China stationery manufacturing companies dominate around 80 percent of the global pens market. Indeed, the country produces over 40 billion pens per year along with other office products. So, it is the right choice for individuals who would want to import stationery wholesale.
The process of choosing the best Chinese stationery manufacturers can be daunting. To help you do that easily, we have a list of the top 10 reliable stationery suppliers in China along with a selection guide. But before you start the selection process, you have to decide on the type of stationery you would want to import from the country.
What are the Types of Stationery Items for Opening a Stationery Shop?
Stationery items are made to help us do several things such as organizing papers, taking notes, and sticking things together. They also help us decorate the office and complete school-related work.
There are various types of stationery and each type is important in its way. Here are some of the types you can import from China.
1. Ball Pen
Ball pens are available in many styles, well-tailored for different writing needs.
The primary thing that differentiates ball pens from other types of pens is the ball roller mechanism and the used oil-based ink.
Choosing the right pens for your target customers starts by knowing the type of pens and the uniqueness they would need.
2. Scissors
People have used scissors for a long time, and it is among the indispensable tools that you will find in almost every home and office.
They facilitate effective paper management and they are available in two types &#; straight-blade and curved-blade scissors. The former boasts prominent straight blades while the latter features curved blades.
3. Paper Cutters
Paper cutters refer to all tools used to make neat cuts and shapes out of paper for various purposes.
They allow people to keep things professional and neat as well as save their limited time.
They include cutters, trimmers, guillotines, and scissors.
4. Sheet Protector
Sheet protectors are designed to offer protection for archival documents. They also offer a polished look for better presentation.
They include vinyl and poly sheet protectors made to offer different protection levels.
When importing them from Chain, you should also note that they are available in different gauges that provide different levels of durability and look.
5. Paper Tray
Paper trays are made to help you separate and access incoming and outgoing papers easily and quickly. People place them in areas that are easy to access without standing at the desk.
In the past, they came as inbox and outbox trays but today, China manufacturers offer three or even more paper trays. Each tray has to be labeled.
6. Paper Punches
A paper punch, also known as a hole punch, or a hole puncher, is an important office tool that people use to create holes in their sheets of paper, mostly to collect their papers in a folder or binder.
China manufacturers offer them in different styles so you will find a type that will match your market.
7. Paper Pins
Paper clips are devices made of steel wire bent for a looped shape and used to hold sheets of paper together.
Most of them are a variation of Gem clips introduced in the s or earlier. The Gems were characterized by two full wire loops.
8. Desk Cube
Desk cubes are modern desk organizers that allow people to control their paperwork, pens, documents, stationery, and documents in a space-efficient unit.
They are ideal for workplaces, home offices, and more. China stationery manufacturers offer them in various styles to match the needs of many people.
9. Calculator
Calculators are devices designed to perform arithmetic operations on numbers. A simple calculator can do addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division.
People require them to complete their calculations fast and ensure that they are correct. They relieve the users of the need of completing operations mentally.
10. Stapler
Staplers are indispensable desktop tools that allow us to keep related papers secured together.
China manufacturers design them in various ways depending on the volume and type of papers they are meant to staple.
They include half, full, and mini-strip staplers. Strip staplers have a high capacity and they can handle 50 sheets of 80gsm-sized papers. Half-strip staplers have a midrange capacity and can handle 30 sheets while mini-strip staplers can handle only 18 sheets.
Staplers go together with staple pins, which also come in different sizes.
11. Super Glue
Super glue is a super reliable, clean, precise, and easy-to-use glue that bonds items within seconds.
People use it to combine different things such as plastic, metal, and human skin. The good news is that you can import it from China easily.
12. Binder Clip
Binder clips, also known as fold-over clips, bobby clips, or paper clamps, are simple devices designed to bind sheets of paper together.
Unlike staple, they leave the sheets of paper intact and they allow easy and faster removal of the paper.
How can I Start a Stationery Wholesale Business?
