Why buying stone and marble from China?For centuries, stones have been a major player in huge industries, including construction, engineering, and interior design. From heavy-duty applications to aesthetics, stones possess unparalleled vigor and flexibility, making them a timeless natural resource.

What’s more, design-wise, these sturdy and reliable materials can bring you a visual display via stone-made furniture sets,  fixtures, and tiling. Available in a wide array of shapes, colors, and textures, stones invite nature into your home without sacrificing quality and longevity of use.

With all these and a huge earning potential under its name, stones can easily turn into a pot of gold if you have 1) the right business, 2) the right attitude, and 3) a positive mindset. But where do you start? One word: China.

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1.Good Quality

As the good old adage goes, “Quality is the best business plan.” And this also applies to industries that revolve around stone use. As one of the biggest stone manufacturers in the world, China has devised practical yet innovative stone processing solutions that focus on producing high-quality stones at large quantities.

2.Lower Price

China’s systematized mining and stone processing procedures don’t just filter products for quality. They also significantly cut down production costs, making it possible for Chinese suppliers to offer stone materials at a lower price.

Add to that, whether you’re flying to China or you’re putting your faith in air or sea cargoes, buying stones in bulk can help you get huge savings from paying products at their wholesale prices.

3.Numerous Manufacturers

China is home to leading stone manufacturers that are capable of performing small and large-scale operations for a variety of applications. But prior to the country’s rise as a stone-manufacturing giant, it has also met adversities, specifically when we put safe and sustainable mining procedures into the equation.

The solution: the implementation of strict mining protocols that shut down small enterprises that were not abiding by stone mining procedures. This has resulted in better mining practices that are now used by thousands of Chinese stone manufacturing enterprises.

1. Alibaba

Reigning supreme in the Chinese eCommerce business is Alibaba, a reliable online platform that hosts millions of users, which include small and big businesses. Just like eBay and Amazon, Alibaba allows users and shoppers to meet, transact, and negotiate in one digital space.

Related article:How to Source Products and Good Suppliers from Alibaba?

2. Canton Fair

The Canton Fair is a long-standing Chinese tradition where shoppers and entrepreneurs from all over the world gather together to search for unique trading opportunities. In response to the pandemic, the Canton Fair 2020 is held online, where items–including stones–can be shipped via cargo arrangements.

Related article:A Comprehensive Guide to Attending the Online Canton Fair in 2020

3. Foshan

Built to simplify online transactions and shipments, Foshan connects you to reputable stone manufacturers in China without asking you to go the extra mile.Though Foshan city is not the original manufacturing clusters,it is very important building materials cluster in China.Therefore,many stone manufacturers have sales centers,offices or showrooms in Foshan city.Here you can find all beautiful designs and get good price,too.As to our past experience,buying stones from Foshan is more convenient because most stones companies are experienced in stone exportation.You can get professional quotation very fast and no need to worry about China exporting processes.

Related article:How to Import Tile from China: A Complete Guide

4. China Stone and Marble Manufacturers Bases

Directly contacting Chinese stone manufacturing companies such as Guangdong YunFu and Fujian Xiamen can help speed up your importing process.However,some of them are not familair with the exportation or even can’t speak English.You may find hard to communicate if directly chat with the manufacturers.Sometimes trading companies or sourcing agents may help.

5. Find a Sourcing Agent 

Lastly, if you want to free your hands from any first-hand negotiations, you can look for a sourcing agent as your final resort. Easy and hassle-free, having an agent that acts as your middle person allows you to focus on conceptualizing and improving your business.Here what I mean “sourcing agent”,it should be a company,not individual.The company to choose should at least meet below requirements:

• Very professional at the products you are looking for
• Trustful,hard-working,easy-going,good at price negotiation
• Take good care of all China works and not bring you troubles
• Locates in the products cluster

Related article:How To Find A Good Sourcing Agent?

1. Choosing Styles/Finishing and Patterns

Not all stones are created equal. While some can take a serious pounding and are used for heavy-duty applications, the more fragile ones are mostly limited to interior design use. In this sense, it’s important that you choose the stone type that directly matches your need for durability and design without asking you to go over the budget.

For instance, from a financial standpoint, it’s not wise to use granite for road construction because although this material is durable, it is too expensive, and is therefore impractical for this application.

2.  Choosing Sizes and Thickness

Stone sizes and thickness greatly impact important building factors such as durability and resistance. Before adding any stone to your cart, do your homework by researching for the appropriate stone size and thickness for your target application.

3.Confirm materials and quotations

Once you’ve decided on the material, the cut, and the quantity, make an order confirmation on your chosen platform and wait for the release of your quotation. Usually, the quotation takes 1-2 processing days.

4. Produce and Pay

If the quotation is reasonable and you want to continue with the online transaction, the next step is to make a payment via secured channels. Your payment gives merchants a green light for the final processing step.

5.Packing and Delivery

Package,loading,shipping are quite important to make sure what you receive are complete.Sometimes wrong loading ways damage the stones seriously.That means you for nothing.Therefore,buying from a professional supplier is the best way to protect your benefits.

