sourcing product in China

[ZNESS26]

Hi,
Please I need some advices I am looking for a reliable Remy hair extensions manufacturer/supplier for a long term business but I think for a first order I should travel to China myself and check factories and products but I may need a good guide or sourcing agent to help me around.But I am on a small budget and I travelling with my 15 months old baby can someone advice me on which city is best to find hair extensions manufacturers and other advices as it's my first business.Thanks

 

[techfabricator]

If you are looking for hair extensions you can check alibaba for that. You can check the seller ratings and the product ratings and you can also order a sample. For the sample you have pay for the courier charges only.

 

[Socio South West]

No disrespect to your position as a mother or entrepreneur intended, but if you want to be taken seriously in business, turning up with a young baby will not be positive.

Also remember that China has different cultural values when it comes to cleanliness, and on those grounds alone I would seriously question the wisdom of travelling with one that young, especially if you are visiting industrial premises.

The samples route suggested by techfabricator will be far better for you to get you into business within your budget.

 

[Denzel Fan]

1. Reach out and get several samples from different Chinese suppliers firstly.
2. Evaluate the samples, then make plans for a business trip and let the potentional vendors know. (one supplier, or two, or three based on your budget)

There is none such a city as the industry base of remy hair extensions. So your potentional vendor can be located in different cities, and the distance between them maybe too long.

If the trip is more commercial, taking your baby will be not a good idea; If the trip is more casual, then it's not a problem.

The keypoint is to find a supplier match you best.

 

[quikshop]

If you are looking for hair extensions you can check alibaba for that.

Be very careful when using Alibaba, there are a lot of people on there very keen to take money from you but less keen sending you products. Since their stock market listing Alibaba have apparently made efforts to clean up their portal but I would recommend an extremely cautious approach.

 

[Shane@S2S]

Hi there ,

Another thing to consider with Alibaba is a lot of the companies you see advertising are 'traders' normally meaning they are the middleman between yourself and the factory... increasing your costs whilst not really offering you any benefits such as quality control or even ensuring the factory is ethically compliant / professionally certificated.

The hair extension market is huge, and so is the list of Alibaba suppliers.

Please take care and I would urge you not to part with any money unless you are using a professional sourcing service.

Regards
Shane

 

[Directimport]

Be very careful when using Alibaba, there are a lot of people on there very keen to take money from you but less keen sending you products. Since their stock market listing Alibaba have apparently made efforts to clean up their portal but I would recommend an extremely cautious approach.

As a person who teaches safe sourcing practice I can completely agree with what quikshop has written.

I also agree with what Shane S2S had said about middlemen on Alibaba adding to your cost without giving you any advantage.

One of my book readers who is a very astute businesswoman with years of experience in the hairdressing industry told me that the human hair industry is one of the most corrupt business areas she has ever found. Also, just today as it happens another one wrote that he had given up handling hair extensions because the market is saturated and many suppliers are "here today and gone tomorrow.". Maybe you might consider a different product area for your business.

Regarding sourcing in general, I advise against using Alibaba and the other big B2B portals mainly because their verification procedures are woefully inadequate, including the fact that they allow thousands of traders to masquerade as manufacturers.

Whatever you are sourcing, it can be done safely from home if you learn the principles of safe sourcing. Unfortunately most newbies tend to regard buying overseas as just like buying locally, and they go into it totally unprepared. A large number of newbies complain that they don't even get a reply when they first contact potential suppliers, but that is because they have shown the supplier too clearly that they are newbies.

You don't need to learn all the rules and regulations about importing, but you do need to know the basics of shipping methods and payment methods, as well as how to identify real manufacturers, how to negotiate small orders even if they quote big MOQs, and how to be sure you are getting the best prices.

If you are determined to visit China for sourcing purposes, you must do your preparation. This will involve narrowing down the number of potential suppliers to a manageable number within a manageable territory and arranging in advance to visit them.

You can do this online, but it should not be rushed. Even before you visit them you must build a relationship with them so that they will regard your visit seriously.

 

[Maple Sourcing]

Yes, there are many places make such products, but the main city is Guangzhou (and surroundings), if you want to visit China, you may fly directly to Guangzhou airport; or fly to HK airport (much more flights and better rates), then take a train from HK to Guangzhou.

I've sourced some of these products, and worked with two factories so far, pls drop me an email if you need further details. You will find my email address by visiting my website shown in my signature.

 

[jamjam11]

I had left a reply offering you help from myself who lives in China Shenzhen today, clearly i'm not allowed to offer people help who want to try and get into a business as it got classes as "sorry but this post is just pure self promo so it has to go. "

This is so typical from forums classing themselves as "business forums" When you try to offer help to others from your business to another business person it gets classes as self-promo. Perhaps we should all just kill business altogether. Sorry girl, clearly trying to help someone on a low budget with child to start a business is not allowed here.

 

[MOIC]

Getting samples from a supplier is one thing.

Ensuring that the production is exactly the same, is another thing altogether.

Given the low budget the OP has indicated, as well as being her first business, she is best advised to buy locally, rather than China, until she has sufficient experience, knowledge and funding to start importing.

Travelling to China to make this purchase is not cost effective.

 

[China supplier Union]

I think YIWU is a good choice .more than 6000 hair extensionsmanufacturer in this place

 

[Ian2014]

I have been working as a sourcing engineer for over 6years and I am in the UK. You can contact me if you want. I can give you some advice.

 

[Jasmine Wei]

I am a sourcing agent based in Shenzhen,China. I can help you looking for potential manufacturer,place sample order, sending you sample for quality check,follow up order,factory audit,arrange shipment ,etc.

Please feel free to contact me if you have any question.

 

[carmenJ]

Hi
it is amazing a young mother like you want to do hair business nowadays,because i have some clients who are young mothers as well,and they do really good job on human hair products.
Yes i am a supplier and running our own factory in Shandong,China.and i do suggest you buy some samples first to test their quality,then do business with some to make sure they are secure,later you can pay a visit to China and your partners will arrange your trip,it is more effective and comfortable for you right.
if you need any help,just whatsapp me .good luck dear
86 631 13963164506

 

[kulture]

I am closing this thread as the OP has long gone.