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Before you ask yourself, ‘How to Become an Import Export Agent?‘, you may like to find out whether an ever changing lifestyle of an import-export agent fits your personality. Do take note that most importing agent also work on exporting leads.
07.00 – 08.00 Wake up to read RSS feeds for the latest international news and check trade news. Found it amusing to read post in alibaba.com written in Chin-glish (Chinese + English) on how importers cheat suppliers. Tip: Always pay yourself first by learning about your industry.
08.00 – 09.00 Check office messages, emails, fax offers, mails and so forth. Tip: Always have your eyes and ears ready for new updates and respond promptly to your manufacturers, business associates or buyers.
09.00 – 12.00 Drive to airport to meet a big buyer from other state, and spend time getting to know what this buyer like to do during his free time after business discussion. Tip: Always value face-to-face meeting with major customers to identify newer opportunities.
12.00 – 13.00 Lunch with a potential retail customer who babbles about how sales have a negative impact on their business. This person doesn’t seem to understand that sometimes time can be tough for everyone. Tip: You may meet those who talk a lot and feel pessimistic about the future, or those who are knowledgeable with great personalities. The key is to help others to focus on their best,so that you can beat your own best in closing the sale.
13.00 – 14.00 Energy got drained. Got to find a way to recharge. Go for a tour in the flea market to see how sales are going with some of those regulars. If it works for them, put on a thinking cap to see whether those goods can be imported to retailer networks. Tip: Do your homework and your manufacturers will be more helpful to you. Understand how your manufacturer partners can compete with local distributor’s marketing strategies.
14.00 – 14.30 Received a phone call from a customer from Singapore. Had a long discussion on payment terms by haggling on pricing. Tip: Always be patient with different type of negotiators who can be both aggressive or passive.
14.30 – 15.00 Received an email from Hong Kong manufacturer’s sales team on applying for the government export assistance programs. Tip: Always don’t miss out government help as long as you have the backing of your manufacturer.
15.00 – 15.30 Call from a US end user who is interested to buy some clothing products in bulk asking ‘Do we sell to the public?’. Fire up Google and refer her to an unknown but relevant retailer who may fit her needs. Tip: Always verify caller’s identity and never sell direct to customer in B2C channel, because the end user may be a ‘State Authority’ doing a spot check. If it’s against the law to sell direct, be honest. When you have time, refer them to the right channel.
15.30 – 17.30 Call sourcing partner to confirm shipment of good was successful and find out how’s the next shipment going. Call custom broker to confirm when the good will be arriving the port. Call buyer to inform buyer that the shipment will be slightly delayed due to bad weather. Inform admin to prepare sales confirmation, and send purchase orders with necessary carton markings and test requirements. Tip: Understand that your business associates and buyers can accept delays as long as you can communicate to them on a timely with honesty and integrity.
17.30 – 18.00 Receive free phone offer from a private telco and free insurance offer for business. The catch is to sign up a 12-month contract with them. They always call at the end of the day at the right time, don’t they? Get them to call my admin to follow up. Tip: Great offers come and go, and will come back again but ask your admin to collect the necessary info so you can have a full view of the full offer and the ‘catch’ when you are free.
18.00 – 19.00 Return back home to change and shower. Tip: Freshen up yourself whenever you can to keep your esteem high!
19.00 – 21.00 Spend a nice evening with my lawyers and business coach. Tip: Always build a defensible business model with the help of smart advisors.
21.00 – 23.30 Go online to source for new opportunities via email and find out how’s things with my business associates. Tip: Remember that the rule of the game is ‘geobalance’ – have a mix of dynamic and slow distributors standby to help you to serve potential opportunities that may arise. If possible, lead, motivate, and keep your business associates at their positive state of minds by sharing hope and success stories whenever you can.
23.30 Relax the mind with a short meditation. Remind myself that every job is only done when buyer and supplier receive what they want and you receive your commission or retainer in the bank. So, the more value you can add in the transaction, the better you become in this game.
This is just a typical life example of a home-based importing agent. Did you start off in that way? Do you have a better way to describe your lifestyle as an international trader? Please share your creative story or comments.
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