19 Apr As the World Turns… and Gets Smaller

The internet brings worlds closer. I think that the biggest visible credit to this phenomenon is the of social networking.  When my 7th grade Biology teacher can track me down and add me as a Friend, then yep… The world has gotten smaller.

So when we talk about ‘going global’ in business, it is easier these days to virtually appear bigger than life.  It is also easier to make that apparition manifest.

This week, I am adding ‘global importer’ to my resume.

Did I have to have staff at the airport waiting in customs?  Did I have to drive down from Atlanta to the shipping ports of Savannah?  Did I have a hard time teleporting myself over to China or India to discuss purchase terms?

No No and No.

Here is what I did to get my new pseudo title:

1. I researched import sites. Alibaba.com was tops on my list.  I have been following them for years and they have improved and progressed during this time.
2. I found my products of interest and was able to place a free inquiry listing my wants and needs and yes, my cash strapped budget.  I had about 100 quotes in my GMAIL within a couple of days.
3. I looked through the quotes. I was inundated so I deleted the emails that were self promoting companies who did not care to answer my request. That left half of the companies.

Then I strategically peeled the onions back using the following criteria:

• Would they drop ship?
• Would I be able to afford minimum order requirements now or within a few months.
• Would they have a product warranty? Was their rating high from purchasers?
• Had they purchased a premium listing from Alibaba?
• Did they give information about their factory and their QA processes?
• Was product packaging marketable and brandable?
• Lastly, in chatting online, did the rep respect me as a low volume buyer?

Now, you will receive quotes from the factory directly and through agents and resellers.

I suggest you grab a representative directly from the factory. This cuts out middle man fees AND allows a better straight talk on return policy and product capability.

The next step is to pay some moolah… Alibaba has an automatic Escrow account.

This is hot! It allows the seller to know I paid. It allows me to get product and confirm it is as it should be before I release escrow funds.

I am buying these products to show my kids how to market and sell a product.

The product costs me about $1.80 a piece with packaging. We will sell at the famous $9.99 (hand to hand $10 and I will give them a margin down to $5 for that multi-item buyer.

We will also teach them landing page techniques so they can can their online interactive marketing on…

So, check out alibaba and shop to your heart’s desire. And use some of these tips to find product to push in your on and offline interactive business models.  Let me know what your browsing brings for you!