If you're a North American business and you sell a lot of goods or products, or you do business in a particular niche with limited or no competition, and your goods come from overseas, it might make sense for you to start importing your merchandise directly, potentially saving you a lot of money. Importing can be very profitable if you understand what you are doing.

Importing directly from Asia can be cheaper than buying through a wholesaler, especially if you sell enough product to justify the need for importing. If you can afford to buy bulk, importing might be right for you. If you have the storage space to store and maintain a lot of product, importing might be the right decision. If you understand international currencies, are willing to deal with business partners in other countries, can afford to wait for your product to arrive, and can handle customs and duties and paperwork, then importing definitely might be the right decision for you and your business.

Finding the right exporter to deliver the product you need in the timeframe you require can be a challenge. Foreign manufacturers can only produce so much, but depending on your market, the foreign business might already have plenty of product to unload. Also, the exporter probably already has good terms with shipping companies and understands freight container weights, product packaging sizes, and other necessary aspects of cargo delivery. Your challenge will be to get the product landed in your country, get your import forms processed, have your taxes and duties processed, and have the goods delivered to your warehouse for distribution to wholesale clients, retailers, mail order business, or your own method of consumption.

Importing doesn't have to be a difficult process. Once you understand the basics, and you the money, the time, and the space, importing can be a very rewarding enterprise.