Why is my China supplier asking for my tax ID number (EIN)?
When goods enter the United States from overseas, it is considered an importation and must be cleared by Customs and Border Protection (CBP). When a company purchases goods from an overseas supplier, CBP considers them the ultimate importer. The ultimate importer can clear the goods or have a broker clear them on their behalf. […]
What is Blind Shipping?
What is Blind Shipping? Blind Shipping is the ‘blind date’ of the business world. With imports, it occurs when your overseas factory and your end-user are completely unaware of each another. Blind Shipping, first and foremost, protects your business from supply chain predators. Keeping Chinese suppliers and end-users completely separate is the key-value proposition. A Blind […]
Top Tips: Best Express Courier Options from China
Which Courier should I choose? Buying from China inevitably means using express air couriers. Factories get late, 100-piece orders aren’t shipped by sea or air cargo. The need exists for sending or receiving samples, commercial documents, small orders and delivering products for date-specific events. Express shipping can be as fast as next day delivery. Lower […]
The Balance of Power Has Shifted
What’s Changed? Chinese factories and end-users, going direct and cutting you out. Alibaba has altered the landscape. Importers fight to retain market share. The new normal means increased rushes and shorter order-to-delivery cycles. Lowering transportation costs, hiding your supply chain, and moving shipments faster has never been more important. The best way to safeguard your […]
Shipping from China Tips for 2021
Predictions for Promotional Product Importers
14 years ago a Jack Ma, a Chinese entrepreneur, developed a platform for Chinese exporters to meet buyers online. By 2002, he made $1 in profits. By 2016, he was generating cash flows of $2.65 billion per quarter.& Alibaba has proven that direct sellers are a go-to resource. Alibaba changed the market dynamic in profound ways. […]
Importing Promotional Products from China (Step 2)
A Step-by-Step Guide to Importing Part 2 In case you missed it, part 1 is here To grow market share and remain competitive, importing from China is a must.The challenge is staying ahead of a massive China curve! Direct sellers have arrived. Whether you […]
Importing Promotional Products from China (Step 1)
A Step-by-Step Guide to Importing Part 1 Growing market share means importing from China. The challenge is staying ahead of a massive China curve! Direct sellers have arrived. Whether you source through agents or Alibaba, we’ve generated an informational list plus strategic do’s and don’ts. Delivering from China can be complicated, confusing, and costly. Profits can […]
Importing from China – Best Practices
Importing Best Practices RULE #1 Don’t look for the lowest possible priceDon’t be tempted! Significantly lower prices should raise a flag. NO such thing as the lowest price in China. Factories figure out how to reduce material quality to lower prices or to meet buyer targets. These factories are generally non-compliant for health and safety […]
Importers: Stay away from Hard-Bargaining in China
Hard-bargaining is NOT the key to success. Threats and unreasonable demands may work in the short term but do not DEVELOP relationships. Eventually, you will need help from your factory. If you hard-bargain every time, favors won’t happen. What does hard-bargaining say about you? It says that you view each deal as either win or […]
