| Considering all the advanced business education | | | | authentic manufacturer or wholesale distributor of a |
| available on the internet with just the flick of the | | | | particular branded item is like searching for the |
| fingertip, I am still amazed at some of the unrealistic | | | | proverbial needle in a haystack. |
| expectations people have when it comes to product | | | | Even the existence of documentation, it does not |
| sourcing. Those who have chosen product marketing | | | | make it authentic! There is a prevailing wisdom among |
| as a business model are naively under the impression | | | | some brand seekers that receiving a certificate of |
| that most wholesale suppliers will be able to provide | | | | authenticity from a brand name overseas |
| them with just about any popular retail product, | | | | manufacturer will provide assurance that the article is |
| affordable to them at any price. Reality, however, | | | | genuine. Supplying paperwork to overseas customers |
| always seems to get in the way of our ideals. Most | | | | as "proof of purchase" for branded merchandise is |
| current, in vogue, branded merchandise usually have | | | | basically a fallacy. Any labels, tags, paperwork, or |
| restrictions on the way it is distributed. For example, LV | | | | certificates of authenticity that assures the buyer of |
| Handbags are never sold "wholesale to the public", or | | | | brand certainty can be faked right along with the |
| to just anyone who has a resale certificate. And while | | | | product itself. The only individual or businesses that are |
| there are exceptions, you will never see too many | | | | required to have proof of authenticity, are those who |
| "half off" sales of Louis Vuitton Handbags even at the | | | | are authorized to resell the branded item, or the original |
| retail level. | | | | equipment manufacturer (OEM), of the brand in |
| Furthermore, unsold inventory is not passed along to | | | | question. |
| wholesalers or the secondary surplus market. Excess | | | | Should there be a legal challenge to the authenticity of |
| product that is damaged, is sent to their corporate | | | | the product they are selling, then paperwork can be |
| service centers to be repaired. What cannot be sold | | | | provided to confirm that they are legally sanctioned to |
| or repaired is destroyed. In terms of online retail sales, | | | | sell or manufacture a particular brand name product. |
| the only web portal that markets LV handbags is Moet | | | | To my knowledge, no wholesale supplier of brand |
| Hennessey, one of the leading luxury products group | | | | name merchandise, either overseas, or in the United |
| owns as well as the rights to sell a number of | | | | States, will offer their customers paperwork stating |
| additional products under the Louis Vuitton monique. | | | | proof of authenticity. The proliferation of counterfeit |
| Moet Hennessey also owns most over the counter | | | | items within the People' Republic is staggering. The |
| retail stores that distribute Louis Vuitton merchandise. | | | | replication industry in China, as well as other Asian |
| Not all brands are as restrictive, but some corporate | | | | countries rely on the production of counterfeit |
| buying policies can still provide barriers to entry in | | | | merchandise and has become an industrial staple. It is |
| different ways. | | | | estimated that 8.5 % of the Chinese GNP involves the |
| While Nike and Reebok do not confine the sale of their | | | | production of counterfeit merchandise. |
| product to wholly owned corporate retail, or online | | | | Furthermore, if you are thinking about importing brand |
| stores, they distribute their brands to retail giants like | | | | name merchandise through online trading forums such |
| Footlocker. They will supply most independent clothing | | | | as and EcEurope.com, than I have some less than |
| or sporting goods stores if they have the infrastructure | | | | encouraging news for you. A majority of the trades |
| and the funding to meet their monthly or yearly | | | | leads on both forums require extensive research and |
| purchasing minimums. Most small business start-ups do | | | | a working knowledge of the importing business before |
| not have the finances to endure the costs of carrying | | | | you ever think about doing business with any of the |
| popular branded merchandise. However, a limited | | | | listed companies. However, I don't want to be totally |
| amount of Nike and Reebok merchandise can find | | | | negative about trade lead forums. I think that they |
| their way into the secondary surplus and wholesale | | | | serve their purpose in terms of finding leads for |
| market. But, that is mostly shoe or sneaker products | | | | non-branded general merchandise, manufacturer leads, |
| that maybe one to two years out of style. You will | | | | and industrial equipment purchases. But, I would be |
| never find current Nike or Reebok sneaker styles | | | | very skeptical of anyone who presented themselves |
| being carried by any wholesale distributor. | | | | as the original wholesaler or manufacturer of |
| Even though there are extremely strict purchasing | | | | American brand name merchandise. |
| obstacles that corporations come up with, it does not | | | | Attempting to forge a relationship with someone who |
| prevent some people from giving up on the search for | | | | claims to have the genuine article can also be a |
| the branded merchandise of their choice. Some will try | | | | financially dangerous endeavor. Most overseas |
| to bypass a company's wholesale distribution chain or | | | | business to business suppliers require payment in the |
| corporate purchasing restrictions by searching for the | | | | form of wire transfer or telegraphic transfer (T/T). The |
| original equipment manufacturer. Since most popular | | | | purchasing minimum that some suppliers ask for is a |
| retail clothing, apparel, sneakers, and electronics are | | | | shipping container load of merchandise. Wiring cash |
| manufactured overseas, the ever-vigilant Entrepreneur | | | | into an overseas business account can be a recipe for |
| will usually turn to importing as means of securing items | | | | disaster. Once the money leaves your account it is |
| that have popular retail status here in the United | | | | gone forever. If the seller does not deliver, you |
| States. | | | | basically have no legal recourse in terms of getting |
| Consider in this case Shenzhen, China. In Shenzhen, | | | | your money back. The only way to recoup any funds |
| there is an enclosed shopping mall called Luohu | | | | would be for the seller to rewire the cash back into |
| Commercial City. The mall is six stories tall and sells a | | | | your account. You are basically at the mercy of the |
| wide range of items, including handbags, brand name | | | | supplier. |
| clothes, shoes, audio-visual products, souvenirs, and | | | | The final consideration is this. If you want products like |
| digital video discs. All can be had for a price that is | | | | Nike Air Jordan, you have to go to Nike and find out |
| about half to one third of what you would pay here in | | | | how to purchase their products. The same is true with |
| the United States. Some DVD's can be purchased for | | | | just about any name brand merchandise you want to |
| four Hong Kong dollars, which translates to fifty cents | | | | buy. If you cannot afford a particular product, well, then |
| in United States currency. | | | | sell a non-branded item. There are plenty of product |
| The main thing with all of the merchants selling their | | | | niches out there that you can explore. With that being |
| wares within this megaplex of retail activity is the | | | | said, I am not the last word when it comes to importing |
| undeniable fact that most of it is counterfeit. And, like | | | | brand name merchandise. Please do your homework |
| the never ending parade of fakery that is part of the | | | | and consult the appropriate legal, business and |
| Luohu retail environment, finding your way to the | | | | import-export resources. |