Question from one of our subscribers:

Hi there

I would be very grateful if anyone can advise me on the best way forward, in both promoting my online auction site, as well as ways i could promote and build a bigger audience.

We offer both Free Registration and Free Listings, and would like this to become something great

Any advise is much appreciated

Answer:

Hi!

You can write articles and have a resource box at the end which contains a link to your product or the auction site. If you want to promote the auction site you will have to make sure it’s an affiliate link. You can create videos about either your product, service or the auction site company. Make sure the video is exciting to watch and not boring. It should also contain a link in it to the page that is selling the product you want to sell. You can create a webpage on a web 2.0 property such Squidoo or HubPages. The main advantage of these is that you can use a keyword as a link in the middle of the article on the page. You can put a link in the signature file of your emails. It doesn’t matter whether you’re sending emails to friends or business colleagues you can add a promotional phrase with a link after your name.

Hope this helps!

Canton Fair is going to be held between April 15 and May 5, 2013 in Guangzhou. For enterprises, participating in 113th Canton Fair is an opportunity to explore their market. It is a useful platform built for both buyers and suppliers. Every coin has two sides. There are troubles for exhibitors too. The annoying phone call from booth reseller is one of them. One experienced exhibitor said those phone calls could not be trusted unless they were recommended by friends. A textile accessories exporter has attended Canton Fair last year. He missed the Canton Fair online apply because of wondering whether he should do it again this year. And after that, he has answered more than 10 phone calls about Canton Fair booth resale. It is very easy to search this kind of information online. If you open a page, the customer service staff and the salesman would talk to you in the same time and most of their price is much higher than the ordinary one. When facing this situation, you should pay much more attention on it. Referring to some experienced exhibitors, these salesmen were not reliable. They might run away after receiving your down payment. Besides, only the companies who are permitted to export and import would be qualified for Canton Fair registration. Lacking experience would be a problem for new exhibitor. If it is the first time you come to Canton Fair, you should start preparing. If you plan to get to Guangzhou by airplane, it is important to book the ticket ahead. Besides, the samples, business cards, product catalogs and notebook are required. It is also a good recommendation to bring screwdriver and some tools that would be benefiting in saving budget. Also, to keep your exhibitors card would be a little help in the next Canton Fair. Whether to invite your clients to this exhibition is a problem. Some enterprises determined that it is unsuitable to invite clients who are cooperating with you. They might compare your products with others which may be bad for your business. But to invite clients who are interested in you is of great importance. It is a chance for you to know each other better and it may help making a deal. Some insisted that participating in this Fair is not only to expand your market and develop new clients, but also to collect updated information of the whole market and industry. It would be help in protecting your market. Therefore, both old clients and potential clients should be invited directly and clearly. Last but not least, it is helpful to contact the clients who are interested in you immediately right after the fair.

China has been experiencing unprecedented growth in GDP, manufacturing, exports and other economic sectors. More than ever, importing products from China can generate both immediate and long term profit.

To get a sense of the potential business opportunities when importing Chinese products, consider Wal-Mart. Every year, Wal-Mart imports billions of dollars worth of Chinese goods, and out of Wal-Mart’s 6,000 suppliers, 5,000 are located in China. However, do not think that you cannot tap into the Chinese import market just because major retailers such as Wal-Mart have. Importing products from China can still be a strong business decision.

If you choose to import a product from China that is reasonably priced and tends to sell well, or a specialty product that is otherwise difficult to locate, your potential for profit can be large. However, be wary of any supplier who claims they can sell you name brand electronics or clothing. These goods are almost certainly fake and are often illegal to sell.

As long as you abide by customs regulations, you can often buy bulk goods from China cheaper and with lower taxes than you would when dealing with a middleman in your home nation. This is because you are essentially acting as an independent retailer, buying your products directly from the manufacturer and importing them to your own country. China requires no special licenses or permits to purchase goods. As long as you follow national and international trade regulations, you are free to import nearly anything in almost any quantity.

