Niche, few Chinese sellers, try these 6 B2B platforms

In the foreign trade industry, B2B platforms are essential tools for customer acquisition. Whether you’re a startup team just getting started or an established company with extensive experience, you have likely encountered or used B2B platforms such as Alibaba, DHgate, Made-in-China.com, Thomasnet, and others. Most suppliers on these platforms are domestic, and with severe product homogeneity, companies often have to rely on price wars to attract customers.
 
However, if you wish to avoid excessive competition and seek out niche yet more advantageous B2B platforms, you might achieve unexpected results. Today, we introduce six niche but highly promising B2B platforms that cover multiple industries and can help foreign trade companies more precisely expand into overseas markets.
 
Buying Show / Textile Pages – Focused on the Apparel and Textile Industry  

These two B2B platforms focus on the apparel and textile industries, making them ideal for companies looking to expand in the apparel foreign trade market. Unlike general comprehensive B2B platforms, these not only offer finished garments but also cover multiple categories such as yarn, home textiles, industrial textiles, textile machinery, and dyes and chemicals.
 
The core functions of these platforms include:  
- Allowing suppliers to post product information to attract global buyers;  
- Enabling buyers to post requirements that suppliers can directly respond to;  
- Providing industry news and market analysis to help companies grasp emerging trends.
 
If your business involves apparel and textiles, Buying Show and Textile Pages are channels worth trying.


 
Distributor Central – The All-Categories Distribution Platform in the U.S.  

Distributor Central is a B2B platform focused on the distribution industry and primarily targets the North American market. The platform hosts approximately 20,000 distributors compared to only about 2,000 suppliers, resulting in relatively less competition.
 
Using this platform requires a fee of $699 per month. In return, it offers a range of value-added services, including:  
- Assisting suppliers in building websites to enhance their brand image;  
- Providing email marketing services to support precise marketing;  
- Offering advertising slots to increase product exposure.
 
Although the entry threshold is relatively high, the quality of customers is excellent, making it suitable for foreign trade companies aiming to enter the North American market.
 


RangeMe – The Preferred Platform for Retail Buyers  

RangeMe is an all-categories B2B platform specifically designed to connect suppliers with retail buyers. Whether you are dealing with large chain retailers, independent stores, or e-commerce platform buyers, you can find suitable supply channels here.
 
The platform’s strengths lie in its intelligent services:  
- An AI-based matching system that automatically recommends the most suitable buyers;  
- Data analysis tools that help suppliers optimize their marketing strategies;  
- Precise targeting to reach the ideal customers and boost product exposure.
 
For companies lacking stable promotional channels, RangeMe is a platform well worth considering.


 
ThomasNet – North American Industrial Procurement Platform  

ThomasNet is a long-established industrial procurement platform in North America, focusing on manufacturing and industrial products. The platform covers 67,000 industrial categories and includes over 650,000 distributors, manufacturers, and service companies.
 
Its core features include:  
- Precise filtering by geographical location, company type, certifications, and more, making it easy to find the right partners;  
- Transparent company information, allowing users to view details such as company name, address, website, phone number, number of employees, founding year, and more.
 
If your products involve industrial equipment, machine parts, or engineering materials, ThomasNet is a platform not to be overlooked.


 
Australian Wholesalers Directory – Focused on the Australian Market  

If your target market is Australia, the Australian Wholesalers Directory is a B2B platform you should pay attention to. It focuses on Australian wholesalers and direct sellers across various industries, such as building materials, home furnishings, food and beverages, etc.
 
Key features of the platform include:  
- Rich and up-to-date information that ensures data accuracy;  
- Completely free access with no entry fees;  
- User-friendly operation, where users can directly search using industry keywords (e.g., “Construction Materials”) to find relevant wholesalers.
 
This platform offers companies the opportunity to directly access supply chain resources, making it ideal for foreign trade companies aiming to enter the Australian market.


 
If you are a startup, it’s advisable to choose free or low-cost platforms when selecting a platform. For companies with an established market presence, platforms that attract high-quality customers may be a better option.