Shopbuddy knowledge hub
Sourcing & import insights
Practical guidance for African businesses buying from verified suppliers and moving goods confidently.
Supplier vetting
How to Verify a Chinese Supplier Before You Pay
Before you wire a deposit, learn how to verify a Chinese supplier: business licence checks, factory versus trading company, audit reports, sample orders, escrow and the red flags that matter.
Read articleLogistics
Air Freight vs Sea Freight from China to East Africa: The Real Numbers
Cost per kg versus cost per CBM, realistic transit times to Mombasa and Nairobi, and how consolidation changes the maths on your next China shipment.
Read articleCosts
Import Duty and Taxes in Kenya: Working Out Your Landed Cost
Customs value, duty bands, IDF, RDL, excise and 16% VAT: how each one is calculated, in what order, and how to build a landed-cost model before you order.
Read articleNegotiation
MOQ Explained: Negotiating Minimum Order Quantity with Chinese Factories
Chinese factories set MOQs for concrete reasons: dye lots, tooling and component minimums. Here are realistic MOQs by category, and the tactics that actually get them lowered.
Read articleSourcing
What a China Sourcing Agent Does (and What It Should Cost)
A China sourcing agent handles supplier research, negotiation, inspection and consolidation. Here is what each job involves, the four fee models, and when doing it yourself is cheaper.
Read articleImporting
How to Import from China to Kenya: The Complete 2026 Guide
A step-by-step guide to importing from China to Kenya in 2026 - finding suppliers, samples, payment terms, sea and air freight, KRA clearance at Mombasa, and how to work out your real landed cost.
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