The Bitterness of Poor Quality Lasts Long After the Cheap Price is Forgotten
My auto mechanic had that sign posted at his counter. I read it the first time I had my car there to re-fix a problem another (less expensive) mechanic had corrected.
Eddie, for what it's worth, if you are really serious about entering the business, you should not disregard anything that's said here, even if you consider it flaming. It's a hard business, and if you have a thin skin, perhaps it's not for you.
Louey has a good point: Express yourself like a professional and you shall be treated as one. Do not dismiss the importance of the written word. Much of my correspondence with suppliers and customers is by written word, and if I send something full of spelling, syntax and grammatical errors, I'll be thought of as a dunce. A well written concise note will get me results every time. Be well spoken over the phone also. Professional means professional.
Flame Angel hit it on the head: PLAN. If you fail to plan, you plan to fail. Start at the VERY beginning. Look up the Small Business Development Center near you, and attend at least one of their startup seminars. You'll be amazed at how inexpensive and helpful they can be, and I wouldn't have got off the ground without them. Their ongoing support has been amazing, and even if you attend one seminar and realize you might be in over your head, this is the time to find that out, not after you've invested huge amounts of yours (or someone else's) money.
I am a retailer. I try to offer competitive prices on QUALITY merchandise and livestock. Am I cheapest? Perhaps for some things, not for others. Am I the biggest? Nope. Am I the best? I hope to be someday

It's about quality, honesty and customer service, and that is what brings people back to spend their dollars.
My question is, how do you expect to support a child (you mentioned your newborn) and presumably spouse and yourself if you don't plan to make money? So many in these forums consider a person in the trade evil if they actually turn a profit. God forbid....
I'm not drawing money from my store, but my husband makes enough money to support the family. We aren't depending on the store for an income. We hope to derive income some day, after all why else go into a business? Love of the hobby only goes so far, at the end of the day folks still need to make a dollar. If you are entering the business and don't ever plan to turn a profit, why are you entering it?
Do not put the proverbial cart before the horse. I'm sure whatever tranship invoice you
saw or heard about that prompted you to want to become an importer looked appealing, but those costs are JUST the tip of the iceberg. Infrastructure, mortality, frieght, electricity, water, rent/mortgage, staff, vehicles...you have NO idea until the bills roll in. (Unless you planned...)
Read, learn, LISTEN to the answers to your questions. You might think that you are being talked down to, but just the manner in which you presented your questions, dictates the way the responses are handled. (Refer back to my comments about being well-written). Do not make the mistake that so many make, and keep asking the question over and over until you hear the answer that you want to hear...listen to those who have been there and know.
I'm off to work now.
Jenn