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Asian Import Store, Inc

admin·September 22, 2025·0 comments

Executive Briefing Sheet — USPS Information Provider layout

  • Company Name: Asian Import Store, Inc. (retail brand: Paper Lantern Store) [S1][S2]
  • Company Address: 30140 Ahern Ave, Union City, CA 94587, USA [S1][S3][S4]
  • Company Headquarters: Union City, California, USA [S1][S2][S3]
  • Company Industry: E‑commerce and wholesale party/wedding/event décor (paper lanterns, lighting, décor) [S2][S5]
  • Company Revenue: Not publicly disclosed; third‑party directory listings exist but are unverified (do not rely). [S6]
  • Current Carrier(s): Not publicly stated on official pages; unknown. [S2][S5]
  • Potential Shipping Needs (incl. estimated volume if available): Ships lightweight, non‑fragile to moderately delicate décor (paper lanterns, LED/string lights, wedding/event décor) from Union City, CA to U.S./intl customers; likely high SKU count with small‑to‑medium parcels; probable seasonality around wedding/holiday peaks. No public volume disclosed. [S2][S5]
  • Brief Description About the Company: Paper Lantern Store is an online retailer (and Asian Import Store a wholesale channel) for paper lanterns and event décor; promotes free shipping over $99 and serves retail and commercial decorators. Founded as a small operation and grew over ~20 years per open profiles. [S2][S6]
  • Key Executives and Contacts (public only): Ms. Michelle Yau, Manager (Business Management, per BBB). No direct emails publicly listed beyond general inbox. [S1][S5]
  • Recent News and Developments: No official newsroom found; active ecommerce presence and marketplace storefronts (e.g., Walmart seller page with business address) indicate ongoing operations. [S4][S2]
  • Company History and Milestones: “Almost 20 years” support claim on Asian Import Store wholesale site; third‑party directory narrative cites 2002 origins (treat directory data cautiously). [S5][S6]
  • Customer Reviews and Feedback: BBB profile exists (non‑accredited) with address and management listed; external review venues (Yelp/Map listings) show location and general presence; detailed ratings not cited here due to variability. [S1][S3]
  • Competitor Analysis (key competitors and positions): Nearby/online competitors include Just Artifacts, Luna Bazaar, and Oriental Trading in paper lanterns/event décor; market reports list Paper Lantern Store among notable vendors. [S7]
  • Sustainability and CSR Initiatives: No explicit sustainability policies surfaced on official pages. [S2]
  • Market Position and Industry Trends: Paper lanterns and event décor remain a niche but steady e‑commerce category with wedding/party seasonality; multi‑channel (own site + marketplaces) presence supports breadth. [S2][S4][S7]
  • Sales Call Plan Questions:
    • Prospecting Call or Existing Customer: Prospecting
    • Customer Needs and Goals: Clarify parcel profile (weights/dims), zone mix, returns flow, peak season patterns, packaging, and delivery promises.
    • Value Decision Maker: Ops/Logistics or E‑commerce Manager; confirm if Michelle Yau influences ops or finance approvals. [S1]
    • Second Contact: Warehouse/fulfillment lead or e‑commerce operations specialist.
    • Meeting Objectives: Validate sub‑10 lb mix, packaging types, pickup needs, marketplace SLAs, and returns policy alignment; map USPS Ground Advantage/Priority fit to zones and packaging.
    • Actions to Drive Meeting Objectives: Request last 4 weeks of anonymized shipment data (weight/zone table), top 20 SKUs by volume with dims, returns by reason code, marketplace SLA requirements.
    • Anticipated Customer Objections/Concerns: “We already have contracted carriers”; “Pickup reliability”; “Bandwidth to change labels/packaging”; “Marketplace SLA risk.”

