Sourcing◉
How to source a product from China: the complete guide
From a product idea to a container on the water: the eight steps every importer goes through, and the mistakes that cost the most at each one.
8 min read
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Sourcing, written down.
What we learn negotiating in Chinese factories, walking the Canton Fair, and moving containers, turned into guides you can use before you call anyone.
China▣
Canton Fair: the buyer's practical guide
Three phases, dozens of halls, tens of thousands of stands. How to prepare, what to do on site, and what actually happens after you fly home.
7 min read
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MOQ: how to negotiate a lower minimum order
Minimum order quantities are a production constraint, not a law. Here is where the flexibility actually lives, and what you can offer in exchange.
6 min read
Read the article →Logistics◫
Incoterms explained: EXW, FOB, CIF and DDP
Four letters decide who pays for what and where your risk starts. A plain-language guide for importers buying from China.
7 min read
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How to verify a Chinese factory before you pay
The checks that separate a real manufacturer from a website, and the four warning signs that should stop a payment.
7 min read
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How to calculate your true landed cost from China
The factory price is rarely half the story. Here is the full list of what to add before you set a selling price.
6 min read
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Importing from China to Central Africa: the practical guide
Routes, documents, timelines and the traps specific to landlocked destinations, written for buyers shipping to Bangui and the wider region.
8 min read
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Alibaba or a sourcing agent: which one do you need?
Both can work. The right answer depends on your order size, your product complexity, and how much of your own time is genuinely free.
6 min read
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Starting an import-export company: what you actually need
Legal form, registration, licences, bank account and the local presence that makes cross-border trade possible: a founder's checklist.
7 min read
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Launching an e-commerce store supplied from China
Choosing products you can actually restock, pricing them for real margin, and building a supply rhythm that survives your first good month.
8 min read
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Pre-shipment inspection: what to actually check
The inspection that happens before the balance payment is the cheapest insurance in importing. Here is what belongs on the checklist.
6 min read
Read the article →Logistics≋
Sea or air freight: how to choose without guessing
A simple way to compare the two on cost, time and cash, plus the cases where the expensive option is the cheaper one.
6 min read
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