If somebody in the UK wanted to source kangaroo skin or beer of superior quality to the stuff they drink over there, which country would they choose to import it from? That's right - They'd come to Australia without the bat of an eyelid. If you want 1,000 cars, where would you go for those? Yup! I'd go to Japan as well.

For some strange reason, many importers automatically consider China as a supplier for all of their imported goods. Big mistake! Don't always believe what you hear when other talk of incredible import opportunities in China. Although there are some fantastic Chinese suppliers, you should really be casting a wider net.

I know of a buyer who spent thousands of dollars on an expert who promised to source his products from China. After banking the money, the buyer received an e-mail from the so-called expert telling them that the best supplier in China to deal with bulk orders wasn't in China at all. It was actually in Vietnam.

Always start your searches for imported goods on a wider basis and don't be fooled into thinking some countries are automatic choice when it comes to finding a supplier. Always target geographically.