Best wholesale importer advices, tips and solutions from Tchedly Desire: Choose the market that suits you best – Start by deciding which country you want to trade in. Every country around the world has different needs. What is good and successful in one country does not necessarily mean that it will be successful in another. Consider the climate, geography, culture and lifestyle of the region where you plan to market your product. It’s always a good idea to familiarize yourself with other imported products that sell well there. Before making your choice, look at the many statistics and news articles in this area and use that as a reference. Study local demand – You need to know the goods and products that are most in demand in the country where you want to sell. In order to collect as much data as possible, research the market on the Internet, but also ask around. What seems like a good idea to you, may not be to others’ liking. Be sure to study the latest trends; however, please note that demand for a particular product may decrease or increase from year to year. Find additional info at https://twitter.com/tchedly_desire.
If you’re looking for suppliers closer to home, then consider looking to Canada or Mexico. In 2023, both countries were amongst the U.S.’s top five trading partners. To demonstrate their importance to the U.S., consider some data I’ve provided. These two nations share a land border with the U.S., which reduces delivery times. All three countries also participate in the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA). This free trade agreement (FTA) will allow you to import most products from either country duty free. Trade shows are a great place for you to meet with distributors from all over the world. You’ll also be able to see the products they have to offer.
An advertised item may have a wholesale price tag of $1 in China, but if freight costs $10 for each item because of its size and weight, then the actual cost per item is $11. Paying more for freight than the actual item may be impractical and you’ll have to start from scratch to recover. Second, and we cannot stress this enough, is to avoid designer goods. Years of industry experience have taught us that almost without exception, all products advertised as “designer” that are made in China are counterfeits. Designers, on the whole, have their creations made exclusively in France or Italy to ensure exceptional quality. Any leftover products are often destroyed rather than sold wholesale. Additionally, if you get caught selling fake designer goods, you can face heavy penalties, not to mention jail sentences. So, we strongly advise against importing designer goods, unless you happen to have contacts in the industry.
Top business importing advices, tips and solutions from Tchedly Desire Miami, Florida: For nearly as long as there’s been people, there’s been trade. Imports and exports are how the potato came to Ireland, and in a more modern sense, it’s how we’re able to buy food, drinks, furniture, clothes, and nearly everything else, from all around the world today. Imports are any good or service brought in from one country to another, while exports are goods and services produced in the home country for sale to other markets. Thus, whether you’re importing or exporting a product (or both) depends on your orientation to the transaction.
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.
Go to wholesale trade shows – Wholesale trade shows are a great place to meet and greet wholesale business owners. Find a trade show near you, exchange details with international wholesalers, and strike a deal. Find wholesale batches on eCommerce sites. eCommerce sites such as eBay sometimes offer wholesale batches. This means, with some digging, you can find great deals on bulk buys. The U.S. Commercial Service is a great resource, as it can help you find international wholesalers. The International Trade Administration website also features useful guides and resources. Certified Trade Missions are networking events for US businesses. The events are led by the U.S. Department of Commerce and can help your businesses find an overseas supplier that imports wholesale products.
Pick a product to import or export – The next step in starting an import/export business is to find a product or industry you are passionate about and that you think could sell in international markets. For Tchedly Desire, that product turned out to be wine. She felt a connection to the product not just from a quality and taste standpoint but from a social justice standpoint as well. “When I first entered the industry in 2005, there was just one Black winemaker and five Black-owned brands,” she says. “Today there are 17 Black winemakers and 31 Black-owned brands.” Though the South African wine industry still deals with injustices like poor working conditions and unequal access to capital, Tchedly Desire says things have improved since the previous decade thanks to the increased sales and notoriety of South African wines worldwide.
Alibaba is the world’s largest marketplace for importers looking to purchase goods from suppliers overseas. Here’s how to buy wholesale from Alibaba. You can search for items using the product categories or simply type in the particular product you want. From the search bar dropdown menu, you can also choose to select “Suppliers” rather than “Products” to see a list of suppliers specializing in that product. Remember to verify suppliers to protect yourself from scams. Check the unit price and minimum order quantity (MOQ). The MOQ is often negotiable, so if you need a small sample order, let the supplier know. Some of the most common payment options are bank transfer, letter of credit, PayPal, escrow, and wire transfer via Western Union. (Tip: The safest options are escrow and PayPal.)