Over the past 20 years, an entire industry has appeared in China to offer quality inspection services. It was a response to the lack of reliability of most suppliers, as well as their refusal to take responsibility for problems found after … [Read more...]
Bans on dangerous substances: how Chinese factories react
About two months ago, I was discussing with a French importer about his requirements regarding the glue in his products. He buys packaging for wine. Air pollution is a common cause of corked wine (yes, it doesn't always come from the … [Read more...]
How importers can improve their margin: Q&A with an expert
I recently had a good talk with Wouter de Roos, from WSDR. Wouter is a consultant who helps importers optimize their operational effectiveness. His goal: better margin for less risks! I asked Wouter 4 questions: Q: What are the most … [Read more...]
RMB settlement for paying Chinese suppliers
The possibility to pay Chinese suppliers in RMB is a recent development that importers should be aware of. Last week I attended an excellent seminar organized by the French Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong. RMB settlement was a hot … [Read more...]
How to improve your Chinese supplier pool?
Many importers have learned the value of a good supplier pool the hard way. For example, Carrefour Global Sourcing "killed its supplier base" (in the words of their managing director) because they pursued low prices with a reverse … [Read more...]
The 3 categories in your Chinese supplier list
From what I was told, the Chinese tax department classifies companies as below: Black list: very frequent controls (because they misbehaved in the past); Grey list: relatively frequent controls; White list: relatively infrequent … [Read more...]
3 tips to explain your quality standard to QC inspectors
Inspectors that work in third-party QC firms are checking the shipments of many different importers. A constant challenge is adapting to the quality standard of each client. By default, they are trained on generally-accepted standards in … [Read more...]
How importers get scammed by Chinese suppliers
I have received more and more emails from importers who got scammed by a Chinese supplier. And it seems like I am not the only one to notice this trend. A good article on the China Law Blog (China Scam Alert: The Different Company Bank … [Read more...]
Chinese suppliers’ lack of reliability: 5 tips for importers
You import from China. You sell to customers who want the right quality at the right time. You know that, if you can't deliver, they will go elsewhere. And, on the other hand, your suppliers say "we'll try our best, don't worry". And you … [Read more...]
Trade resources for importers: Global Sources
I am often asked about the best B2B directory for finding good Chinese suppliers. I usually say "check out Global Sources". This company offers many free resources for importers (in addition to the ability to search for suppliers). So … [Read more...]
- « Previous Page
- 1
- …
- 112
- 113
- 114
- 115
- 116
- …
- 153
- Next Page »