[OSL]

I've been building contacts in SE Asia, mostly Philippines and Indonesia, in the last year or so while I was in Beijing and Seoul. I'm planning on working in China for a while to become fluent in Mandarin and understand the market dynamics while learning about import/export and seeking opportunities.

I find many SE Asian countries to be great export bases with China and the US as export destinations. That's just my amateur opinion, my views might change as I learn more.

Anyway, I signed up for international living's mailing list and got this free PDF that is a great read for anyone interested in getting into import/export.

http://www1.internationalliving.com/pdfs...rt2008.pdf

[Vacancier Permanent]

Thank you very much for sharing this!It's an excellent resource and for those who will take action on it, it can be a literal gold mine. I sure will!
Btw, anyone in here is or has done the import-export biz? Would love to hear your feedback and stories...

Big kudos amigo!

Cheers.

[hydrogonian]

Nice. Thanks for sharing YMG. That's definitely something that should prove to be very useful.

[Tommy]

(03-19-2011 01:22 AM)youngmobileglobal Wrote:  

I'm planning on working in China for a while to become fluent in Mandarin

Working and learning mandarin at the same time? Forget it!

You'll be able to speak basic Mandarin after 18 months of full time studying but still, not fluent.

[Kickb]

So before i spend a significant amount of time on this, do you mind answering a couple questions for me?

is this something thata guy with a few thousand USD's in the bank could do?

Do i need to learn another language?

Do i need to know people in the business who live in other countries

[OSL]

Hydro - thanks, I'm not sure if your business ventures in the past have been import/export but hopefully this gives you some insight or ideas

Tommy - I already have a solid foundation in Mandarin so I wouldnt be starting from scratch. My method is to bang Chinese girls and do tons of MSN chat and texting to learn characters. That taught me more than I learned in school the first time I was in China.

Kickboxer - I haven't done import/export myself yet so you probably want a second opinion. However, there are many different roles a person can play in import/export and yes it is possible to do it with a small capital input. However, if those are your life savings I probably wouldnt start with that. Up to you. Some people have done stuff like physically carry handicrafts from Indonesia to Taiwan and then flip them for a profit to their relatives and friends. Definitely possible to start small.

It certainly helps to learn another language, depending on your export base and destination market. If you exported from the US to the UK you wouldnt need to learn a language (or singapore, hong kong, aussie, canada, etc).

What's more important than language, I would imagine, is perseverence, general business skills, and contacts you can trust. Relationships seem to be everything.

Here is a under30ceo.com profile of a bunch of twenty somethings making it happen in import/export:

http://under30ceo.com/startup-profile-fbc-worldwide/

[Tbone]

I got an email from International Living with an offer to buy a guide for import/export. The guide has information for getting started on a small scale and how to grow an import/export business if you want to.

I prefer to continue what I'm doing for my main income. But for import/export, I would be interested in something small, manageable, fun, and of course profitable. So I would go into these smaller villages in South America or Asia and buy handmade stuff and resell it here in the US.

I want to know if anybody is doing stuff like this and what your experience has been like?

[Vacancier Permanent]

Tbone,
the guide they're trying to sell you is probably the same guide that YMG posted here for free. I'm interested in doing import export as well when I return to Asia so I'd be also curious to hear anyone's experiences doing that too.

[cherico88]

Here is a proven idea for the experienced Filipino hands. 10-15 years ago I bought pearls in the Visayas, mainly Cebu and Bohol and resold them for a good profit here to the jewelry wholesalers in Los Angeles.

This is a solid business that anyone can do, but you if you are the type that is afraid to leave the Shangrila Hotel it won't work for you. You have to mingle with the regular folks working in Carbon Market (grubby outdoor market for locals) and other dingy places where pearl sellers congregate. It's not dangerous, just very third world and probably a little scary to someone that never left the suburbs and seen the real nitty-gritty of life.

You deal mainly with Moslems when you buy who, in my experience are decent, kind, honest and humble folks. Everyone you deal with at this end speaks bad English so you need a trusted girlfriend to translate.

