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KAMAKAZI
Joined: 14 Mar 2008
Location: Jamshil
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 Posted: Wed Sep 03, 2008 12:09 am Post subject: Selling U.S. goods in Korean stores |
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Hi
I had a few ideas for selling small, cheap products that we have back home and ones that may sell well here. Im not a business man, so I dont know what the procedures are. Im sure not many of us in Korea actually import U.S. products and resell in Korea, but I was hoping someone might know a bit on the subject.
It would be only a single product to start off with. Is it possible to walk into the major chains like Emart, Home Ever, Home Plus etc., and offer your product to sell in their stores?? Im sure its not that easy, so Im trying to find out the steps for doing something like this. Helpful advice is welcome!! thx |
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ttompatz
Joined: 05 Sep 2005
Location: Kwangju, South Korea
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| Posted: Wed Sep 03, 2008 12:34 am Post subject: Re: Selling U.S. goods in Korean stores |
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| KAMAKAZI wrote: |
Hi
I had a few ideas for selling small, cheap products that we have back home and ones that may sell well here. Im not a business man, so I dont know what the procedures are. Im sure not many of us in Korea actually import U.S. products and resell in Korea, but I was hoping someone might know a bit on the subject.
It would be only a single product to start off with. Is it possible to walk into the major chains like Emart, Home Ever, Home Plus etc., and offer your product to sell in their stores?? Im sure its not that easy, so Im trying to find out the steps for doing something like this. Helpful advice is welcome!! thx |
1st hurdle is Korea customs: http://english.customs.go.kr/
and the trade facilitation link:
http://english.customs.go.kr/kcsweb/user.tdf?a=common.HtmlApp&c=1501&&page=/english/html/kor/facilitation/facilitation_01_01.html&mc=ENGLISH_FACILITATION_IMPORT
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KAMAKAZI
Joined: 14 Mar 2008
Location: Jamshil
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| Posted: Wed Sep 03, 2008 12:47 am Post subject: Re: Selling U.S. goods in Korean stores |
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Thanks for the links
However, to start off, I would only risk bringing a limited number of product (which are small in size) through just regular UPS or FEDEX to my home. Im not worried so much about getting the product here. Its how to sell it when it arrives.
The more important question to me is, how does one get his/her product on the shelves of chain stores here? Just walk in and talk to managers, etc. ?? Never did anything before so Im curious thx |
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Cheonmunka
Joined: 04 Jun 2004
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| Posted: Wed Sep 03, 2008 1:05 am Post subject: |
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| Interesting question. Hope you get some advice. |
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ttompatz
Joined: 05 Sep 2005
Location: Kwangju, South Korea
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| Posted: Wed Sep 03, 2008 1:09 am Post subject: |
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If you are talking about chain stores you are talking in terms of hundreds or thousands of units of each individual product at a minimum. Individual stores (in the large chains) do NOT do one-offs on a product.
You will need to learn enough Korean to talk to the buyers at the individual head offices of the chain stores and be able to guarantee the supply chain.
ALL products imported from the states for re-sale in Korea are subject to import tariffs, customs duties and fees (there is no FTA yet). If they are not dealt with you are just a simple smuggler on the black market (head for Namdaemun instead of home plus.)
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KAMAKAZI
Joined: 14 Mar 2008
Location: Jamshil
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| Posted: Wed Sep 03, 2008 1:12 am Post subject: |
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| Cheonmunka wrote: |
| Interesting question. Hope you get some advice. |
Me too.
I thought about just walking in one of the stores and asking the head manager but dont know if thats the thing to do |
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mindmetoo
Joined: 02 Feb 2004
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| Posted: Wed Sep 03, 2008 3:06 am Post subject: |
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| Don't cheap things in the USA become very expensive things in Korea after you pay all the duty? |
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KAMAKAZI
Joined: 14 Mar 2008
Location: Jamshil
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| Posted: Wed Sep 03, 2008 5:48 am Post subject: |
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| mindmetoo wrote: |
| Don't cheap things in the USA become very expensive things in Korea after you pay all the duty? |
Yeah, but what difference is that? Koreans dont know the value back home
Look at all the U.S. brands, restaurants and coffee shops here. Jacked up prices, but people still pay. Of course, an item would have to be priced reasonably |
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mindmetoo
Joined: 02 Feb 2004
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| Posted: Wed Sep 03, 2008 5:55 am Post subject: |
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| KAMAKAZI wrote: |
| mindmetoo wrote: |
| Don't cheap things in the USA become very expensive things in Korea after you pay all the duty? |
Yeah, but what difference is that? Koreans dont know the value back home
Look at all the U.S. brands, restaurants and coffee shops here. Jacked up prices, but people still pay. Of course, an item would have to be priced reasonably |
But I think the point of the duty is to make expensive any US product that might conceivably compete with a similar Korean product or might provide an alternative. For example, no one in Korea grows avocados, as far as I know, but if you're buying an avocado then you're not buying a Jeju orange. So better make avocados very expensive.
