Is the Era of High Profits in Import Agency Coming to an End?

When Ms. Zhang showed a limited - edition Japanese facial mask in the community group - buying chat group, it was snapped up within 3 minutes. Mr. Li's Nordic - style home furnishing store sold over 10,000 units of Danish designer - style storage boxes per month. Behind this lies the same business logic: Import department store agency is becoming a new blue ocean in the wave of consumption upgrading.

According to data from the General Administration of Customs, in 2023, the import volume of daily consumer goods increased by 17.2% year - on - year. Beauty and personal care products, home supplies, and mother - and - baby products constitute the three major main tracks. Consumers' obsession with "overseas original products" has given rise to three typical agency demands:

• Scarce - type Agency: Exclusively introduce overseas niche brands, such as German organic baby and children's products
• Cost - effective Agency: Purchase Southeast Asian fast - moving consumer goods in bulk. Thai latex pillows are a typical example
• Service - type Agency: Provide a one - stop solution from customs declaration to after - sales service

Mr. Wang, a senior buyer at Zhongshitong, revealed that to succeed in agency, one must cross these barriers:

• Product Selection Trap: The popularity of Japanese cosmeceuticals does not mean that all categories sell well. Products need to match local consumption habits
• Compliance Cost: For food products, it is necessary to prepare hygiene inspection documents 6 months in advance, and cosmetics need to be filed
• Inventory Turnover: The shipping cycle is long. It is recommended to control the first order within the sales volume of 3 months

Starting from cross - border e - commerce dropshipping and gradually building up your own inventory is a safe strategy. The growth trajectory of Agent Zhang in a provincial capital city is worth referring to:

• First stage: Test popular products through 1688 cross - border supply
• Second stage: Sign a regional agency agreement with overseas brand owners
• Third stage: Establish a bonded warehouse to achieve 72 - hour delivery

The RCEP agreement makes the tariffs on ASEAN goods decrease year by year. By 2025, 65% of the categories will enjoy zero tariffs. Enterprises that are now laying out their supply chains are building up strength for the next round of dividends. However, it should be noted that as more players enter the market, the agency business is shifting from "competing for supply sources" to "competing for services".

Are you ready to seize this opportunity of "selling globally without leaving home"? Welcome to share your observations on the trends of imported department stores in the comment section, or send a private message to get a list of popular product selections from 20 countries.