Stock, Supply Risk

If you import goods from abroad, the stock of the product can be big, and there sometimes could be supply shortage compared to domestic production goods. The importers should understand the supply risk and stok risk well, and take countermeasures in advance.
Sales of the products will vary depending on market needs and trends.
You can make outlook easily and stabilize the import volume if you can sell the goods stably.
But many of the products sell unstably like boom coming and going suddenly.
When the boom is coming, there could be supply shortage and no stock on hand by sudden increase of demands.
It is chance missing if we have no goods even customers want them. We just can't do but import goods from overseas.
But it takes time after we order for purchase until good arrive at our place. It may take tens of days or even months in the shipping service.
And, boom're gone by the time that the large amount of products which had ordered has arrived. The stock will remain in large quantities without selling like that the time of the boom.
The importers will have to order before boom comes. And reduce orders before boom goes.
It is required the sense to read consumers' minds and to read the timing.
Sometimes it would be necessary to use air mail services so as to meet the needs of domestic market quickly.

*Return to Import Business in Actuality

Import and Charm

Import Formalities
Generally, import is to buy goods in foreign coountries to sell or use in the domestic country. Since we bring goods from abroad, we ust have procesures in accordance with the customs law etc.
Regulation of Imports
Every day, various things have been imported from abroad. Daily life goods, animals, industrial products and other wide-ranging goods are imported. Many things close to us and used in everyday life are imported goods.
Longing for Overseas
There are many people who feel the longing to overseas by the images in films, television or memories of travels. They would feel the overseas atmosphere in their everyday lives.
Import and Sale of Branded Goods
People like brands. Importing to sell branded goods will be such a profitable business model that could meet the needs who love brands.
Cost Reduction
There are a lot of inexpensive goods sold in abroad than those manufactured in our country. There is a variety of features depending on countries, such as low-labor-cost, rich in resources, with plenty of water, a valt land, etc.

Risk of Import

Quality Troubles
There are some variety of risks to import goods from overseas. Quality problems of imported goods is a big risk for the trader to import and sell the product. Reducing the risk of quality problems is a very important skill for the importers.
Infectious Diseases, Termites, and Insect Damage
When importing animls, furnitures, foods and plant seeds, they may suffer infectious diseases, termites or insect damages. Sometimes those can be stopped at customs, and thay become big problems after imported.
Stock, Supply Risk
If you import goods from abroad, the stock of the product can be big, and there sometimes could be supply shortage compared to domestic production goods. The importers should understand the supply risk and stok risk well, and take countermeasures in advance.
Foreign Exchange and Political Risks
Sales of products imported from overseas are affected by changes of foreign currency and political situation. When exchange rate changes rapidly and import prices are increased, the sales will affected. Imports can be stopped depending on the political situation.
Reputational Risk
Sometimes products imported from abroad and sold do not sell at all suddenly for rumors. Once imported foods became a problem, sales of other imported foods can drop significantly, or can affect unexpected fields.

Practice and Future

Parallel Imports and Authorized Agent
If you are to import foreign products and sell into domestic market, you have roughly two ways. One it make a regular agency contracts with suppliers that produce the goods. Another is purchase the goods in foreign country and sell by the parallel imports.
Local Subsidiary and Production
Importing products that are already in overseas is not only business. It is also be good business to go overseas, make local subsidiaries, purchase proactively, make manufacturing plants and do productsion.
Import and Internet
With the development of Internet, all commerce are about to change significantly. As well as those involved in the import business, it is important to think the impact of the Internet and to take advantage of it.
International Exchange
Import is the act to carry products in foreign countries because it is intended to be sold and used in domestic. So to speak, the import is the international exchange by products. Because this is international exchange, images and connection of people are very important.
Realization of Longing
By importing DVDs, novels, paintings, films and television dramas, foreign cultures are coming into the country. By touching many cultures, people feel longing for foreign countries. Longing generates consumer appetite of foreign goods.