If you’re in the business of selling clothing online, sourcing products from China is a great way to get your hands on affordable inventory. It can also help grow your brand and reach more customers. The downside? Sourcing from China isn’t easy! It takes time and research to find a good supplier, as well as patience while waiting for shipments and invoices to arrive. But if you follow this guide we’ve put together for sourcing products from China (and don’t forget our tips! ), you’ll be able to start selling in no time at all!
Start your search for a company through Google
When you’re ready to start the search for a company, start by searching for “Made in China.” This will lead you to a number of sites that specialize in sourcing products from China. These sites have databases of suppliers that range from large factories to individual artisans. The next step is finding the product you want to source, which is often easier said than done because many manufacturers don’t sell directly to consumers and require you to go through an intermediary (like a dealer) or even another factory. Once you’ve found your supplier and verified they can produce what they claim they can produce, it’s time to move on!
Some small companies will not require a minimum order quantity (MOQ)
There are many suppliers that will not require a minimum order quantity (MOQ). This means you can get started with your business by ordering just one or two items from the supplier. In some cases, suppliers will even allow you to order samples from them.
In this situation, it is important to know how much each product costs and how much profit you will make once your items sell in your store(s).
Always ask for physical samples
If you don’t ask for samples, you’re not going to be able to ensure that the product is actually of high quality. You can’t be sure of the quality if you don’t ask for samples. By not asking for physical samples, you could end up with something that doesn’t look or feel the way it’s supposed to.
For example, a seller might send over a sample of an item and claim that they only have one left in stock, but they’ll make more if your order goes through. This may seem like a good deal on paper because it seems like they’re doing everything possible to make sure your order goes through and there’ll still be enough time before your event date, so it works out well—but what happens when they send over the rest? the same thing! They only have one item left and will have another batch ready soon enough, so no big deal, right? Wrong! A lot can happen between now and when their next batch arrives, which could cause significant delays in getting perfect products delivered on time!
The bigger the company, the better warranty or protection you are going to get
Another factor to consider is the size of the company. The bigger the company, the better warranty or protection you are going to get. Bigger companies have more resources to deal with problems on production lines and after delivery, and they can afford an efficient customer service department that deals with a warranty claim promptly.
Ask for an official quote, with all costs included
- Make sure you ask for a quote with all costs included. Many sellers don’t include the shipping cost in their initial price, which can be a costly mistake if the product is heavy or bulky and requires expensive shipping to get it to your doors.
- Be wary of companies that are too eager to give you a quote. If they offer multiple low-ball figures without asking any questions about what kind of product you’re looking for or how many units you need—and without giving any information about their company—then chances are good that they will try to scam you later on by charging more than what was promised in their initial estimate (or never sending an invoice at all).
- Ask for a copy of the quote in writing. In general, there’s no harm done in asking for a written document containing all relevant details before making any further arrangements with suppliers from China; it may seem like an unnecessary step at first glance but could save headaches down the line if something goes wrong during production and communication breaks down between yourself and your supplier or manufacturer.
Never pay 100% of the price upfront (some companies will even ask for 50%)
When you are starting to source products, never pay 100% upfront. Some companies will even ask for 50%, which is a good deal. If the company is legitimate, you should be able to negotiate a lower percentage upfront and pay later on.
Never use their suggested shipping company
Your products will be shipped by either air or ocean. The most important thing to remember is that you need to find a shipping company that is reliable and offers good rates. It’s easier than it sounds.
Let me explain:
- Ask your supplier for a list of shipping companies they work with or ask them to do some research on your behalf.
- Choose a shipping company that is reliable and offers good rates (you can find this information online).
- Make sure you know the exact weight of your products before ordering them as well as how much they cost per unit, so you have an idea of what shipping costs are going to be after taxes and duties are applied.
What are your options?
So, what will it be?
- Sourcing from China: This can be a good option if you are looking to save money and time. However, it is important to know that this may not be feasible for every type of business. For example, if you want to sell clothes that must fit perfectly on people’s bodies, then this won’t work because there will always be some extra fabric or lose threads in the seams, which might prove problematic for an overseas manufacturer when trying to create these garments for you. Also, keep in mind that freight costs from China can get quite high, so make sure that it wouldn’t make more sense for you instead to just source locally so as not to waste money on shipping!
- Sourcing from America: This can also work well if done properly, but again, there are certain things about American production lines that might make sourcing from here less ideal than from other countries (like Europe, where they have higher standards). The main issue lies with having someone who knows what they’re doing handle import duties because let me tell ya, it’s very easy to get scammed out of your money without even noticing until it’s too late, like when all those cheap clothes take forever.
Finding a Good Supplier
The next step is to find a supplier who can provide you with the product that you are looking for. There are many different options when it comes to sourcing products from China, and it’s important to keep in mind that there are always going to be pluses and minuses when finding a good supplier.
