Mini-importation from China has become a hot topic in Nigeria’s business landscape. It sparks both curiosity and caution among aspiring entrepreneurs and small business owners looking to source affordable, high-demand products for resale.
The idea of buying products at low prices in China and reselling them in Nigeria for profit seems simple until stories of loss, scam, and delays start surfacing. So, the big question is: Is mini-importation real or just another scam?
“I purchased goods worth $30,000 from China in March 2021 through an agent. After following all the instructions and making payments, I was told my goods would arrive in 10–20 days. A week later, I couldn’t reach the agent. 20 days turned into months, and I never received my goods or heard from him again. That was how I lost $30,000.”
~Maxwell Computers, Lagos
“I tried mini-importation when I wanted to launch my hair business after COVID-19. A friend suggested importing human hair from China to save costs. I invested ₦10 million, only to receive fake hair in a carton. I cried for weeks. Thankfully, I’ve bounced back, but I’ll never forget that experience.”
~Yinka of Luxe Hair, Abuja
From these stories, it’s clear that while the mini-importation business model is real, it can also be risky when done without the right knowledge or partners.
The Truth
Mini-importation from China is 100% real and profitable if done the right way. The problem isn’t the model itself but how it is executed. Without trustworthy sourcing, shipping, logistics and fulfillment partners, many Nigerians fall into the hands of scammers or lose money due to avoidable mistakes.
At BoxnPick, we are changing that narrative one shipment at a time. Keep reading to discover the common challenges Nigerians face and how BoxnPick is helping individuals and businesses win through seamless end-to-end logistics, mini importation, warehousing, and fulfillment.
Common Problems Nigerians Face with Mini-Importation from China.
While the opportunity is real, many Nigerians face serious challenges when trying to import goods from China
1. Fake suppliers and agents
One of the biggest risks of Mini-importation from China is dealing with fraudulent suppliers or agents, especially on unfamiliar online platforms. Many Nigerian importers have lost money to individuals who disappear after payment, deliver substandard or completely different products, or ship counterfeit goods that cannot pass customs checks. Without verified sourcing or local support in China, it’s easy to fall victim to these scams.
2. Language barrier on Chinese Platforms
Communication is key in international trade, but many Chinese suppliers speak limited English, and most Nigerian importers don’t speak Mandarin. This language gap leads to misunderstandings, misinterpretation of specifications, and poor negotiation. Even worse, it makes it hard to build trust or resolve issues, especially when something goes wrong with an order or shipment.
One of the biggest frustrations for Nigerian importers is navigating Chinese e-commerce websites like 1688.com, Taobao, or Tmall, which are written entirely in Chinese. Most of these platforms are not designed for international users, and even when translated using browser tools, product descriptions, terms, and pricing often become inaccurate or misleading.
This leads to:
- Ordering the wrong product variant or size
- Misunderstanding shipping costs or delivery timelines
- Inability to read reviews or verify supplier credibility
- Difficulty communicating with sellers through chat
For beginners or non-Chinese speakers, it’s like walking into a market blindfolded and you’re at the mercy of luck, or worse, scams.
3. High shipping costs and delays
Many small-scale importers use international express services, which are very expensive when used frequently or for low-margin products. On the other hand, sea freight is cheaper but much slower and complex. Poor planning, lack of consolidation, or miscommunication can result in shipping delays, lost packages, or higher delivery fees. This affects profit margins and customer satisfaction.
4. Customs headaches
Even when goods arrive safely in Nigeria, they can get stuck at the port due to missing documents, poor labeling, or restricted/banned items. Importers who don’t understand Nigerian customs requirements or HS codes may face seizures, costly fines, or long delays. In some cases, improperly packaged or under-declared goods are even auctioned off by customs before the owner can reclaim them.
