Grasping the sourcing game =/

G'day guys,

I just need some help regarding some of my concerns.

So I am just trying to get my head around everything. My questions are,

-If I use a customs agent, are they simply getting the goods past the country of destination (in other words ready to go and get picked up?). Or are they providing a full service and helping you get the goods from China > destinition?

-Is an international air courier doing the whole process from start to finish? For example, they will ship the delivery to HQ and any other countries where you hold fufillment services? (EG. America, Europe, and any other states where your audience is located?)

-When would you use a freight forwarder? Is that used when you are basically drop shipping ? For example, you get the goods delivered from China > USA, and they repackage/label and forward it onto the customer? Would a fulfillment service do this for you as well?

- How do you guys run your operations in regards to shipping. Do you keep inventory in each country where you have customers? For example, I am in Australia, I would have stock ready to go in my country, so I can allocate to customers in Australia?

And in America, I would have inventory ready to go and so on?

Apologies if my post is confusing. Any help or guidance would be greatly appreciated.

Respectfully,

Danny