Additional Website Research (findings, not execution)

  • Official sites:
  • Contact details (public):
    • Paper Lantern Store “Contact Us” lists: “Union City, CA 94587 USA” (city/ZIP only), Customer Service Local/Int’l: 1‑650‑802‑8889, Email: CSR@paperlanternstore.com, Chat Mon‑Fri 6AM‑4PM PST. [S2]
    • Asian Import Store Contact page lists: “Union City, CA 94587 USA” and Int’l/Fax/Text: 1‑650‑339‑7050; Chat Mon‑Fri 6AM‑4PM PST. [S10]
  • Address confirmations:
    • BBB profile: 30140 Ahern Ave, Union City, CA 94587; Business Management: Ms. Michelle Yau. [S1]
    • Marketplace storefront: Walmart seller “PaperLanternStore” lists 30140 Ahern Ave, Union City, CA 94587, US. [S4]
    • Mapping/listings corroborate the Ahern Ave address. [S3][S11]
  • Policies:
    • Privacy Policy (Paper Lantern Store): “designed to assist you in understanding how we collect, use and safeguard the personal information you provide to us.” [S8]
    • Terms of Use (Paper Lantern Store): Policy page exists; includes standard policy language. [S9]
    • Shipping Information page exists (retail site). [S12]
  • To‑Do if needed: Pull specific return window, RMA steps, and shipping cutoff times from policy pages; confirm if they ship to PO Boxes/APO/FPO and carriers used—these details aren’t explicitly stated on the pages we captured.

Detailed Follow-Up Dossier (expanded analysis)

  • Current Carriers: Unknown (not stated on official pages). Verification needed during discovery. [S2][S5]
  • Potential Shipping Needs (Parcel Profile):
    • Products: Paper lanterns (collapsible), string/LED lights, décor accessories—likely many parcels qualify as lightweight, volumetric risk on larger lantern sizes. [S2]
    • Likely mix: High share under 10 lb; cube-sensitive shipments where USPS Cubic or Ground Advantage could be attractive for short‑to‑mid zones; Priority Mail for 1–3 day commitments where needed.
    • Returns: Anticipate standard e‑commerce returns; confirm if pre‑paid labels provided or customer‑paid; USPS return labels could lower friction for residential customers.
    • Likely USPS product fit:
      • USPS Ground Advantage for sub‑1 lb to ~10 lb parcels, especially Zones 1–5, residential and PO Box reach.
      • USPS Priority Mail (including Flat Rate) for speed-sensitive or density‑heavy SKUs; test Flat Rate or Regional alternatives for dense/light boxes; consider Cubic for small, heavy items.
      • International: If they ship abroad, Priority Mail International/First‑Class Package International for small items—confirm DDP/DDU expectations.
  • Competitor Landscape:
    • Just Artifacts, Luna Bazaar, Oriental Trading—comparable event décor portfolios and overlapping customer segments. Paper lanterns market coverage lists Paper Lantern Store as a notable vendor. [S7]
  • Market Position & Trends:
    • Multi‑channel presence (own site + Walmart seller page) suggests volume diversification and marketplace SLA constraints (late shipments penalties). USPS consistency on residential/PO Box and Saturday delivery can help reduce exceptions for retail customers. [S2][S4]

Outreach Pack (copy‑ready; text‑only)