5. No inventory management
After importing, most small business owners store goods in their homes, offices, or roadside shops without any formal inventory system. This leads to missing items, theft, product damage, or expiration especially for perishables. As orders increase, they also struggle to keep up with demand due to no clear stock tracking or storage structure, resulting in delayed deliveries and customer complaints.
6. No dropshipping or fulfillment option
Most Nigerian mini-importers have to handle packaging, delivery, and order fulfillment themselves, which can be overwhelming. They don’t have access to proper fulfillment centers or dropshipping systems where goods can be shipped directly to customers on their behalf. This creates burnout, slower response times, and inconsistent service. With BNP Fulfillment the case is different as we store, package, and ship products for our clients.
Step-by-Step Guide on how to Start Mini-Importation from China
Before you start importing from China you don’t need to travel to China but you will most definitely need a working smartphone/laptop, and internet, so as to be in constant communication.
1. Decide what to sell
Before you import from China, decide what to sell. And we’ll advise you to choose small, lightweight, fast-selling items like phone accessories, beauty products, hair and wigs, kids toys, bags,shoes, or kitchen utensils. Choose products that solve problems and are in constant demand.
2. Research prices & demand
It’s important you check what people are looking for online in order to meet their demand. Also you can check the local market for prices or check prices on Alibaba, Jumia or online stores. This will help you figure out the best price and your potential profit margin after shipping, clearance, and logistics.
3. Find a trusted sourcing and procurement agent
Instead of guessing and meeting scam sellers, especially if you don’t understand Chinese or can’t verify sellers, it’s better you use a well-reputable chinese sourcing agent. With BoxnPick, you can send the product link and we help verify quality and negotiate prices.
4. Make payment safely
Most Chinese platforms don’t accept Naira. To ensure your payment is safe, you can explore BoxnPick payment assistance whereby you pay in Naira and we pay the supplier on your behalf.
5. Arrange for shipping
BoxnPick consolidates and ships goods from China to Nigeria, handles customs clearance, and delivers to your door or warehouse. From shopping, packing to shipping, BoxnPick handles it all. With a trusted export logistics company like BoxnPick, you are assured that your goods are in good hands and would arrive it’s destination in 5 to 7 working days.
6. Store or dropship your goods
After receiving your products, you can either store at home or use BoxnPick’s warehouse or fulfillment center, or request dropshipping, where BoxnPick delivers directly to your customers. From Storing, packing, and fulfilling orders, BoxnPick will handle it all while you focus on other aspects of the business.
7. Start selling online or offline
You can sell your products online through Instagram, Facebook, Tiktok, Twitter, Whatsapp business catalog, Jumia, Konga, or your own website. You can also sell offline by opening a small shop and supplying to vendors and retailing to individual customers
8. Reinvent and scale
Once you’ve made your first sale, reinvest your profits into the business. Try new products and start importing in larger quantities for better margins. This will help you scale-up and improve your business ecosystem.
Want to simplify the whole process? BoxnPick helps you; find and verify sellers in China, pay safely in naira, ship & clear your goods, store, fulfill, and deliver to customers in Nigeria, and even offer dropshipping support.
How BoxnPick helps you get started on Mini importation
BoxnPick is your all-in-one logistics, sourcing, procurement and shipping partner for mini-importation from China to Nigeria. Here’s how we help:
1. BoxnPick’s Procurement team navigates China for you
Our in-house procurement team has deep expertise in navigating the Chinese market. Here’s how we help:
- We communicate directly with Chinese suppliers in their native language to avoid errors and misinterpretation.
- We help you find the exact products you need even if you only send us a photo or description.
- We negotiate pricing and confirm specifications clearly on your behalf.
- We inspect and verify suppliers and product quality to reduce the risk of scams.
- We assist with bulk ordering, packaging, and consolidation, so you don’t have to do the heavy lifting.
Whether you’re buying from 1688.com, Alibaba, or even a WeChat seller, we navigate the Chinese digital landscape fluently, ensuring you make the right purchases, from the right suppliers, at the right price.
