[ohchk2001]

I run an Internet business that does business with other businesses and provides services rather than products. So while I am experienced in running a business, I am not experienced with running a business to consumer business, especially running one that sells products.

Okay here's the deal.

My mom wants to start her own business, and has wanted to for a long time. I would be a 50% partner in this business, since I will help her manage the Internet presence.

Pretty much I live in Hong Kong and she lives in the United States. She wants to import stuff like scarfs and other related clothing from Hong Kong and sell it online.

It would be sold online directly from her website that I'll have professionally developed and via online auctions like ebay. We're planning on buying some of the stuff from the various markets you see in Hong Kong (especially in Mong Kok and Central).

Edit: Also this project will have a budget so we can buy lots of volume and be able to advertise it online.

I'm really not too familar with clothes, so my mom would pick the items that she things would sell well and we would work out deals where we would buy them in volume from the merchants running the markets.

Do you guys think this plan has any chance for success? The biggest determining factor will be how realistic is it to be able to sell stuff like clothes (scarfs, etc) online.

Is it practical to sell stuff like that online, or should we not bother?

I also wonder if we would be competative with other merchants selling clothes as far as price goes.....but I think so....you can buy stuff like that dirt cheap in Hong Kong.

I live in Hong Kong on an Investment Visa, and will be providing a lot of capital so we can buy stuff in volume as well as advertising the business online.

[tvrlover]

first go to: www.ebay.com
look at the clothing section and you will see about 10000000 items already for sale.

Although I admire your drive, I would suggest you not waste time on this in HK. As most textiles are imported from china at 1/2 the cost that they are sold in HK for.

Ebay, online =>auction business is well past it's prime and has hit a decline after reaching maturity.

[tsuiwah]

Yeah, if your sourcing is coming from Central or Mongkok, then your business model is not going to be viable.

[jimbo]

Originally Posted by tsuiwah

Yeah, if your sourcing is coming from Central or Mongkok, then your business model is not going to be viable.

yep, because you're paying too much if you buy from there already, try going to places like shamsuipo or better still source direct from factories in china.

Another issue which you will have is that the sizes here are so different from usa/europe, I bought a Nike Jacket here in HK and its labelled as XXXL even though in Europe it would be classed as Medium/Large.

Accessories rather than clothing is probably the way to go.

[jimbo]

forgot to add, I looked into the viability of it as well and it just wasn't worth the hassle so doing something else now.

[ohchk2001]

Thanks for the feedback guys, sounds you guys are right about that.

What about crap like those antiques sold on causeway bay?

[tsuiwah]

Originally Posted by ohchk2001

What about crap like those antiques sold on causeway bay?

there are antique shops in CWB? where?

[jayinhongkong]

I do this right now...it's profitable, but it's hard work. i have to shoot up to China for my supplies. I have my own niche...can't divulge what it is...but I make at least 100% profit on the items I sell, so it works out

[ohchk2001]

Originally Posted by tsuiwah

there are antique shops in CWB? where?

Well where ever they are. I really am not too interested in stuff like that but I know they exist somewhere in HK.

[bbc_guy]

I would be dubious about selling clothes as well since what's your niche/edge over competition, of which there is so much? And selling it online makes it doubly difficult. People like to try on clothes before they buy. Did you ever hear about Boo.com?

Something that has struck me as a possible niche in the UK (and prob US too) are cute cartoon character merchandise like Hello Kitty, although that one is pretty widespread, but there are so many others. I have lots of small nephews and nieces and every time I come back to HK, they ask me to get some of those things cos they can't get them back in the UK. Once a kid falls in love with a character, they want their whole room decked out with its stuff.

I think Japanese merchandise along those lines are so much more varied and cuter than Disney stuff. I'm sure UK/US kids would love them. Good mark-ups on those goods as well. A store would be needed to sell that kind of stuff though, since a lot of it would be impulse buys and gifts.

It's all kiddy stuff I know, but I think it's good business that will bring in the money, which is what counts. If I had a female friend in UK looking for some business to go into, I would definitely recommend it to her.