Another advantage you have over dealing with a middleman is that you have direct control over your business’s distribution model. You might consider selling your products online through eBay or Amazon, or you could rent a store and sell them in person. This gives you a level of flexibility that a major retailer does not have. The biggest value of importing from China directly lies in the control you are given over your own business.

Because China’s manufacturing sector has experienced a prolonged, dramatic boom, directly importing from China can prove to be an effective business decision. If you research and plan your business around hot markets, the potential for profit can be very significant.

Question from one of our subscribers:

I do not know if this is silly question or not but I am going to have another shot at opening my ebay store as I have more time to commit to it.

My question is would I get the full benefit of opening my shop when I am due to pay my fees or would this not make a difference as I am looking to save every penny possible.

Many Thanks

Martin

Answer:

Hi!

Best time to open your eBay store depends on the product you want to sell. So the first thing you may want to do is to do research on what products you will sell, and on topics like when the products can be used more, etc. If you want to increase your feedback, try using different methods like free shipping discount coupons on providing feedback. This can also increase your sales.

Hope this helps!

Question from one of our subscribers:

Was just curious really, as I know a few people that say ebay doesnt return the profits it once did.. in fact I know people who used to ebay full time but now have to supplement their activities with other paid work…

Why is this?

Is this because the money men have took over and bought in massive bulk and pushed the prices down, so your average trader can’t compete?

Is it because there’s so much and choice so its hard to stand out?

What products do you sell – and if starting now, would you sell the same – or would you do something different?

Was just turning it over in my head!

Answer:

Hi!

Making money with Ebay is entirely possible, but one has to be realistic. As with any other business, to be successful requires real work. There are many sellers who join Ebay, and think that all they have to do is post a few items for sale and boom… they make money. It just doesn’t work that way for most. Footwork, research, processing, photography, education, listing, accounting, and shipping. You will not make money by doing nothing. You can, however make money if you are willing to work at it.

Hope this helps!

Question from one of our subscribers:

Do you use China mail to England and how quick is it?

Im scared what i ordered won’t come by my birthday

Answer:

Hi!

China Post costs more to send an airmail letter to the UK from China than it does to send one from the UK to China. (Delivery time is usually 10-15 days) Two services are offered. Basic and EMS. The system for posting an item is very different to the UK. You take your item into one of the China Post offices unwrapped. It is inspected by a member of staff. Once they accept it as worthy of sending, you then wrap it, address it etc. It is then weighed and you choose your postal service. Mostly EMS is used for international shipping. It is stamped and off it goes. Not vastly different from the UK but significantly so when other considerations are factored in. China Post office, depending on time of day and peoples desire to post an item or 20, the posting process can take some considerable time. UPS and FEDEX and some others are also available in most large cities i.e. Beijing, Shanghai and the like, invariably more expensive than EMS.

Hope this helps!

For all of you who are unfamiliar with the Canton Import and Export Fair, it’s held in GuangZhou, China twice a year (Usually during the end of May and the beginning of November) and is probably the largest show you will ever attend in your lifetime. It easily trumps any trade show in the US and is so large that it is split into 3 phases.

The first phase covers electronics, the second phase covers consumer goods, gifts and home decor and the third phase covers textiles, garments, shoes and office supplies. In order to give you an idea of the magnitude of the fairgrounds, picture the largest trade show that you’ve ever been to and multiply that by 10-20.

Yes, it’s that large. The fair is so large that it’s impossible to cover the entire thing so you definitely have to have an idea of what areas you want to hit before you attend. You can’t just aimlessly wander and possibly hope to find what you are looking for.

The best part of the fair is that it’s a place where vendors and factory owners from all over China and Asia congregate all at once and you can easily find a vendor that either carries what you want to sell or can make what you want to sell.

If you’ve ever tried to find Chinese vendors or factories in the past, you probably know how difficult it is. In fact, it’s next to impossible to find a good vendor online or through a service like Alibaba.com. There are just too many companies to go through and it’s hard to gauge the quality of the goods being offered by just looking at photos online. That, and there’s often a language and cultural barrier which makes things even more difficult.

