. He now offers the wholesale of a range of hardware computer and phone accessories, such as cables, chargers and hard drives, to an ever growing national audience.

So, how did a local brand successfully capture this niche market and serve its increased demand for hardware? “As a distributor buying from sellers in Los Angeles, we noticed all the competitors in this market were buying from the same place,” said Kenn. “I came across the Alibaba.com website and it opened the doors for me to directly buy from manufacturers at competitive price points, helping drastically improve my profit margins per unit.”

Prioritizing Product Quality and Buyer Security

Kenn highlights the price advantage on Alibaba.com for businesses of all sizes as NWCA is able to find ample supplier options that are both credible, as well as affordable. Through the Alibaba.com RFQ Trading Platform, organizations like NWCA can manage the entire supplier partnership process through one system.

As home to one of the largest trading platforms, Alibaba.com makes it possible to submit proposals for multiple quotations, analyze suitable suppliers to determine the best partner and communicate in real-time to successfully fulfill orders. “For one RFQ, I connected with almost 100 factories in an instant,” said Kenn. “Vendors on Alibaba.com reply quickly and you are able to access their detailed background information like number of years in business, popular products, total revenue, and more.”

With the Alibaba.com Trade Assurance feature, NWCA has reaped additional benefits of protecting its orders from any unexpected delays or damage. Kenn appreciates this service as it ensures each product is delivered safely and in a timely manner. “This gives peace of mind, especially when you’re working with people across the world,” says Kenn. “And also when working with new vendors.” As a result, NWCA has built valuable supplier relationships thanks to the mutual trust provided by Alibaba.com.

Nurturing Long Term Supplier Partnerships

During the past six years, a significant portion of NWCA’s product inventory comes from manufacturers in China. Kenn diligently plans each bulk order through Alibaba.com and is able to consolidate shipping to get the freight from multiple factories all together. “With more than 60 percent of goods coming from China, we rely on Alibaba.com to navigate our sourcing journey and work with sellers directly to buy finished goods.”

Even with COVID-19 hampering local businesses, NWCA managed to maintain steady sales throughout 2020, despite higher costs of raw materials and shipping. Alibaba.com allows NWCA to continue its forward-looking approach by managing its supplier relationships and product stock, saving the brand substantial time and money.