| The interesting thing about online buyers is they are | | | | services, which are |
| extremely | | | | extremely useful to members and general people a |
| price sensitive. A survey done by Forrester Research | | | | like. Promotion |
| shows that | | | | of the industry and its products and referral services |
| 73 percent of surveyed online buyers expect prices | | | | for buyers |
| on the | | | | trying to find specific products are some of the |
| Internet to be cheaper than in stores. No wonder | | | | services that |
| auction | | | | they offer. You should not hesitate to contact these |
| marketplaces are thriving. Among the most popular | | | | organizations for help.ImportingCompetition in world's |
| auction | | | | largest electronic marketplace is fierce! |
| marketplaces growth of eBay is especially notable! Its | | | | If you have to buy products from a middleman, you |
| market | | | | may find that |
| share is growing at roughly twice the pace of the | | | | your prices are not workable at all. What to do? Since |
| over all | | | | most of |
| market. So, it's only natural if you like many other | | | | the consumers products are imported any way, you |
| wannabe | | | | may consider |
| entrepreneurs thinking seriously to start an eBay | | | | outsourcing your product from a foreign country. |
| business.Say, after spending long hours on the eBay | | | | Today, thanks to |
| and doing much | | | | globalization importing products are no longer as |
| research offline and online, you finally have come up | | | | difficult as it |
| with a | | | | used to be! If you are trying to buy a labor-intensive |
| niche category of products to sell. But, there is one | | | | product, |
| little | | | | the best places are probably China - which is the |
| problem! You don't have a slightest clue where to get | | | | hottest at this |
| regular | | | | time, India, Thailand, Vietnam, Bangladesh and some |
| supply of this product for wholesale price. Often, | | | | other Asian |
| entrepreneurs | | | | countries. If you are looking for medium quality |
| with great product ideas fail to materialize their dream | | | | electronics and |
| business | | | | computer parts, your options are China, Taiwan, |
| plan just because they are unable to find a right | | | | Korea, Singapore, |
| supplier. How | | | | etc. For high-end designer products Italy, Germany and |
| to tackle this problem?Finding a local supplierSuccess | | | | France are |
| in any trading business depends not only on how good | | | | your best bet. For intellectual property related |
| you | | | | products, Russia |
| are in selling, it also relies greatly on your ability to | | | | and other Eastern European countries are still a |
| source | | | | paradise.There is a good chance of finding a supplier |
| the product at right cost. If you have a fairly large list | | | | through online B2B |
| of | | | | portals. If you are looking for a supplier from China |
| products that you are considering to work with you | | | | you may try |
| have a variety | | | | and Two of the largest |
| of options to choose from. You may start your eBay | | | | trade leads aggregators on the Internet. For products |
| auctioning | | | | from India |
| business based on local liquidators, closeout dealers, | | | | you may try searching the database of both and |
| government | | | | For products from Russia and other CIS |
| auctions, newspaper classified or Drop-shippers | | | | countries is a great option.Here are the steps you |
| ( But to start a real niche | | | | must take in order to import products |
| business you need to find a constant source supplier, | | | | successfully:- Locate several suppliers either through |
| which could | | | | online resources or by |
| be a manufacturer, a distributor or a wholesaler. | | | | contacting Trade Commissions of respective |
| Obviously, | | | | countries.- Contact the suppliers and see if they are in |
| Internet is the easiest place to get the initial contact | | | | a position to |
| information. Try or | | | | deliver the right product. Make sure that the suppliers |
| - both websites are good information | | | | are not |
| sources for industrial products manufacturers.Bear in | | | | your direct competitors. Many foreign suppliers are |
| mind that many manufacturers simply aren't able to | | | | actively |
| handle | | | | selling products through eBay.- If you find their price |
| small orders and don't sell products directly to retailers. | | | | and quality of the product are |
| Some | | | | acceptable get several samples. It is very important to |
| times, the minimum sales lot is way too big for a small | | | | give them |
| start-up | | | | an exact copy of the product you are looking for. |
| company to manage. However, even if the | | | | Without a |
| manufacturer does not | | | | prototype you might end up getting something far |
| sell directly to retail levels, they will provide you with | | | | different than |
| information on their products and refer you to their | | | | you expected.- Work out your cost, which include |
| wholesaler | | | | buying cost, packaging, |
| or distributor companies, which will be in a position to | | | | shipping, insurance, customs duty, excise duty if any, |
| cater | | | | financing |
| your needs.For some category of products, your best | | | | and handling charges, etc. You may also incur other |
| option is to attend | | | | expenses |
| trade or industry shows in order to locate a supplier. | | | | depending on products and your location.- Check out |
| Check out | | | | your supplier. If possible make a trip to visit the |
| websites of some exhibition centers in your vicinity | | | | supplier. Ask for references. Contact their bankers if |
| and find one | | | | necessary. |
| or two trade shows of your area of interest. Make | | | | Importing requires absolute due diligence.- Check with |
| sure that | | | | a logistics consultant about shipping and exporting |
| participants of the trade show are distributors and | | | | rules of the country.- Contact a customs broker to |
| wholesalers | | | | verify latest duty and other |
| as oppose to large manufacturers. After all, you need | | | | regulations related to importing of this particular |
| to find a | | | | product.- Don't forget to consider product life cycle, |
| supplier who will agree to work with your initial small | | | | shipping time, |
| orders.Trade journals or publications of your related | | | | seasonality of the product and other characteristics |
| field also could | | | | specific to |
| be a great source in your quest to find a supplier. | | | | your product.Importantly, do your homework! You can |
| Trade | | | | sure make money by |
| journals publish information on industry trend, articles | | | | importing and selling goods on eBay. Thousands are |
| on major | | | | already doing |
| players, various industry related event schedules such | | | | this. But, the key to success relies on your |
| as trade | | | | entrepreneurial |
| shows, and often carry classified sections. | | | | spirit, due preparation, sound judgment and hard work. |
| Sometimes, they also | | | | If you |
| publish specialty issues such as a buyer's guide or a | | | | think you are ready, go for it!Nowshade Kabir, is the |
| who's who | | | | founder, primary developer and present |
| issue. You may consider getting those issues by | | | | CEO of - a Global B2B Exchange with solutions to |
| contacting the | | | | create e-catalog, Web store, business process |
| publishers.Professional and trade associations similar | | | | management and |
| to local chamber of | | | | other features to run a business online. |
| commerce and other groups offer a variety of | | | | |