I have been exchanging emails with an American importer who wants to start delegating quality control to a third-party inspection firm. He buys products that can be categorized as furniture products, and that are made of a few kinds of … [Read more...]
Archives for March 2011
5 tips for testing China products against regulatory standards
Yesterday I wrote about the danger of relying on Chinese manufacturers' certificates. So, if you import products that are subject to regulatory standards in your country, what should you do? First, you should look for a supplier that … [Read more...]
Do not trust Chinese manufacturers’ certificates!
A few years ago, I worked with a very experienced French importer. He was playing games with his Chinese suppliers to extract their best pricing. But he was very straight when it came to dealing with his country's customs office. He told me … [Read more...]
How importers can manage their inventory effectively
Most importers act as wholesalers, meaning that they keep stock in a warehouse in their country and then deliver it to their customers. Of course the purpose is to pre-sell the products and to get them just in time to fill domestic … [Read more...]
How to handle production issues in China
Today I found an article that discusses "how solving issues in China can overflow into the manufacturing realm and affect your offshore production". The author (Jacob Yount, who writes on the JLmade blog) does a pretty good job of … [Read more...]
In China, do not look for the cheapest supplier
Many importers go on Chinese trade shows or browse online directories to find their suppliers. They find companies that display the product they look for, they ask for prices, and then they go for the lowest quotation. Most of the time, … [Read more...]
Buying products in stock in China
I remember a Canadian buyer who told me, 3 years ago, that Chinese factories should produce in advance. It would be much more convenient for importers, who would be able to replenish their inventory faster. It would mean two benefits: … [Read more...]
How to choose a quality inspection firm
I wrote a number of articles about how to get maximum benefit from a third-party quality inspection. In 99% of cases, no reader challenges my point. However, through some of their comments, I noticed a concern in their mind: There are many … [Read more...]