I want to sell my UK skincare products in China

[VenusS]

Hi Everyone

I have recently set up a webstore in the UK for skincare products which are manufactured and warehoused in the UK
These products are already being sold in pharmacies and beauty salons in the UK

There is a gap in the market for western skincare products in China and the Far East and I have a few ideas, but I'm not sure exactly how to start

I'm thinking, pharmacies, salons, supermarkets but also existing webstores or eBay stores which are already established and have a presence and customer base in China, even those who would like to diversify and bring on a new type of product

My problem is that I don't know exactly how to approach them
Is there something in existence such as ....
'An Idiots guide to approaching potential customers/ distributors in China'

Thanks very much - Happy New Year

Venus

 

[Justhelpme]

I've got an idea to make a webshop and sell clothes to tall people. Clothes, like Jeans with largere length than normal.

I've tried looking for supplier for these clothes in Denmark, but found nothing.

Where can i find suppliers for tall clothes ?... in Uk or other countries inEuropa?

 

[GraemeL]

I've got an idea to make a webshop and sell clothes to tall people. Clothes, like Jeans with largere length than normal.

I've tried looking for supplier for these clothes in Denmark, but found nothing.

Where can i find suppliers for tall clothes ?... in Uk or other countries inEuropa?

Why are you hijacking the thread? Start a new one. Thanks.

G

 

[GraemeL]

There is a gap in the market for western skincare products in China and the Far East and I have a few ideas, but I'm not sure exactly how to start

Hello Venus,

you may be right about the gap, but might I ask if you are making this statement because you know it to be true or you think it is true? Its an important difference.

Have you been to China?

There is a very definite market for upmarket UK brands in China. Its not clear how your products are branded. Much of the skincare/bathroom type product sold in the UK is made in China, so it is also sold to the home market.

Unless you can speak Mandarin, dealing direct with a Chinese store and getting through red tape will be very difficult. Here is some reasonable information on making the first steps

http://www.wikihow.com/Find-Chinese-Distributors

good luck,

G

 

[James Greg]

In this way, Suppliers directories are really helpful to search relevant people in china. No doubt china is very big market but they also have many skin care product companies.
Secondly, the demand of skin care products is very high in other Asian countries like India, Sir Lanka, Bangladesh, Pakistan etc. You can run your business at here.

 

[KennyO2E]

Hi VenusS,

You will find some very useful information (from UKTI and others) on doing business with China on the Open to Export China page. You can also register with our service to ask any questions you still have - your question(s) will be seen by UKTI (in the UK & China), the China-Britain Business Council and others who will be happy to help.

I can't post links yet but you'll find us if you Google 'Open to Export'.

Hope this helps,
Kenny.

 

[Wang]

Hi, Venus,

I am native Chinese and now promoting a Chinese website for an US natural oil company . So I think I can give you some information here.

If you want to enter the China market, firstly you need to determine the entry strategy. Here are some questions:

1.Do you want to retail or wholesale?
2.Do you want to sell online directly to China Customers and delivery the goods from UK?
3.Do you want to do off-line shop? or only online shop?
4.Is your product expensive?
5.Is your brand famous?
6.Is your product special?
7. Do you sell to the final customer or only salons. supermarket etc.


If you want to sell online firstly, you can begin from Hongkong & Taiwan. The customer in HK & TW have high consuming ability, and they accept the credit card and Paypal payment. You can get a faster feedback before your large-scale marketing strategy. I am maintaining and promoting a Chinese website for a natural oil company in US. The actual orders shows that most of the orders are from HK & TW. We have analyzed this result. It may because most of the Chinese Mainland customer don't use credit card or paypal to buy online. They use Alipay to buy on TAOBAO which is the largest local B2C website. So if you want to sell to China mainland, you can consider looking for an Taobao store to be your agent.

When Chinese people buy products overseas, they are expecting they have higher quality and they are more healthy. So you need to show them that your products meet their expectations.

And if you sell online, you may need to run Google Ads or Yahoo ads. They are really helpful to improve the traffic and orders, especially the Google Ads.

Sell offline is more complex, you may need to clarify the China import policy, the import tax etc.You can find a import agency in China to help you, Sell online is a good & economic trial to enter China Market.

Oh, you may need a website in simplified Chinese (For China Mainland Market) or traditional Chinese(For HK &TW Market).

And a market research is needed.Is there any your competitor selling to China? Research their marketing strategy will give you some enlightenment.

May I know your website to learn more?

Thanks

Wang

 

[Wang]

Regarding your question: My problem is that I don't know exactly how to approach them
Is there something in existence such as ....
'An Idiots guide to approaching potential customers/ distributors in China'

Here are some methods you can try:

1. Search by Google. The keyword can be: China importer, Chinese importer, China skincare products agent, China cosmetic importer etc.
2. Search by Baidu. Baidu is the largest local search engine.
3. Search by company yellow page or directory
4. Search the China import expo and attend the expo if possible.Such as china international import expo in Kunshan, Jiangsu.
5. Look for a native Chinese to help you search the importer or agency or markets in Chinese.
6. Go to some cosmetic forum or china importer furum to look for parter.

Hope it helps.

 

[Ted Ridgway]

Hi friend skincare products want sell in china.First step analysis what are all the skincare products selling what the peoples now required during the climate change they market product going today.Let's you give some offer advertisement, show our skincare products in banner displays,in media.

