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