Questions

Where do I start? How do I find places to buy from abroad? I want to focus on artsy things.

Great question. I have started from scratch an import eCommerce business from $0 to 6-figures annually and understand why you would be interested in this opportunity!

There are many steps in between, but here are some high level points that I think will help you have a greater understanding. The easiest way to start an ecommerce/import business is to import products from Alibaba and sell on Amazon FBA. This business model will allow you to focus most of your time on deciding what to sell and marketing instead of customer service and order fulfillment.

The first thing you need to do is to start with a goal. The amount of capital you are willing to invest upfront will determine the trajectory of your business. At a baseline, you need at least $1k for initial start up fixed costs and purchasing inventory.

Next, decide what you want to sell. Go to aliexpress.com or alibaba.com and search for suppliers/products you wish to sell. Talk with suppliers to get information on price per unit, MOQ, and lead times.

Once you have purchased an order and have your product, use Amazon FBA. Amazon FBA is Amazon's fulfillment network. They have fulfillment centers all over the country which allow them to fulfill their products to customers in two days. When Amazon receives your products and you have a properly filled out product listing, customers are able to purchase your product. When the item is purchased, Amazon associates pick, pack and ship the product for you. They also handle customer service inquiries.

This is a basic business model that handles sourcing, fulfillment, and customer service. If you have any questions regarding this, please feel free to reach out.

Thanks,
Reed


Answered 9 years ago

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