How to import from China is a topic that might interests a lot of people who plan source product from China and resell in their targeted market or outsourcing their production to China. Starting a new business from scratch is always very daunting owing to the fact that one wrong move and things could go either way.
Whether you are an Amazon seller who are working on Amazon sourcing, or a wholesaler who sourcing products from China and distributing in your own country, how to import from China has never been a trivial thing. It usually takes a very strong minded person to build a business from ground up and not everyone has it in them to do so. The decisions, responsibility and even the attention to detail is something which most people find it hard to look into at the same time. Most often than not, it is the pressure from various external sources and the doubts from within, that cloud the person's judgement and make him or unsure of what to do in a given situation.
When it comes to things like getting started most New business men and women wonder how they will be able to get things done, the problems and questions which affect them most are as follows:
Apart from all these pressing questions which get too much to handle, another important question which plagues the mind is, Where do I import my products from?
Though it might seem like there are plenty of places where things can be imported from, in actual fact the best place to import quality products from is - China. This is primarily owing to two distinct reasons:
Products are cheap
There are plenty of countries that export goods, but no country can hold a candle to the prices of the Chinese products. This is owing to the fact that labor is rather cheap and the quantity of products produced is very large indeed.
Good quality
Though many seem to think that quality is not that important, but in actual fact a business will never be able to sustain itself for a long time unless care is taken to ensure that the quality of products are good. In China the products are of a good quality, whether it is in terms of clothes, handbags, stationery or other miscellaneous stuff.
Uniqueness
Rest assured that there is no place like China when it comes to the wide range of unique products that are available. Head to the markets of China to be shell-shocked by the sheer bulk and variety of products which are produced.
Simple to import
Believe it or not importing goods and products from China might seem like a challenging task, but in actual fact this is not so, once you get used to it and have your contacts in place, things are bound to get much easier for you as well as your business.
To understand how to import from China it is imperative to take things one thing at a time, rather than trying to do it all at one go. All this may seem daunting but it is worth it in the long haul. The process of how to import begins by following these steps in a proper sequential order
Make sure the products selected can be imported
Rather than doing the whole process and facing problems later on, it is better to make sure right at the onset that the product chosen is something that can actually be imported. Make use of all resources to ensure that the respective product transports well without getting damaged or spoilt along the way.
List the exporters
Do research to ensure that the importing process is worth the while. Do not shy away from doing price comparisons as this is bound to be very helpful indeed. Post this make a list of all the exporters that do sell the desired products and have a reputable name as well.
Contact the supplier
Choosing the right suppliers is a key step when it comes to how to import from China. Contact suppliers as soon as possible to ensure that they are competent enough to rise to the occasion and actually willing to take on the project.
Hire a sourcing agent
If you cannot find an ideal supplier on the Internet or you are struggling with a customized project which always happens in OEM/ODM project, a good alternative is to work with an experienced China sourcing agent. A good sourcing agent can save you from all the hassles with identifying your niched suppliers. This article has addressed the problem in much details on how to find a sourcing agent in China.
Sample the product
It would truly be foolish on the part of any buyer to make any investment without sampling the product and utterly scanning it to show that it is up to the desired mark. There is no harm in rejecting it, if it does fit the bill in terms of things like size or quality.
Business visa
Acquire a business visa quickly so that the problem is out of the way once and for all. Acquiring it will be easy if you happen to have all the necessary documents in place and in perfect condition. In some cases, you may want to register an office in China so that you can hire a local staff to follow up the order and manage the quality and shipment. China company registry process is also a possible option for foreign nationals who has grow their business in scale. This type of company is also known as Wholly Foreign-Owned Enterprise in China(WFOE China), and setting up a wfoe China can also be done with the assist from an experienced agent.
Make a trip to China
Make a trip as fast as possible in order to seal the deal and show that you are really interested in forging a meaningful and proper business relationship. Sitting all the way across the world and trying to do business doesn't always work out. However, most of the population in China don't speak fluent English, and hiring a local language interpreter is very important. If you are visiting some first-tier cities in the South like Shenzhen or Guangzhou, consider to hire a Shenzhen interpreter or a Guangzhou translator.
Negotiate
Negotiating comes naturally to some and it is these people who usually excel in the business world. But either way it is something that can be acquired without much trouble at all. when thinking of how to import from China it is important to be ready to negotiate as if is an important part of the entire process.
Payments
Making Payments is part and parcel of the entire deal but care should be taken to ensure that the payments are secure so that the chances of payment fraud are absolutely eliminated. If not done in an alert manner it could lead to both the supplier and seller losing a fair bit of money.
Deal with customs
Dealing with customs involves a number of things like availing of the services of a customs broker, getting hold of the necessary permits and licenses which are required, filing the ISF (import security filing) etc. For example, if your business is based in USA, customs clearance is an extremely important step when you are shipping from China to US. The customs will require you to show certain certificate in order for them to allow the products to get in the country. So make sure you have chosen a qualified China freight forwarder that helps you with the custom clearance. Shipment is the very last stage however it's extremely important when it comes to how to import from China. Make sure you are working with the qualified China shipping agent.
Take possession of your goods
Last but certainly not the least part of the entire import process is the actual possession of the goods. It does involve a fair bit of procedure where, you will be required to pay import duties, arranging for pickup of all the goods, checking the entire shipment in a proper and diligent manner and finally preparing it all for storage.
Following all these steps is extremely important and one false move could cost you a lot of time, money and effort. Therefore rather than doing business with just any and everyone it is always better to do business with a reliable company that has been around for a long time. We at China Source link are a reliable local Shenzhen based company that have truly carved a niche for ourselves in the world of sourcing products. Some of the chief ways in which we stand head and shoulders above the rest is that we:
Apart from being the one stop site for all sourcing needs we also excel in providing an array of services from sourcing all the way to shipping. This implies that buyers don't have to run from pillar to post in order to get things done. There are truly an array of benefits of working with us. People who have availed of our multitudinous services in the past have been more than satisfied by the manner in which we function and by the professionalism of the term of experts which we have.
When working with a transparent, trustworthy and reliable company like China Source link, the matter of how to import from China truly gets solved with ease. it is certainly not for nothing that people the world over do business with us and give us rave reviews for the work which we do. Work with us but once, to see it for yourself.
Torsi is a professional blogger.