Over the years, I’ve worked with some really great customers in my air filter business. I’ve sold filters to people all over the world. I’ve helped a lot of people import filters. I’m happy to say that my advice has helped them get their stuff without any problems.
Why import from China?
Why not? China has the whole air filter industry. You can get better prices, better technology, and better quality air filters from China.
- Innovation: China’s tech scene is on fire, and that includes air filters. Some of the world’s best air purifiers and filters come from China.
- High Quality: Lots of Chinese air filter makers produce great air filters that remove pollutants and fine particles. They make more than just regular filters, too. They can make custom air filters for you.
- Cost-Effective: China has a ton of factories that make stuff and have all the materials and machines to do it. When you buy air filters or air purifiers from China, you can usually get good quality stuff at a good price.
Deciding on the type of air filter
But it’s not just about why you want to import. It’s also about what you want to import. Air filters come in all different shapes and sizes for all different things. Depending on what you’re doing – whether it’s a little air purifier for your house or a big industrial setup – there are different types of air filters to think about.
- Room Air Filters: These filters are made just for air purifiers. They’re made to get rid of the stuff in the air that makes you not happy. They get rid of the little particles in the air so you can feel better.
- Custom Air Filters: Got something special you need? No problem. Lots of air filter manufacturers in China will make you whatever you want. They can make you a special design for an air purifier. They can make you something for your factory. They can make you whatever you need.
The first thing you need to do when you want to import air filters is figure out what kind of air filter you need. That way, when you go to find somebody to make them for you, you’ll know what you’re looking for.
Making connections
Before you start importing, you need to find somebody to make your stuff.
Finding somebody you can trust
There are a lot of air filter manufacturers in China. The trick is finding somebody to make your filters. Here’s how you do it:
- Research: First, you need to do some research. Look online for forums, reviews, and websites that list and rate suppliers. Ask people you know if they have any recommendations.
- Samples: Always ask for samples. A good air filter should get rid of the stuff in your air. When you get a sample, you can see if it works or not.
- Check Certifications: Make sure the supplier has the right certifications. That means they make good stuff for you.
- Visit in Person (if possible): Even though it’s easier to talk to people online now, it’s still a good idea to go see the factory. When you go see the factory, you can see how they work, how they make sure their stuff is good, and how they do business.
Trade shows
Trade shows are great if you want to import stuff. They help you:
- Meet Multiple Suppliers: Instead of going to a bunch of different factories, you can go to one trade show and see a bunch of different air filter makers.
- See what they have: Suppliers bring all their stuff to the trade show. You can see everything they make.
- Face-to-face: At the trade show, you can talk to the people who make the filters. You can see how good they are at what they do and how good they are at helping you. That way, you can make your mind up fast.
Using the internet
Nowadays, you can do anything online:
- Popular B2B websites: You can find suppliers on websites like Alibaba, Global Sources, and Made-in-China. These websites have ratings and reviews for suppliers. You can also talk to suppliers directly on these websites.
- How Social Media Can Help You Find Suppliers: LinkedIn is a good place to find suppliers. You can see what they do, see what people say about them, and see who they sell to.
- Google Search: Google is the number one search engine in the world. It’s also where hundreds of suppliers and factories have websites. If you search for the product you want on Google, you’ll find a lot of information about manufacturers. By looking at their websites, you can quickly find the factories that can make the products you want.
No doubt about it, finding the right people to work with is an ongoing process. But whether you’re doing online research, going to trade shows, or using online platforms, you can start building the foundation for a successful importing business. If you’re short on time, just pick the one you’re best at and start there.
Setting Up Your Business Workflow
Based on what I’ve seen, having a good business process in place is really important for running a smooth and efficient importing business. This process is like a map that shows you each step of the process, from when you first start talking to a supplier all the way to when you place your order. You don’t want to miss any steps, and you don’t want to do any extra ones.
Setting Clear Communication Standards
Clear and consistent talk is the key to making you successful.
- How Often to Talk to Your Supplier: Decide how often you’ll talk to each other. Maybe you’ll give each other updates every day, every week, or every two weeks. Make a schedule and stick to it.
- Best Ways to Talk to Your Supplier: Decide on the best ways to talk to each other. You can use email, WhatsApp, WeChat, or video calls. Just figure out what works best for both of you.
Making Sure You’re on the Same Page About Your Product
Understanding and double-checking product details is important to make sure you get what you want:
- Detailed Descriptions: Make sure the supplier tells you everything you need to know about the air filters. They should tell you what materials they use, how well the filters work, what sizes they come in, and anything else you need to know.
- Custom Requirements: If you want to make custom air filters, give them exact, detailed plans or designs. That way, they won’t have to guess what you want, and you’ll get what you expect.
- Sample Approvals: Always approve a sample before you order a lot of something. That way, you’ll know what the whole order will be like.
Price, packing, payment term, and lead time checking
Besides product details and requirements, you also need to know some business stuff.
- Price: No matter if it’s expensive or cheap, you need to ask what’s included in the price. For example, does the price include shipping, insurance, and so on?
- Packing: If you’re selling filters to people, you need good packaging. That way, your customers will have a good experience, and you’ll look good too. Tell the factory how you want the filters packaged.