 

[VenusS]

Thanks Everyone for your posts

Lots of information here I will read through them this afternoon and get back to you

..... Venus

 

[VenusS]

Hi Graeme/ James

Thanks for your post & the link ...

I have never been to China and can not speak Mandarin

My reasons for targeting China come from research I have done and reading reports

It looks very much like India which was an emerging market with disposable income to spend on non essential items from the West to improve their own quality of life
I feel like I may be too late to penetrate India which now has a huge market filled with the big players and also small niche companies

 

[VenusS]

Thanks - I'll do that

I can't post links yet but you'll find us if you Google 'Open to Export'.

 

[VenusS]

I have been looking at selling beauty products into China and there seem to be many test/ trials etc which need to be completed

They are talking about seven to nine months for testing and even then the products may not be accepted

It seemed like a very costly initial outlay, which will be very good if accepted ... a bit of a gamble it looks like

I'll do further investigation

 

[Web Presence In China]

Dont' suggest local distributors, or parters. The Chinese are the most active online buyers now in the world and if you have non-Chinese products, even better. We've been building eCommerce platforms in China for over 10 years for non-Chinese brands, it is almost always a hit in the market with a few good tactics behind it.

 

[wolfitman]

I would suggest that you look to do direct e-tailing yourself obviously using Chinese staff to run the operation.

As another has commented, internet sales are crazy here and yes, skincare is BIG business in China. Every girl wants to have perfect white skin!

Also be aware that the advertising standards here are not like the UK. They do not have to prove that products do as they say so you can see some very interesting advertising for products that clearly cannot make your skin white, spot free, line free and soft in 5 simple applications...

I'm sure it's not easy though as China likes to protect it's own manufacturing and your products are UK made so some research would be needed to do this officially.

I have recommended Body Shop products to friends here and these are not easy to buy for whatever reason...

There are ways though that you could simply and cheaply test the market...You would need to pm for for more information if you are interested.

Hope this helps and good luck!

Nick

 

[banfa]

if your products contain any organic matter (organic soaps etc) getting them into china is extremely difficult and you will need to arrange relevant licenses.

I am currently also pursuing this market as there is huge demand in china for authentic beauty products from overseas suppliers.

there is also the concept of guanxi and relationships, in which business contracts are favoured to the individual who spoils his potential partner the most or has some existing connections with someone who is already doing it and can make necessary arrangements.

that being said, it is a fantastic emerging market with opportunities abound.

 

[Wowgiftchina]

Hi Venus,

I am interested in your product,my sister is doing such purchasing agent business in China now,what is the brand ?Contact me,please.

David

 

[jffukb]

Thanks Everyone for your posts

Lots of information here I will read through them this afternoon and get back to you

..... Venus

Hi, still interested? I am interested in taking foreign good into China. PMed you.

 

[yantari]

Hi Venus

Interesting thread. It is good to get peoples opinions on the best way to enter foreign markets. The biggest thing about selling on-line or high street is firstly understanding the customer and potential market.

The Chinese market is growing rapidly but like people have already said has been fairly mature for a number of years, the only thing growing is the number of people now buying online as internet usage grows outside of tier 1 cities.

In terms of cosmetics, another consideration is taxation in China and especially with cosmetics as there is 50% duty on cosmetics in China.

Our company represents European brands launching in China and represent Chinese e-commerce companies who are trying to grow and build there exposure in the west. We have the largest seller of Cosmetics in the Chinese market on our books and actively recruit European brands for them. If you want to have a chat about what we could do for you in terms of launching your product and gaining some traction for your brand then please let me know.

Best

James
Yantari Ltd

 

[JNYtrading]

Hi, I am Chinese and our trading business based in Essex, we just back from China. Coincidently we be asked by a large distributor to looking for european product and brand to introduce to domestic market. They have very well established cosmetic product selling network in inland China.
Cosmetic product is heavily regulated and controlled by Chinese government. It would require extensive knowledge and resources to get product into market and promote to customers.
If you can let me know bit more details about your product, such as where you sale, what's your product uniqueness or selling point, the background of your company, then I shall let you know are we able to make it sell in China.

 

[servaas]

HI Venus,

What Mr Wang says above is correct. There is however another element to take into account.

I have a friend who's trying to introduce massage products into China. Difficulty is that many health products need to pass the bureau of registration, which is not so easy I'm afraid. You would need to check out if your products need registration.

KR,

Servaas

 

[stone-lin]

Hi Everyone

I have recently set up a webstore in the UK for skincare products which are manufactured and warehoused in the UK
These products are already being sold in pharmacies and beauty salons in the UK

There is a gap in the market for western skincare products in China and the Far East and I have a few ideas, but I'm not sure exactly how to start

I'm thinking, pharmacies, salons, supermarkets but also existing webstores or eBay stores which are already established and have a presence and customer base in China, even those who would like to diversify and bring on a new type of product

My problem is that I don't know exactly how to approach them
Is there something in existence such as ....
'An Idiots guide to approaching potential customers/ distributors in China'

Thanks very much - Happy New Year

Venus

How to contact with you. Do you have QQ or else. I want some informations of your skincare, such as brand,price,images and introductions. And my QQ 179376770.