2. Product sourcing from China
We help you find trusted buyers and suppliers in China. You can send us product links, photos, or descriptions, and we’ll help you negotiate, inspect, and buy safely in China thereby eradicating language or trust barriers.
3. Consolidation, Bulk buying & safe stockpiling
You can buy your goods little by little and stockpile them at our free warehouse in China or you buy your goods in bulk and store them securely in our China warehouse or BoxnPick warehouse in Nigeria, while we pack and ship them to anywhere in the world only when you are ready or when the market is right.
4. Reliable China-to-Nigeria shipping
Having aided in over 1000 exports for Nigerians within five years, you can trust that we handle sea freight and air freight for you fast, affordable, and with customs clearance support. You receive updates at every stage, reducing fear and uncertainty.
5. Free warehouse in China.
With our warehouse in China, you can buy and store your products at our warehouse in B117, Row B, No.73 Qianjin North Street, Yaotai, Yuexiu District, Guangzhou, China.
6. Fulfillment center in the United States.
With our fulfillment center in Texas, United States, you can send your goods directly from China to our fulfillment center as this will help you serve your U.S. customers seamlessly. We will store, pick, pack and deliver. As customers order from the U.S., BoxnPick will pack and ship directly to them, fast and reliably. You get to sell to your international customers without having to spend money shipling from Nigeria or China to the United States. Customers can pick up at the fulfillment center or have their order delivered to their doorstep same-day.
7. Inventory management & tracking
With BoxnPick real-time tracking, you’ll always know what stock you have, what’s en route, and what’s been delivered. This helps you manage your business professionally and scale smoothly.
Profitable Products to import from China and Sell in Nigeria
Here are high-demand, fast-moving, items you can mini-import from China and resell in Nigeria at good rates:
| Products | Why it’s Profitable |
| Fashion (clothing, bags, shoes) | Always in demand, high profit margin. |
| Hair extensions & wigs | Huge female market, low competition with quality. |
| Phone accessories | Affordable, trendy, and high repeat buyers. |
| Beauty & skincare products | Popular with youth and social media influencers. |
| Children’s toys & clothes | Year-round demand, perfect for parents. |
| Health & fitness tools | Waist trainers, knee pads, gym gear, posture correctors. |
| Car accessories | Widely needed, seat covers, chargers, etc. |
| Educational kits & games | Increasing demand in homeschooling communities. |
| Kitchen tools & home appliances | Always in use, blenders, cleaning sets, speakers, rechargeable lamps, etc. |
How BoxnPick Helps You Make Instant Payments to Chinese Suppliers
One of the major obstacles in mini-importation is making payments to suppliers in China. Most Nigerian banks don’t allow direct transfer in Chinese Yuan (RMB), and platforms like 1688 or Taobao don’t accept Naira or foreign credit cards. This creates delays, confusion, and in some cases, lost deals.
BoxnPick Instant Payment Support
We help you pay your verified suppliers in China instantly and safely, through wechat, direct transfers etc. Here’s how it works:
- You send us the supplier’s payment invoice or product link.
- We confirm and verify the supplier on your behalf.
- You pay BoxnPick in Naira (based on the real-time exchange rate).
- We instantly pay your supplier in RMB or USD, completing the transaction within minutes or a few hours depending on the seller.
With BoxnPick Payment Assistance:
- No delays or blocked transactions
- No need for personal forex access or International payment stress
- No risk of sending money to fake or unverified accounts
- Transparent exchange rates and receipts
We remove the stress of cross-border payment, so you can focus on growing your business.
Most Logistics companies disappoint clients in Mini-Importation. Here’s how BoxnPick solves it
While mini-importation is growing in popularity, many people still suffer due to logistics companies that are either inexperienced, inefficient, or dishonest. Even when importers do everything right; choose a good product and pay a trusted supplier, they still face problems because their logistics provider fails them.