Starting a stationery business can be an exciting venture. However, there is more to establishing a stationery business than registering it and ordering the inventory from China.
We have put together this simple guide to help you start one and avoid the mistakes most business people make. Here are the factors to keep in mind when starting one.
Business Model
Whether you are planning to start an online or physical or storefront stationery business, you have to choose either a wholesale or retail model. Even though each of the two models has its benefits and drawbacks, your willingness to interact with the consumers directly will play a huge role in the selection of a model.
A retail stationery business entails selling products directly to consumers. On the other hand, selling wholesale entails selling the products in bulk quantities to middlemen or retailers who in turn sell them to the consumers.
When selling as a retailer, you will sell the products at a higher price than you would when selling as a wholesaler. Wholesalers sell the products in bulk amounts and they, therefore, buy them at a discount and use their formulas to markup the selling price.
Market Research
Customer market research focuses on the main influences on the target customers and the changes you can make to encourage more sales.
The purpose of this research is to understand your target customers and learn about how they are likely to interact with your company. Some of the things to include in the market research are.
Market research may require you to look at customer journey mapping, historical purchase records of the competitors, demographics, persona templates, and customer segmentations.
Primary research such as customer satisfaction surveys and customer satisfaction interviews can provide you with the needed details.
Competitor Research
Competitor market research involves researching who your key competitors are and understanding their weaknesses and strengths. It can also be about how you plan to target the new market or your competitive offering.
The main purpose of this research is to find ways that can help your business stand out and help you formulate your strategies by listening to and scanning customer preferences.
When using primary research, you could interview the customers about the items they prefer buying. And when using secondary sources, you could analyze the market dominance of your key competitors.
Product Research
The purpose of product market research is to ensure that your products are fit for launching in your target market.
This research should help you understand how your target customers perceive your products. It will also tell you whether the products will provide value. Product research covers several factors such as:
&#; Price
The price is very important when introducing your products to the market.
You do not want to charge a higher price than what your competitors have set and you do not want to charge lower than what they do such that you make a loss.
Market research will help you set the price.
&#; Quality
One of the important factors in increased sales is product quality. Quality is more about satisfying the predetermined specifications or customers. Achieving customization implies using set measurable qualities.
The product qualities have to satisfy the customer&#;s expectation in regards to use. The product research will help you know the level of quality your customers need and how you can stand out from the key competitors.
&#; MOQ
Inventory is the greatest asset of any stationery business. Therefore, you will want to have enough so that you can meet the demand but you do not want to keep more than you cannot sell.
By researching the market before starting your stationery business, you will know the right reorder level.
&#; Certificate
You have to register your business with the government to get a trade name registration and a tax certificate.
The tax certificate allows you to make retail sales, collect tax, and purchase stationery from wholesale suppliers.
Besides, you have to obtain a business permit from the Local County or town clerk.
Supplier Research
Selection of the right supplier involves more than scanning through price lists. Your selection will depend on various factors such as product quality, price, reliability, MOQ, and after-sales services.
The best suppliers are those that offer products that meet or exceed the expectations of your business. Supplier research will help you identify them.
How Much Tariffs Do You Need to Import Stationery from China&#;
When planning to import stationery from China, you should know that your products will attract charges in the form of taxes and duties. The two basic types of charges are sales tax and import duty. The import duty is expressed as a percentage of the customs value.
Still, the customs value differs from one country to another other and in some countries, it is a FOB value but in others, it is a CIF value.
In terms of FOB value, the import duty is:
Duty = duty rate x product price
In terms of CIF value:
Duty = duty rate x (product price + shipping cost + insurance cost)
The duty rate highly depends on the classification of your goods.
The sales tax, including VAT and GST, calculation:
This is a percentage of the customs value and the paid duty. It is calculated as:
Sales tax = sales tax percentage x (CIF Value + duty)
The Chinese sales tax percentage is 17 percent
Tariffs and VAT on goods imported from China to most countries are taxed according to the goods&#; value, the origin of goods, shipping costs, and product classification.
