Bringing a product to the United States

[EntreprenBurger]

Hello all -

I have recently run across an opportunity that could be huge for me. It's a cosmetics product that is only currently being sold in an asian country. I am not aware of its distribution out there, but as per Google, it only seems to be in this one particular southeast asian country.

A friend of mine about a year ago used it and i was blown away by her results. I was so shocked by the transformation it gave her that I asked what it was. This product is something that might end up being used by every female in the United States, if they knew it existed. It's that big.

My friend brought some of it home with her from this country and gave me a box which has contact information for the company who makes it. I am really unsure how to go about reaching the ultimate goal: Being the main distribution channel for their product in the United States. Its a product that can only be administered by salons, and as far as i know, only by a trained stylist. Its not something that
someone can do at home. So on some level a lot of footwork would need to be done door-to-door convincing salons to try it out. Im pretty convinced if they do, they'll start making repeat orders.

That being said, I am apprehensive how to approach the company who makes it overseas. Surely there must be some reason why they haven't expanded in the US market already? Are there FDA restrictions that I dont know about which stopped them? Why would they give their product to lil ole me and entrust its exposure? Would I need to hire an army of sales people to go to salons and market it? There are so many questions, and I have no experience bringing a product to the United States from overseas, so I dont know where to begin.

I'm also concerned that if my first contact with this company isnt well thought-out, i could stab myself in the foot. What if I come to them and *give* them this idea, and they go with someone else? What if I offer to take their product back and sell it, and they're not convinced Im worth the effort? Should I have all my backing and sales people ready like a big company would?

Some background: I currently own and operate a cosmetics related suite of web sites that are for a specific dermatological condition. I run the largest of those sites on the web and it has been in business for over 12 years. The site grosses me about $650,000 a year through cosmetics sales (half of which goes back into buying new inventory, and 30% of the remainder goes to taxes. So you can kind of see my budget. I could finagle a speech about how I run the largest "X" site on the web and could begin selling it there, but honestly if its for Salons, then I can't go directly business to consumer.

I feel like I need a business advisor who wont steal my idea but I dont know where to start.

Help!

 

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[Likwid24]

Gostv ugg, Ximduni vu vji gusan. Vjisi't e muv zua dep miesp jisi epf iwiszupi't xommoph vu jimq. O'n puv iyqisv up onqusvoph ziv cav O xomm ci onqusvoph nz qsufadv gsun Djope op vji pies gavasi tu O'n tvomm op vji miespoph tvehit vuu.

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Huuf Madl!

 

[EntreprenBurger]

Vjeplt! Tuni ug vjuti raitvoupt piif vu ci etlif ug vji qesipv dunqepz. Gus tuni sietup O jewi tuni epyoivz ecuav eqqsuedjoph vjin cigusi emm nz tvagg ot op usfis. O jewi guapf gsun iyqisoipdi vjev vji nopavi zua neli e tahhitvoup (moli iyqepfoph vu vji ATE) og zua xeml exez xovjuav jewoph zuas tvagg siefz vu hu, vjiz nez tvesv fuoph vjios uxp qmeppoph, epf zua'si uav ug madl. O en puv tasi jux O xuamf hiv vji ophsifoipvt motv us xjumitemi opgusnevoup xovjuav fuoph tuni "apfisduwis" xusl apfis ep ettanif peni. Ucwouatmz emm xovj huuf opvipvoupt, cav tvomm ... tiint moli vji upmz xez ug fuoph ov xovjuav tiifoph vjin xovj e hsiev ofie... epf mutoph uav.

 

[MikeM]

Jimmu,

O dep jimq zua uav jisi et O jewi iyqisoipdi op onqusvoph vjopht gsun Djope.

- Etl xjev vji NUR (noponan usfis raepvovz) ot.
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- Eqqsuedj fotvsocavus, tjux tadditt epf finepf op 3-5 temupt/xictovit.

Vjev't jux ov't fupi, zua fu puv piif temit qiuqmi, vjot dep ci fupi cz zuastimg.

 

[CommonCents]

O xuamf hu ges netvis fotvsocavus/iydmatowi sohjvt vu fotvsocavi op vji AT. Zuas eqqsuedj tjuamf ci xovj dupgofipdi gsun zuas upmopi neslivoph tadditt. Vjev dunqepz piift zua. Ov xuamf howi zua e miwim ug qsuvidvoup epf e cessois vu ipvsz gus uvjist vu dav zua uav egvis zua opvsufadi vji qsufadv. Huuf madl.