whats the best way to set up a small business, selling imported asian products in a shop and also mailorder?
355621
I say you should start on the internet first. You can sell your goods on ebay or amazon.(you have to pay a small fee)Also you can hand out your business cards to people and make fliers. I mean it may sound small but you have to start from somewhere. I think this would be good to get your name out. I hope this can help you. Good luck with everything.
377194
Hi, I have no experience with this but I've found two sites that may help in starting up your business.\n\nGood luck!
410132
You can start small and expand:\n\nbe a courier on foot in a compressed urban area\nbe a bike messenger / courier in an urban area\n\nOR you could get on the Small Business Administrations website and check out how to do a business plan.  Once you've done the research and have a plan outlined for what you want to put together, the SBA will often help you locate investors or loan institutions that can fund your business.  Your local SBA office will also help you put together the business plan.\n\nhttp://www.sba.gov/
243561
It is a painful process to set up a business in China....too many thing and too many tips I would have to give you. \n\nBest thing to do is to find a local that you can TRUST....and get him to help you. Beware though...you could get raped (businesswise) in the process.
1059113
Start by learning more about the business.  One paper I strongly recommend that you read are the following US Bureau of Custom's papers \n\n"Importing into the United States: A Practical Guide for Commercial Importers" http://www.cbp.gov/linkhandler/cgov/toolbox/publications/trade/iius.ctt/iius.doc\nHow Cargo Flows Securely into the US http://www.cbp.gov/linkhandler/cgov/import/cargo_summary/cargo_flow_map.ctt/cargo_flow_map.pdf\nUS Import Requirements http://www.cbp.gov/linkhandler/cgov/toolbox/publications/trade/usimportrequirements.ctt/usimportrequirements.doc\n\nHere are some steps to help you get started on an import and export business:\n\n1. Select your product - the more you know about your products, the better you can run your import/export operations. Start with what you know, but be open to opportunities you see as you go along.\n\n2. Research, research and research. If you are based in the US and wants to start an import/export business here, then you need to learn all customs laws, trading restrictions and quotas, international trade data, and more. Find out where you can find good information about the products you plan to trade.\n\n3. Identify potential contacts. From your list of products, identify the countries that supply those products. Then find the producers of your target products in those countries. \n\nI recommend reading the following:\n\nStarting a Home-Based Exporting Business \nhttp://www.powerhomebiz.com/vol8/exporting.htm\nLaying the Foundations of Your Home Based International Trading Business\nhttp://www.powerhomebiz.com/vol21/trading.htm\nHow to Start an Import/Export Business http://www.entrepreneur.com/article/0,4621,290657,00.html\nCMTAC Trade Information Database http://latrade.cmtac.org/trade_info/index.cfm\nDon'ts of Importing \nhttp://www.gattiassociates.com/CM/Articles/Articles1277.asp\nFlowchart of the export process http://www.export.gov/exportbasics/index.asp\nGoing Global http://www.going-global.com/articles/\n\nThese trade association websites also have loads of information on how to start an export import business:\n\nFederation of International Trade Association http://fita.org/index.html\nProfessional Association of Exporters and Importers http://www.paei.org/\n\nYou may also want to check out the following books:\n\n- Import/Export: How to Get Started in International Trade \n- Exporting, Importing, and Beyond : How to 'Go Global' With Your Small Business \n- Selling to the World: Your Fast and Easy Guide to Exporting and Importing \n- Start and Run a Profitable Exporting Business \n- Start Your Own Import/Export Business
1032282
Firstly you have to evaluate yourself that you have the super talent of selling goods! Why? Because you are going to sell a second hand goods, especially computers! If you have the ability, then you have the capital to buy in bulge, because you have to buy the whole lot if a company is going to renew their computers!\nThen you have to have a "sharp nose" where a company wants to renew their computers!\nThen you have the ability to clean, and to repair those computers to appears as new as possible. Usually you will end up to 75%~80%, because you have to salvage the bad one! Less than that you loose! Then another problem arise, the unsaleable became junk. If you can find a way to recycle it maybe you could have good profit here!\nIf you have exporting experience you can exported it to the third world countries with a good profit. But be honest if you want to have repeat orders!\nGood Luck, God Bless You!
