You know you are interested in importing products over from China. You know that there is a product with high potential for popularity in your area and you have the confidence to sell it better than anyone else. However, you don’t know how to start shipping and importing. You have no spare factory in your back yard. You have no other means of producing it yourself. The natural question that will come up is, how do I get my product or how do I start to import? Below will explain two universal tips that will guide you in the right direction of how to start importing today.
KNOW WHAT YOU WANT TO IMPORT
Have you ever seen a child giving their parents the silent or crying treatment until their parents give them what they want? The parent may display all sorts of faces, give them a box full of toys, and feed them foods from the lands and seas of the world yet still not satisfy their child. Or the parent may say, “I need you to talk to me in order for me to help you get you what you need.”
Beginning a business that imports the product may potentially start out like this. A beginner importer knows the general industry or product that they want to start importing and will begin searching for their dream product. They may start by contacting a trading company specializing in the product or an OEM factory. One of two responses may come up when this happens: The importing company will receive hundreds of quotes from let us say, Acme Manufacturing or John Doe’s International Trading Company attempting to satisfy the need or will be told that the requested product is too general and need detailed information in order to provide reliable quotes.
The manufacturing or trade company will provide these quotes based on varying product specifications. For bikes, it may be the difference in shaping the tubes of the bike frame, material of steel, aluminum or carbon fiber, length of the handlebars, number of spokes in a wheel, the type and color of paint used, and many other specifications. One bike may consist of around 4000 small parts – that’s a lot of customization to consider. Original equipment manufacturer (OEM) factories calculate the minor details of the product into the final quotes. Therefore, knowing what you want also comes with the requirement of knowing how much you want to spend. Do you want a high- or low-quality product and how much are you willing to pay for it?
This knowledge, in fact, is great news for you. This means you can design your product to your dreams desire by making it as detailed as you want. If you aren’t able to design the product yourself, companies have large selections of models and designs that can mirror your desired product. Every country and economy grow around different environments and preferences and you know your customers ideals better than most – so make good use of the detailed customization of OEM factories. Create your product and don’t be afraid that they won’t be able to produce it.
KNOW IF IT’S LEGAL TO IMPORT
After you have learned the details of your product, determining legality of the product is significantly easier; nothing is more frustrating than figuring out your entire production, importing, packaging, marketing, and sales plan won’t work because the product isn’t legal in where you plan to import and sell the product. Before you determine all the strategy into your product, make sure that you can implement and import the product’s plan legally. Take the time to ensure your imported product is suitable by checking national, province or state laws, and local city laws or regulations. Every region will carry out varying laws.
This shows important when a business or product that is successful in one country does not prove it will be successful or even possible in another. For example, in China there are a significant number of electric scooters on the roads. In Chinese, these are called “e-bikes”. To operate these bikes one does not necessarily need a registered driver’s license. However, depending on which city you live in, they may require you to register the bike with the city. However, if looking at the United States, these types of “e-bikes” are restricted without proper authorization and a license to operate. Primarily because the types of scooters in China don’t require pedals. The most commonly allowed type of e-bikes in the United States are pedal assist bikes. These types of bikes are regulated differently across the US. More details about this can be found on this website stating US legislation about e-bikes and scooters.
The legality of a product will prove to be the most critical part of import success. If it’s illegal, you won’t be able to ship it over and begin selling it. Not all factories are familiar with the legality of products, especially if they have no export experience to the destination country. Trading companies will be more familiar with the product legality. TJICR assists importers find their desired product and ensure the factories we work with meet product safety certifications such as CB, UL, CE, GS, and more. You want a legal product, we’ll help you get it.
Do you have questions about what product to import? Contact us today to start your importing business.
