Mindset change takes time, and in the previous mindset, products from China is cheap and lousy in quality. Products from the Western countries are more expensive but better quality. However, as more of the branded products carry the Made-in-China stamp on the back cover, this mindset is slowly changing. You can do the same for your sales strategy, but first you need to build up your brand name. This is chicken-egg issue, if no sales how to build brand? You need to strike balance between the two extremes, sell at high volume, low costs and low volume, high costs. You need to do demographic analysis and grade your products according to the price, quality and target them to the groups that are likely to buy your product. You need to reach out to them through business communication channels, advertisements and sales outlets. Also considering the cost and pricing of your product according to the market. Do a SWOT Analysis. (Strength, Weakness, Opportunity and Threats), and apply the 4Ps of marketing mix (Product, Price, Promotion and Place). Hire a good marketing Manager to do it.

I would certainly not rush into gold membership here.

It is of course something to consider, but only after doing a lot of research into your potential markets and the possible full strategy for selling within those markets.

I have no doubt that there are advantages to gold membership. I was once a gold member for a few years but the costs, for my business, outweighed the benefits, and the only leads I got were spam, junk or just a complete waste of time.

As far as I am aware, of course there are Australian businesses looking to buy from overseas, but there are also a lot of businesses who still prefer to buy locally.

I think many businesses go through the same thing you are talking about, but don't just assume being a gold member will be an automatic route to sales. It is only one of many things you would need to do to put yourself in front of an international audience, and one where it can sometimes be hard to justify the cost.

In terms of the comment above about the quality of products coming form China. I love hearing this nonsense where people say Chinese products are becoming more well known for improved quality. The truth is there is a lot of rubbish, there is a lot of reasonable stuff and there is some good stuff. Depends on the product and depends on the supplier.

As to whether you should register in Aussie or HK, well, I tend to agree with your assumption that there is a perception that your products would appear to be cheaper if coming from Aisa, but there is also a downside of people perceiving of quality problems.

I am not sure it works 100%, but I am a bit of a believer in thinking that if you have confidence in your product, confidence in your quality, confidence in your service, then it should not matter where you are and people will even be prepared to pay a little more if they know they will get good products without any hassles.

You can take a try.

nothing is impossible

Believe yourself,belive your choice!

I have no idear for this topic ,because up to now i never meet this questions .thanks

Just i want to posted question hope can got some better solution . example : Now i have a customer from USA, she always told me that Ed your price is too hight for my Target price .but ,the price i send her which is the best price in my view .how can i do ? what can i do ?
someone pls tell me . thanks very much !

tonyka wrote:

I have been on Alibaba at least 5 years and no sales.

I know I should be a Gold supplier, but I manufacture in China and sell in a small market-Australia.

I want to sell worldwide,not just Australia.

Firstly I will become a Gold supplier, but should I use my Australian company or set up HK company.

The reason is- Australian people go on Alibaba and buy direct from Chinese- if they see I am from Australia they will think-too expensive and no sales.If I have HK company they don't know right? Can someone tell me what I should be doing-help!

It's a valid point. If I was in Australia and saw that you were selling from Australia I'd also assume that it'd be more expensive. Having said that, I would be able to track you easier and avoid issues such as scamming.

I'm based in HK and we constantly open up companies for others because of the simplicity of it. I think a basic limited company costs $500 bucks and all you need is a small office & an secretary which shouldn't cost you an arm or a leg. The local wages out here are astonishing because you could keep a relatively clever graduate on a small wage (at least compared  to Australian standards!)

Would be happy to help if you need it.

Best regards,
Kay

If your customer asked to you cut the price again and again that means he is intrested with your products. Nobody would like to spend much time on the impossible businesses except he is your stable customer.

Maybe there are two reasons why he asked you to cut the price again and again. The one is your price is really higher than local market' price. So it is better for you to get information from his local market situation then make decisions. The other one is he would like to know the reason of the high price. So you  have to do is convincing him to accept the superior of your productions. Also, you can give him surggestions to low down the price. After he takes your words seriously, he will have a good consideration of your side.