1173656
Check with your local Better Business Bureau as to the steps you should take. Have you considered having people pay for your Boxers BEFORE you ship them?
454317
There are a lot of international laws that govern these things.  I would contact a bank that works internationally and an international business lawyer to help you get setup.\n\nGood luck with your venture
1089012
Check out Yahoo Small Business.  They can do everything for you from register a domain, to hosting your store, helping you set up a merchant account, etc.
716111
You need to complete your registration. If you don't have a company just fill your name. After you are registered as a member you will be able to contact directly the suppliers listed on the website.\nBy the way, on made-in-china you will deal with exporters and manufacturers mostly, not wholesalers. If you plan to find sources for your retail business that may not be the best site, since minimum order quantity applies (usually by containers).\nPatrick\nwww.sinotrip.biz
98083
Oriental trading company is a good place to start. They have several items like CTR items and WWJD items for a resonable price shipped right to your door.
618356
Alot of a business depends on the wether or not a product is wanted. If it is on a larger scale basis then you could try contacting some smaller stores to work as a middle-man for you. For something smaller scale you might want to go to yahoo web site builder and setup a web page that will help you sell; but you'd have to be willing to ship overseas. Alot of a business is just knowing the right people.
696552
I think I would start by contacting local businesses which you would want to sell your product. Ask them how they get the goods they sell. If it's from a warehouse ask for the name and some contact details. I think I might try and avoid some of the big chains because they may be expecting a large quantity and a regular supply of goods.
524388
go to orientaltrading.com I know you want a store but they have a lot of neat things and they deliver quick. Also, try Party America (google it to see if one is in your area)
579649
Hi There you could try toboc it is free to join and it has a lot of trade links from around the world. Or why dont you build your own online store and sell direct to the public there. I have a great piece of software that will show you how to do this from start to finish. Check it out. I hope this helps you. Good luck
749753
Don't give up the day job. Start a second business in your spare time, such as selling things on eBay. Then when you've earnt more money, you'll be in a better position to start a business full-time. You'll also have some business experience, in researching what people want, what price to sell at, advertising, accounts and taxes, etc.\n\nThere are lots of people selling similar goods at similar prices. To maximize your profits, you need to put loads of effort into buying things cheaply for re-sale. For example, store closing-down sales, end-of-line clearance sales, last years model of something, goods imported straight from china, things that vary in price a lot during the year (such as christmas lights in January), etc. Second hand goods aren't much use, as you can't normally buy 100 of the same thing, and people prefer new stuff.\n\nOne business phrase that I remember is that 'You make money when you buy, not when you sell'. Your profit is the difference between the buying and selling price. Its better to buy cheaply than it is to spend loads of effort on selling things to people at high prices.\n\nYou could specialise in hard-to-obtain items, such as imported music, DVDs, books, fashion, artworks, etc.\n\nYou can get things made to order for you with your own design on it (such as t-shirts). This adds value to each item for very little cost.\n\nTalk to your friends and do research on the net to expand on these ideas.
367909
Start by researching your product first. The cost of importing can be astounding. Are you in a financial position to order a container of furniture from a foreign country, pay the shipping costs, warehouse costs, import taxes, cargo fees, customs fees, etc.? Then where are you going to warehouse all this furniture. Get a reputable company to build your website ($1,000 to $5,000) and then wait for orders to come in. Okay, now that you have orders, you have to ship that furniture to the customer. Furniture being too big for UPS, is going to have to be delivered by truck. And don't forget, that once you've sold everything, it usually takes 4-6 months before you get your next shipment in from overseas. But before all that, ask yourself, who buys furniture on line without being able to see the quality of the product first?