Sourcing is a sequence, not a search
Shortlist the product, sample it, agree the trade terms, then order. Every step filters suppliers out, so the goal is not to find many suppliers but to keep the right one through all four steps.
Agree the terms that shipping depends on
Packaging, carton marks, ready dates and the Incoterm are freight decisions disguised as sourcing decisions. Agree them in writing with the supplier, because the quotation you get later is built on exactly these details.
Close the loop with the shipment plan
Once the order is placed, hand the supplier details, ready date and packing data to the freight side. Sourcing and shipping share the same facts; keeping them in one plan is what makes the first shipment uneventful.