In today’s global economy, importing goods from China has become a popular strategy for small businesses looking to expand their product offerings.
In our past sourcing agency partnerships, we have met many buyers who are just starting out and trying to import from China in small quantities, often just launching a business in their own country and large scale imports seem daunting to them. It may be wise to start this model in small quantities to test the waters.
Most of them don’t have a lot of experience with sourcing from China and think it’s simple: find a Chinese supplier, buy the product at a low price, ship it back home, and then sell it at a high price in the local market.
But the truth is that importing small quantities of products directly from China is never easy. You will face many different problems, such as shipping costs that are higher than the value of the product, or your order is much lower than the supplier’s starting quantity, or you receive the goods in a long-distance shipment and find out that there are quality problems, and so on. In some unexpected cases, you may give up this new business and the good plan of purchasing from China in large quantities.
In this article, we’ll take a complete look at how to import small quantities of products from China and explain some of the problems you may encounter.
Definition of a Small Volume Buyer
Different companies and individuals understand and define small business differently. But in our experience, most buying agents define a small business as one that imports less than $400,000 per year. But for most entrepreneurs, this number is obviously too high, and they may be able to reach it after a few years of growth, but they certainly don’t want to think about it right off the bat. That’s one of the reasons why it’s so hard for small startups to find the right sourcing agency to provide them with the right services.
If a single product can be purchased for up to $5,000, this amount is usually shipped in quantities of about 5 cubic feet. This amount is usually the factory’s MOQ, and we can take the customer directly to the factory to get a competitive price.
Whether you are purchasing one or more products, it is worth noting that 4 to 5 cubic feet is usually the minimum volume that is most appropriate for LCL shipments. Below that, the entire import/export process will be complicated, and logistics and labor costs will be higher instead, which means the average cost per unit purchased per product will go up.
Small buyers Our company defines small buyers as those whose word purchases are less than $3,000, and those just starting out tend to fall into this category.
What kind of products are suitable for small-volume buyers?
When importing from China, for experienced buyers who have been able to source based on market opportunities in their own country, buyers can benefit from focusing on products that meet their needs and market trends. But small business entrepreneurs may not even know which products to start with first.
Here are some suggestions for products that are suitable for small-volume buyers:
Small size products:
For buyers with small purchasing volume, transportation is the most important issue to consider. If the transportation volume is large, it must be by sea, which is easy to understand, but according to the previous purchase volume does not meet the minimum LCL sea freight standard, it is necessary to go by air or courier, the cost of air or courier is 8-10 times higher than LCL sea freight.
This situation, such as plastic water bottles or larger mugs and other larger size or packaging, and the value of the product is not yet high is not suitable for small importers, because the express and air freight costs are charged by volume weight (length * height * width). Perhaps your freight will cost you more than the value of the goods itself.
Products that stand out from the rest
Some people think that everyday consumer items are easy to sell because everyone needs them. But this is not the case. Because you need to consider how difficult it is to manufacture and obtain a product, the easier it is to obtain a product, the fiercest the competition is. Especially for everyday consumer goods, many large-scale buyers purchase in large quantities, and the price they get is definitely cheaper than small-volume buyers, who have a hard time competing with them through these products. But you can consider importing some special socks, such as “sports socks”, or “children’s home non-slip socks”.
Here are some examples of products that are suitable for small volume buyers:
1. Fashion and Accessories
- Jewelry: Lightweight and easy to ship.
- Clothing: Trendy items, seasonal wear, or niche styles.
- Bags and Wallets: Unique designs can appeal to specific audiences.
2. Electronics and Gadgets
- Phone Accessories: Cases, chargers, and screen protectors are often in demand.
- Wearable Technology: Smartwatches or fitness trackers, particularly if they’re trendy or innovative.
- Small Appliances: Items like Bluetooth speakers or headphones.
3. Home and Garden
- Decor Items: Wall art, decorative pillows, and candles.
- Kitchen Gadgets: Innovative tools and utensils that solve common problems.
- Gardening Supplies: Small planters, tools, or accessories for urban gardening.
4. Health and Beauty Products
- Skincare Items: Face masks, serums, or organic products.
- Cosmetic Tools: Brushes, sponges, and organizers.
- Wellness Products: Essential oils or relaxation aids.
5. Toys and Games
- Educational Toys: Engaging and innovative toys for children.
- Craft Kits: DIY kits that appeal to parents and children alike.
- Puzzle Games: Popular items that can attract a variety of age groups.
6. Sports and Outdoor Gear
- Fitness Accessories: Resistance bands, yoga mats, or water bottles.
- Camping Gear: Lightweight items like portable hammocks or cooking utensils.
- Pet Supplies: Unique toys or accessories for pet owners.
7. Office Supplies
- Stationery Items: Notebooks, planners, and pens with unique designs.
- Organizers: Desk organizers, cable management solutions, or file holders.
- Tech Accessories: Laptop sleeves, ergonomic tools, and mousepads.
8. Seasonal Products
- Holiday Decorations: Items for specific holidays, which can sell well in limited quantities.
- Summer Essentials: Beach gear, picnic supplies, or outdoor games.
8. Seasonal Products
How to find Chinese suppliers for small-volume buyers ?
