2020 was full of surprises, and many people’s plans were completely ruined. The global epidemic threat made organizers cancel, reschedule, or hold their events online. For importers and exporters, one of the most important platforms are trade fairs. Is it possible for trade fairs in China in 2021 to be held as they were before the pandemic?
Continue readingAlibaba payment methods
Alibaba is a directory of suppliers, an online platform created to search factories and trading companies in China and other countries around the world. The site has also become one of the largest Chinese financial companies through the Alipay payment system. Due to the huge number of customers, Alibaba offers a wide range of payment methods, from credit cards to PayPal and letter of credit. If the seller does not ship the products within the agreed time or fails to meet all quality requirements, Alibaba Trade Assurance allows the buyer to apply for a refund.
Continue readingUL Certification
When running a business, the safety of your workers and clients should always be a priority. Some fields are riskier than others, and equivalent safety measures have been set to ensure the sold products are not dangerous to use. In Canada and the US, the best way to check whether or not a product is safe is to look for a UL certification mark. It indicates that the item will not in any way be harmful to the consumer and that it fulfills all necessary safety requirements. What is UL, how does it classify products, and how to obtain it for your business?
Continue readingHolidays in Vietnam 2021
One of Vietnam’s characteristics are its centuries-old traditions, which find inspiration in both Chinese and Indian civilizations. Many different festivals are celebrated in Vietnam, some on a national scale, and others more local. Some of the holidays have moving dates, but many are following the Gregorian calendar. These days should be kept in mind when working with Vietnamese business partners, as they might make communicating more difficult. Here are some of the upcoming holidays in Vietnam in 2021.
Continue readingHow to buy on AliExpress?
The number of European customers on Chinese AliExpress is growing continuously. That’s why we would like to introduce you to how to do your shopping on AliExpress safely and where to put your attention not to be deceived. Unlike the Alibaba.com website, which is directed mainly to importers, trading companies, and wholesalers, on AliExpress, there are no stereotypical Chinese frauds like changing a bank account number or a non-existent company in China. However, this does not mean that buying through AliExpress is completely safe.
Continue readingCN Code
When importing products, you can encounter various abbreviations such as CI, B/L, HS, or CN. The first two refer to documents and the latter to customs codes. An HS code can be found in the Harmonized System, and a CN code is based on it. What is the CN code, and how is it different from the HS code?
Continue readingWhat is worth importing from China?
In the last couple of years, owners of both small and big businesses have been increasingly interested in importing products from China. Good value for money with those products encourages more and more people to earn a living this way, and success stories undoubtedly only motivate them to do so. Before anything, though, you should consider what is worth importing from China to make your business most profitable.
Continue readingChinese influencers
There are already over 800 million Internet users in China. The Chinese rely on their smartphones a lot in their daily lives, spend a lot of time on social media, and enjoy online shopping. As a result, more and more Internet celebrities from different spheres begin to appear, drawing in plenty of fans who rely on their opinions. No wonder Chinese influencers are starting to play an important role in advertising products from multiple brands. In 2018, the Chinese influencers’ net worth reached as much as USD 16 billion.
Continue readingCPSC – Consumer Product Safety Commission
CPSC (Consumer Product Safety Commission) is an independent, federal organization, protecting consumers from the risks associated with the use of various types of products. The agency has jurisdiction over a wide range of goods meant to be sold on the US market. Its measures contributed to a decrease in the rate of injuries and even deaths resulting from the use of consumer products. We present details related to the activities of the CPSC organization.
Continue readingScams in the Coronavirus era
At the beginning of the pandemic, we informed you about many cases of scam sales of masks, gloves, and other PPE products, run by Chinese companies. Unfortunately, we have noticed that Chinese scams are becoming more frequent when it comes to different types of products as well. An increasing number of importers find themselves dealing with untrustworthy suppliers, which is why it is so important to stay alert and thoroughly verify your potential contractor before making a deal. How not to fall victim to scams in the Coronavirus era?
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