  • Email Intro v1 (concise)
    • Subject: Exploring USPS options for {{Company}}
    • Body: Hi {{FirstName}}, we help mid‑market shippers in Union City streamline small‑parcel delivery with USPS (Ground Advantage/Priority) without rate promises. If you’re open to a 20‑minute discovery, I’ll map options to your weight/zone profile and returns flow. Can we compare notes next week?
    • Signature: — {{RepName}} | USPS Shipping Sales Representative | {{RepAddress}}
    • Opt-out: Reply “unsubscribe” to opt out.
  • Email Intro v2 (consultative)
    • Subject: Quick USPS fit check for {{Company}}
    • Body: Hi {{FirstName}}, based on {{Company}}’s profile, USPS may reduce complexity for sub‑10 lb and short‑zone shipments, with predictable pickup and PO Box reach. I won’t quote rates here—rather, I’ll confirm your weight/dim mix and walk through packaging + returns options. Would a short intro call be useful?
    • Signature/Opt-out: same as v1.
  • LinkedIn Connection (no link)
    • “{{FirstName}}, I work with USPS small‑parcel programs for event décor teams in Union City. Would welcome a quick compare‑notes chat on packaging and returns—no pitches.”
  • LinkedIn Follow-ups (2 messages)
    • FU1: “Thanks for connecting, {{FirstName}}. If small‑parcel (sub‑10 lb) is material, USPS Ground Advantage/Priority could simplify your mix. Happy to share a 1‑page mapping and hear your goals.”
    • FU2: “If useful, I can tailor a short USPS option map based on your weight/zone patterns and returns process—keeps it practical. Open to a 20‑min call?”
  • Phone Script (prospect)
    • Opener: “Hi, this is {{RepName}} with USPS shipping programs. We work with event décor shippers like Paper Lantern Store in Union City. I’m calling to see who oversees parcel operations and returns.”
    • Discovery topics: current carriers; avg weight/dims; zone mix; residential share; marketplace SLAs; pickups; packaging types; returns volume/reasons; peak season.
    • Close: “Would 15–20 minutes next week work to review a USPS option map based on your data?”
  • Gatekeeper Variant
    • “Could I schedule 20 minutes with the person who owns parcel shipping and returns? It’s an operations review, not pricing—focused on packaging, pickups, and marketplace SLAs.”
  • Voicemail Script
    • “Hi {{FirstName}}, {{RepName}} with USPS. I help event décor shippers streamline sub‑10 lb parcels and returns—no pricing here, just options. If a short compare‑notes call is useful, I’m at {{RepPhone}}. Email works too. Thanks.”
  • Objection Handling
    • “We’re locked in with our carriers.” → “Understood. I can map USPS only where it reduces exceptions or improves PO Box/residential reach—no rate promises.”
    • “Pickups are a concern.” → “We’ll confirm your pickup window and volume; USPS can schedule pickups and we’ll align with your daily cutoffs.”
    • “No bandwidth.” → “I’ll keep it to a 20‑minute diagnostic and a 1‑page plan; any pilot can be SKU/zone‑limited.”
    • “Marketplace SLA risk.” → “We’ll test USPS on orders where transit commitments match, and monitor on‑time and exceptions before scaling.”

Assumptions & Verification

  • Assumptions (to confirm on call):
    • Majority of parcels are under 10 lb with variable cube; residential/PO Box share is meaningful.
    • Mix includes domestic and possibly some international orders.
    • Returns are frequent enough to warrant prepaid labels or portal flow.
  • Verification checklist:
    • Actual carrier mix and contracts; daily volume and seasonality peaks.
    • Weight/dim histogram; top carton sizes; DIM sensitivity.
    • Zone distribution (1–8); marketplace SLA requirements (Walmart/Amazon/eBay if applicable).
    • Pickup windows and dock capacity; packaging constraints (flat vs rigid).
    • Returns volume and reasons; disposition rules; restocking.
  • Next research tasks (if needed):
    • Confirm any explicit shipping methods offered (carriers, PO Box/APO/FPO acceptance) from Shipping/Returns pages.
    • Pull BBB ratings/complaints trend and Trustpilot/Sitejabber snapshots for customer feedback analysis.

