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Introduction In international trade, the price on the invoice is never the final price. I have seen many profitable packaging projects turn into financial disasters because the buyer forgot to account for Uncle Sam. When importing from China to the US, you are navigating a minefield of base duties, punitive tariffs (Section 301), and hidden…

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Introduction In the world of procurement, few things destroy a profit margin faster than a surprise email from your supplier: "Dear partner, due to rising material costs, your next order will be 15% more expensive." I have seen this scenario play out hundreds of times. One month your unit economics are healthy; the next, you…

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Introduction In the high-stakes game of international sourcing, your payment terms are your leverage. I have seen too many new buyers hand over 100% of the cash upfront, only to find themselves ghosted or receiving a container of crushed boxes with no recourse. Conversely, I’ve seen buyers demand "Net 60" terms on day one, only…

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Introduction In my years of sourcing, I have found that the moment of payment is often the most nerve-wracking part of the process for new importers. You have designed the perfect box, negotiated a great price, and now you are staring at a screen, preparing to wire thousands of dollars to a bank account halfway…

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Introduction In my experience sourcing products from China, few things surprise new buyers more than the cost of a single empty box. You might be quoted $0.50 per unit for a bulk order, but when you ask for one sample, the factory demands $150. It feels like extortion. But I can tell you, it isn’t.…

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Introduction In the manufacturing world, volume is leverage. I have negotiated hundreds of packaging contracts, and the fundamental rule remains the same: factories hate downtime and love efficiency. When you order 500 boxes, the factory spends more time setting up the machine than actually running your job. You pay a premium for that inefficiency. But…

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Introduction In my experience sourcing packaging, the acronym "MOQ" (Minimum Order Quantity) is the single biggest hurdle for growing brands. You find the perfect factory, love their samples, and then they drop the bomb: "MOQ is 5,000 units." If you only need 500, this feels like a dead end. But here is the truth I…

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Introduction In my years of guiding businesses through their first international shipments, I have seen one acronym cause more anxiety than any other: Incoterms. You have finalized your packaging design and negotiated the price, but then the supplier asks, ""Do you want EXW, FOB, or DDP?"" Picking the wrong one doesn’t just mean more paperwork;…

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