Importing from China

[thespotnet]

Hi Blue,

It sounds like you have a pretty good relationship with your provider. Would you mind PMing me the name? I have had some issues in the past and I am looking to get some custom t-shirts designed.

I appreciate any help.

Thanks

Matt

 

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[Skywayne]

Hey Blue, I wonder if you could give us an update on how the import business is coming along. In one of your last threads, you said that you had tried three different methods of having goods shipped from China to the U.S. I'm wondering which method you found to be the most effective and cost efficient. If you could give an overview/blueprint of your process, it would be greatly appreciated, as I'm just about to pull the trigger on having some things manufactured. Thanks for your insight and this thread.

 

[qewrtyass]

Time for another update.

I have sold 89 of the 100 pieces that I imported. Back in July I placed another order for 200 more. The 200 aren't here yet, but I have 9 sold on backorder already. Last week I decided to order an additional 200 more, so I have 400 coming in in the next 2 months. I hope that it will be enough to get me through Xmas.

I'm using a new shipping method and my China supplier is telling me that all prices are included except customs tax. We'll see if that is truly the case.

I am now retailing and wholesaling my stuff. Obviously I prefer retail because I make so much more per sale. Wholesale orders are accounting for about 20% of the orders.

whats your scheme for wholesale and retail?
do your self-retail price higher than retail-from-wholesale?

 

[campbellronald7]

I hope its worth but make sure on the quality as you are importing from china.

 

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[rscully5]

U should go to visit your supplier in China.

This is extremely good advice. If you have the time. You should go and visit your supplier. See what they are doing right and what they are doing wrong. Good luck Blue.

 

[Blue]

Hey Blue, I wonder if you could give us an update on how the import business is coming along. In one of your last threads, you said that you had tried three different methods of having goods shipped from China to the U.S. I'm wondering which method you found to be the most effective and cost efficient. If you could give an overview/blueprint of your process, it would be greatly appreciated, as I'm just about to pull the trigger on having some things manufactured. Thanks for your insight and this thread.

It's been a while on here. I am importing from 3 different factories now. I import a shipment every 3 months and have been selling out most of the time. I need to get better at planning my orders ahead of time because of the long lead time. Sometimes I go out of stock for 2 months which is a bad thing.

I am actually shipping many different methods now. I just ship whichever way my factory wants. Basically you pay for 4 things.

1) shipping your product from the factory to its closest port
2) shipping your product overseas to a US Port
3) customs paperwork fees and duties
4) shipping your product from a US Port to your warehouse

On some shipments I pay my factory for shipping #1 and a freight forwarder (customs broker) for 2,3 and 4. On some shipments I pay my factory for shipping 1,3 and 4. Then I pay my forwarder for 3.

You can do it however you want to. I just go with whatever way my factory likes to do it to keep things simple.

 

[Blue]

whats your scheme for wholesale and retail?
do your self-retail price higher than retail-from-wholesale?

I sell retail and the same price that other stores sell for retail. I used to sell higher than retail to drive traffic to my wholesale customers, but now I just compete with them on a level basis.

 

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[Blue]

This is extremely good advice. If you have the time. You should go and visit your supplier. See what they are doing right and what they are doing wrong. Good luck Blue.

I still haven't visited a factory yet. I do have quality issues every once in a while. I take photos and email them to China. They take steps to quality control the products before they ship the next shipment. I have asked for discounts due to quality and they have been pretty good in giving me credit and discounts for defective products.