I wish you luck. |
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KAMAKAZI
Joined: 14 Mar 2008
Location: Jamshil
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| Posted: Wed Sep 03, 2008 6:00 am Post subject: |
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| mindmetoo wrote: |
| KAMAKAZI wrote: |
| mindmetoo wrote: |
| Don't cheap things in the USA become very expensive things in Korea after you pay all the duty? |
Yeah, but what difference is that? Koreans dont know the value back home
Look at all the U.S. brands, restaurants and coffee shops here. Jacked up prices, but people still pay. Of course, an item would have to be priced reasonably |
But I think the point of the duty is to make expensive any US product that might conceivably compete with a similar Korean product or might provide an alternative. For example, no one in Korea grows avocados, as far as I know, but if you're buying an avocado then you're not buying a Jeju orange. So better make avocados very expensive.
I wish you luck. |
Thx
Well the product isnt something Korea doesnt have per say, just another "type" of product from the U.S., that would compete with others on the same shelf, I HOPE! |
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KAMAKAZI
Joined: 14 Mar 2008
Location: Jamshil
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| Posted: Thu Sep 04, 2008 1:27 am Post subject: |
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| Would anyone have experience on this or know a foreigner that does? |
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Gollywog
Joined: 14 Jun 2008
Location: Debussy's brain
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| Posted: Thu Sep 04, 2008 2:40 am Post subject: |
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Why would you want to sell in actual STORES?
Koreans do not want to buy stuff from America, in general. Get something non-Korean, say some Lipton black tea, and try to get Korean teachers to drink a cup. Chances are it will just sit there and get cold without them putting it anywhere near their lips.
If you want to sell stuff in Korea, you do it online.
Look at whatthebook.com.
Find some articles about them.
They haven't been around long, but they have done fine.
If you have studied marketing, you might be able to think up some creative ways to move public opinion on products in Korea. Otherwise, your market is expats, and perhaps Asians outside of Korea.
But you should look online closely. More and more Western stuff is showing up, and competition is slowly lowering prices on some items.
So you must do market research first.
And it is possible that some things simply aren't allowed in Korea. This place is pretty strange. |
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ttompatz
Joined: 05 Sep 2005
Location: Kwangju, South Korea
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| Posted: Thu Sep 04, 2008 3:02 am Post subject: |
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| KAMAKAZI wrote: |
| Would anyone have experience on this or know a foreigner that does? |
Yes and yes but are not looking for real advice, you just want the quicky answer of yes (lol... like most hakwon owners) and it doesn't work that way.
Unless you are or are married to a Korean you have visa issues to deal with. You would be in direct violation (under the immigration act) of a visa waiver stamp, C3/C4 visa or an E1/2/7 visa.
You have already said you want to shortcut customs - what makes you think the chains want to deal with a smuggler. (without customs clearance you can't show the tax paid stamp (their is a VAT that the stores have to deal with and they get credits) and they have serious bribes or fines to pay off if they get caught with black market (smuggled) goods on the shelf.
Before the chains will talk to you (as a foreigner), you will need a business registration number, a D-9 Status (Treaty Traders) visa or some other proof that you are legit.
Then, if you can speak enough Korean to get past the desk (you will need to get an appointment with one of the buyers at the head office) you may be able to find an access to sell your stuff - assuming they don't just bypass you (as a 3rd party middle man) and go direct and get it themselves (these are globally partnered chains you are talking about).
Dude, just import your *beep*, stick it in a suitcase and drag it off to Namdaemun. You should be able to flog it eventually (but you won't get rich doing it).
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mindmetoo
Joined: 02 Feb 2004
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| Posted: Thu Sep 04, 2008 3:04 am Post subject: |
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| Gollywog wrote: |
| Koreans do not want to buy stuff from America, in general. Get something non-Korean, say some Lipton black tea, and try to get Korean teachers to drink a cup. Chances are it will just sit there and get cold without them putting it anywhere near their lips. |
Yep. Did that. Brought home a box of Canadian Salada tea. It sat in the teacher's room for a year + untouched.
And yeah Koreans are highly partisan consumers. I'm not even sure why there has to be protectionism as slap a made in korea label on it and koreans slavisly believe it's of higher quality and the best quality is kept for korea and the bad stuff is exported to the barbarians... |
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KAMAKAZI
Joined: 14 Mar 2008
Location: Jamshil
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| Posted: Thu Sep 04, 2008 6:12 am Post subject: |
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| mindmetoo wrote: |
| Gollywog wrote: |
| Koreans do not want to buy stuff from America, in general. Get something non-Korean, say some Lipton black tea, and try to get Korean teachers to drink a cup. Chances are it will just sit there and get cold without them putting it anywhere near their lips. |
Yep. Did that. Brought home a box of Canadian Salada tea. It sat in the teacher's room for a year + untouched.
... |
Guys, I WON'T be selling tea! Believe it or not, there ARE good products other than "tea" to attempt to sell here. I dont plan on selling any food products |
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