China Business Tips

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• Buying Small Commodities in Yiwu
• Contacting Chinese Vendors
• Five Reasons to Visit Yiwu
• Getting to Yiwu
• Hotels in Yiwu for business travelers
• The Crystal and Artistic Glass Fair
• Trade Service and Sourcing Agents in Yiwu

Buying Small Commodities in Yiwu

Most people visit Yiwu to buy small commodities. Known as the sourcing capital of China, Yiwu has large markets where you can buy a great variety of things including lamps, dolls, tires, and replica swords.

By far the biggest and most famous market in Yiwu is the Fu Tian market （福田市场 fútián shìchǎng. Because of its size, it is divided into sections, each specializing in a type of commodity. When taking a cab to the market, just tell the cab driver which section you'd like to go to.

Most purchasers buy in bulk, first visiting the local vendor to confirm the quality of the goods and set the terms of a deal. They then return to their home country and place additional orders as needed.

Prices in Yiwu markets are flexible, but not as much as in the better known antique and fake markets in cities like Shanghai or Beijing. Probably this is due to the different types of relationship between the customer and seller. In a street market, the two people will probably never meet again, and so each side wants to get the absolute best possible price.

In the commodities market, the relationship is more long term. If the buyer is satisfied with the product, he or she will give more business to the seller in the future. So neither side is as obviously obsessed with getting an incredibly good deal.

Also, people often buy on impulse at street markets. When buying commodities, are much more rational and there is less excitement on all sides. Everyone has "done their homework" before settling on a price.

Most goods in the markets are for display only. This means that it is sometimes not possible to buy just one of the interesting items you may happen to see while shopping around. If you are looking for souvenirs, your best choice is still one of China's many street markets, perhaps in Beijing or Shanghai.

Further Reading:

The June 2006 Shanghai Business Review has a good article about sourcing in Yiwu (starts on page 20).

The official website of the China Yiwu International Commodities Fair has some good information about the main fair, held annually in October. It also has general links to other fairs such as the Crystal and Artistic Glass Exhibition and general info about Yiwu.

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