What’s awesome about the Canton Fair is that all of the vendors bring in samples of what they make and sell direct from their factories so you can get a sampling of all the merchandise first hand before committing to a purchase. Most of the vendors deal with US or European companies on a regular basis so they have the experience and infrastructure to export products to wherever you live. The other good news is that a good number of these vendors speak English… not good English, mind you, but enough to communicate at a basic level. If you require an interpreter, you can easily hire one for a very reasonable price (100 yuan = 15 bucks for the day).

The only downside of the fair is that since you are dealing with Chinese factories directly, you have to buy in large quantities. Therefore if you are just starting out with your online store or just testing the waters, the Canton trade show is probably not for you.

Just as an example, let’s say you want to buy stuffed animals or baby blankets to sell in the United States. The merchandise might only cost you a dollar a piece to have made but you would have to commit to buying a minimum run of 1000 blankets per style/color. Other vendors might require you to purchase 10-20K worth of goods as a minimum but allow you to mix and match.

In any case, the minimum order is generally on the higher end and the initial cash outlay is usually on the order of tens of thousands of dollars. The good news is that since you are buying direct from the factory, the prices are extremely inexpensive. When it comes to electronics, consumer goods, textiles and garments, nothing beats Chinese factory prices. Buying a t-shirt is in the 40-50 cent range (depending on quality). If you can and are willing to spend more money up front, you can find goods to sell at extremely attractive price points which will have a positive effect on your profitability when you sell them back in the United States.

The Canton Import and Export Fair is also an excellent place to find factories to produce items of your own design. Let’s say you want to create your own line of handbags. You can easily find a vendor to mass produce what you want to sell by showing them patterns of your design.

Going to a trade show like the Canton Fair allows you to have face to face contact with a large number of vendors and to establish relationships with potential vendors early on. This is invaluable! In just one short trip, you can easily meet hundreds of factory owners that are all congregated in one gigantic exhibition hall. Most of the vendors who attend the tradeshows do not have a web presence so it’s next to impossible to find them otherwise.

It can be intimidating to travel to China to attend the fair but it is well worth your time if you are serious about sourcing your products at rock bottom prices. If you are just starting out, I recommend that you start with a dropshipping and/or a light bulk wholesale vendor. Then once you are profitable and are used to running an online store, you can attend the Canton Trade Fair and have your products created factory direct at lower prices.

Just getting to the Canton Fair will certainly test your patience and you will need a lot of it. No matter how you get to Guangzhou you will have to pass that thousand mile road and yes, be prepared to stand in line and wait and wait. After all, Chinese isn’t the world’s most spoken language for nothing, according to (SIL) Ethnologue Survey (1999). And that’s due to population not geography. Please remember that when you are going though the China’s Inspection and Customs to be polite and calm and have all your documents ready. Many foreigners are thinking “what I don’t know” by arguing with the customs officers only to have their travel time further delayed.

Have your hotel reservations confirmed and know exactly how you will get there before you arrive. The Guangzhou hotel industry has sprouted expeditiously over the years because it makes its yearly operational expense on the two times per year when the Canton fair is held. The rest of the year is pure gravy. The reason for this is because they can charge anywhere from 10%~1000% more for that room. Also, ask if the hotel has a direct shuttle to the Canton Fair, having one will save you much money and headache. Because getting there is not the problem, getting back is a whole another story.

Money Exchange

The best is to have your money in your Visa or Debit card, The Canton fair has a Bank of China right inside and several other bank ATM’s accepting all major credit cards, JETCO, PLUS, MAESTRO, etc. You can have your currency exchanged in Hong Kong before arriving or you can get better (negotiable) rates if you go to the “Black Market” exchange stalls right at the LuoHu port entrance in Shenzhen. However, as with anything that deals with money be careful. Keep your surroundings in check, after exchanging your money put it away in your money belt. Since LuoHu is a prime foreigner shopping site full of wonderful items such as gifts, souvenirs, foot massages, manicure/pedicures and most famously the knock offs, thus bringing opportunists of all types. Here are some dos and don’ts:

• Don’t let anyone follow you, especially after the currency exchange booth.