Use the HS code on your goods to check the tariff rates on the governments&#; Customs website. The duties vary from 0 percent to 20 percent.
Where are the Main Production Bases for China Stationery Manufacturers?
Finding trusted and reliable manufacturers to produce your stationery is among the most important steps to establishing a profitable stationery business.
After all, the manufacturers are the individuals you will hand your money over to so that they can get your business off the ground. When traveling to China to find the best stationery suppliers, here are the production bases to keep in mind.
1. Ningbo city, Zhejiang province
Situated near Shanghai, Ningbo is smaller but it holds many factories ranging from electrical machinery to stationery and telecom equipment manufacturing.
Some of the leading stationery suppliers in this city include Ningbo Jingfeng Stationery Gift Manufacture Co., Ltd, Shenlan Stationery Manufacturer Co., Ltd, and Ningbo Tianhong Limited Company.
2. Wenzhou city, Zhejiang province
Wenzhou is situated in Zhejiang Province in East China. This manufacturing base is situated on the south bank of the Ou River, around 19 miles from the mouth.
The leading stationery manufacturers in this city include Wenzhou Jinma Stationery Manufacturing Co., Ltd, Wenzhou Guohua Pen Industry Co., Ltd, and Wenzhou Fanfeng Stationery Limited Company.
3. Guangzhou city, Guangdong province
Guangzhou is among the most prominent stationery manufacturing cities in China. Situated on the northwest of Hong Kong and the Pearl River, this port city has many stationery factories that manufacture everything from pens to glue.
Some of the leading manufacturers in this city include Guangzhou Kuainengda Stationery Industry Company Ltd, Nan&#;ao Stationery Culture and Sports Integrated Wholesale Market, and Yiyuan Stationery Trading Center.
4. Shenzhen city, Guangdong province
Shenzhen is a modern metropolis that links Hong Kong to Mainland China. It is also widely known for electronic manufacturing, but you will also find many stationery manufacturers there.
The stationery vendors in this city include Shenzhen Xinhualing Stationery Manufacturer CO., Ltd, Shenzhen Wenfa Stationery Manufacture Co., Ltd, and Shenzhen Kjin Stationery Company.
5. Hefei city, Anhui province
Hefei City in Anhui province is also known as Garden City due to its many parks, such as Belt Park, a green necklace circling the old town.
Besides, it has many stationery manufacturers such as Hefei Leungift Stationery Products Co., Ltd, Hefei Colorfly Stationery Products Co., Ltd, and Hefei PaperWay Printing Products Co., Ltd.
Where Can I Find Details about Stationery Wholesale Suppliers?
China manufacturers are known for their great wholesale terms. Some years ago, people found it hard to identify reliable Chinese wholesale stationery suppliers due to the distant location of this country from the world markets.
However, modern technologies have broken the wall and you can therefore find a wholesale stationery manufacturer easily. Here are the best methods to use when searching for information about stationery wholesale suppliers in China.
Google search
EAGLE supply professional and honest service.
When searching for information about China stationery manufacturers on Google Search, use keyword combinations linked to the items you would want to sell.
One big drawback of Google Search is that only a few Chinese stationery manufacturers focus on SEO marketing.
Therefore, the chances of finding reliable wholesale stationery manufacturers in the top 10 results are very low. So, you have to go beyond the first page.
Trade Shows
Trade shows are a popular way of sourcing products from China. Generally, Chinese trade shows are industry-specific and they follow particular themes.
By visiting one of the tradeshows, you will view many products specific to the stationery industry, network with Chinese manufacturers and other importers, assess the quality of products, compare wholesale stationery suppliers, and identify trending products.
Yellow Pages
This is another reliable source of information about Chinese wholesale stationery suppliers.
Yellow Pages lists the most competitive suppliers in the industry so finding a reliable company is easy. After finding one, you will have to use the provided details to reach them.
