Play it Safe

Don't cut corners when it comes to finding a marketing partner that can guarantee products are compliant and safe. Brett Marz, a partner at Bamko, offers his clients audit information about manufacturers' facilities. Product recalls or safety liabilities can cost companies a lot in penalty fees and/or brand reputation. “In this business, being safe is always cheaper than being sorry,” Marz says.

Linda Neumann of SBC Global also warns that “In China, they all get paid cash up front so a factory can take off with the money.” And products can sometimes be confiscated at customs' checkpoints for a variety of non-compliance reasons. By using an experienced distributor, marketers offering premiums can help mitigate that risk.