To start a import mail order business, you'll need to locate foreign distributors.
An import business, or international trade company, is a group of individuals or company that receives goods from foreign countries. According to the Office of the United States Trade Representative, American businesses trade in excess of $2.5 trillion per year, with 95 percent being small businesses.
With shipping hubs in virtually every country around the world, FedEx, UPS, and DHL can support an American business that wishes to import goods from other countries to the west.
Instructions
1. Become familiar with the United States import laws. The United State's Commerce Department, Homeland Security, Department of Agriculture, customs, and other agencies all have governance over the importation of goods into the United States from foreign countries to ensure safety of the goods; they meet all US use and purpose guidelines, and oversee the licensing of US import companies.
Persons wishing to import from other countries to the United State's must also be licensed and familiar with what goods can be imported and which goods are banned or embargoed from import. The American Importer's Association has resources for importers (See Resources 1).
2. Find a reputable distributor. The most challenging aspect of importing goods from foreign countries (particularly one's that are geographically separated and speak a different language) is finding and selecting a reputable distributor. The most effective way to find a reputable distributor in another country is to speak with other United State's importers that are already engaged in importing goods from those countries for leads and references of reliable distributors.
3. Establish a business relationship an experienced in-country agent or representative for each country that you receive exports from. In order to establish an importing business that brings in goods from another country, you will need an in-country agent to oversee the operation and facilitate the exporting of goods from each country to the United States.
Agents can be found through the same method as finding a reputable distributor. Talk to U.S. importers that are in business with trade representatives that are based in the same you are importing from.
4. Establish your mail order business. To make consumers aware of your inventory and mail order services, you will need to advertise your mail order company. This is most often accomplished with direct mail, using brochures or catalogues mailed at large to several zip codes. You can order direct mail labels from various online sources that provide pre-printed labels. You may also elect television or radio ads, but a more preferable method would be to use online ads on social networking sites and search engine home pages.
