As a furniture sourcing agent, we genuinely know how confusing new clients can be when planning to import furniture from China. In this article, I'll give you a furniture buying guide and some trade secrets.
Did you know that you can get quality furniture at substantially reduced prices when you import furniture from China at wholesale prices?
The furniture market in China offers a wide range of products. These include sofas, TV cabinets, tables and chairs, kitchen, dining and bedroom furniture, desks, office chairs, bookshelves and cabinets.
Chinese furniture can be classified according to usage, such as furniture for home, hotel and guesthouse, office and public institutions such as restaurants, schools, hospitals, etc.
1. Why Source From China?
China produces a wide range of furniture designs from classic to modern, at varying prices.
There are many furniture manufacturers at home and abroad, and the competition is fierce. To attract customers, manufacturers offer new designs and maintain strict quality control guidelines. Since the transportation is so convenient now, you can easily receive so many exquisite products at ideal prices.
2. Is It Okay to Purchase Furniture From China?
The world purchases furniture needs from China. Research shows that in 2016 alone, China exported $100 billion worth of furniture. Nearly 83 percent of China's furniture exports go to the US, EU and Australia.
While the Chinese furniture industry produces furniture at affordable prices, buying furniture in China only makes sense if you're buying large quantities. Buying just a few items is not a good deal, as you will be paying handling fees, customs clearance fees, etc., which can add up to make your purchase cost prohibitive. Of course, if you buy a variety of full cabinets, such as ceramic tiles, bathrooms, lighting, kitchen cabinets, doors and windows, etc., then it is another matter.
3. 4 Problems Encountered in Purchasing Furniture From China
China is known for being a great source of quality furniture at affordable prices. New homeowners or businesses importing furniture from China can expect to save a lot of money.
But there are some problems along the way that make beginners reluctant to consider importing furniture from China. Here are the most common questions:
1. Unreliable suppliers
Sometimes you will come across suppliers from online sites like Alibaba who claim to be manufacturers or wholesalers, but in reality they are not. Or some people misrepresent their production capacity in order to secure your order.
If you fail to check product quality at the manufacturing site, you may end up with substandard furniture products. When problems crop up, there's little you can do to get back the money you've already paid.
2. Lack of English ability
Many manufacturers or factory representatives in China do not speak English. Even if they do use Google Translate, they use literal translations that don't make sense. It's hard to understand what they're trying to say. This creates a lot of confusion and can lead to errors or delayed deliveries. Worse, you could suffer financial losses.
3. Poor or non-existent customer service
The supplier you choose that has the cheapest product may not provide you with the best customer service. When you need to discuss pricing, international shipping, regulations and quality standards, you won't be able to get timely information and support.
4. Questionable funds transfers
Processing international payments can be tricky. Financial institutions and payment solutions companies each process funds transfers in different ways. Any small mistake you make can delay your payment by days to weeks.
Moreover, many furniture stores do not have accounts that accept US dollars, and they prefer to pay in RMB. In this case, this is a very headache. Especially if you plan to buy from several stores.
4. Why Do You Need to Hire a Furniture Sourcing Agent from China?
Foreign businesses now find it easy to find furniture suppliers online. But do you think this is the best way to find suppliers for your furniture business? Think again.
International trade, especially with China, can become problematic and time-consuming. Therefore, you need a competent and trustworthy sourcing agent to help you throughout the process. They will professionally provide you with quality advice and timely assistance throughout the entire supplier sourcing process.
Here's a great furniture buyer —— Coolosourcing
1. Best price
Our competitive pricing means you’ll achieve better savings with us compared to other international services. Due to our long-term relationships around the China. Our team can strongly negotiate pricing with suppliers to obtain the best possible price and outcome to you.
2. Looking for long-term relationship
We seriously talk to customers, even for small orders, as we look forward to working together again in the future. If you receive defective products in bulk order, we will try our best to compensate to reduce your loss. Other companies don't, they always have a negative balance.
3. Quality assurance
We take quality inspection seriously. Quality is all about the product. We inspect a higher percentage than 3rd party inspection companies. Plus, we provide full reviews, reducing the defect rate to 0.
4. The staff has good English skills
You don't have to worry about talking to us in broken English. Our employees are all well-trained in English, and they all have many years of experience in sourcing various products in China.
Choose Coolosourcing as sourcing agent
In an online B2B platform, you will be dealing with different representatives of different furniture suppliers in China, which is a time-consuming and inefficient process. An effective solution is to hire a China furniture sourcing agent who can get more valid information and help you make an informed decision.
Furthermore, communication barriers are unavoidable when dealing with Chinese business representatives. Remember that even the slightest miscommunication can cause your furniture order to be out of specification. A reliable furniture buying agent ensures that all instructions are properly communicated and easily understood by all parties. They will drive all of your suppliers to fulfill orders in a timely manner and perform quality control.
A China sourcing agent living and working in China can provide you with informed advice on the best practices for doing business in China. As a foreigner, you may not be familiar with Chinese customs and business etiquette. Not knowing this can lead to misunderstanding or conflict. Hiring a local sourcing agent gives you the 'insider information' giving you a huge advantage in getting reliable information on business conditions, local practices and local manufacturers.
The buying process takes a long time, weeks or even months to complete. Your local sourcing agent will help you monitor the different stages of China production and delivery while you are on the other side of the world. Purchasing agents will provide valuable advice based on your specific requirements. He can check and confirm the information and can pass that information to you quickly.
Conclusion
Furniture companies around the world source their products from China. Many people prefer to buy wholesale furniture here due to the manufacturing capacity and affordability here compared to other countries.
While this may seem like a complicated process, you can simplify the transaction by hiring a reliable furniture sourcing agent in China.