Source Ledger (mandatory)

  • [S1] Paper Lantern Store | BBB Business Profile — BBB | https://www.bbb.org/us/ca/union-city/profile/party-supplies/paper-lantern-store-1116-116802 | Accessed: 2025-09-22 18:10 UTC | Confidence: high Evidence: “30140 Ahern Ave. Union City, CA 94587.” “Asian Import Store, Inc.” “Business Management: Ms. Michelle Yau, Manager.”
  • [S2] Paper Lantern Store (official site) — Paper Lantern Store | https://www.paperlanternstore.com/ | Accessed: 2025-09-22 18:12 UTC | Confidence: high Evidence: “Free Shipping on orders over $99!” Site structure and categories indicate paper lanterns/event décor.
  • [S3] Paper Lantern Store — Yelp listing | https://www.yelp.com/biz/paper-lantern-store-union-city | Accessed: 2025-09-22 18:13 UTC | Confidence: medium Evidence: “30140 Ahern Ave. Union City, CA 94587.” “(877) 256-8578.”
  • [S4] Seller StoreFront – PaperLanternStore — Walmart | https://www.walmart.com/global/seller/870 | Accessed: 2025-09-22 18:14 UTC | Confidence: medium Evidence: “30140 Ahern Ave. Union City, CA 94587, US.”
  • [S5] Asian Import Store (official wholesale site) — Asian Import Store | https://www.asianimportstore.com/ | Accessed: 2025-09-22 18:15 UTC | Confidence: high Evidence: “Welcome to Asian Imports… supporting event planners, party rental companies and commercial decorators for almost 20 years!” Contact page shows Union City, CA and phone.
  • [S6] Asian Import Store — ZoomInfo profile | https://www.zoominfo.com/c/asian-import-store/1104334062 | Accessed: 2025-09-22 18:16 UTC | Confidence: low/medium Evidence: “From small and humble beginnings in 2002…” (Directory narrative; treat cautiously.)
  • [S7] Paper Lanterns Market Report — Dataintelo | https://dataintelo.com/report/global-paper-lanterns-market | Accessed: 2025-09-22 18:17 UTC | Confidence: medium Evidence: “Major companies… Oriental Trading Company, The Paper Lantern Store, and Just Artifacts.”
  • [S8] Privacy Policy — Paper Lantern Store | https://www.paperlanternstore.com/pages/privacy-policy | Accessed: 2025-09-22 18:18 UTC | Confidence: high Evidence: “Our Privacy Policy is designed to assist you in understanding how we collect, use and safeguard the personal information you provide to us.”
  • [S9] Terms of Use — Paper Lantern Store | https://www.paperlanternstore.com/pages/terms-of-use | Accessed: 2025-09-22 18:19 UTC | Confidence: high Evidence: Page exists as the site’s Terms; standard policy language present.
  • [S10] Contact Us — Asian Import Store | https://www.asianimportstore.com/pages/contact-us | Accessed: 2025-09-22 18:20 UTC | Confidence: high Evidence: “Union City, CA 94587 USA” and “Int’l/Fax/Text: 1‑650‑339‑7050” “Chat available Mon‑Fri 6AM‑4PM PST.”
  • [S11] Paper Lantern Store — MapQuest listing | https://www.mapquest.com/us/california/paper-lantern-store-458126015 | Accessed: 2025-09-22 18:21 UTC | Confidence: medium Evidence: Map listing for Paper Lantern Store at the Union City address.
  • [S12] Shipping Information — Paper Lantern Store | https://www.paperlanternstore.com/pages/shipping-information | Accessed: 2025-09-22 18:22 UTC | Confidence: high Evidence: Page exists for shipping details; specific carrier mentions not shown on summary.

Summary

  • Data completeness: 78% (address, sites, public contacts, policy pages confirmed; carriers and volume unknown)
  • research_confidence: medium-high (address and identity well-corroborated; some directory data treated cautiously)
  • region_focus: Out‑of‑focus region: no (Union City, CA is in the SF Bay Area)
  • version: v1.0
  • Next best step: 20‑minute discovery to confirm carrier mix, parcel weights/dims, zone distribution, pickup needs, and returns workflow—then map USPS Ground Advantage/Priority/Cubic to their real shipment profile. No rate promises.

Scoring (self-check)

  • Clarity: 9
  • Specificity: 8
  • Personalization: 7

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