• Don’t let any peddler carry your luggage for a fee.
• Don’t purchase from peddlers outside the shopping area.
• Don’t give money to the beggars no matter how sad they make you feel. There are some groups in China that kidnaps, maims, and then throws them into an organized beggars circle. The only way to stop this is by not giving.
• Don’t accept solicitation for prostitution at the LuoHu area, you’re asking for trouble if you do. There are better alternatives.
• Especially purchasing something or taking a taxi; memorize at least the last four digits of the bill that you hand over. If the clerk or driver hands back a bill and says, “This is fake, do you have another one?”, don’t touch the bill because you’re being swindled. They will hand you a fake bill instead, so don’t get your fingerprints on it.

• Do try the delicious food, but ask what it is before ordering.
• Do get a massage or oil rub down, but don’t opt for the special; you might not want to pay the ridiculous fee.
• Don’t tip; China isn’t a tipping society, besides a service charge has probably already been added to the bill. Use your discretion.
• And by all means: haggle. It’s your money, your worked hard for it, you decide how much to give.

Getting to the Canton Fair:

Coming from Shenzhen:
• Bus: Shenzhen to Guangzhou: 3/hour without traffic/58rmb
• Shenzhen Taxi: 1.5/hour without traffic, negotiable 300rmb~500rmb
• Guangzhou Return Trip Taxi: 1.5/hour without traffic, negotiable about 150rmb
• Train: Shenzhen to Guangzhou East Railway Station Train: About 50min/ 80rmb, once there go down one floor for the Metro station. Taxi line-up is directly outside of the train station or adjacent is the bus station. The train, bus, Metro stations are all at the same area. Further down the street (about 10 minutes walking distance) is the US-Consulate Generals office next to IKEA.
• Coming from the Airport by Bus, airport shuttle to your hotel, 50min/ 38rmb
• Coming from the Airport by Taxi, minimum 40min/ 170rmb

Once you are in Guangzhou you will need to get to Panyu, which is the city next to Guangzhou where the Canton Fair is held.
Metro: Line 2 to Pazhou Station, once at the station you’ll see entrances to A/B and C Buildings. If you haven’t registered then go to Building A/B exit or even better yet get off one station before Pazhou (Xinggang-Donglu) Station. The Canton Fair is over 1.1 million m2 separated into three sections. It’s very large so bring good walking shoes.

At the Fair:

If you haven’t registered then you’ll need to do so. Be prepared to wait in line for a minimum of two hours for this process. You’ll need:
• Your E-Invitation letter that you’ve pre-registered online.
• Your Passport.
• 2 x passport (1”x 1”) photos for the entry badge.
• Your Business Card.
• Submit a registration form.
• Admission is free for foreign passport holders.
• Because Chinese nationals are not allowed in the Canton Fair (excluding exhibitors and staff) you must pay an additional fee per day for an interpreter. However, this must have been pre-ordered through the Canton Fair. There are always several freelance interpreters outside soliciting for work.
• Though Chinese regulation stipulates that foreigners must have their passports with them at all times, it would behoove you to make a scanned copy of your passport and printout a color copy of it and carry with you instead. Unless of course you haven’t registered for the Canton Fair or want to open a bank account, etc… Other than to use your passport for official capacity, keep your passports in your hotel-room safe because losing it will make your life a living hell in China.

Doing Business at Fair:

Bring more business cards, you’ll surely run out. Exhibitors paying a minimum of $5000USD for a small space and up to $100,000USD for large spaces at the fair and not to mention the cost of printing catalogs, booth decorations, carpet, electricity, water, employees, etc…will want a business card from you to take a catalog. A little trick is to print out some sticky labels with your information on it then stick it to the exhibitors notebook, simple and effective or simply effective and takes up less space.

