BUYING LOCALLY
It may seem strange that I would suggest buying locally rather than importing, but although importing is often the best option because of the generally lower prices available outside of developed countries, in some circumstances it may be worth buying locally.
Manufacturing industry is today a much more fluid field than it was prior to the internationalization of the world’s markets that began in earnest after WW2. Now with the world being a global village manufacturing will move from country to country following low labor costs and also technical skills and material resources.
One symptom of this is the slow return of some manufacturing industries to their country of origin after manufacturing for 10 or 20 years in lesser developed countries.
This means that it may be possible to buy locally at prices equivalent to, or even less than you can buy from Asian or other low labor cost countries. It is certainly worth checking it out in relation to the type of product you are interested in selling.
One major drawback to this idea is that manufacturers in Western countries have a tendency to be reluctant to deal direct with small retailers, and insist on working through major distributors. This is a big factor in the growth of small importing businesses, because the distributors’ margins eat into the profit margin available to small retailers.
Search for manufacturers in your home country who are advertising that they want to export. These are generally more entrepreneurial and may be more inclined to deal with smaller local businesses. There are a number of sourcing sites that relate specifically to one country, or you can inquire through your country’s trade department responsible for exports.
Don't just look at price. Take into account ease of communication, no international shipping costs or duty etc., you ability to more easily visit the manufacturer, and most importantly quality control. If you can sell a product in Germany that is Made In Germany, and your price is reasonable, that could be a great marketing advantage.
It may seem strange that I would suggest buying locally rather than importing, but although importing is often the best option because of the generally lower prices available outside of developed countries, in some circumstances it may be worth buying locally.
Manufacturing industry is today a much more fluid field than it was prior to the internationalization of the world’s markets that began in earnest after WW2. Now with the world being a global village manufacturing will move from country to country following low labor costs and also technical skills and material resources.
One symptom of this is the slow return of some manufacturing industries to their country of origin after manufacturing for 10 or 20 years in lesser developed countries.
This means that it may be possible to buy locally at prices equivalent to, or even less than you can buy from Asian or other low labor cost countries. It is certainly worth checking it out in relation to the type of product you are interested in selling.
One major drawback to this idea is that manufacturers in Western countries have a tendency to be reluctant to deal direct with small retailers, and insist on working through major distributors. This is a big factor in the growth of small importing businesses, because the distributors’ margins eat into the profit margin available to small retailers.
Search for manufacturers in your home country who are advertising that they want to export. These are generally more entrepreneurial and may be more inclined to deal with smaller local businesses. There are a number of sourcing sites that relate specifically to one country, or you can inquire through your country’s trade department responsible for exports.
Don't just look at price. Take into account ease of communication, no international shipping costs or duty etc., you ability to more easily visit the manufacturer, and most importantly quality control. If you can sell a product in Germany that is Made In Germany, and your price is reasonable, that could be a great marketing advantage.
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