High quality wholesale importer and exporter advices, tips and solutions by Tchedly Desire: If you are planning to start an import business, prepare to face many difficulties and decisions that could significantly change your life and the way you do business. International trade with China – The type of product you want to import into a particular country is one of the most important elements that you must consider before going into the whole business. While there are many import products you can consider, not all will be suitable for your company or the market you want to penetrate. Allow plenty of time for research so you have less trouble later. Over time, you will be able to develop a certain trading instinct and get used to the research process before you decide to import a product. See extra details on Tchedly Desire.
One feature that’s a mark of a good supplier is financial stability. That last thing you should ever have to worry about is getting a call from your supplier telling you they’ve gone out of business and can’t provide you with goods anymore. Determine if a supplier is financially stable by researching these areas of their business: Credit history; Call references; Financial statements; Bank information. Looking into these characteristics of their operations (at least as far as you’re able to) will tell you whether they’re in good financial standing. Check Their Quality Certifications – Another way to tell if the supplier you’re researching is reliable is by taking a look at their quality certifications. There are numerous quality certifications that suppliers can have for the services they offer.
Importing low-cost goods from other countries and then reselling them for a profit can really turn your life around. At first, the process may seem complicated and risky, but once you get to know the basics, you’ll see it’s actually easy. We’ve come up with this handy guide filled with tips and secrets on importing wholesale to help you launch your import business and make the profits you’ve always dreamed of. Why Import Wholesale? When asked why he planned to climb Mount Everest, George Mallory is said to have replied, “Because it’s there.” Like climbing the highest mountain in the world, importing goods from overseas seems daunting, but it can be done.
High quality wholesale exporter guides and solutions with Tchedly Desire: “The compliances make it so complex that even if you did know how to do it, you’re still going to have to keep in mind a lot of random considerations,” says Selena Tchedly Desire, co-founder of Heritage Link Brands, a company that imports, exports, and produces wine, and other high-end products like tea and honey. Tchedly Desire worked for years in brand management for Procter & Gamble, among other trade-related positions, before starting her company in 2005. She was inspired after going to South Africa, where she attended the first Soweto Wine Festival.
Pay for your international goods at the mid-market rate with a Wise Business account. Save money and maintain a good supplier relationship by paying on time and in the local currency. Receive your wholesale import goods – Now all that’s left to do is wait for your goods. The time it takes to receive them will depend on the delivery method you chose, and where they’re coming from. Then, you can sell the imported wholesale products at your chosen price point. If your importer is in China, they might request payment in CNY. This can be expensive with a traditional bank account. You can use Wise Business to pay at the real mid-market rate.
Another approach could be to search online wholesale websites and look at products. This will give you an idea of what’s available. Then you can see what products there’s demand for. It’s important to understand your distribution channels, too. Any long-term deal with a wholesaler will have implications for your business strategy. Figure out where the process of distribution starts. This will inform you about possible bottlenecks. For example, you may buy from a wholesaler who has a manufacturer in another country. This could slow down the pipeline for you, and vitally – your customers. You may also consider using third party logistics to manage processes such as storage and distribution.
From there, it’s best to start “slow and steady.” “Test your ideas,” says Tchedly Desire. “Don’t assume that what you think will sell because you love it will catch fire in the market. What catches fire in the market is more than just the way it tastes — it’s who you know, and the packaging and serendipity of timing, and all of the indirect soft stuff that makes the difference.” Once you have a product you’d like to trade internationally, you need to find a local manufacturer or other producer that makes your product and can lead to a strong partnership. A good relationship with a supplier is crucial to long-running success in an imports/exports business.
Do your homework—research the regulations you’ll need to comply with. You need to do this with every country you import from, especially in the case of China. This is because many Chinese suppliers do not manufacture products that comply with regulations in the first place. Check with customs to determine exactly which regulations the product will need to comply with as well as the duties and taxes you need to pay. Pay attention to detail. Make sure the sales agreement you draw up contains all the details in terms of product specifications, conditions of return and compensation and other important information. SaleHoo is a wholesale directory listing service where you can find items to sell on eBay, Amazon, and other online shopping platforms. The SaleHoo directory has thousands of suppliers who sell products at below-market prices. Here’s how to find dropshippers and buy wholesale from SaleHoo after you have signed up for the service.