1. Poor Communication and Tracking
Many logistics companies don’t offer real-time updates. Customers are left in the dark, unsure of where their goods are, whether they’ve left China, arrived in Nigeria, or cleared customs. This creates anxiety and trust issues.
2. Delayed Shipments
Shipments that were promised in 5–7 days end up taking Months (or more), causing losses and missed market opportunities. Many companies overpromise and underdeliver due to poor planning or lack of control over the shipping process.
3. No Warehousing or Consolidation
Some logistics companies don’t offer warehousing in China or Nigeria. This means customers have to either ship goods immediately in small batches (which is expensive), or they risk product damage and losses by storing items in unsafe locations.
4. No Customs Support
Importers are often left to deal with customs issues on their own without help understanding HS codes, clearing procedures, or resolving document discrepancies. This leads to delays, demurrage charges, or complete seizure of goods.
5. Hidden Charges and Lack of Transparency
Many logistics companies lure customers with low fees and then introduce hidden costs for clearance, storage, or repackaging. Importers end up paying far more than expected or lose profit due to surprise expenses.
6. No Fulfillment or Delivery Support
Even after goods arrive, many logistics companies simply “drop and go.” The importer is left to manage storage, packaging, and customer delivery alone, slowing down business operations.
How BoxnPick Fixes All These Logistics Challenges
| Problem | How BoxnPick Solves It |
| Poor communication and no tracking | We provide real-time tracking updates via WhatsApp, dashboard, or email. You’ll always know where your shipment is, from supplier pickup in China to final delivery in Nigeria. |
| Delayed or inconsistent shipments | We offer reliable air and sea freight schedules and consolidation services. We don’t overpromise, we deliver within our stated timelines (5–7 working days for air, 21–28 days for sea). |
| No warehousing support | Enjoy free, secure warehouse storage in both China and Nigeria, allowing you to buy in batches and consolidate before shipping, saving you time and money. |
| No customs assistance | Our team handles customs documentation, HS code classification, and clearance. You’ll avoid seizures, delays, or fines because we do it right the first time. |
| Hidden charges | We offer transparent pricing, no hidden fees. Our quotes cover everything from pickup to delivery, with all charges itemized. You only pay what you’ve agreed to. |
| No fulfillment or delivery support | With our in-house fulfillment center, we go beyond delivery. We help store, pack, and ship your orders to end customers, including dropshipping and U.S. delivery if needed. |
Why this Matters for your Business
Choosing the wrong logistics company can destroy your mini-importation business before it even begins. That’s why BoxnPick was built to solve the exact issues that keep importers frustrated. We don’t just move goods, we move businesses forward.
With BoxnPick, you get:
- A reliable logistics team in both China and Nigeria
- Transparent communication and real-time support
- Complete end-to-end service from sourcing to fulfillment
- Scalable solutions for first-timers, SMEs, and growing brands
- Optional directly from China to your doorstep
- Free china warehouse
Ready to Import from China? Work with an expert China Logistics Partner like BoxnPick
When exporting from China, choose an experienced logistics partner and freight forwarder that can provide the information relevant to your product, and is familiar with any import restrictions. Without this first step, there will be difficulties moving your goods; with it, your import will move much more smoothly.
A strong business environment, reliable logistics system like what BoxnPick has, efficient supply chain management, and stable currency controls make importing from China not only easier but also highly appealing to global traders.
Not only is BoxnPick familiar and experienced with different routes from China and China specific regulations and processing, they also provide custom brokerage to help import processing .
Hence, Mini-importation from China is NOT a scam. It’s a smart, real, and profitable business model, if you have the right tools, suppliers, and logistics partner.
At BoxnPick, we’ve helped entrepreneurs:
- Buy safely from China.
- Ship affordably and fast to your doorstep.
- Store their goods securely.
- Sell online or offline with ease.
Whether you’re a first-timer or recovering from past losses, we’re here to make your exportation journey smoother, safer, and more profitable.