1.Language Barrier

A gap in communication due to language differences can be a huge stumbling block when it comes to making any international negotiations. But thanks to technology, this problem can now take the backseat.

Platforms like Alibaba and Foshan Sourcing have created solutions long before communication barriers arise by using English as one of its main mediums. Even the famous Canton Fair uses technology to help traders negotiate by auto-language translating apps that were designed to lessen misunderstandings and offer clarity on both transacting parties.

By making use of translating apps or turning to online platforms that serve as your bridge to Chinese traders, you can now effortlessly ship items from China without twisting a tongue.

2.Quality Issue

It’s hard to tell the quality of a product especially if you just bought it online, but that is the reality you need to face as someone who imports goods from a different country. The key here is to find a reliable stone manufacturing company and eCommerce business that will stay committed to delivering top quality materials to your warehouse.

The good news: stone materials are more durable than most products on freight, so your chance of opening a box of broken stones is quite minimal. However, if there is one major issue you should prepare for, it’s thickness and size uniformity. While being specific with sizes and shapes can help you minimize this risk, it’s always best to find a supplier that can give you compensation.

3.Long Lead Time and Delayed Shipment

If there’s anything manufacturing and eCommerce companies have almost no control of, it’s the shipment’s lead time, especially if you throw custom policies and undesirable weather conditions into the long list of factors that can affect shipment.

However, you can lessen your risk of being at the end of the waiting list by demanding manufacturing and shipping companies the transparency you need when it comes to shipments. Does the contract include delivery policies or possible refunds in case of delays? When do they expect your order to be shipped? Can the company provide you a way to guarantee the delivery time? Especially those need cutting into small pieces.

4.Damaged Packaging

The worst packages are not delayed ones, but heavily-damaged ones. Since a lot of unfavorable things can happen in between transit, you have to secure yourself by looking for warranties. Also, ask your chosen eCommerce company if you are protected by any insurance coverage in case something goes wrong with your shipment. If so, do you have to pay extra for insurance? How do you get your claims in case your package gets damaged?

By taking a step forward to learn about these processes, you can have the peace of mind you need (and deserve) as your orders are being packed and delivered.

1. Check the Quality of Stones

Stones are earth-sourced materials that possess natural colors, textures, and patterns. Even after polishing, a stone’s color doesn’t change, making it a great parameter when you’re assessing for stone quality.

As a rule of thumb, the stone surfaces should be almost uniform in color. Color variations, if any, should be very minimal. Plus, it’s also important to assess the stone shape and look for any defect like warps or concave surfaces. If you are buying in bulk, always be specific on size and thickness as this is where some companies fall short.

2. Negotiating the Price

Prices always depend on quality, and this also applies when you’re buying any stone material. The price of natural stone tiles, in general, range between $1 to $15 for every square foot. But this can also change, too, depending not just on material, but on color and unique attributes as well.

While pricing may vary, one thing will always remain constant: it’s cheaper to buy stone from Chinese or Indian manufacturers that can sell products in bulk. If you need help with negotiating prices, it’s best that you find a China-based sourcing agent who can give you access to lower-priced products.

3.Secured Payment Channels for China-Based Suppliers

China is an export and import leader that is open to different mediums that can facilitate fast transactions for international traders. Some of the secured regular ways to process payments to China include these platforms:

These terms of payment have been covered many times in our previous articles and will not be repeated here.Please read below article to know more about payment ways.

Related article:How to Buy and Import Furniture from China: A Complete Guide

4.Delivery Options

Shopping online is just half the job. Getting items delivered to your country is the second half.

Shipment-wise, it’s important to note that you have below options:

1) let the manufacturing/eCommerce company handle the shipping,

2) personally handle the shipment by contacting a freight company in China or a local freight company that can make shipping arrangements from China to your country.

As we mentioned before,hiring a China sourcing agent to take care of all exporting processes is the best choices.On one hand,sourcing agent has long-term cooperation with shipping companies and they can get a better shipping price than you.On the other hand,a good sourcing agent knows how to export professionally and don’t bring you any troubles.Import easily and save money,why  not?

4.Transit Times

To give you a general idea, transit times involve 1) production time and  2)  the actual travel/delivery time by sea. Longer production time than plan always happens.If you need the goods urgently,make sure the supplier you buy from can finish the goods as promise.Otherwise,you will feel upset since suppliers have many reasons for delays.Once the goods are ready,loading and shipping can be done within one week if your suppliers are professional.Moreover,if you don’t need the goods urgently,like in 4 month.It is better to tell your suppliers.Some of them would charge for stock if the goods staying in their warehouse too long.

5.Finding a sourcing agent when buying stone from China

As we mentioned before,you need to talk and identify whom will be your good partner since China has so many sourcing agents.Trustworthy, professional,nice, non-fussy, considerate partners will help you import so easily.

Top 7 qualities of a good sourcing agent

Related article:How To Import Building Materials From China?

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