How to sell mini importation goods on WhatsApp

What is mini importation?

Mini importation means buying small quantities of products from overseas suppliers, usually in China through sites like 1688, AliExpress, Alibaba or Temu, shipping them home and reselling them locally. Many Nigerian sellers buy through a shipping or procurement agent who pays the supplier, consolidates goods and ships them in bulk.

It is different from dropshipping, where the supplier ships straight to your customer and you never hold the goods. See mini importation vs dropshipping.

Step 1: Choose a product that sells well on WhatsApp

The best mini importation products for WhatsApp selling are light, hard to break, easy to understand from a photo or short video, and not easy to find cheaply in local markets.

• Check local demand: search Jumia, Konga, Instagram and your WhatsApp groups for the same item and note what it sells for.
• Avoid items that need a lot of explaining, sizing or after-sales support for your first orders.
• Start with a small test order before buying in bulk.

Step 2: Work out your landed cost

Landed cost is everything you pay before the product is in your hands: product price + supplier delivery inside China + international shipping (charged by weight or by CBM) + clearing and customs + local delivery to you. Divide the total by the number of units to get your cost per unit.

Price above that so you still make a profit after delivering to the customer and handling the odd return. Exchange rates move, so recalculate before each new order.

Step 3: Stop saying "DM for price" and give each product its own page

Buyers on WhatsApp and Instagram drop off when they have to message you just to see a price. A product page answers their questions before they ask: clear photos, what the product does, why it is worth it, the price, delivery options and an order button.

1. 1Copy the product link from AliExpress, 1688, Temu or Alibaba.
2. 2Paste it into Import2Sales. It pulls in the product images and details. If a link cannot be read, you can enter the details manually.
3. 3Let the AI write a headline, benefit bullets and an FAQ, then edit anything you want.
4. 4Set your price and WhatsApp number, then publish. You get a link you can share anywhere.
5. 5When a buyer taps the order button, WhatsApp opens with a pre-filled message to you.

Step 4: Share the link where your buyers already are

Posting one link per product also tells you which products get the most clicks, so you know what to restock.

• WhatsApp Status: post the link with a short video or photo of the product.
• Your WhatsApp groups and broadcast lists.
• Instagram bio and stories, Facebook, and your TikTok bio.

Step 5: Take orders by pre-order or payment on delivery

Pre-order means collecting orders (often with a deposit) before you buy from the supplier: lower risk, slower delivery. Payment on delivery means you hold stock and the buyer pays when it arrives: faster sales, but more risk of failed deliveries.

Because every Import2Sales order is confirmed with you in WhatsApp chat, the page works with either model. You decide how to collect payment.

Frequently asked questions