Whenever I come across an article that might interest importers, I keep it aside to publish it. (Last list of articles is here). Here are the latest ones. Product Sourcing and Manufacturing This is not a written article. This is a … [Read more...]
Archives for June 2012
Quality decision vs. business decision
Some importers don't grasp the distinction between quality decisions and business decisions. I remember a professor of marketing research who explained how to interpret data. He said, "statistically speaking, any difference is … [Read more...]
How to start buying direct in China
What is the consequence of rising prices in China? Some buyers relocate their production in other countries, right? Yes for textile products, but this is not really true for most hard lines. One of the biggest consequences, I feel, is … [Read more...]
Useful Chinese translations for buyers going to factories
I know a few buyers who have learned a few words of Chinese. If they come often enough, they can pick up new words every time. Here are 38 simple words and expressions that are often used, and that can help you get understood when you … [Read more...]
5 steps for a Chinese factory to improve its efficiency
The attitude of many Chinese manufacturers can be very frustrating. The boss is usually focused on negotiating favorable prices and pushing production out the door. Not on learning from mistakes and looking for solutions. I explained all … [Read more...]
A Good Quality Assurance Strategy in China [10 Components]
Ensuring product quality over time is one of the major challenges of all importers. But what makes for an effective quality assurance strategy in China? … [Read more...]
What kind of inspector do you want to hire in China?
When you want to hire a team to perform your quality inspections in China, you have a wide choice of profiles. We have done a lot of trial-and-error over the years, and here are the types of inspectors that we have come across. I have … [Read more...]
6 China sourcing articles worth reading
Sometimes I read a really good article, and I think it will be of interest to importers. I may send a link to it or re-tweet it... or simply forget it. To avoid forgetting about the best articles I come across, I am going to save them … [Read more...]
The natural cycle of a classic QC inspection policy
A few weeks ago, a friend who has worked in a midsize inspection firm for a while told me "there is a rule in the industry: you won't keep all your clients forever -- you will lose them one by one". Fortunately, my first client still … [Read more...]