Hi Chuck,
In regards to brand names, brands you need to watch out for are brands that carry intellectual brand rights. So names like Apple, Nike and so on, You of course are able to sell these types of brands, but they have to be sourced legitimately and be authentic products. If for any reason you suspect a branded product is not authentic, always ask the supplier for proof of authenticity documentation and keep that with you.
If a supplier can't provide that, then you don't buy from them, despite any claims they make about it being an original product.
In regards to buying brand names from Chinese suppliers, DON''T. I can't put it more simple than that, it's a trap that many, many people fall into. Cheap Apple products from China, cheap Nike from China and so on, you can't buy genuine authentic branded products from mainland China. If you do, then you have to do in the knowledge that the product is fake and then you run the risk of the legal ramifications that can follow.
No name brands from China is of course perfectly fine because there are no intellectual rights to be concerned about.
Cheers