Start here: from idea to first shipment
Everything a new marketplace seller needs to go from product idea to stock on the shelf: choosing a marketplace, buying safely from Chinese factories, controlling quality, and shipping a first order without surprises. Written by the team that runs these shipments every day.
Academy // Start_here
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Follow the steps in order, or jump to the one you're stuck on. Each one links to the guides and checklists that cover it.
Where you sell decides who sets your price, who holds your stock, and who runs logistics.
Most losses happen before the first payment. Learn to spot fake suppliers and pay safely.
Inspect the production run while the factory can still fix problems at its own cost.
Labels, cartons, freight mode, and customs: the decisions that must be made before goods leave.
Once you ship every month, running your own logistics is where margin comes back.
When you're ready, our team in China can run any step for you, from one inspection to the full flow.
Marketplace selling comes with its own acronyms. These are the ones that come up first when you start buying from China.
Once the first shipment is behind you, these guides cover the decisions that decide your margin at scale.
Platform freight programs are convenient, and the convenience is priced in. Here's where marketplace logistics costs scaling sellers margin, and how to switch to your own supply chain without hiring a logistics team.
Read guideAmazon ended its US FBA prep and item-labeling services on January 1, 2026. Here's what prep now means, your three options for doing it, and why prepping at the source in China is usually the cheapest.
Read guideThe US ended duty-free de minimis entry for low-value parcels in 2025. Here's what that means for stores shipping orders from China, and how to move to bulk freight and a domestic 3PL.
Read guidePick one marketplace that fits your product, find and verify a factory, approve a sample, inspect the production run before paying the balance, and ship your first order with the right labels and carton setup for the marketplace's warehouse. The Seller Academy covers each step in order.
It depends on the product and channel. Beyond the stock itself, budget for samples, a pre-shipment inspection (from $200 with ECOMCARE), freight, duties, and the marketplace's fees. Starting with a smaller first order and a single marketplace keeps the risk low.
No. Most sellers never visit their factories. A team on the ground can verify suppliers, inspect goods with live video, and coordinate shipping on your behalf.
Less than most beginners think. With a partner in China handling pickup, inspection, prep, customs, and freight, your part comes down to a few decisions: what to ship, which quote to approve, and the shipment plan in your seller account.
Tell us where you sell and what you're buying. A specialist will tell you what to check before you pay, and what your first shipment will cost door to door.
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