Expert: Nicola Zheng - 8/2/2009

Question
QUESTION:     Can you help us with sourcing?
         There is a battery operated shaver made in China
called  "shaveman".
         We would like to import these.

         Can you help us?  Or refer us elsewhere?

         Thank you     Richard

ANSWER: Hi Richard,

Thank you for contacting me.  In order for you to import this shaver, you should find out the following (very preliminary, no means exhaustive list of questions):

1.) is this an exclusive design/product that somebody owns the patent on?  If there is a patent number, you can easily find out who holds it by going through http://patft.uspto.gov/
2.) who manufactures it?  
3.) who current imports and distributes this?
4.) what customers (by that I mean retailers) do you intend to target and at what retail price?  This helps you determine what you can afford to pay to land the product here based on retail math.

The importer or distributor info can generally be found on the product packaging.  If the product is UL listed, then you may contact them and see if you can trace the manufacturer info.

Should you need further assistance, please feel free  contact me for additional information regarding my sourcing consultation service.

Sincerely,
Nicola Zheng

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION:   Nicola Zheng:
         Thank you for your answer.  This is a battery operated
shaver, no UL listing, no patent, and we would be a trading company
who buys these from China.  Not complicated, no complicated pricing
questions, no distribution questions.  We already know where to sell
these and at what price.
         Your listing said you can help us with sourcing.
If so maybe you could get a list of manufacturers in China who make
battery-operated shavers.  Your listing says "sourcing consultation
service".
         If not please refer us elsewhere.
         Thank you.

         Richard Gahler
         ARTEK TRADING COMPANY
         6683 Gretchen ln
         Oakdale, Mn  55128

ANSWER: Hi Richard,

Glad to know that you've already figured out the merchandising side of the equation.  I just have a couple of additional questions:

Do you intend to have the factory manufacture the exact same electric shaver as the Shaveman?  
Do you intend to sell this shaver under the same name, Shaveman?  

There appears to be a pending patent application for this product (see link below), applied for by Ridgewood Industries LLC.  Also, the same company owns the registered trademark "Shaveman".

http://151.207.245.67/web/patents/patog/week21/OG/classification/classGroup_03.h

To answer your question, yes, I am able to help you with sourcing.  However, I wanted to make sure you were aware of the above issues before you decide to proceed.

Please let me know.

Regards,
Nicola Zheng

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION:   Yes I understand these issues. I checked the patent..It is not the
same shaver.
       There are companies in China making battery-operated shavers.
("Shaveman" is just one.)  We could import from any one and are looking for sources from you.
        We are an importer-trading company and are looking for sources.
We would pay for sample costs, shipping, etc.
        Thank you.














         Richard Gahler
         ARTEK TRADING COMPANY
         6683 Gretchen ln
         Oakdale, Mn   55128          

         toll free phone
         (800)383-8976

Answer
Hi Richard,

Thank you for the clarification.  If I understand you correctly, you are looking to source any electric shaver, not a particular brand or design.  Would it be possible to set up a phone call this evening to review the scope of this project (in terms of what info and services you need me to provide for this sourcing project)?  Thank you very much.

Sincerely,
Nicola Zheng