As the pressure on costs is getting more intense, many importers wish their suppliers focused on optimizing their production. In most cases, there are no optimization efforts going on. Why is that? 1. A focus on the golden eggs, not on … [Read more...]
Archives for March 2013
Importers should not rely too much on Chinese suppliers
As I wrote before, it is the buyer's responsibility to pay for independent quality control before shipment. When this is not the case, the importer is relying totally on his Chinese suppliers... and is taking maximum risks. In this … [Read more...]
Chinese factories are offering better working conditions
First, an important note. Working conditions in Chinese factories are not great (read this if you want an idea of how bad it can be). My point is that they are getting better. They are getting better thanks to market adjustments -- a lower … [Read more...]
Will 3D printing replace China mass production?
Two days ago I was listening to a few Chinese factory managers who were invited to a Global Sources forum, and one hot topic they discussed was 3D printing. They see 3D printing as a potential disruption to their business, but in a time … [Read more...]
Are you unsatisfied with your internal QC inspectors?
I know many buying offices here in China that have hired their own inspectors. In some cases it works very well. But, in other cases, defective batches are regularly allowed for shipment and everybody wonders how it happened. My friend … [Read more...]
Benefits of quality control inspections
The question is, are inspections useless? What are the benefits of quality control inspections, if any? As I mentioned in a previous article, more and more importers are switching their focus from standard QC inspections to improving key … [Read more...]
How to keep in touch
Google just announced that its RSS feed reader would stop service soon. This will impact some of our subscribers: If you have been reading my blog via RSS, there are three solutions: 1. Subscribe by email, and receive a message for each … [Read more...]
How to complain about counterfeit/fakes on Taobao
There has been a mounting concern about the role of e-commerce platforms in the distribution of fake products. For example, two years ago I wrote Does your China factory sell your products on Taobao.com?. And it seems like the situation is … [Read more...]
New sourcing destinations in Asia: Let’s be serious.
Some importers are constantly scanning Asia for new producing countries. They are chasing the lowest wages. It is not possible in all industries, of course. In many hard goods categories (toys, consumer electronics, DIY...), there is no … [Read more...]
Why the RMB rate might well go down
Have your margins been beaten up by the strong appreciation of the RMB? There is hope in the short and medium term. For a bit of perspective, here is the RMB/USD exchange rate over the past two years: This past week I attended the ”Made … [Read more...]