In the last publication of "Connexions", the magazine edited by the French Chamber of Commerce in China, I found an interesting survey (conducted by IFOP Asia) of French companies established in China. Here are the most interesting … [Read more...]
Archives for June 2013
5 ways an importer can develop an unfair advantage
As I wrote recently, many companies that import from China have been forced to revise their approach over the last couple of years. Those importers that turn a good profit have developed an "unfair advantage" that is not easily copied by … [Read more...]
Announcements: Global Sources News, Toyota factory tour
I'd like to share two interesting things with you all: 1. Global Sources News Global Sources, the B2B directory, has just launched a specialized content hub titled Sourcing News & Advice. They have already started to collect industry … [Read more...]
Using your Chinese supplier as a distributor for his domestic market
Here are some interesting or useful articles that I found recently. The New Era In China Product Supplier Relationships Requires New Contracts According to Dan Harris, more and more importers want to use one of their Chinese suppliers … [Read more...]
Difficulties of foreign companies sourcing products in China
A lot of companies that import from China have been forced to revise their approach over the last couple of years. Many of them are currently in crisis, mainly for the reasons listed below: Difficulties on a macro level Continuously … [Read more...]
The sourcing process, from the buyer and the supplier’s perspectives
Sourcing a good supplier that offers a competitive price is hard. There is a lot of "noise" to filter out in that search process. But did you wonder what that process looks like on the supplier's side? Maybe it would help you improve the … [Read more...]
Background checks on Hong Kong companies
Readers often ask me questions about a Chinese supplier. They send me a company name and an associated address in China. When I see the name, I often say "this looks like a Hong Kong company name". The fact is, many Chinese exporters … [Read more...]
6 tips for background checks on Chinese suppliers
I frequently lament about the number of importers who take high risks by not doing any quality control. But the most under-rated tool to reduce risks in China is certainly running a background check on potential suppliers. I listed 6 … [Read more...]
Writing a procedure that is consistent with ISO 9000 standards
Two days ago I wrote that every SME should have written procedures, but how to start? Who should write them? What format to follow? The majority of articles and manuals available focus on large companies. I tried to write advice … [Read more...]
Why every SME should have written procedures
Most small and mid-size companies (be they factories, importers, buying offices, trading companies...) do not have written procedures. A well-written set of procedures that is respected and applied by the whole staff is a tremendous … [Read more...]