Import From China Business
A practical guide for starting a small business
2010-
Import from China
Sell on eBay
Sandra Kell
Ontario, Canada
Baby Products
Profit This Year: $10,400
“I started with $1,000 and began importing baby products from China. I sell them on eBay, Facebook and in my local stores. After 8 months, I am earning $400 a week. I finally quit my day job!”
Learn How
Photo Credit: Henna Feet -
Overview of India Shoes
India Shoes is an up and coming industry. Its share of the global shoe market is still small in spite of its abundance of raw materials in terms of raw skins and hides.
India Shoes
India Shoes Industry Structure
India Shoes market can be divided into urban (30%) and suburban (70%) markets.
- The suburban market is dominated by local small scale unorganized manufacturers.
- The urban market is marked by new retail formats and a combination of organized and unorganized sector workers. The international shoe brands provide options for fashion and comfort for the local population.
- Unorganized sector workforce as defined by The First Indian National Commission on
Labor (1966-
69) are "those workers who have not been able to organize themselves in pursuit of their common interest dues to certain constraints like casual nature of employment, ignorance and illiteracy, small and scattered size of establishments". - Unorganized sector is also known as the cottage industry.
The India Shoe market can also be divided into formal leather shoes and casual wear shoes.
- The casual shoe is no longer considered shoes for the elite in a country where going
bare foot is common. It is considered an all-
purpose shoe. Such opinions will undoubtedly drive the demand for the casual India shoes.
India Shoes Key Facts
- Sandals and Chappals are produced in the unorganized sector, also known as the household or cottage sector. Leather shoes and uppers are manufactured in large scale.
- The oldest form of India Shoes is the Paduka. It is a simple thong sandal made out of wood with a knob in the center between the big toe and second toe. The traditional shoe protects the wearer from the hot ground. It is still being worn today. The Paduka is also a traditional wedding shoe.
- While the rest of the world concentrated on women's footwear, India has focused more on men's footwear.
- Indian culture has many traditions evolving around shoes and feet. Cows are still sacred to many Hindus. Hence, they avoid wearing shoes made up of leather. More likely materials for shoes include wood, plant fibers, and metals.
Top India Shoes Companies
- Bata India is the leader in manufacturing and retailing within the India shoes industry. Bata India is part of the Bata Shoe Organization.
- Liberty Shoes Ltd is the only Indian shoe company that is amongst the top five shoe manufacturers in the world. It produces over 50,000 pairs of shoes a day generating an annual revenue of over US $100 million.
India Shoes Opportunities
The India Shoes market is still in its infancy.
- The ownership of footwear is only 1.1 pairs per capita.
- Europe has 5 pairs per year per person.
- As India becomes more affluent, the India shoes industry will no doubt continue to grow.
- This opens up for both domestic India Shoe production and import opportunities.
Real Experiences!
Noor H. -
“I want to start an import business in Pakistan. I am interested in watches and shoes from China. Your site is very informative. Have a great day!”
