One of the problems in starting mini importation business is to identify fast moving products. To be precise, importation is not an issue but selling has always been a challenge to some people. There are two ways you can start mini importation, the first is full time and the second is on part-time basis. Now if you’re into the part time, you definitely must have something else you’re doing therefore your first target market are your friends and colleagues at work. I started mini importation few years ago as an employee by importing Tablet Pcs, power banks and watches with one of my colleague and guess what? We made great sales because those products were trendy. My colleague who was interested in female fashion purchased cloths, posted them on his facebook wall and was getting orders on daily basis…
Someone that want to do this business on full time basis and sell the items within few days of arrival or even before arrival, there is much work to do. Virtually almost everything in Nigeria market is either imported from China or US. Therefore, before you buy any products from China or US, you have to search for those that sell similar products you’re importing (not importers) and negotiate with them on the terms of business transactions; know the quantity of goods they can buy in a month, the price they’re willing to pay and terms of payment preferably upfront payment or cash and carry.
As a full time mini importer, you need to understand that lots of business men and women travel all the way from Port-Harcourt, Abuja, Aba and Cross River to Lagos for shopping? You can develop you business by expanding your market in different states thus bringing the products close to them so that they can patronize you. There is nothing difficult in selling your products unless you’re not willing to search for buyers.
Apart from establishing rapport with sellers in the major markets, you can also sell to your friends and family members, your club members. Use the power of network.
For those that also want to sell their products online, you can follow this link: How to make legitimate money selling things online