Sourcing Agent
Sourcing agents, such as Huntersourcing, are the best option for people importing from China for the first time.
As a beginner, you can employ the experience of the agents to identify reliable wholesale stationery manufacturers and vendors in China.
They will help you save time and get better prices.
B2B web
Global business-to-business (B2B) platforms are another reliable source of information about Chinese manufacturers.
The web portals showcase many products from suppliers from China and other parts of the world. They have invested in systems to help buyers verify the legitimacy of suppliers and avoid fraud.
Below is a list of some of the best platforms you can use to find a B2B stationery supplier from China. The sites have easy search functions, which allow users to search for products in different categories and get supplier information.
Alibaba is a search engine made for Chinese suppliers. It lists hundreds of wholesale stationery suppliers from the country.
To find stationery manufacturers on this platform, you just need to type in the type of products you are looking for in the search bar and it will provide you with a long list of suppliers.
After establishing contact with a supplier, request samples, and negotiate the price, and place your order.
Unlike the other Chinese B2B platforms, Made-in-China.com loads very fast and offers a broad catalog with minimal repeats.
Besides, every search provides relevant information about the stationery supplier. Therefore, you will find it easier to validate the suppliers.
Still, the manufacturers and products are very many, and they mostly set a high MOQ.
DHgate is a website meant for small Chinese wholesalers and retailers. It lists many Chinese suppliers and therefore finding a reliable supplier is easy.
After ordering a product, the platform will process the transaction and then the supplier will ship the goods to you. You can return the product if it is different from what you expected.
GlobalSources.com is another B2B marketplace with headquarters in Hong Kong.
The multichannel company offers sourcing information to international buyers to facilitate business from China to other parts of the world.
It offers integrated marketing services to Chinese suppliers in various ways, such as listing many product categories on its site and organizing tradeshows to help them meet buyers.
You can visit its site to choose a supplier or try one of its tradeshows.
This is a marketing platform for small Chinese wholesalers, retailers, and delivery personnel &#; more like eBay.
After buying a product, AliExpress will process the transaction and the supplier will ship the goods.
Unlike other platforms, it allows you to order 1 unit at a time and offers a money-back guarantee.
Yiwugo.com is another reliable source of information about Chinese wholesale stationery manufacturers.
All the manufacturers listed on the B2B platform have set low prices but you have to pay more attention to the quality of products.
Yiwugo.com is the official website of the Yiwu China Commodity City and it serves 2 million small and medium-sized enterprises.
How to Choose the Best Stationery Supplier from China?
The success of your stationery business will highly depend on the manufacturer you select.
The manufacturer should understand your requirements and adhere to your contract terms.
Some of the important factors to consider when choosing a China stationery manufacturer include:
Registered Capital
The registered share capital is among the most important factors to consider when choosing a Chinese stationery supplier.
If the capital is very low, the chances are that the supplier is not a manufacturer but a trading company.
While a trading company may set a lower MOQ, it may supply the products at a higher price than what you would get from the manufacturers.
Business Scope
When choosing a Chinese stationery supplier, you have to read their products lists carefully.
Some manufacturers may include products that they do not produce in their list of products.
Instead, they will act as trading companies for the products and source them from other companies.
You can avoid such issues by visiting the company and doing an inspection.
Number of Employees
The number of employees is another important thing to consider when choosing a China stationery manufacturer.
An unstructured workshop will have 1-200 employees, a semi-organized workshop will have 200-800 employees, and an organized workshop will have over 800 employees.
A company with many employees is large and it might deliver your order within a short time.
Product Certificate
Conformite Europeenne or CE certification is needed for companies planning to sell products in the European Economic Area and indicates that the products adhere to the safety, health, and environmental standards set in the EU region.
Check other product certificates needed for the stationery products sold in your target market.
Factory Certification
Check to verify whether the stationery supplier has established quality management systems (QMS) such as ISO.
Seeing the certification is not enough, you have to contact the registrar to confirm that they have the certificate and company in their record.