The Internet reduces transportation costs so much that most buyers initially look for Chinese suppliers through the Internet, except for attending a few trade shows, where it is not really necessary to make a special trip at all.
If you go to China to look for suppliers, first of all, the cost is high, including airfare, hotel fees and cab fare, the total cost of a one-week visit to China program will cost more than 3500 U.S. dollars. Secondly, finding a good supplier in China can be a daunting task. Good suppliers are not always easy to meet at the beginning, and the problems encountered in the communication process can be exhausting.
So small volume buyers can take the following internet methods when looking for Chinese suppliers:
Online platforms
Alibaba
This is the most well-known B2B platform in China, which provides abundant supplier resources and is suitable for small-volume purchasing. However, it is worth noting that the sellers on Alibaba are also uneven, there will be buyers encountered some product quality, packaging and transporter problems, and Alibaba has a minimum order quantity or minimum order amount.
Global Sources
Focused on connecting buyers with verified suppliers, Global Sources has an advantage in certain industries, such as electronics.
Made-in-China
another large B2B platform offering a wide selection of products. It has certain advantages in the industrial machinery category, and is known as one of China’s top three B2B trading platforms along with Alibaba and Global Sources.
Social Media and Professional Forums
Suppliers can be found through industry-related social networks to understand their background and reputation.
acebook and Instagram
many suppliers will display their products on these platforms and can be contacted directly.
Trade shows
Participating in industry trade shows is also a more efficient way: for example, Canton Fair (Canton Fair), etc., to personally contact suppliers and learn about product quality and price. If it is your first time to attend a Canton Fair, we suggest you read “the Complete Guide to Canton Fairs”.
Sourcing agents in China
Sourcing agents or intermediaries can find professional sourcing agents to help you contact and evaluate suppliers.
A professional sourcing agent can help you quickly understand the latest market information, excellent suppliers, and help you solve product quality, timely delivery, storage, logistics and other issues.
Supplier catalogs and friend recommendations
Check the supplier directories published by industry associations, you can usually find reputable companies.
Ask your peers or other small-volume buyers for recommendations to get information about suppliers with high trust.
How to ship goods from China when buying small quantities?
As mentioned earlier, shipping goods can be a really big problem for small volume buyers. Especially when it comes to some large unsuitable products, many buyers have to give up on their purchases.
Air freight
faster but more expensive. Ideal for small shipments. Options include courier services (e.g. DHL, FedEx) or standard air freight. International express is suitable for shipments under 300 kilograms, while air freight is suitable for shipments over 300 kilograms. It’s worth noting that airfreight requires the same import and export process as ocean freight, and you are required to pick up the goods at the airport.(Dangerous goods such as liquids, powders and products with batteries cannot be transported by air. (Electric scooters, balance bikes are among them)
Ocean freight
more cost effective for large quantities, but slower. Originally less practical for small volume orders due to minimum cost restrictions. But there are problems will produce opportunities, a new industry was born. LCL shipping has become the best way to solve this problem, LCL means multiple customers share a container, in the past trade, we have encountered 2-60 customers share the situation.
So it is very suitable to do transportation service for small volume buyers through this kind of LCL company. They usually specialize in certain ports or regions and offer full price shipping. They handle all the customs and shipping processes, and you simply pick up your shipment at their warehouse, or sometimes they can deliver it to your door.
But this kind of company is harder to find, you can find out through experienced buyers or professional purchasing agents. I know some of these LCL companies, you can send your plan and I will help you to make an exclusive transportation plan.
How can small-volume buyers avoid scams?
Small Volume Buyers Sourcing from China Fear of getting scammed when sourcing products from China is something that every first time common sense importer sourcing from China thinks about.
First of all, let’s talk about Chinese B2B platforms. Whether you buy from Alibaba, Made in China or Global Sources, the buyer is protected by the platform as an “intermediary”, and no supplier can receive your money without delivering the goods. All suppliers on these online platforms are required to provide their Chinese ID or company information to register for a seller’s account, and the online platforms verify this information.
They have to pay a yearly fee to become a supplier on these platforms. For example, to become an ordinary supplier on Alibaba, a supplier must pay an annual membership fee of 29,800 RMB (about $4,800 USD), while to become a Premium Member (Jinpin Chengxin), a supplier needs to spend 80,000 RMB (about $11,000 USD) per year!
You are most likely to encounter a bad situation is that the supplier sends the product quality is worse than you expected or you receive a smaller number of products, in order to avoid these may encounter a bad situation, in the online search for suppliers must be careful, do not just focus on those who have the lowest price, in fact, the lower the price of the relative to the risk to be borne is also the greater.
Here are some suggestions that may help you
Research the seller
check reviews, ratings and feedback from previous buyers. Look for any red flags or complaint patterns.
Verify contact information
Make sure the seller has legitimate contact information. If they only provide a form or no contact information, be cautious.
Ask for detailed descriptions
Ask for more angles and provide clear, specific descriptions and photos of the item. Scammers often use generic images.
Be wary of very low prices
If the price is too low compared to the market price, then be alert and control your talk, it could be a scam.
Start with a small purchase
if you’re unsure about a seller, consider making a small purchase first to test their reliability.
Find a professional sourcing agent
Spending a small amount of money to get more information about Chinese suppliers and complete each purchase more quickly is the choice of many buyers.