What to bring and sell relevant goods from China

Business with China is considered one of the most profitable. Many people buy goods at low prices without any problems and sell them in Russia at a premium. Almost everyone can trade. Many Chinese manufacturers have stopped thinking about the quantity of products and are concerned about quality, tracking new items and using advanced technologies. To organize your business, you need to understand what popular goods from China are in demand among Russian buyers, how the purchase and delivery are carried out.

What is the benefit

There is an opinion that things made in China are of dubious quality. Recently, however, this statement is losing its validity. Chinese goods have become of high quality, while the price remains affordable, both for fakes and for original products.

Even when buying a thing in a single copy, there is the prospect of saving a decent amount. In favor of purchasing products from China, the following arguments can be made:

1. Low cost of production, since goods are sold all over the world in large quantities. Considering that sales in Russia are carried out with a margin of up to 200-300%, buying in China is much more profitable.
2. The range of products is constantly increasing. Almost everything can be purchased in China, from clothing and household appliances to jewelry and handicrafts.
3. Availability. There are no problems in finding products and suppliers. Actual and original goods from China are presented on many Internet sites, where you can place an order by paying immediately. You can establish business relationships with suppliers remotely. Before cooperation, it is enough to go to China once, check the quality of the goods and conclude an agreement.
4. The ability to choose a convenient method of cashless payments and the security of money transfers. As a rule, Chinese online sites and shops offer several options for payment for goods: VISA, Mastercard and Maestro bank cards, QIWI e-wallets or WebMoney electronic money system.

Popular Online Stores

For a long time, one could purchase the best Chinese goods by personally visiting the stores of the Middle Kingdom. But with the entry of trading floors into the Russian market, the situation has changed dramatically. Several large online platforms are popular with buyers of Chinese products:

• AliExpress is considered China's largest online retail and wholesaler-friendly marketplace in China, bringing together independent sellers and buyers and acting as an intermediary between these parties. One of the main functions is to ensure that transactions are fair.
• Alibaba conducts B2B trading. The online platform is designed for both small and large wholesale buyers. Sellers offer their own terms of the transaction, which can be negotiated individually, prices for goods are set in dollars, delivery is carried out by express services in up to 20 days.
• LightInTheBox is an international retail company supplying trending products from China in a variety of categories. It is possible to pay for the order in different currencies by credit card and through electronic payment platforms such as PayPal. Delivers goods through major courier companies including UPS, DHL and FedEx.
• Taobao - an online store created to facilitate transactions between a buyer and a seller, offers a wide range of goods: clothes, shoes, hats, household appliances. On the plus side, there are a lot of quality products on the site. The downside is that not all sellers speak English, sometimes it is difficult to ship goods outside of China.
• GearBest - the main focus of the site is electronics trade, the assortment of which is constantly updated. Delivery can be free - by mail, or paid - by courier services, the cost depends on the price of the goods (the higher, the cheaper the delivery), a cumulative system of discounts is adopted.
• Banggood is one of the largest online trading platforms in China, which sells inexpensive smartphones, tablets, power tools, men's and women's clothing, appliances and other goods at competitive prices. Payment methods are convenient for Russian-speaking users, the store has a cumulative system of bonuses that can be spent on getting a discount, and a high percentage of cashback is charged on purchases.

What is in demand

Buyers of any category are interested in purchasing exclusive and gaining popularity products at a bargain price. Most of the Chinese sites present trending products that are notable for a democratic cost.

However, to make a significant profit, it is worth investing in goods that will be in demand on the Russian market.

Electronics, digital technology and components

Today electronic gadgets and accessories are the most demanded goods. Many popular Chinese merchandise sites offer a wide variety of electronics. It is worth paying attention to such trademarks:

1. Anker - Computer peripherals and mobile accessories for a variety of devices, including Apple, as well as smart home appliances, headphones, portable speakers, video projectors and car accessories.
2. AUN - portable projectors for mobile devices. Allows you to watch films, hold presentations, give lectures; a full charge of the battery lasts for 2.5 hours. The projection distance is from 1 to 3 meters.
3. Baseus - interesting cases and accessories for mobile devices and laptops. They are attracted by design and manufacturability.
4. Blackview - waterproof and shockproof smartphones, as well as other gadgets with powerful stuffing, are distinguished by a budget price.
5. FLOVEME offers users inexpensive but practical cases, quick charge adapters, holders and cables.
6. Lemfo are interesting gadgets that run on Android and support the installation of SIM cards. Smart watches, fitness trackers and bracelets are in demand.
7. Sound Intone - headphones that are among the most balanced in the international market thanks to the ideal price-performance ratio.

