This may serve to get you thinking about creative ways that this can apply to the specifics of your business idea, so I'm going to offer it in that spirit.
I looked at startng a social entrepreneurship business and the supplier offered to front me intial orders for a cut of the profits. This increases his investment as a supplier (he benefits from the success of the business and is invested in working with us). He's starting a school for the children of the women who produce the goods with the proceeds and that actually fits right in with our mission, so it mutually-reinforcing.
Depending on your relationship with your suppliers, you might be able to cut some kind of deal where they benefit- if they think your business has a chance at success, showing you some flexibility in order size might when you are a start up might be attractive or you could help them get rid of overstock- you get the idea.
Finding out how they perceive is a great opportuinity- to open up a line of communication and build some rapport. I did a market survey with my suppliers and asked where they were selling the most- learned a lot of useful information to include in my business structure and put together an idea that they have some investment in.
If you do your homework and identify the needs, interests, habits, flexibilities of both your suppliers and buyers, you might find yourself very skillfull at 'positioning' yourself with both constituencies!
