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The effect of Chinese New Year on importers and dropshippers

by Importexport
6 replies
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Chinese New Year is fast approaching. On Friday Jan 31, China will almost shut down for the celebration of Chinese New Year and this can have a big impact on importers and dropshippers.

Bigger organizations will maintain a skeleton staff to deal with inquiries, and in special cases, with shipping. Dropshippers will feel the greatest impact because shipments will be delayed in most cases. This can have a very bad effect on customer feedback, and resellers must be prepared for this.

Contact your dropship suppliers urgently and ask will they be shipping as usual during the holiday period. In many cases they will say "yes" because Chinese people always want to please and they think "no" will not please.

Because of this Chinese social custom, you cannot be sure even if they do say they will be open for business as usual. It may pay to warn customers that there will be a longer delivery time from Jan 31 through Feb 9 or 10. Delays could last longer because many businesses these days take longer vacations than they used to. Dropship suppliers will have a backlog to catch up on after they return to work so deliveries may not return to normal for a couple of weeks.

Importers usually plan ahead and order earlier to avoid this problem> That is not possible for dropship resellers who don't know sales will happen until they get the order.
#chinese #dropshippers #effect #importers #year
  • Profile picture of the author Ingredients4Success
    Very good post / advice.

    We import bulk from China and always plan ahead for this time of year by ordering extra and then some to make sure we are not caught short.
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  • Profile picture of the author timpears
    I was taken by surprise when I got the email from a manufacturer, telling me if I was going to order, then do it quickly as they will be shutting down for new years. I think it was about two weeks they will be closed. I thought, boy, what a holiday this must be.
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    Tim Pears

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  • Profile picture of the author webitemsllc
    Its not Jan 31st, Its Jan 24th they are shutting down. Chinese new year lasts 10 days and will end feb 3rd. Its the 24th now in china so if you havent made your purchases and had then shipped yesterday, you wont see them til mid February.
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    • Profile picture of the author Importexport
      Originally Posted by webitemsllc View Post

      Its not Jan 31st, Its Jan 24th they are shutting down. Chinese new year lasts 10 days and will end feb 3rd. Its the 24th now in china so if you havent made your purchases and had then shipped yesterday, you wont see them til mid February.
      According to the General Office of the State Council, the official public holidays begin on Jan 31st and end on Feb 6th.

      If you buy from a supplier in Hong Kong you will be slightly better of because the official New Year holiday there starts on 31st and ends on Feb 3.

      One of my former suppliers who still keeps in touch contacted me with New Year greetings, and told me that his business will be closed on 31st and will re-open on Feb 10th to ship orders that are already made.
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      Use emotions and perceptions to build a great brand. Ask me about my book LabelsThatExploit. For safe sourcing and easy importing from 41 countries globally, see https://provenglobalsourcing.com
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      • Profile picture of the author spooksdenimes
        Actually, every company has different holidays - some close earlier than other, some close late. I have +30 suppliers to handle and the CNY is always tricky. But, at least I know i'll have some forced holidays ! Like me, most of the entrepreneurs in China doing ecommerce will take a few days / weeks off during this time - I'm still staying in Mainland China, but at least i'll be with my in-laws and eat like a pig !
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        • Profile picture of the author Importexport
          Originally Posted by spooksdenimes View Post

          Actually, every company has different holidays - some close earlier than other, some close late. I have +30 suppliers to handle and the CNY is always tricky. But, at least I know i'll have some forced holidays ! Like me, most of the entrepreneurs in China doing ecommerce will take a few days / weeks off during this time - I'm still staying in Mainland China, but at least i'll be with my in-laws and eat like a pig !
          Yes holidays vary greatly, but I was only referring to the official holidays.

          Enjoy your holiday food. The Chinese people discovered food as entertainment many years before Westerners began to broadcast reality food shows. My first meal in China was a banquet provided by my hosts. There were 23 different dishes on the table.

          I have been to lunch sessions lasting over 3 hours with suppliers.
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          Use emotions and perceptions to build a great brand. Ask me about my book LabelsThatExploit. For safe sourcing and easy importing from 41 countries globally, see https://provenglobalsourcing.com
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