The Internet has made it easy to buy products from China if you have your capital ready. If you still don't know how to do it, there are procurement agents who can help you search and buy your products and ship them to Nigeria.

The hard parts are products research, marketing and sales. The hardest is products research. Why or how? Continue reading...

Let's say you are a new mini importer and you have your capital of N100,000 (around $270) ready, which hot in demand products are you going to buy? And when I say hot in demand products, I mean products that are not so common in the local market. Trust me, the big importers won't allow you have a high-profit margin on any product that's HOT in demand and COMMON. So, you need to source for something that's unique/new/innovative (stay ahead of the market), lightweight (to avoid high shipping cost) and very cheap (should not be more than $5/pc and negotiate well) in China. Trust me, there are a lot of such items!

This is one of the reasons why I said the products research part is the hardest part. There are small to big importers at Idumota, Tradefair Complex, Alaba International, Onitsha main market, etc, who no longer travel that often to China because of the dollar exchange rate. They have the cash and customer base and are willing to buy all your products (because your quantity is very small) and pay you cash if you do your products research well and if you want fast turnover. With their experience, they know products that could be hot in demand if they see one. You can also choose to retail your products yourself and make higher profits.

But then, I ask again, how are you going to discover those hot in demand products that are not common in the local market? How are you going to do your products research? I have answers for you: If you want to learn fast, look for a products research expert to learn from or a products research team to join that are targeting the local market. While learning, tap some newly discovered products from the research team - you are definitely allowed to do that, perform your due diligence on the products you just tapped, buy a few of them from China, sell them in the local market, make some good profits and continue learning on-the-go.

If you want to learn slowly, do most of your products research on Amazon and AliExpress. Get to discover some of the cheap and new / hot-selling products on those platforms that are not so common in the local market, that would appeal to local customers, and with the potentials of having high-profit margins in the local market. Then go to Alibaba or 1688 (not AliExpress or Amazon) and search for reliable manufacturers/suppliers of the products. Negotiate for the best price based on your quantity and quality guarantee, buy, ship to Nigeria, start creating some awareness and start looking for customers once the goods are shipped, then sell your goods once they arrive. Repeat the cycle and move from being a mini importer to a seasoned importer this 2018.

Remember, do your products research well and strive to stay ahead of the (local) market. You can also join our Mini Importation Team at https://gie.com.ng/join-our-mini-importation-team/

Nice one Op..

Daysun55:
Nice one Op..

Thank you! Are you into mini importation?

Yes,am into mini importation and I import from 1688 and aliexpress

Daysun55:
Yes,am into mini importation and I import from 1688 and aliexpress

How do u do your research ?

need some tips on how to properly research key products

Op, Can you please help to order for my amazon fire phone 32gb battery? i couldnt get it in nigeria

Nice one.

Daysun55:
Yes,am into mini importation and I import from 1688 and aliexpress

please can you recommend any agent in china for me?

I am not that active on Nairaland. Connect with Facebook or WhatsApp. Check my signature.

Pls drop your fb username sir @ mr jerry