- Payment term: Payment is how you move money safely and pay for things. The usual way to pay is to give them half the money upfront and then pay the rest before they send you the stuff. But if the factory says it’s okay, you can pay after they send you the bill of lading.
- Lead time: Delivery time is important because it affects how you plan your shipping, how much stuff you have in your warehouse, and even how you sell things.
How to Write a Purchase Order
A purchase order (PO) is when you officially tell the factory what you want to order. It’s important because it tells them exactly what you want:
- Itemized List: Your purchase order should have the names and quantities of each type of air filter you want, how much you’ll pay for each one, when you’ll pay, when you’ll get the filters, and how much everything will cost.
- Contact Information: Put your name and contact information and the factory’s name and contact information on the purchase order. That way, if there’s a problem, you can get in touch with each other.
- Special Instructions: If you want something special done with the packaging, shipping, or products, write it on the purchase order.
A good business flow helps you and the factory understand each other. It helps you avoid problems, know what to expect, and make importing easier.
How to Handle Shipping
Shipping is an important part of importing. It helps you get your stuff fast and safe.
Sea Freight, Air Freight, and Railway
- Sea Freight: This is usually the cheapest way to go, especially if you’re shipping a lot of stuff. While it may be slower than air freight, you can plan for longer transit times. Ports like Shanghai, Shenzhen, and Ningbo in China are some of the busiest in the world, so you can count on regular and reliable service.
- Air Freight: If you need to ship something fast or if it’s a small shipment, then air freight is the way to go. It’s generally more expensive than sea freight, but it’s great when you’re in a hurry, or you’re shipping something delicate.
- Railway: People don’t talk about it much, but rail is a good option, especially if you’re shipping between China and Europe. It’s a good balance of speed and cost, so it’s a good choice for your certain routes and products.
Shipping and Customs
- Get a freight forwarder: Shipping and Customs can be complicated, so it’s a good idea to hire a freight forwarder. They’ll take care of everything for you, from booking space on a ship to dealing with customs.
- Know your tariffs and duties: Different products have different duties, so you need to know what the tariffs are for air filters. That way, you won’t be hit with any surprises, and you’ll get through customs without any problems.
- Documentation: Make sure all your paperwork is correct. That includes the Bill of Lading, the Purchase Order, and the Packing List. If anything is wrong, it can hold you up.
- Customs Broker: You might want to hire a customs broker. They’ll help you get through customs, making sure you follow all the rules and pay your duties on time.
Look into door-to-door services
Here’s a better idea: door-to-door shipping.
You can’t beat door-to-door shipping. Instead of dealing with a bunch of different parts of the shipping process, you can get everything taken care of in one shot.
The Convenience of Door-to-Door Shipping
- One Point of Contact: When you use door-to-door shipping, you only have to deal with one company. Your freight forwarder will take care of everything, from picking up your stuff in China to delivering it to you.
- Fixed Costs: With door-to-door shipping, you usually pay a flat fee. That way, you don’t have to worry about any surprise costs that can come up when you handle things separately.
- Time Savings: You don’t have to deal with a bunch of different companies or do paperwork for different parts of the process. With door-to-door shipping, everything is taken care of for you. That way, you can focus on other things that need your attention.
- Reduced Risk: When you have to switch between different types of transportation or deal with different companies, things can go wrong. But when you use door-to-door shipping, one company handles everything. That way, you don’t have to worry about anything going wrong.
It’s a good idea to work with people you trust, like freight forwarders or customs brokers. They’ll help make sure your air filters get from China to you without any problems.
After-Sale and Future Partnerships
If you’re going to keep buying air filters, you need to think about what happens after you make your purchase and if you want to work with the same people in the future.
Building a Long-Term Relationship
If you work with the same people over a long period of time, you can count on them to keep giving you what you need, and everybody can be happy.
Build trust by talking to each other
- Regular Check-ins: Even after you buy something, keep talking to the people you bought it from. Ask them how the stuff is working, see if they have any suggestions, and let them know if you have any problems.
- Openness to Feedback: Ask the air filter manufacturer in China what they think about working with you. That way, you can both figure out how to make things better.
- Be Honest: If something goes wrong with your air filters, tell the people you bought them from. That way, they can fix the problem, and you can keep doing business.
Get more deals
- Early Discussions: Start talking to the people you bought your air filters from about getting more before you run out. That way, you’ll always have what you need, and you can keep your business going.
- Get a better deal: If you keep working with the same people and you start buying more, you can talk to them about getting a better deal. You might be able to get a lower price or better terms for paying or getting your stuff delivered.
- Exploring New Product Lines: Once you trust the people you’re working with, see if they have other stuff you might want to buy. That way, you can sell more things without having to find somebody new to work with.
- Referrals and Recommendations: If you’re happy with the people you’re working with, they might know other people you could work with or sell stuff to. That way, you can make more money and grow your business.
I think a lot of people are good at this because they’re professional.
Concluding Thoughts
That’s all I’ve got for you. These days, importing is a very mature industry. I don’t think it’s that hard to import air filters from China, but there are a lot of things you need to keep in mind.
In addition, I also wrote an article on tips for choosing air filter manufacturers. Together with this article, it can help you better complete your purchasing plan.
