Are you looking for a way to improve your business? Have you been searching for an affordable option that will give you the best results?
If so, then China is the place to be. China has become one of the most popular places in the world when it comes to importing industrial plugs and sockets.
They are inexpensive, but they are also high quality. This blog post will cover 6 steps that you need to take before importing from China!
There are too many manufacturers in China; prices and quality vary, so we have to do some prep work first.
Understand the standard IEC-60309-2
Do you want to understand the international standard of industrial plugs and sockets? Well, IEC-60309-2 is what you’re looking for.
Before we start working, understand the standard IEC-60309-2 for industrial plugs & sockets and the certification required when importing industrial plugs and sockets from other countries.
Various countries are using the IEC global system worldwide to differentiate between plugs and sockets of different types. The IEC 60309-2 is for industrial plugs and sockets, so it’s essential to know their requirements before importing them from China or other countries.
This standard is a must-read for any professional buyer who is looking to get ahead in this industry. I’ve excerpted some of the most important content from this standard and made it into an easy-to reader PDF. Please read this article What is CEE FORM, and IEC-60309-2 and contact me if you need it. I’ll send it as soon as possible! han@sunriseplug.com
Certification required for import
The IEC-60309 standard is for industrial plugs and sockets. But some countries require other certifications. These certifications might have requirements for raw materials, environmental protection, factory inspection, etc.
They are still following the IEC-60309 standard. So some products that look the same meet different specific certificates.
Without the required certificates, customs will seize your products during import clearance, like CE ROHS SPE, etc. Some certifications are not mandatory, but consumers are very recognized, like CQC TUV UL, etc.
There is another vital thing. When the supplier has given us these certificates, we also need to check their authenticity on official websites of those certifications.” Many suppliers do not have them and will instead fake one with photoshop. This makes us a significant problem!
Once there was a European retailer because of the fake certificate, at one time when it comes to their products. The company found out they were not qualified and now bankrupt.
So we have to go through the government website or ask a professional organization like SGS directly to find out what certificates are needed.
When you find these better-selling product models, my advice is to import them in small quantities still and see if the market demand matches what we think.
What is the target market
Analyze your current customer base, which types require specific specifications that will satisfy them best while still being profitable on both sides.
Identifying your target market is a great way to ensure that you are consistently delivering products and services your customers want. It means only offering the services, product styles, and prices they will be interested in.
Selling of an item from our store should start with asking ourselves, “who am I selling this to?” or “will my customer base buy this?” instead of starting with “I want to earn more money.”
For example, Xiaomi’s target market is the middle and low-end market, and Apple’s target market is the high-end market.
So we need to know precisely which model and quality of products we want before finding the proper one. Otherwise, it will be like a headless fly, wasting time and energy.
How to identify your target market by current customers
Suppose you are a first-time buyer of industrial plugs and sockets, and you want to enrich your product line with this product. We should analyze the best products you sell now.
These products are often not your most profitable products, but they are the ones your customers need most.
Maintaining relationships with your current customers is just as important as expanding your customer base. It’s often easier to maintain relationships with existing customers than to acquire new ones.
For example, if Miniature Circuit Breaker is one of our hot selling products. We sell the MCB of ABB, Schneider, these international first-line brands; then the industrial plugs should also be the high quality of this kind. If we sell the MCB of Chint or Delixi, then the industrial plugs should be mid-range products.
And if we only try to get lower prices on the market with no consideration for quality, our imported product should be more cost-effective.
In short, we must import industrial plugs and sockets that can meet the needs of our existing customers.
Find the best-selling model on your market
After we know our target customers and the quality level of their products, it’s time for us to find out which models are most popular in our country.
Finding the best-selling model on your market can be a daunting task, but it’s an essential step in choosing the right products to import.
There are a few ways to go about finding this information:
1. Survey your customers
If you have a good relationship with your customers, one way to determine which models they prefer is to survey them directly. This method has the advantage of being very efficient since you can get feedback from a large number of people very quickly.
If possible, try surveying customers who have purchased from both your company and competitors. These customers will give you more objective data than asking customers who have only purchased from you.
2. look at online sales data
The easiest way to find out which models of industrial plugs and sockets are most popular is to look at online sales data, like Amazon and other local B2C sites.
3. look at industrial supply stores
Another option is to go straight to the source: industrial supply stores or suppliers can give you insight into popular products in your local market.
You can also visit stores and suppliers directly, but this is usually time-consuming and not very efficient. If possible, try asking for a catalog or brochure from the supplier. Talking with some staff will make it much easier to find the information you need quickly and save you time when looking at other suppliers’ products.
Found A good forwarder
Freight forwarding companies help you carry goods from one location to another through various transport modes, such as air freight, rail freight, marine cargo, and so on. They have a lot of experience in this field and can provide you with a cost-effective choice that meets your needs best.
But the shipping cost of goods is not like a fixed price like a train ticket or a subway ticket. Each one of them also has a different offer. A strong freight forwarder will also book faster and can also get excellent prices from shipping companies.
Freight forwarders are not only responsible for transporting our cargoes, but experienced freight forwarders can help to make the import and customs clearance of our cargoes smoother.
So we usually have to find a good freight forwarder in advance.
Conclude
In the article, we’ve covered many different preparations you have to do before importing industrial plugs and sockets from China. The IEC-60309-2, How to identify your target market, find the best selling models, the certification, and the forwarder.
Want to learn more about it? Our team of experts can help with this process; email us today! We are ready and waiting at han@sunriseplug.com.