Importing from China to the UK – How to Grow your Business

Importing from China to the UK can be an excellent way for people to grow their businesses, keep costs down and maximize profits. Finding a great product and importing it can allow for very healthy profit margins, but it can often be daunting for people who lack specialist knowledge in the Chinese market.

There are different rules and regulations in the Chinese market, as there are in countries all over the world. So it can be a good idea to seek advice from import and export consultants. There is a wide range of companies out there who can guide you through the importing process, put you in touch with good suppliers and help you to avoid scams. It can be better to invest in a little professional help, rather than risk losing money because of a bad decision or an unfortunate mistake.

Consulting experts also tend to offer translation services, if necessary. Language barriers can be a big problem for global businesses and, unless you are able to speak to suppliers, discuss manufacturing and negotiate costs, you are in danger of losing money or making poor choices. It will make you feel much more comfortable to know you can communicate with new business partners efficiently.

Learning how to Import from China to the UK

Import and export consultants can help your business transactions to run smoothly, but there are a number of key tips which are important to remember. First, think carefully about the sort of products you would like to import. Whether you are designing your own product or selecting products that are already on offer, Chinese manufacturing can save a great deal of money - but you should always be aware of quality.

What are your interests, and what would you buy if you were the customer? It is important to consider these things. Buying extremely cheap merchandise from Chinese manufacturers might always seem like a good idea, but if you are unable to sell them it can be dangerous. It is not good to be left with a garage or a stockroom full of worthless goods.

Make sure you always obtain samples from a range of suppliers, so you can compare quality and make the best decision for you and your customer. Even if you are tempted to act quickly and buy in bulk, without a sample you are at risk of receiving poor quality goods. Look carefully at the materials and think about how the product could be improved.

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Also consider the margin for error in your chosen product. Manufacturing does not always run smoothly, so how many errors can you afford to see? If you choose to import computers or other electrical equipment then there will obviously be very little room for error – a computer must work correctly, and customers will be very upset if it does not. It is always crucial to have your customer’s trust.

Starting small or buying big

An essential part of learning how to import from China is knowing when to start small or buy in bulk. If you see an excellent deal which is only temporary, sometimes it can be the best idea to buy large quantities (if, of course, you are able to store the stock correctly).

However, it is also prudent to know when to start small and buy modest quantities of stock until you are confident you have built a loyal customer base. Even if you feel sure that your products will sell, you should remember that the market can change, fashions can change and competitors can threaten your business.

Your decisions about scale should, of course, be informed by your method of selling. If, for example, you are running a small, online jewellery business, and you want to import materials from China, it is probably not necessary to buy high numbers of units. But if you are the owner of a large London tourist shop, you probably have high turnover of products and good storage facilities. Buying in bulk is probably the best idea.

Using the right import and export consultants

Similarly, if your small business is doing well then it is a good idea to scale it up. If you’re making a good profit, you could put that profit back into the business and contact your Chinese suppliers to order more units. At this point, you could also think about advertising your product, branding your business or finding more ways to expand your customer base.

Always remember that, like all businesses, successful importing is about learning from your mistakes. If you import products and it becomes clear you are unable to sell them, move onto the next product rather than dwelling on failures.

Most of all, try to always keep a good working relationship with your suppliers in China and your customers (wherever they may be). Strong customer service is a crucial link in any business chain, and it should never be forgotten.