ISO certification involves more than having a quick check before the goods are shipped.
OEM&ODM
When searching for a stationery supplier, you will notice that Chinese manufacturers are classified as Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEM) and Original Design Manufacturers (ODM).
OEMs allow the buyer to provide the product specification while ODMs provide product ideas to the buyer.
Still, some companies provide these two types of services.
When choosing a supplier, you have to decide on the type of services you need.
After-Sales Service
After sales-services play a vital role in customer retention and customer satisfaction. It generates customer loyalty and increases brand value.
After-sales services ensure that the products and services meet your expectations. The customer support of the supplier you choose should stay in touch and should never ignore your calls. They should replace the products found broken or refund the money.
Top 10 Reliable Stationery Suppliers in China
China has many stationery suppliers but not all of them are reliable. Here are the top 10 reliable stationery suppliers to try.
1. Zhejiang Karry Painting Materials Co., Ltd.
Founded in , Zhejiang Karry Painting Materials Co., Ltd is among the best wholesale stationery suppliers in China you would want to try today.
After its establishment, the company became one of the leaders in kids&#; DIY items and art suppliers.
Its factory is situated in the Lanxi City of Zhejiang Province occupies 16,000 square meters and employs over 100 employees.
The stationery supplier offers art sets, kids&#; DIY toy sets, and stationery sets.
The stationery manufacturer should be your first choice when looking for a B2B stationery supplier.
2. Jiangsu Dehuang Stationery Co., Ltd.
This is another leading stationery supplier from China. Jiangsu Dehuang Stationery Co., Ltd was established in and it is situated in Gaoyou City, Jiangsu Province, China.
The factory of this stationery and office supplies manufacturer occupies 15,000 square meters and it specializes in the production of correction pens, crayons, correction tape, and stick notes.
The factory has passed ISO: quality system certification, CE, MSDS, REACH, Lhama, and FSC Certification and employs 150 people for designing, producing, and trading.
It is also among the stationery manufacturing companies in China that offer both OEM and ODM services.
3. Hefei Colorfly Stationery Co., Ltd.
If you are looking for the best bulk stationery suppliers from China, Hefei Colorfly Stationery Co., Ltd should be your first choice. The quality office supplies stationery supplier focuses on the production of children&#;s stationery.
Its factory occupies a 35,000 square meters production area and employs 200 employees.
Further, it has a quality control department to ensure that all products are of great quality.
This cute stationery supplier offers customization services in regard to paper, sizes, styles, and colors
4. Shenzhen GY Technology Co., Ltd.
Shenzhen GY Technology Co., Ltd is among the leading online stationery suppliers from China.
Standing as one of the leading stationery products manufacturers for a long time, Shenzhen GY Technology Co., Ltd offers professional injection manufacturer design and plastic injection molding services.
It has 35 injection molding machines and CNC machines, meaning that you can rely on them for both OEM and ODM services.
The B2B supplier should be among your top choices when looking for stationery manufacturing companies.
5. Anhui Sunshine Stationery Co., Ltd
Anhui Sunshine Stationery Co., Ltd. is a stationery supplier with a wide range of office & school items.
It was founded in . Through 27 years of development, we have become one of the largest stationery enterprises in China.
Foska, our key brand, with the aim of &#;To be Favorites of Offices, Schools, Kids, and Adults&#;, is very famous and popular in many countries.
Not only our own brand, but we are also very professional in customers&#; OEM making and controlling.
From the beginning, we have been taking &#;good quality&#; and&#;famous brand&#; as the basic rule of our business.
6. Yiwu Bonku Stationery Factory
Yiwu Bonku Stationery Factory was started in and it is situated in Yiwu city.
It is among the leading Chinese stationery item suppliers that specialize in gifts and writing instruments such as markers, pens, eraser stationery sets, and promotional gifts.
It has cooperated with many supplier stationery trading companies to sell the products to the world.
High-quality finish, package, printing, and writing have kept it on the list of cheap stationery suppliers for a long time.
