Cambridge China Bridge
Guides

Getting started (Page 2)

A leather folder, notebooks and a pen laid out on a wooden deskCan a sole trader import from China? UK rulesYou do not need a limited company to import into the UK. What you do need is an EORI number, and to understand that the liability is personal.6 min readA leather folder, notebooks and a pen laid out on a wooden deskAliExpress vs Alibaba vs DHgate: UK costsAliExpress vs Alibaba vs DHgate: compare UK landed cost per sellable unit, delivery, order quantities and customisation.7 min readA leather folder, notebooks and a pen laid out on a wooden deskBuying from China when you are not in the UKOverseas buyers can use the same China sourcing, supplier-management and quality services; destination import rules and door-to-door terms need separate checks.6 min readA leather folder, notebooks and a pen laid out on a wooden deskSmall orders from China: who will take themMost UK sourcing agents quietly decline small orders. Here is why, which minimums are real and which are negotiable, and the four ways to get a small run made.9 min readA leather folder, notebooks and a pen laid out on a wooden deskBest China sourcing agents for UK buyers comparedCompare China sourcing agents for UK buyers: where staff are, how they are paid, who imports, minimum orders, failed inspections. Five questions, our answers.7 min readA leather folder, notebooks and a pen laid out on a wooden deskSourcing agent vs freight forwarder vs customs brokerThree different jobs that get confused constantly. Who does what, who carries the liability, and which one you actually need.4 min readA leather folder, notebooks and a pen laid out on a wooden deskDo you need a China sourcing agent? A UK buyer's guideA straight answer to whether a sourcing agent is worth it for your situation — the signs you do, the signs you don't, and what it costs.6 min readA leather folder, notebooks and a pen laid out on a wooden deskAlibaba agent UK: when you need one, and when you don'tNot always: for simple, low-risk goods many UK buyers order direct on Alibaba. An agent pays off when the factory needs verifying or every batch inspecting.5 min readA leather folder, notebooks and a pen laid out on a wooden deskHow to import from China to the UK: a complete guideThe full journey for a UK business — finding and vetting a supplier, samples, shipping, EORI, commodity codes, duty, VAT and customs clearance — in one place.5 min readA single small cardboard box, opened and emptyDropshipping or bulk buying: which is better?Dropshipping vs bulk buying from China: one risks no capital but gives no control or margin; the other gives both and leaves you owning the stock.5 min readSomeone holding a printed checklist on a clipboard in a meetingYour first China order: a step-by-step checklistA simple, ordered checklist for placing your first order from China without the classic first-timer mistakes.5 min readTwo warehouse workers walking between racking with parcelsChina sourcing for e-commerce and Amazon sellersWhat online sellers need to get right when sourcing from China — compliance, packaging, inspection and fulfilment.5 min readA long production line running down the middle of a factory hallOEM vs ODM vs OBM: private-label manufacturing explainedOEM builds your design; ODM brands the factory's existing product. Either way, selling under your own name usually makes you the manufacturer in UK law.7 min readA team of four gathered around a laptop in an officeSourcing agent vs UK wholesaler vs online platformCompare a UK wholesaler, China sourcing agent and B2B platform on landed price, importer responsibility, quality control and the work your team must manage.6 min readTwo people in a site office reviewing a large technical drawing on a tableProduct specification sheet: template for China factoriesA product specification sheet a Chinese factory and an inspector can both use: the fields, a worked tolerance example, defect classes and change control.4 min readMaterial and fabric swatches laid out on a table with colour samplesMOQ and sampling: starting with small ordersWhat minimum order quantities really mean, how to lower them, and why you should always sample before you commit.5 min readAerial view of a container terminal, with stacked containers and gantry cranesChina sourcing: how it works, step by stepChina sourcing step by step: what it is, product and factory sourcing, samples, inspections, shipping and customs, and what it costs.6 min read

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