Working as a furniture sourcing agent and a market guide for over ten years, we understand how perplexed new clients are when they decide to import furniture from China. In this article, I will provide you with a furniture buying guide as well as some industry secrets.
Did you know that you could get high-quality furniture at significantly lower prices if you import it from China at wholesale prices?
The wholesale market for furniture and building materials in China offers a diverse range of products. Sofas, TV cabinets, tables and chairs, kitchen, dining, and bedroom furniture, desks, office chairs, bookshelves cabinets, tiles, doors, windows, sanitary products, and other items are all available.
China’s furniture and building materials can be classified according to their intended use, such as furniture for homes, hotels and guesthouses, offices, and public institutions such as restaurants, schools, and hospitals.
Where to buy furniture & building material from?
Those in the furniture and building material industries are aware that Foshan City in China is home to the world’s largest furniture and building material wholesale market, where they can find furniture manufacturers and vendors of all types. The large furniture malls in Foshan’s Shunde district are well known around the world and attract many foreign buyers each year because the prices are much lower than in their home country.
Therefore, if you want the best furniture deals for your home or business, you should go on a furniture-sourcing trip to Foshan.
However, if you have never been to China or are unfamiliar with the country, you’re likely to have a lot of questions or concerns. Therefore, here is what you need to know and prepare to make the most of your furniture-shopping trip.
Is Buying Furniture from China a Good Idea?
China supplies the majority of the world’s furniture. According to research, China exported $40 billion in furniture in 2020. Almost 83 percent of Chinese furniture exports go to the United States, the European Union, and Australia.
While the Chinese furniture industry produces furniture at reasonable prices, shopping for furniture in China makes sense only if you are purchasing a large quantity of furniture. Buying a few items is not cost-effective because you will incur fees such as handling fees, customs clearance, and so on, which can add up and make your purchase prohibitively expensive. Of course, buying a variety of products loaded in a full container, such as tile, sanitary ware, light, kitchen cabinet, door, windows, and so on, is a different story.
Where Can I Find Furniture in Shunde Wholesale Furniture Markets?
China has an entire city dedicated to furniture manufacturing, wholesale, and retail. The China Furniture Wholesale Market is located in Shunde, also known as “Furniture City,” approximately 40 kilometers south of Guangzhou. As one of the Shunde towns, Lecong is also known as the Foshan Lecong wholesale furniture market. From Hong Kong and Guangzhou, you can easily reach this location by train, subway, bus, or ferry.
Shunde is home to over 1,500 furniture manufacturers and 3,500 Chinese and international furniture dealers. Their products are displayed in 200 modern buildings totaling over 3 million square meters. The area is 5 kilometers long and is laid out in a grid of 12 rows and 20 streets.
Furniture Malls in Foshan
Here are some buildings worth seeing in Shunde:
- Louvre Furniture Mall
The Louvre or LFC is another name for the Lecong International Furniture Exhibition Center. It is the largest and most popular furniture mall in Shunde. It is a seven-story structure with a total area of more than 300,000 square meters that houses hundreds of furniture wholesalers and retailers.
If you are looking for high-end furniture with unique and appealing designs, this is the place to go. Home and office furniture, mahogany furniture, and home accessories are all available here.
- Sunlink Wholesale Furniture Market
It serves the middle and high-end markets and is located next to the Lecong International Furniture Exhibition Center. It is a good option for those looking for furniture at a lower price than LFC. This market is divided into two sections. Sunlink south section furniture is less expensive than Sunlink north section furniture. However, we recommend purchasing from the north section because the quality is far superior to that of the south shops.
- Tuanyi International Furniture City
It is located on the same side as the Louvre Furniture Mall or LFC and has a large selection of furniture. There are over 400 brands selling various types of furniture here. However, because Tuanyi was the first to be used in comparison to the above two furniture centers, this structure is now obsolete, and product quality varies greatly. If you want cheap items but don’t care about quality, this is a good place to look.
Some useful Tips while purchasing furniture and building material:
- Before traveling to Shunde, it is critical to have a plan of action. Know ahead of time which buildings to visit and what type of furniture you’re looking for.
- Check with the local customs department to see how much customs duty you should pay (some countries do not need to pay).
- Not all stores have English-speaking employees. However, Louvre shops typically provide invoices and sales contracts in English and Mandarin.
- Request that the salesperson clearly indicates the model number, price, description, delivery date, and packing condition of your purchases.
- The majority of shops will give you a “ex-works price.”
- This means you’ll be in charge of consolidating all of your purchases, loading them into the container, and shipping them to your destination.
- If you are purchasing a single type of product in large quantities, it is preferable to purchase from a factory shop.
- Checking the products in the shop and visiting their factory to see if they are satisfactory.
- If you’re looking for a variety of items, the above furniture stores should suffice.
- It is recommended that you hire a local furniture sourcing agent who can assist you with the purchasing process, price negotiation, and logistics.
- Never trust the guys outside the furniture stores who offer you a buying guide.
Issues Faced When Purchasing Furniture from China
China is well known for producing high-quality furniture at reasonable prices. New homeowners or businesses importing furniture from China can expect to save a lot of money.
However, a few issues discourage first-time buyers from considering Chinese furniture imports. The following are the most common issues:
- Untrustworthy suppliers
There will be times when suppliers from online marketplaces such as Alibaba will claim to be a manufacturer or wholesaler when they are not. Others may misrepresent their production capacity in order to secure your order.
- Suppliers who are untrustworthy
If you are unable to inspect product quality at the manufacturing site, you may receive subpar furniture. When issues arise, there is little you can do to recover the money you have already paid.