Before you go to the Philippines you need to study up on your business. Here in Los Angeles, we have a huge jewelry and diamond district in downtown centered on Hill Street. Find some of the wholesalers/retailers that specialize in pearls. The big jewelry mart building on 6th and Hill has some there. Go in and ask what they will pay. Most of these guys are Israelis with some Koreans, Japanese and Chinese. You might even run into a genuine American. Introduce yourself to at least 3 or 4 pearl dealers and you should be able to get a valid pricing model together.

Do NOT do this business unless you know your pricing!!!

Remember, the jewelry business has cratered in this recession so I'm not sure where demand and prices are right now. It's been a few years since I did this, but as far as I know, women still kind of like jewelry, especially pearls. By the way, these are south sea pearls that are shaped like raisins. They are not the perfectly round cultured pearls that Japan is famous for.

You need to do some work finding the right kind of sellers. You want to buy directly from the divers. Unless you have solid contacts from local Filipino family members you will have to find them yourself.

Don't ask your girlfriend unless she is from a strong business family. She won't have a clue what they cost or where to buy them. Start with the manager/supervisor of the hotel you are staying at. I've found that Filipino businesswomen know this market better than the men. Slip them a $20 and ask them. Eventually the sellers will seek you out once you have a network. Because you know your pricing, you don't have to worry about the hotel dude getting a little pinch. Join the local Optimists, Rotary and Lions Club. They welcome Americans and are a great networking tool. Everything in the Philippines is done through friendships and relatives. Chances are, if you are staying in a nice hotel, there will be a service club meeting in the banquet room. Go there and meet everyone and tell them what you are looking for. Filipinos, mostly are kind and happy. All respectable businessman go to a service club, especially rotary. It's also a nice place to meet hot Filipina businesswomen. They will help connect you to sellers if you are simpatico. It's even better if you belong to the Masons or Knights of Columbus.

If you are simpatico and pay fair prices, the Moslem divers will come directly to you. This is a business so it will take some time for you to develop the contacts.

As a side note, join the American Chamber of Commerce, especially in Manila. They have great parties where you can meet very influential people. Also, when I went to their parties, there were loads of hot, upper class women (fresas). Also, go to the Department of Commerce office in Makati. It's separate from the embassy by the bay. They also have good parties that you can get invited to and are not much help with anything else. I think it's on Adriatico street.

There are some other items from the Phil. that I think are doable. The Chinese are pretty much eating the Filipinos lunches and have cratered their crafts industries. Hope this helps.

[Vacancier Permanent]

Cherico,
That's actually a great example of the type of businesses that can be done in the Phils or most other places out there. Btw, are you still doing it? Why did you stop if you stopped it? I'm going to the Phils in Aug and then again perhaps in Dec for a few months so will be looking at getting something similar started. Would love to hear your thoughts more about the Phils and which city would the best the best oneself out of. Pleas post more as you are knowledgeable about the Phils as you have lived and done business this, which is rare here.

[cherico88]

VC:

I haven't been back to the Philippines in 8+ years. To be honest, I don't like the Philippines and I'm half Filipino (my dad). I prefer Europe and Latin America to Asia.

If i were looking to do a business in the Philippines here's what I would do. The Philippines best feature is a large pool of educated and skilled workers with no jobs. I would put together a network of skilled software/web designers. They work for 1/10 the price compared to the US.

I would become a broker for web services such as design, seo and the like. Just looking on Craigs List you can find customers offering to pay $1000 for a website and 2 weeks to produce it. You can have your Filipino team do it for $300-500 and you pocket the difference (arbitrage play here).

Your job is to find customers that need internet help of any kind and make the deal. I think this is very doable and I might even do it myself. By the way, 20 years ago, my friend put together a call center in the Philippines and asked me to partner with him. I said no because I didn't want to live there. He sold out for a fortune to a subsidiary of Citi Corp 10 years ago. He's living the life in Marbella, Monaco, Barbados depending on the season.

