I get some weird questions or comments from readers who are not professional importers. It keeps reminding me of what most people in the West think (imagine?) about China. I listed a few of the myths, fantasies, and misconceptions about … [Read more...]
Archives for August 2012
5 ways to avoid being copied in China
I was reading a book this weekend, and it includes the following paragraph: I studied economics in Beijing for six months and observed firsthand how the latest Nike sneaker or Callaway golf club could be duplicated and on eBay within a … [Read more...]
5 articles that are worth your time
Here is a list of the good articles I read recently, and that I think will be interesting to importers. China Product Quality. Only You Can Prevent Quality Fade. Steve Dickinson explains why most importers' assumptions ("my suppliers … [Read more...]
Checking the Chinese sub-suppliers work [photos]
Most importers, when they visit their supplier's factories, only see the final operations. However, in China, many problems come from the sub-suppliers. Here is an example. Photo of the workshop where rubber print is applied (the cut … [Read more...]
How importers Can Use a Hong Kong company
Once they reach a certain size, all importers wonder "should we open a company in Hong Kong for saving on taxes?" It has been going on for decades. However, a new development is pushing importers--particularly from North America--to … [Read more...]
Creating a factory in China to replace your suppliers
One of my clients has had trouble getting good products from China for many years. He is the perfect example of what I call the "small buyer’s dilemma". He recently asked me what I thought about his opening a small factory in Guangdong … [Read more...]
How to choose an AQL limit?
A few months ago, I wrote an explanation about the "AQL": what it is and how to use it. I also listed a few frequent questions, but it seems like I forgot one of them: What AQL tolerance is suitable to my products? Unfortunately, it is … [Read more...]
How to notice what really goes on in a factory
A few weeks ago, I wrote What can you observe in a Chinese factory?. It is a simple guide for a purchaser who walks around a production floor for less than 1 hour. But I just found a much better checklist for those who want to "see" what … [Read more...]
Why contracts are useful in China
China's legal system is unreliable and favors local companies against foreigners. True. Foreign courts' decisions are not enforced by Chinese courts, so litigation needs to take place in China. True. But then is it a waste of time to … [Read more...]
Managing conflicts with your Chinese suppliers
Andrew Hupert, a consultant who helps Western companies in their negotiations with Chinese counter-parties, just published The Fragile Bridge: Conflict Management in Chinese Business (this link direct you to the Amazon page of the Kindle … [Read more...]