How To Import From China

Are you looking to importing products from China? Before you proceed with an order and pay the bill, pls look at below 4 aspects, they will help you get into serious sourcing business. 1.Product specifications Why do you need to figure out the product specifications? 1). Your potential suppliers will have to make an official quotation based on your required product details. 2). In China, there are many quality levels: basic quality, okay quality, good quality, excellent quality etc. You won’t like too much surprise especially on price and quality because of misunderstanding on product specifications. 3). The supplier might want to cut corners where the product requirement is “blurring”. If you don’t confirm with them as much detail as possible, they can be too lazy to mention OR they are more willingly to just let it go. 4). Most suppliers only have the initiative to make an offer if you know…

When you have spent time to find and verify the good suppliers, and decided to actually start sourcing from China, pls do remember an important process: Sampling. You will need to request samples and manage the samples properly. In this article, I will share you some good practices.1. Sample types A. Prototype sample After getting your design, before actually invest to cut moulds, it makes sense to make a prototype sample first. Usually, the sample is made by laser cutter, or by 3D printer. B. Pre-production sample Before starting mass production, it’s better to ask factory to make a few samples with actual moulds and machines. You can check the sample details, workmanship, specifications and much more. If the pre-production sample works well, you will be confident to approve mass production. In case it doesn’t meet some of your requirements, you may ask for adjustment to the moulds and remaking pre-production…

It happens often that you send enquiries to the China suppliers you find online, but do not get any response after a few days, even a few weeks! Why do not the suppliers respond to your emails? Do not they want to do business and make money? It’s frustrating. In this article, let’s look at 5 ways that you can implement to improve the response rate. 1. Drafting detailed product requirements An email with very limited information about what a buyer wants, is not taken too seriously, as it is a sign that the client is not invested in the process, i.e. hasn’t done his own research and hence the deal is not likely to close. From my experience over the years, when we receive enquiries with very limited information we are almost certain those enquiries are not likely to result in business as the lead is simply not ready to import…

When it comes to importing from China, finding the right suppliers is critical. It determines whether it will be a good start of the entire procurement process or not. After you have found out some candidate suppliers, you need to figure out which one is your right fit. There’s no one-size-fits-all supplier. That’s why you want to find a supplier that matches the portrait you draw in the groundwork for supplier evaluation. So, what to look to verify suppliers in China? 1). Company background Is the supplier legitimate? Is the product compliant with importing country regulations? Ask suppliers whether they can send you copies of these official documents like below: Business license, Business registration, Certificates, Patents, and so on. Check the company presence on the internet. Are there any reviews about this company online? Can the company provide any references from their real clients? 2). Business model Check the product range…

Chinese New Year (CNY) is the most important nation holiday in China, during this period, hundreds of millions of people move across China in order to join their families for the holiday. But the congestion can make traveling very difficult, so it is not recommended to plan any type of trip during this time period. How Can CNY Impact Your Products? Chinese New Year affects manufacturing in a major way. The majority of the Chinese factory work force consists of migrant workers. And there are so many factories all over China that offer similar wages. It should come as no surprise, then, that some workers choose to return to work after the holiday, while some choose to stay at home and others choose to work in another factory or an entirely different city. It’s no exaggeration to say that all Chinese factories have difficulty getting their workers back after the holiday. Chinese New…

Do you encounter communication problems with your Chinese supplier? Perhaps the factory doesn’t understand your requirements. Or maybe your factory contact is slow to communicate or altogether unresponsive. Sometimes they say they will do something, but it doesn’t get done. Here you’ll learn about three tips you can improve communication with suppliers right away. 1. Keep emails simple to improve communication with suppliers Sometimes we see clients send a barrage of emails to a supplier in a short period of time – all pertaining to the same issue. These emails sometimes contain technical English jargon, local slang or spelling mistakes. You may feel your supplier’s English is pretty good. But chances are, they are copying those emails directly into an online translator so they understand the meaning in their native language. If you have many different emails, use complex language or have spelling mistakes, this can very easily lead to…

Is quality control inspection really necessary before shipping? What value am I actually getting from inspection, and what risks do I take in forgoing it? Many importers manufacturing good in ask these questions. And if you’re wise, you too will consider what real benefits QC inspection offers and whether these benefits outweigh the costs. Because, ultimately, only you know what product quality your customers demand and the price they’re willing to pay to get it. So, what are the benefits of quality control inspection for you, the importer? Let’s dive right into those that likely matter most to you. 1. Quality control inspection lowers your costs Yes. You read that right. You may be thinking, if I have to pay someone to inspect my products, and inspection doesn’t directly improve quality, how can it lower my costs? Despite the fees you might typically pay someone to visit your supplier’s factory…

After you attend Canton Fair or HK Show, you collect many contacts for a potential supplier in China. What to do the next? Follow below five steps to successfully dealing with Chinese suppliers. 1. Develop the Relationship The first step before striking a deal with a supplier is to reach out and request samples of the specific product. Not only does this allow you to get a hands-on feel of the product, it helps both you and the manufacturer agree on the product requirements and cost. Oftentimes, language and cultural differences can slow down the communication process, but it’s vital to iron out these details upfront before placing a large order. 2. Perform Due Diligence Once you’re happy with the product, it’s important to perform background research to make sure you’re dealing with a reputable company. There are several free resources available online that allow you to find blacklisted companies throughout China,…