This is a new forum for UK on Alibaba.

Few points to remember for people wanting to import goods to UK.

1. Do your homework for the products you want to import.
2. Understand your market sales.
3. What country do you want to export from.
4. Brand name suppliers are high risk. verifiction is paramount.
5. Some products also high risk, Mobile phones, Game machine, Laptops.
6. Do you need to find a agent to help you, deal direct with factory, or trade company.
7. Understand about the terms, FOB, CIF.
8. Payment terms, L/C, T/T little would use Pay Pal.
9. W/U payment risks and pit falls.
10. Personal accounts or business account for the supplier.
11. Using product quality checking services, AQL system checking.
12. LCL terms, 20 ft, 40ft, 40ft HQ container loading.
13. Spare parts free with orders, ave 1-3%
14. OEM products.
15. Using your own company logo brand name.
16. Packing requirements needed, packing information for box.
17. Product certification, Most is CE, Rohs, vehicles EEC on road.
18. Max your CBM space in any container.
19. Think about payment times, production time and shipping to UK.
20. Sea time is 25 days.
21. Express costs are high, depends on Weight and size of package.
22. Fake products or copyrights broken can give customs the rights to take your goods, so it's your job to make sure what you import!.
23. remember the other costs, vat, duty charges, port costs, road delivery to you.
24. Do you need a import agent in UK to clear the goods.
25. Think about the suppliers warranty? how will it work, most times not so easy.
26. Do you need to order a sample first? and do they make it ?
27. Many products suppliers show might be made by other factories.
28. Deposits paid norm is 30% and 70% when B/L copy is shown.
29. B/L mean Bill of Landing, you need the oringinal to send to your UK agent.
30. Do you D/D checks always, use the forums and search back data.

I hope these few points have helped some of the new buyers, you can ask any questions here and i am sure someone would help you if i can not.

John

 

thanks strongman, I can see you are a very valuable resource on this website another tip i would give to budding entrepreneurs is to analyze the profitability of the market. As a Business Management Student, we use a tool called "porters 5 forces", to analyze the profitability of an industry. read wikipedia article here:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Porter_5_forces_analysis in laymans terms, the 5 forces are: barriers to entry: is it really easy for new companies to start selling products in the industry? if the start up costs are very LOW and anyone can do it, then the answer is YES, and it would be unwise to start a business in this industry. e.g. a sweet shop. theirs so many around!! intesnsity of competitors: are their only a few key players in this industry? are the products price related? do the competition spendd an absolute fortune on advertising? unwise to enter market. example fast food restaurent bargaining power of customers: if their are a few customers and the product or service is priced very high, then this means the buyer has the power. depending on the market this could be good or bad. bargaining power of suppliers: if their are a few suppliers and lots of customers (demand) then this would be a good market to enter. but if there is lots of customers and lots of suppliers then this would be bad/ basic law ofs supply and demand Threat of substitutes: if the product your selling has lots of substitutes then this would be an unwise market to enter. e.g. just say i was selling some alchohol, then this would be bad as their are tonnes of alternatives for customers. obviously this is very basic, and not always true in every market or industry. in actual fact anybody can succeed in anything they want by using 2 main methods, undercut your competitors. or create brand value and a USP (unique selling point) that your competitors dont offer. sorry if this was too long, i was in the mood to write :)

we are bicycle manufacturer in CN. our main products are mountain bicycle , bmx bicycle , foldable bicycle .ladies bike. electric bicycle. and bicycle frame--

EMAIL: **********@hotmail.com

NO contact details, MOD

Thanks for your points! I want to export wheelchairs to UK now,  It's also benifit for exporters, we also need to study the market and cultures carefully before we sell. Not only for buyers, here is also a lot of scams waiting for us! Could you please give some suggestion to our production? How about the market?

If you want to import wheel chairs to uk contact me, i have already looked at this area and visited some suppliers in China, and some of which is close to our office in China.

I am in Manchester now, we have a office there,

Strongman products Ltd

John

Hi Dears,

Our company which was founded by Mr H.Emre Berdi and started production in 1978 at Yesildere in Izmir, is still continuing manufacturing with an annual ovine leather production capacity of 1.000.000 at the factory that was built on 5000 square meters (Menemen Free Trade Zone) in 1992. The specialized company with the years of experience and knowledge is producing leather for Shoes, Clothes and leather for Footwear and Clothing together with performing intense R&D studies. The company also manufactures for ready wear industry. It has adequate level of production for any kind of demand together with another facility which has a capacity of 1500–2000 / Month. The main principle of our company, which is always open to innovation, is stability and quality...

If you are looking best manufactures company for your business, please dont hesitate to contact us.

Best Regards

---------------------------
Ibrahim Sahin
Marketing Department & Foreing Trader
Berdi Leather Textile Chemistry and
Foreign Trades Ltd. Co.

Adress:
---------------------------
Izmir Menemen Deri Serbest Bolgesi
Ataturk Bulv No:6 Menemen / IZMIR /TURKEY
Tel : +90 232 842 62 52
Fax : +90 232 842 62 53
www.berdi.com.tr
e-mail: ibrahim@berdi.com.tr

Seems that many people are interested in importing and/or exporting into UK

We're a lighting manufacturer, and we ever did business with UK company.

Our main products are residential spotlights, table lamps, ect.

I wonder, how many people in UK would like to use spotlights in there houses? As I know, now LED products are very popular, I'm afraid LED lights will totally take the traditional lights' place.

What do you think?

just learn it carefully.

hope there will be more person will come into this topic. dog supplies

Read your artical again.  

also  i think we should pay attention on the balance. some customer dont like to pay it in the first time, always like to delay the time.  

Usually it will need 3-4 days to get the blance from bank, and other 3-4 days to send the shipping documents.   So it will ned almost one week to finish the balance. :)

Also we are exporting wood chicken coop, rabbit hutch, dog keenel to U.K. now. Could you explain the market in U.K. now and which kind of products may meet the requirement on the market? for christmas?

Many thanks.

Amy  Dog Supplies

Orient Lao Dong Sucess Products CO., LTD.