My point is, you can make a fortune in the Philippines. You have to step out of your comfort zone and just go there. The broker biz can be done totally remote as long as you have a phone and high speed connection.

Where to live depends on your personal preferences. Do you want big city lights, remote beaches, small town? It's up to you. The Philippines is a place where a small fish from the US can become a whale in a small creek very easily. You can find deals there just by moving in the right circles.

I don't understand most American expats there. They hang with the pros, frequent p4p bars and generally slum it up. You can and should be different. I rarely see gringos with hot, middle/upper class women. I'm talking about the type of female that can compete for modeling and beauty queen gigs.

Again, join the rotary, and the American Chamber of Commerce. Start going to their parties. It costs next to nothing to join. You can meet all kinds of incredible people from all over the world and interesting characters straight out of a Graham Greene novel. This will lead you to lucrative business contacts and incredible women.

As an example, I think most men would agree that the attendants for Philippine Airlines are hot by most standards. They are tall, young, educated, smart and beautiful. Those are the kind of women I would be aiming for. All the foreign dudes hook up with the poor, short, homely girls because they are "easy".

You only need to be introduced into the right circles and you are set. Also, business in Asia and the Philippines is not for the faint hearted. There are scammers, thieves and rip-off artists everywhere both Filipino and foreign so be careful! Good luck to you.

[xsplat]

Interesting ideas, especially about the tips on networking. Can you describe those parties and meetings in more detail? Is formal wear like a suit expected?

[cherico88]

Xsplat:

In the Philippines, like the rest of Asia, you are judged by what you wear. It kills me to see my fellow Americans wearing shorts and wife beaters walking around the streets and malls. I know it's hot. I get that. However, the Philippines is a class-based culture and your clothes say a lot about you.

Shorts are not acceptable to respectable society unless you are at the beach or the pool. Wife beaters and shorts are seen as the uniform of the poor and those that work in the fields. Athletic shoes are for the gym and sandals are only worn by the poor because they can't afford shoes.

You can be stylish and cool by wearing what is known as a barong shirt. More formal is long-sleeved and short sleeves are more casual. They are designed to look stylish and keep you sensibly cool. They are made out of pina fibers for the more formal and cotton for the casual.

If you go to a daytime club meeting, you can wear a casual barong, nice dress pants and leather dress shoes. If you are invited to a more formal evening event, wear the formal barong, dark pants and nice leather shoes. If you want to be taken seriously as an up and comer, you need to dress the part. Dressing for the occasion is the first step. Filipinos are very brand conscious and know all the latest fashion trends at the middle and upper levels of society.

The next step to networking is to present yourself as someone with honor and integrity. Also known in Asia as "face". It's also important to be humble. The wealthiest people in the Philippines are very humble. Humility is a cornerstone of Philippine culture. If you are a loud, brash arrogant personality, you will gain a reputation. Again, face and humility are important. You don't have to bow and scrape, but just be polite and sincerely interested in other people.

Age and respect are important. If you want to impress someone older, be more deferential and respectful. Someone younger than you will do the same to you. Ask the hosts at the Rotary club meetings to introduce you to the members. You can't go wrong talking about Manny Pacquiao or the Lakers.

After you've attended several meetings they will know you and you can then ask them for a meeting to discuss your needs. Bring a gift when you meet. A bottle of scotch or wine or a Kobe Bryant jersey for their kid and you will be regarded as a sophisticated and well mannered prince. You are not like the other expats that give Americans a bad name, Hope this helps.

[DVY]

@cherico Your advice is v. solid. This is how they do business in Asia and Russia. Gifts are key. Some other good gifts- cognac (VSOP or better, you can pick this up in the states from 40-50 buxs), nice cigars, whiskey,

Another tip- business in Asia/Russia revolves around trust, family, and class. This includes eating and drinking (many times heavily). Only excuse for not eating/drinking is diabetes (no joke). You have to drink aggresively but stay calm and collected. Train your livers boys!