Household electrical appliances

In the rating of popular goods for trade - small household appliances. Electric kettles, coffee makers, blenders, food processors, mixers, juicers are sold on Chinese Internet sites. This category also includes useful devices for the "smart home": climate stations, water heaters, robotic washers, door locks, CCTV cameras.

Manufacturers of household appliances use the latest technology, so the buyer gets a durable high-quality item for little money.

One of the downsides to this direction is that it will take an impressive investment to provide a wide range of products.

Wardrobe items

Clothes and footwear in the top of the most demanded product categories. The sale is carried out all year round, the assortment changes depending on the season.

The choice of wardrobe items in online stores in China is huge: women's, men's and children's clothing, shoes, various accessories (wallets, bags, jewelry, bijouterie, glasses).

You can pay attention to copies of well-known brands and choose high-quality copies at an affordable price. Before making large purchases of these goods, it is worth ordering small batches first, since a large number of stores are engaged in the sale of clothing and footwear.

Interior items and household items

Home and garden products on Chinese Internet sites are presented in various categories. These are kitchen utensils, goods for hobbies and handicrafts, garden and vegetable gardens, holidays and parties, home textiles, decor items.

You can sell items from one of these categories in a specialty store. Alternatively, you can trade in various goods.

A small amount will be needed to purchase small decorative items such as photo frames, garlands, artificial decorations, and handicrafts.

Creative souvenirs

Those who wish to bring interesting goods from China should pay attention to unusual souvenirs. Most of the original gifts that can be seen on the windows of shopping centers or in online stores are made in China.

The assortment of goods in the souvenir category is wide: key chains, magnets, glass and ceramics, stickers, stickers, bedside lamps, ashtrays, decorative pillows, money boxes, music boxes, stands for pens, pencils, photo albums.

On Chinese sites, goods in this category are inexpensive, you can save on bulk purchases. The sale is carried out with a markup of 100-300%. The profit will depend on the supplier and the volume of purchases.

Other popular business products

You can also buy cheap and sell with maximum markups for the following categories of goods:

• Animal feed, cages, aquariums, various accessories. Toys for pets, costumes, unusual collars are popular, purchase prices are low.
• Office supplies are the most popular goods from China before the start of the school year. It is worth doing the trade in stationery for the school (notebooks, pens, pencils, pencil cases, sketchbooks), you can also sell goods for creativity and painting (brushes, paints, easels), embroidery accessories.
• Goods for sports and entertainment, which can be purchased depending on the season. For example, skis, ice skates, Nordic walking sticks are in demand in autumn and winter, and backpacks, tents, barbecues, trellises - in summer; outside the seasons, balls, badminton, rackets are popular.
• Lighting devices: chandeliers, table lamps, floor lamps, sconces, children's, track, street lamps, light bulbs. It is profitable to bring all this from China, but you need to sell it in a store so that the buyer has the opportunity to see the product and check its quality.

How purchases are made

Individuals who decide to make bulk purchases of goods from China need to order large quantities. Without intermediaries, without visiting the country, this can be done on Chinese online trading platforms. To purchase goods in bulk, it is better to use the websites "Alibaba" and "Aliexpress".

Most of the products can be purchased with free shipping. This option is also used to order a batch of samples.

To make a purchase, it is enough to find a reliable seller (manufacturer), agree on a delivery method, select the required product and order the required quantity.

It is important to pay attention to the following points:

• buy from suppliers who can provide certificates and invoices;
• passing customs clearance procedures with payment of duties;
• for certain categories of goods, a quality certificate is required.