7. Cixi Xiaoyi Stationery Co., Ltd.
Cixi Xiaoyi Stationery Co., Ltd is situated in Guanhaiwei town, Cixi, Zhejiang province, China, and it has stood among the best stationery manufacturing companies for a long time.
The company enjoys convenient air, sea, and land transportation and offers art marker pens in 168 colors, paint marker pens, needled drawing pens, watercolor pens, needled drawing pens, and many other types of pens.
You can order both OEM and ODM products from the company.
Most people who choose their services claim that it is among the quality corporate stationery suppliers that offer the best prices.
8. Dongguan Tianyi Stationery Co., Ltd.
Dongguan Tianyi Stationery Co., Ltd focuses on the manufacturing of marker pens, paint pens, ball pens, gel pens, highlighter silver refills, whiteboard pens, and auto vanishing pens. The stationery manufacturing company also specializes in the manufacture of water erasable pens and many other products in 30 categories.
The quality office supplies stationery supplier has a skilled quality control team, production, and sales team.
It has been the first choice of many people looking for the best Chinese office stationery wholesalers.
9. Anhui Qitian Stationery MFG. Co., Ltd.
Anhui Qitian Stationery MFG. Co., Ltd was started in and it specializes in the production and sales of lever clips, ring binder clips, lever arch clips, wire clips, spring clips, and other metal and plastic stationery clamps. It is also among the stationery vendors that offer metal corners, rivets, and other hardware accessories.
This stationery supplier is ISO:, ISO:, and ISO: certified. It should be the top online stationery supplier on your list.
10. Ningbo Jielisi Stationery Company Limited
Ningbo Jielisi Stationery Co., Ltd was started in and is among the professional office stationery manufacturers specializing in the production, development, and marking of stationery and office supplies.
This company is also among the business stationery suppliers in China that have molding, hardware, and assembling workshops.
Its factory occupies 10,000 square meters and employs 122 employees.
You can import pencil sharpeners, paper trimmers, vacuum cleaners, laminators, and many other products from this wholesale stationery manufacturer.
Why Choose Huntersourcing as Your China Stationery Manufacturers Sourcing Agent?
Huntersourcing will help you locate the best stationery suppliers from China. The agents know the Chinese customs and speak the native language.
They will tour the factory you choose and do an on-site inspection. That eliminates the need of locating a manufacturer yourself and eliminates the chances of importing low-quality products. Here are the other reasons you would want to hire this agent when importing from China.
Huntersourcing will streamline the process of importing stationery from China and create strong sourcing strategies that you will benefit from. Contact them today for the best services.
Conclusion
Scammers are a big threat to starter businesses and you should therefore be careful when choosing a Chinese stationery manufacturing company. You can search for stationery manufacturers on the above B2B platforms, Yellow Pages, or Google.
However, Huntersourcing is the best choice if you would want to avoid fraudsters. The agency has experienced staff that will help you locate the best supplier and ship the goods to you. You do not have to travel to China.
In recent years, China's stationery office equipment industry is particularly rapid development, product upgrading rapidly, the quality of significantly enhanced, color varieties and foreign basic promotion, the scientific and technological content of products have also greatly improved. Stationery industry, as a rapid rise of the domestic metallurgical industry, in foreign markets play an increasingly important role.
To give a simple example, such as charging Bao computer mouse porcelain pen and other stationery sets in the government's correct guidance and help, at present, many Chinese stationery products enterprises have been in turn the core area to participate in the Chinese cultural goods trade fair, Frankfurt stationery exhibition, Macao stationery exhibition, Shanghai cultural supplies exhibition and other famous industry fairs around the world. And from , many Chinese stationery enterprises more actively "to the world", foreign registered branches, service offices and other institutions. This has prompted China's stationery supplies in all aspects have a rapid development, but also further to the world to show China, the "stationery manufacturing power" strength and advantages.
Want more information on Electric Stationery Series in China? Feel free to contact us.