What to sell — picking your first product
As a beginner, an item that is easy to calculate beats one you personally find pretty. Small size (low shipping), no certification burden (KC, food/drug, etc.), and quick turnover make a category friendly for a first order.
- Light and small — low volumetric weight, cheaper air freight
- Low certification risk — avoid electrical, food, cosmetics and baby items at first
- Reasonable price and turnover — too cheap and shipping eats the margin, too pricey and cash is stuck in stock
Your first product is not a jackpot but a test of whether your cost math is right. The point is to verify the landed-cost and margin formula on a small quantity.
Where to buy — Taobao, 1688 and local markets
The same item has different unit prices and minimum order quantities (MOQ) by channel. A common path: validate with small quantities on Taobao, move to wholesale on 1688 as volume grows, then local markets and factories at scale.
| Channel | Unit price | Min. quantity | Best stage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Taobao | Retail | 1 pc+ | Samples, small tests |
| 1688 | Wholesale | Usually 2–dozens | Reselling, real sourcing |
| Local market / factory | Negotiated | High | Scaling, OEM |
Sampling on Taobao to check quality, then re-sourcing the winner at wholesale on 1688, is the combination with the lowest cost of failure.
What price leaves a profit — landed cost and margin
Margin is decided by landed cost — the total to get goods to Korea — not the sticker price. Price off the item price alone and shipping, fees and duties will erase your margin. Add all four below, then layer on selling fees and target margin.
Item price
Taobao/1688 unit price × quantity. Budget a conservative FX rate.
Agent commission
A percentage of item value; better rates at larger volumes.
International shipping
Charged on volumetric, not actual, weight. Light-but-bulky is the trap.
Duties & VAT
Depend on item (HS code) and value; check list vs. formal clearance.
Price = landed cost ÷ (1 − target margin − selling-fee rate). Fold Naver/Coupang payment and ad fees into cost so real margin actually survives.
Traps beginners keep stepping into
- Bulk-ordering with no sample — stuck with stock that differs from the photos
- Estimating shipping as a share of item price — it is billed by volumetric weight
- Ordering without checking certification/customs — delays or disposal for electrical, food, etc.
- Calculating margin without FX and fees — a structure that loses money per sale
Most of these are prevented by starting small. Make the first order a sample quantity, verify the cost formula against a real quote, then scale up.