One of the most important things that you should look for in a supplier is if they can give you samples before placing an order. This way, if there are any issues or concerns with the quality of their product, then they will be able to fix them before sending out the final product. It might take longer than ordering without samples, but having higher quality control is well worth it in the long run!
Another important thing that we recommend looking into before placing an order with your new suppliers is making sure they have warranties on their products (as well as return policies). If something goes wrong during transit or shortly after receiving an item from China, then it could end up costing thousands of dollars just trying to get replacements shipped over here from overseas manufacturers, so make sure whoever supplies these items has some sort of guarantee in place against such situations happening again!
Where should you source?
You’re probably thinking that China is your only option for sourcing products, but it’s certainly not the only one. You can find suppliers in many other countries, including the US, India, and Thailand.
I highly recommend choosing a supplier that is close to you so that you can easily visit them if needed (e.g., if there are any quality issues with their products). This will also help save on shipping costs, which add up quickly when importing from overseas.
How to avoid getting scammed by suppliers
Before you start sourcing products from China, there are a few things you should do to make sure the supplier is legitimate.
First off, check their website and social media accounts. If they’re not hiding them, then this is an easy way to check if they are a real company or just someone trying to scam other businesses.
Secondly, check the reviews of this company on websites like Alibaba. This will give you an idea of whether or not people have had good experiences with this supplier in the past.
Finally, make a note of their contact information and address online so that if something goes wrong with your order later on (say, they never send it), you have somewhere tangible to turn back to!
What if you can’t speak Chinese or don’t want to deal with Chinese suppliers?
While there are plenty of resources on the Internet to help you learn how to speak Chinese, there are also many ways that you can find products and communicate with suppliers if you do not have any language skills.
You can use a company that specializes in sourcing products from China for distributors and retailers like yourself. They will help you through the entire process from start to finish, including translating emails back and forth between the supplier and manufacturer.
If this sounds too complicated or time-consuming, then there is another option: Google Translate. While this tool isn’t perfect, it does work well enough for essential communications without needing any previous knowledge of Chinese or English language skills!
How do you actually purchase products from China?
So now that you’re ready to start sourcing products for your fashion boutique or Amazon business, let’s talk about how to actually purchase those goods from China. This part can be tricky, but it is imperative.
First off, it is crucial not to send money directly through Western Union or another method of wire transfer. There have been many reports of scammers who ask businesses they are targeting for payments via wire transfer before sending any goods out and then disappear with the money once they receive it (we call this “grandma scamming”). Instead, always use PayPal or something similar so that there is a secure record of all payments made and received by both parties in case anything goes wrong later down the road!
Next up: Make sure that whatever supplier you choose will actually deliver what they promise. This can be difficult because there are many suppliers out there who claim their products are of high quality but then deliver low-quality items (as has happened to many people).To avoid this problem entirely, look for suppliers who provide detailed photos taken using professional lighting equipment so that you know exactly what type of garment(s) will arrive at your doorstep when purchasing from them! “It may be more expensive up front, but being able to see exactly what a product looks like before purchasing can save you a lot of time on returning items later on.”
Shipping your goods. Should you use sea or air freight?
Shipping your goods by sea freight is much cheaper than by air freight. And the time taken to ship your products is much longer when you use sea freight compared to air freight.
If you don’t want to wait long, then it’s better for you to use air freight instead of sea freight.
Sourcing from China can be advantageous for your company, but it is difficult to accomplish
Sourcing from China can be advantageous for your company, but it is difficult to accomplish. The market is difficult to navigate, and you need to be prepared with a lot of research and knowledge before starting. You will want to make sure that you are making the right decisions with your sourcing because this will affect all aspects of your business in the long run.
It is important not just to look at price as one factor when finding a supplier, since there are many factors involved in the viability of a supplier: quality control, delivery time-frame expectations, after-sales service, etc. On top of this, there are many things that go into creating an effective sourcing strategy, like knowing what products sell best on Amazon (or other platforms), which products have good margins (and why), and what suppliers have had positive reviews from other clients, etc.; analyzing competitors’ listings and keywords used for SEO purposes; etc.
It’s important to take your time
When sourcing products in China, it is important to take your time and be thorough in your research, to ensure that you are getting the best deal possible.
Importing from China can be risky if you don’t know what you are doing. If you rush into it without knowing how everything works and how to navigate the Chinese market, then this could potentially leave your business vulnerable. It is important that when importing from China, you take your time and do things properly. Don’t just blindly follow advice or tips because someone else told you about them; make sure that they work for you!
Conclusion
We hope you’ve found this article helpful in your journey to source products from China. We know that there are many challenges when sourcing from China, but if you approach it with the right mindset and plan ahead, then you can have a successful experience. The most important thing is to learn about the market and find a company that fits your needs. If you do this research properly, then sourcing from China will be as easy as ordering an item from Amazon!
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