Unless you plan to travel back home with a suitcase full of catalogs without your belongings in it, ask for CD catalogs from the exhibitors or bring an extra empty suitcase. If they don’t have CD’s then many new style compact cameras have macro functions these days. Just take the Catalogs you need, Chinese manufacturers seems to outdo themselves each year by creating bigger and thicker catalogs. If they say they will email it to you, well…they won’t. Be Eco-friendly.

Coming on the last day wouldn’t be wise since you wouldn’t have enough time to haggle and most of the bargains would have already been sold. Also, most exhibitors will want to start tearing down and get out before the rush, the problem will rise if they all think that and create a rush before the rush.

Question from one of our subscribers:

How to find the real and honesty supplier?

We get many emails every day from suppliers in North america,europe,Southeast Asia,India,Russia etc.But we meet many unhonesty or low-ability suppliers,most them from Southeast asia,India and Russia etc.

We wastes too much time to contact this kind suppliers.

We don’t want to waste any time,time is the most import thing.

I think there should be real suppliers in these countries,but we have bad experience to contact the untrue ones.

I hope someone to give us some comments how to select from suppliers from Southeast asia,India,Russia etc.

Thanks and regards,

Cox resource Ltd

Answer:

Hi!

I think every buyer must do these:

a. Spend 100usd to verify a seller before you send much bigger amount of USD to China seller. You must not only verify with alibaba.com but also verify with a trusted China agent, including certified China lawyer.

b. Always be alert during the transaction, keep an eye not to be fooled or scammed. If you cannot control the process, an agent is necessary.

c. Sales contract must be complete, you can not buy only with some email letters, this is most fragile for you. you must make the seller to send you company license and other real info in Chinese and your language, then ask your agent in China to verify, then put the Chinese name onto the contract i.e. PI or Invoice, then the seller must send you their company license copy in scanned form, this is to prepare to sue and the court will file the case for you, so that you can have last remedy. Sometimes, some sellers are just false, so they do not have any valid company license.

So, if you want not get scammed, always kill any risk of being scammed before you SEND any money to China sellers.

Hope this helps!

A C
Managing Director
Start Importing Now
www.startimportingnow.com.au

Question from one of our subscribers:
Hello my name is Albert. I want to start my business of selling online with dropshipping method because I think it is a good way to get started in this world. I am researching niche markets and I have some ideas such as clothing accessories (ties, scarves, hats, bags, scarves, umbrellas, gloves, jewelry, etc.) What do you think? I live in Spain but would like to sell to everyone. I need help finding suppliers.

Thank you.

Answer:

Hi!

Entering a new arena without any contextual knowledge can often lead to expensive errors. Fundamental to success, then, is a comprehensive analysis and research of your intended market.

Naturally, you need to think about people. You need to think about places. You need to contextualise your product or service socioeconomically. Who will be buying your product?

To improve the chances of overseas success, you need to consider a few key issues. Sales presence, for instance, should be a top priority. Will you sell directly? Will you trade over the internet? Perhaps trade shows are more suitable? Could you benefit from a local partner who knows the market? Here are a few fundamental choices:

Get yourself a distributor who can sell on a local or national level

Sales agents can either sell a product for you, or alternatively acquaint you with potential clients or customers

Joint ventures with local companies have gained in popularity, primarily because of their knowledge and established presence in the market. It is often a pricey option, however

Of course, you can also set up your own office, ensuring maximum control on all operations. This is obviously the most expensive of all your options

As for the things that you could sell, here are my suggestions:

Leather Shoes, Belts, Bags and Accessories – Spain was always known for its good quality leather. In the 21st century this hasn’t changed, with Spain boasting some of the best quality leather shoes, belts and accessories in Europe.

Baby Clothes – Absolutely gorgeous, handmade clothing is available all over the city, in lovely European-chic styles.

Costume Jewelry – chunky bracelets, silver earrings, wooden hand-carved bangles, strands of beads, funky rings and even delicate ankle chains.

Hope this helps!