- Lack of English proficiency
Many Chinese manufacturers and factory representatives do not speak English. Even if they do use Google Translate, they will use literal translations that are illogical. It would be difficult to understand what they are trying to say. This causes a lot of confusion, which may lead to incorrect or delayed deliveries. Worse, you may incur financial losses.
- Inadequate or non-existent customer service
A supplier you chose because they have the cheapest products may not provide the best customer service. When it comes to pricing, international shipping, regulations, and quality standards, you will not receive timely information and support.
- Transfers of funds that are problematic
International payments can be difficult to manage. Financial institutions and payment solution providers handle fund transfers differently. Any minor error may result in payments being delayed for several days to weeks. Furthermore, many furniture stores do not have a US dollar account. They would prefer to be paid in RMB. It’s a major headache in this situation. Especially if you intend to buy from multiple stores.
Why Do You Need a Chinese Furniture Sourcing Agent or a market guide in Foshan?
Foreign businesses can now easily search for furniture suppliers online. But do you believe this is the best way to find a supplier for your furniture company? Consider again.
International trade, particularly with China, can be difficult and time-consuming. As a result, you require the assistance of a knowledgeable and trustworthy sourcing agent throughout the process. They will provide you with professional quality advice and timely assistance throughout the supplier sourcing process.
Here are four reasons why working with a professional Foshan furniture sourcing agent or market guide is preferable to purchasing directly from online B2B sites:
- They save you time by handling all of your communications for you.
You will be transacting with various representatives of various furniture suppliers in China through an online B2B platform. It’s a lengthy and inefficient procedure. Those who have done it know how difficult it is! Engaging a China furniture sourcing agent who can gather all of the information you need to make an informed decision is an efficient solution.
Your furniture sourcing agent acts as your business partner in China, advising and assisting you. He or she will assist you throughout the entire furniture sourcing process, from the first step of selecting the best supplier to the final step of receiving your furniture order.
A sourcing agent can help you save time.
Furthermore, when dealing with Chinese business representatives, a communication gap is unavoidable. Keep in mind that even the smallest miscommunication can result in your furniture order having incorrect specifications. A dependable furniture sourcing agent ensures that all instructions are clearly communicated and understood by all parties. They will pressure all of your suppliers to complete orders on time and to perform quality control.
- They are experts in the furniture industry.
You’ll be overwhelmed by the number of options available when looking for furniture wholesalers in China. There are numerous suppliers to choose from, but not all of them can meet your production specifications.
When you are in China, how can you make sound decisions?
You won’t have to worry about that if you hire a local sourcing agent who specializes in the furniture industry. As an expert, he knows everything there is to know about the Chinese furniture industry.
The local agent, who acts as your eyes and ears on the ground, is best placed to recommend the best suppliers who meet your pricing and quality requirements.
- Being natives, they are well-versed in the Chinese market.
A Chinese sourcing agent who lives and works in China can provide you with sound advice on business practises in China.
You may be unfamiliar with Chinese customs and business etiquette as an outsider. Unawareness of this could lead to misunderstanding or conflict.
Hiring a local sourcing agent provides you with “insider information,” which gives you a significant advantage in terms of credible information about business conditions, local practises, and local manufacturers.
- They can monitor the entire purchasing process.
The purchasing process can take several weeks or even months to complete.
While you are on the other side of the world, your local sourcing agent will assist you in monitoring the various stages of production and delivery in China.
A sourcing agent provides valuable advice based on your specific needs. He can check and confirm information before quickly relaying it to you.
Your China sourcing agent also ensures a smooth delivery process by handling required documents and ensuring compliance with relevant regulations.
Services a Foshan Market guide can provide:
Market Guide
No matter which supplier or manufacturer you choose to work with, you need to double-check every detail, like the delivery date, quality requirements, after-sales service, installation service, etc. Find a Foshan Market Guide if you’re still worried about getting ripped off by dishonest sellers. Hope that every buyer will be able to find products, suppliers, and manufacturers in China that meet their needs and have a good experience with high efficiency and ease. Moreover, the Foshan Market Guide will take you to the manufacturers and wholesalers in person. This may be virtually impossible for you, even if you land in China.
A Reliable Interpreter
Since China is now seen as an economic powerhouse with a fast-growing economy, many companies want to do business there. But for most companies, language is the biggest problem.
If you want to buy furniture and building materials from Foshan, you will need to talk to Chinese manufacturers, who don’t usually speak English. Now is the best time to find a trustworthy Chinese interpreter to work with. A Chinese interpreter will help you say things in a way that makes sense to your clients by using local slang and words.
You will need an interpreter to help you to close an order, provide you detailed information about the order, and also negotiate pricing. As the interpreter knows about the market tres, manufacturers and your choice, he or she might help you narrow down on the right kind of furniture for you.
Morefar Global is known as one of the best services for hiring Chinese interpreters. We can help you find skilled interpreters who speak Mandarin as their first language. They can also do interpretation services on demand. Call us to find out more.
Choose the right manufacturer with the help of a Foshan Market Guide
Foshan furniture is known not only for having the biggest wholesale furniture market in the world but also for how well it makes furniture.
Foshan is the most important part of the places that make up the pearl river delta. Longjiang town, Lecong town in the Shunde district, and Jiujiang town in the Nanhai district are all places where Foshan furniture is made.
Since the 1980s, more than 5,000 furniture factories with different types and styles of furniture have opened.
You will need a Foshan Market guide to show you around the factories and help you make the right choice. You will save time, money, and effort. If you do not do this, finding the right manufacturer will be hard.
These Market Guides also provide services like Business assistance, Shopping assistance, Airport/train station pickups, and more. So, before you plan the next business trip to Foshan, China, you need to find the right market guide first, who provides all of the above services and an affordable cost.