[Bad Hussar]

(11-26-2012 03:07 AM)DVY Wrote:  

@cherico Your advice is v. solid. This is how they do business in Asia and Russia. Gifts are key. Some other good gifts- cognac (VSOP or better, you can pick this up in the states from 40-50 buxs), nice cigars, whiskey,

Another tip- business in Asia/Russia revolves around trust, family, and class. This includes eating and drinking (many times heavily). Only excuse for not eating/drinking is diabetes (no joke). You have to drink aggresively but stay calm and collected. Train your livers boys!

Hi DVY

If you have time can you expand on the business gift giving etiquette in Russia specifically. Is it just a case of getting an expensive gift? Or would it be better to be ore thoughtful. Maybe something unusual from your home country or region that's classy but they're unlikely to have come across before.

[DVY]

Expensive is not the word...status is. You want to purchase items that are CLEARLY expensive in their country.

Depending on the level of business you are doing, (40-50 dollars or higher aka VSOP) bottle of name-brand cognac (Hennessy, Martel, Courveisser sp), black caviar (if you have black market hooks) and vodka.

Caveat, dont purchase Henessy Paradis XO (600 dollar+ btl of cognac because many times they wont understand the price and will undervalue it . Henessy XO at 100 buxs is a v. nice gift and will do for most high-end occasions. )

For 50th b-days, marriages, you might have to increase the gift price. A good clue is the lettering on the invite and the event.

If in doubt for standard situations, for men a nice bottle of grey goose/belvedere/russian standard platinum. For women get a nice bottle of champagne with ferrero rocher. For kids (dont forget about the kids!, sealed collectible coins (american eagle comes to mind).

In recap, status is king in the 3rd world countries. How much you purchase it for is irrelevant, but it has to look presentable and expensive.

Put it in a nice gift bag and present it with both hands to your Russian friend and give them a firm handshake and a smile. If for a specific occasion/birthday, give congratulations and a kiss on the cheek( if you on a more personal level).

Watch how the rich give gifts and mimic the way they hug/kiss and smile. There are subtleties.

[manilaguy]

+1 on the kobe jersey for the kid, that's real cultural understanding. (Filipino here)

[Beyond Borders]

Bump.

Anyone making change with import/export these days? I'm thinking of dabbling to diversify my income and get out from behind the computer. Would be nice to see some more intel here.

(Cue Global Entry...)

[TheBulldozer]

I spoke with Global extensively about this last week. Definitely some good opportunities to take advantage of in our part of the world.

[libertad1312]

I am exporting from Thailand. Still going through trial and error and learning on a daily basis, but I am already convinced that this is a good way to achieve a sweet lifestyle.

Finding the product was fun and easy, but doing the proper marketing and getting the sales in requires a lot of work from my experience.

[Belize King]

(09-07-2014 10:14 AM)libertad1312 Wrote:  

I am exporting from Thailand. Still going through trial and error and learning on a daily basis, but I am already convinced that this is a good way to achieve a sweet lifestyle.

Finding the product was fun and easy, but doing the proper marketing and getting the sales in requires a lot of work from my experience.

I wax going to get into organic soaps and creams from Thailand. Low start up and I believe the market is there. Got down to it and contacted the owner who made everything but she wasn't bout it for some reason.

I am no good at creating site and marketing as well. That would have been to fun part tbough. You guys got me thinking about trying again.

[libertad1312]

Yea, you can find lots of these soaps at JJ market and even start selling them on Ebay before you have to create your own homepage and brand. But I would suggest finding a more expensive product as the selling process remains the same. Ironically there are already lots of people selling cheap products like soaps, while there is often less competition for more expensive products.

[Peregrine]

I imagine there's money to be had in bridging the gap between China and the West. And on a level much higher than children's toys and soap.

I was going to look into it until I landed a full time desk job.

[ManAbout]

Anybody working with silver jewelry from Thailand?

[The_CEO]

Bumping this...

Have any of you guys tried this - import/export

how is going or how did it go?