When looking for a bona fide supplier, you should adhere to the following rules:

• find the desired category of goods and select several (about 10) sellers, paying attention to the number of positive reviews;
• ignore low prices and promotions - this is how you can buy low-quality things or run into scammers;
• read reviews about other products of the supplier, if there is a large trade line;
• compare not only the cost, but also the characteristics of goods, terms of purchase (often the price is relevant when ordering a large batch), delivery times;
• order a trial batch of goods from different suppliers.

In order to finally decide on the seller, it is worth ordering goods from him from different accounts, for example, with bargaining and without bargaining. In this way, you can check the quality of products that are provided as a sample: they can send both a high-quality product and a bad one.

You can use the services of import-export trading companies that will help you pick up a product, make a purchase, clear customs and deliver it within a short time with minimal costs.

Transportation options

Delivery of goods to Russia from China is carried out by rail, by sea, by truck, by plane. The choice of a means of transportation should be based not only on price and timing, but also on factors of cargo safety, seasonality of goods, the need for expedited delivery, restrictions on the carriage of goods by a certain mode of transport.

1. Delivery of goods by sea is suitable for large consignments. With a large amount of cargo, the cost of transportation will be minimal. The timing depends on the destination: the cargo is delivered to Vladivostok within a week, to the Black Sea ports - 20-25 days, the longest time the goods go to St. Petersburg - about 40-50 days. The cost depends on the distance to the port of arrival and the type of container. Among the disadvantages is seasonality, the requirements for the placement and securing of cargo are not always met, there are restrictions on the geography of delivery.
2. Rail transport is one of the most convenient ways to transport large consignments of goods and bulky goods from the northern and eastern parts of China (the Harbin Railway passes through these regions). After crossing the border through the territory of Russia, the cargo is delivered through the Trans-Siberian Railway. The term is on average 22–33 days. The disadvantages of this option are that the geography of cargo delivery depends on the availability of railways, the need to use other types of transport, which is associated with a new contract with another company and the risk of damaging the goods during loading and unloading operations.
3. Road transport is used to transport high-value goods. Cars travel through Kazakhstan, where customs clearance is carried out. Delivery time takes from 18 days. Pay attention to the details of the transportation. In some cases, it is cheaper to ship cargo by plane than by road. The disadvantages include the urgency of unloading, the possibility of damage, loss or shortage of cargo.
4. Air transportation is considered the fastest, but rather expensive option (several times more expensive than by sea) for the delivery of goods from China. Suitable for the transportation of goods with a limited shelf life, as well as top-end electronic equipment, which must be delivered to stores by a certain date. Transportation is carried out within 3-5 days. Disadvantages: high cost, difficulties with paperwork.

Many postal and courier services offer their services for the delivery of goods from China to all regions of Russia on favorable terms for the client. The advantage of this method is that the employees of such companies communicate fluently in Chinese, customs clearance of goods is carried out by carriers, delivery times are reduced due to well-thought-out logistics, free packaging, insurance and cargo storage are offered.

Customs rules

To avoid delays and other interruptions when sending goods from China, you need to know what you can carry and how much. According to customs regulations, you cannot move across the border in any way:

• information (on printed and audiovisual media) that is prohibited for export;
• weapons and cartridges for it, ammunition;
• hazardous waste;
• technical means used to secretly obtain information;
• ozone depleting substances;
• narcotic substances, psychotropic drugs;
• human organs, tissues, blood and its components.

It is forbidden to export from the PRC:

• raw precious metals, scrap, precious metal waste, ores;
• mineral raw materials;
• information on deposits of fuel, energy and mineral raw materials;
• items of historical value;
• explosives;
• narcotic substances;
• beef, lamb, vegetables and fruits;
• plant seeds and
• plants, animals;

It is worth paying attention not only to the rules for the export of goods from China, but also the rules of import to Russia, which are regulated by Russian law.

Main conclusions

Goods from China are in steady demand. Particularly popular are electronic gadgets and accessories, as well as clothing and footwear.

It is not difficult to buy products in China. A large selection of goods is presented on Chinese Internet sites, where you can choose the desired item, pay and arrange delivery. The services are intended for both retail and wholesale.

Individuals planning to do business with China, at the initial stage, need to find a reliable supplier and decide on a delivery method. It is important to comply with the tax and customs laws of China and the Russian Federation.