Category: Importing Guides

Import Taxes and GST in Canada: By Munish Gupta

Posted on by Fredrik Gronkvist

Import Taxes Canada

Companies importing and selling products in Canada must generally pay import duties, GST, and GST/HST. In this guide, Munish Gupta from the Supply Chain Advisory Group explains what kind of taxes must be paid when importing goods to Canada – both for Canadian companies and foreign importers.

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Top Products Imported from China: An Overview

Posted on by Chuiyan Mo

Top Products Imported From China

Planning to import products from China and not sure which products are manufactured in the country? In this article, we list some of the top imported products from China. The product list includes electronics, textiles, furniture, footwear, and other products.

Main Sources

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Procurement and Purchasing Agents in China: A Complete Guide

Posted on by Fredrik Gronkvist — 145 Comments

Suggestion: Watch the 10 minutes video tutorial before reading this article

Purchasing and procurement agents have proven to be essential during the COVID-19 pandemic – keeping supply chains running when buyers have been unable to visit suppliers and trade shows in China. That said, all procurement and purchasing agents differ in terms of expertise, transparency, methodology, and pricing.

In this guide, I clarify what importers must know when selecting purchasing and procurement in China – or when scrutinizing their existing agents.

Overview

  • Evaluation
  • Methodology
  • Supplier Networks
  • Offered Services
  • Revenue Model
  • FAQ

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Warranties & Refunds When Buying From China: A Complete Guide

Posted on by Fredrik Gronkvist — 9 Comments

Product Warranty

Product warranties and refunds are essentially non-existent when importing goods from China, and many other countries. In this guide, we explain why this is the case. We go into detail on why some warranties are not actually warranties, and why your supplier may not be able to provide a refund even if they want to.

Further, we also explain other – and more realistic – ways to get compensation from your supplier. More specifically, this often takes place in terms of repairs, remakes, or spare parts. Continue reading Warranties & Refunds When Buying From China: A Complete Guide

Chinese New Year 2022: How Importers Can Prevent Disaster

Posted on by Fredrik Gronkvist — 23 Comments

Suggestion: Watch the 10 minutes video tutorial before reading this article

The Chinese New Year (CNY) of 2022 starts on Tuesday, February 1st. This is earlier than 2021, when the new year didn’t start until Feb 12th. Hence, the time to get products shipped in the window between Christmas and CNY is even shorter than in 2021.

In Mainland China, the holiday officially lasts for 7 days – starting from Jan 31st until February 6th. That being, many workers don’t return for another week or two – resulting in a longer production halt.

In short, you can expect production to be closed for the first three weeks of February – with many suppliers not taking new orders starting as early as December.

Article Overview

  • COVID-19 situation and CNY 2022
  • How importers can prepare for CNY
  • Why and how CNY disrupts manufacturing in China
  • How to avoid delays to the CNY
  • CNY 2022 timeline and dates
  • Lunar holiday disruption in Vietnam and Southeast Asia

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Buying Product Samples from China: A Complete Guide

Posted on by Fredrik Gronkvist — 52 Comments

Suggestion: Watch the 10 minutes video tutorial before reading this article

Product samples are essential when importing products from China, and elsewhere in Asia. Obviously, you want to see and feel the product before you start production. However, ordering product samples is also a way to test if your supplier is truly up to the task.

In this guide, you will learn everything importers must know about product samples, including IP risks, payment terms, cost examples, sample types, and lead times.

Product sample types

  • Factory samples
  • Custom made product samples
  • Production samples
  • Virtual samples
  • 3D printed samples
  • Counter-samples

Other Topics

  • Supplier-led product development
  • Intellectual property risks
  • Payment terms
  • Product sample costs
  • How to pay for product samples
  • Injection molds and tooling costs
  • Sample production time
  • Import duties and taxes

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Made-in-China.com Guide: Product List, Wholesalers & More

Posted on by Fredrik Gronkvist — 3 Comments

made-in-china.com

Made-in-China.com is a Nanjing-based supplier directory, that some may see as an Alibaba.com clone. That is not accurate, as Made-in-China.com launched in 1998, one year before Alibaba.

That said, Alibaba is by far the largest supplier directory today, both in terms of suppliers and services. Still, Made-in-China.com remains a top 5 supplier directory, and certain buyers prefer to source suppliers on this platform.

In this article, you will learn more about their product categories, supplier verification, payment options, and other services.
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List of Quality Control and Inspection Companies in China

Posted on by Fredrik Gronkvist — 52 Comments

china quality control

Quality control is a mandatory part of the process when importing products from China, regardless of the order volume. Hence, finding the right quality control partner is crucial. In this guide, you will find some of the leading quality inspection companies, with offices in China.

We compare them based on capability, pricing, and customer focus – to help you choose the right partner for your quality assurance needs in China.

Listed Companies

  • Sofeast Limited (Qualityinspection.org)
  • QIMA (Formerly Asiainspection)
  • Asia Quality Focus
  • Bay Source Global
  • InTouch Manufacturing Services
  • V-Trust
  • SGS
  • KRT Audits
  • HQTS
  • Pro QC International
  • ATI
  • Tetra Inspection
  • China Inspection Service
  • STC Group
  • Bureau Veritas InSpec

Continue reading List of Quality Control and Inspection Companies in China

How to Find a Design Freelancer for Your Customized Products

Posted on by Fredrik Gronkvist — 2 Comments

design freelancer

In the age of Amazon brands, Aliexpress and Wish, it’s becoming increasingly difficult to succeed with generic private label products. Creating unique, custom designed, products is the only way forward for smaller E-commerce businesses that can’t compete on price alone.

Yet, while many E-commerce businesses have great ideas for custom designed products they want to bring to market, they lack the in-house design expertise, or budget, to turn their visions into practical 3D design files and technical drawings.

But, as I explain in this article, the creation of a custom-designed product is not nearly as complex or difficult as you might think. Continue reading How to Find a Design Freelancer for Your Customized Products

What’s the Difference Between OEM and ODM Products?

Posted on by Fredrik Gronkvist — 13 Comments

Difference OEM and ODM

Many suppliers on Alibaba.com, and other supplier directories, claim to offer Original Equipment Manufacturing (OEM) and Original Design Manufacturing (ODM) products. In this article, we explain what OEM and ODM mean in the context of manufacturing in China, and other Asian countries.

Whether you decide to get an OEM or ODM product manufactured impacts the entire process, from supplier sourcing and RFQ to product samples and manufacturing. Continue reading What’s the Difference Between OEM and ODM Products?