In case you’re searching for a modest and successful approach to import products, you likely think about an Asian nation, for example, China. In this article you will discover more information about importing toys from China.

Importing toys from China

Importing toys from China is a very popular method of doing business. That’s pretty obvious, because practically 90% of all toys are made in China. Therefore, the country still is the largest export country of all children’s toys here on earth.

Which toys to import from China?

When it comes to toys, you can import almost any product from China. The Chinese toy industry is capable of producing toys such as:

• Cuddle toys
• Dolls
• Baby toys
• Dinosaur toys
• Car toys
• Farm toys
• Educational toys
• Wooden toys
• Electric toys

As you can see there are various categories of Chinese toys for children. However, not all toys are made in the same manufactory. Therefore, you will have to look for suitable suppliers in China.

There are several ways to find the right manufacturer. For example, you can travel around the country on your own, visit toy fairs, contact them by phone or search the internet for the best toy suppliers. This is a pretty time-consuming job which will cost you more energy than anything else.

In addition, most Chinese suppliers are set to sell their products directly to their customers in China. As a result, most of the communication between those companies takes place in Chinese. Many toy manufacturers therefore do not have English-speaking sales teams.

If you don’t have any knowledge of the Chinese language? Or you simply do not have enough time to travel all the way to China? For this kind of issues there is another solution, you can choose to outsource the search for a suitable toy supplier.

Commissioned by you, an external party will then contact a number of Chinese toy manufacturers. This way you are guaranteed to find the manufacturer that meets your predefined wishes and needs. This process makes importing toys from China a lot less time-consuming.

How to import the best toys from China?

First determine exactly which toys you want to import from China and then look for the right suppliers. Maybe you already have contact with some suitable toy manufacturers? Then you can also choose to elaborate on this preselection.

By the way, always try to import an appropriate amount of toys from China. This way you keep the import costs as low as possible. Small cargos lead to high shipment costs in relation to the cost of the products. Also make sure that every product you import follows and maintains an applicable safety standard.

In addition, do not import toys without a valid licence. This causes problems when the products actually leave the country.

It is also important that you continue to make wise choices during the purchasing process, which are also very common in China. Sometimes it can be interesting to look for a partner. This way you are assured of professional guidance, which you can benefit from quite a lot!

Common problems

Certain problems can always arise during the toy importing process. Most problems with importing toys from China arise from the rules and regulations that apply to them.

In many Western countries, high standards and safety requirements have been set for the import of children’s products. It is important that you are aware of things that can disrupt the purchasing process.

Some of the most common problems are briefly explained below. Before you start buying toys from China, make sure you have deliberated them properly. This way you will hopefully not be faced with unexpected surprises.

Toys not always meet EU safety standards

Most toys are designed in a certain way so that children can play with them in a certain way. Small children are not always aware of this, because they simply have no idea what function the toy has.

Does the toy look interesting? Then most children will undoubtedly investigate the toys further. They often do this by, for example, tasting, smelling or swallowing.

Suppose the toy is made of toxic material, sharp edges, or small particles that are easily swallowed by children. Then this will undoubtedly cause serious problems.

To prevent this kind complications, the European Union requires toys to have a CE mark. This is also called the ‘Conformite Europeene‘, which is French for European conformity.

This makes it clear whether the toy complies with the health, safety and environmental protection standards that apply within the EU. You can see it as a guideline to maintain the suitability of toys from China.

Control quality of products at toy manufacturer

You can control the quality of your products with certain inspections carried out by the toy. These are essential to ensure the quality of the toys. In many cases, these inspections are performed on site at the manufacturer in China. You can carry out these checks yourself, or have them carried out by a company such as Quality Control China. Such an external partner is always well aware of the safety standards.

As an importer you will receive, for example a comprehensive report from the status of the manufacturer in China. Such a factory audit confirms the suitability of the supplier. Suppose a Chinese factory is unable to provide these reports, it is better to look for another toy manufacturer. Of course, you don’t want to run the risk of the toys being rejected and destroyed. This creates a major financial blow, which you can easily avoid.

No supervision when loading toys

All the toys that you want to import from China will have to be shipped to Europe at some point. While loading the products, it is important to keep an eye on the container. At this point it can always occur that certain mistakes are made, which will eventually ruin a large part of your profit.

To prevent this, you can choose the preform a Container Loading Check. A professional inspector supervises will check the loading of the toys. If everything meets the quality requirements, the container is always sealed with a unique stamp.