Step 3: Now It’s Time to Choose Products
Okay, let’s say that now you already have a basic idea about your customers.
You opened your social media account on a platform you feel comfortable using:
- TikTok
- Facebook Marketplace
- or any platform that works better for your market
And now you also have a better idea about:
- who you want to sell to
- where you want to sell
- and what kind of customers you are trying to reach
This already reduces a lot of your risk.
For example, let’s say you decided that your safest option is starting with your home country because you already understand the market better.
Now the next question becomes:
Who exactly are you selling to?
Are you selling to:
- normal customers?
- small boutiques?
- local shops?
- online sellers?
- resellers?
- or store owners looking for suppliers?
This part is very important because it changes the type of products you should buy.
For example, if you already know someone in your home country who can physically visit stores and talk to business owners, that is actually a huge advantage.
At the beginning, that person can simply go from store to store and try to understand the market better.
The goal is not selling immediately.
The first goal is collecting information.
For example, they should ask questions like:
- What kind of products sell better here?
- Cheap or expensive?
- Branded or non-branded?
- High quality or budget-friendly?
- Trendy fashion or basic everyday products?
- What products are customers asking for more?
These questions are extremely important because they help you avoid buying random products without understanding the market.
And if a shop owner already trusts you or is interested in working with you, then the next step becomes much easier.
Now you already know what they are looking for.
At this stage, instead of buying huge quantities, you can buy small amounts with more variety.
For example:
- different styles
- different colors
- different price ranges
- different qualities
Then you can simply record videos or take photos and send them to your potential customers for approval.
This is actually one of the safest ways to test products in the beginning.
But there is one important risk here.
Sometimes, while you are discussing products, sending videos, waiting for approvals, or collecting opinions, the products may go out of stock.
This is why beginners should not waste too much time during this stage.
You need to move carefully, but also quickly.
Some customers may not even ask for specific products at first.
Sometimes they just want to see:
- what you can supply
- your taste in choosing products
- your pricing
- your quality
- and whether they can trust you or not
That is why, after collecting enough information about the market, it is actually smart to invest a small amount of money into testing products.
For example, even around AED 1,000 can already be a very good starting point if used correctly.
But instead of buying huge quantities of one item, beginners should focus more on variety.
This allows you to:
- test different products
- understand customer reactions
- build trust
- and learn the market much faster
You can send these products to your home country, show them to potential customers, record content, and slowly start building relationships with buyers.
And honestly, this part is very important.
Because many customers are not only buying the products.
They are also testing:
- your consistency
- your product selection
- your pricing
- your communication
- and whether you understand their market or not
At the beginning, your goal is not becoming a huge supplier immediately.
Your goal is proving that:
- you understand the customer
- you can choose products correctly
- and you can supply products consistently
That trust is what slowly turns small buyers into long-term customers.