31/08/2026
Have you ever wondered where some of the things being sold in Malawi actually come from?
Take something as simple as phone accessories, clothes, shoes, handbags, watches, small electronics.
You walk into a shop, see the product, pay for it and go home.
But somewhere before that product reached the shop, someone had to source it.
And one of the platforms worth knowing if you're interested in sourcing products from China is 1688.
If you've never heard of 1688 before, think of it as a massive Chinese wholesale marketplace where businesses can find manufacturers, wholesalers and all sorts of products at prices that are very different from what you see at the retail end.
And here's the interesting part.
The same platform that can be used to source products for an established business can also be used by someone trying to start a small side hustle.
You don't necessarily have to start by importing a container.
You could start by identifying a product people around you already buy.
Find a supplier.
Understand the pricing.
Work out the shipping.
Bring in a small quantity.
Sell it.
Learn from the experience.
Then do it again.
Importation isn't only about becoming an importer. It's about understanding where the products you buy come from and realizing that you can potentially participate in that supply chain yourself.
And once you understand how 1688 works, you start looking at ordinary products differently.
That phone case you're buying for K30,000?
Those handbags someone is selling on Facebook?
Those watches?
Those sneakers?
You start asking a different question:
“I wonder how much this costs at the source?”
That's the first topic in class. 🎓
265 Import Academy is now open for anyone who wants to learn how this process works—from finding products and suppliers to payments, shipping and getting your goods into Malawi.
