Recently there has been a lot of talk about a "reshoring" movement from China to North America. The BCG announced last year that more than a third of large American manufacturers (more than $1 billion in sales) are considering reshoring … [Read more...]
Initial sourcing phase: advice to Chinese suppliers
Global Sources invited me to speak to a group of suppliers in Shantou last week. My speech was part of a forum on "export strategies", designed to broaden the average exporter's perspectives. Here is the first part of what I had to tell … [Read more...]
Online China sourcing classes & export strategy forum
I was glad to be invited recently to participate in two events. I have known the organizers for several years, and I am sure they will be interesting. 1. Online classes for startups that need to source from China Liz Long, founder of Bag … [Read more...]
Wages in low-cost Asia: Rising pretty fast
The Chaina magazine picked up an interesting article from Reuters this month: SE Asian governments gamble on making Cheap Labour Less Cheap. Here are a few excerpts: In Thailand: In Thailand, minimum wages will jump by 35 percent in … [Read more...]
Is an export license a must for Chinese suppliers?
Some quality control firms say to their clients: "You should book an audit on the factories you intend to work with. We'll check if they have an export license. If they don't, it is a bad sign because they are not authorized to export their … [Read more...]
How to get a Chinese supplier to accept a letter of credit
Some importers start buying in China and are lucky. They find a proper manufacturer and they get good product quality. Their challenge will be to keep this quality level in a consistent manner and for a competitive price. But in the … [Read more...]
Buying through a trading company or an agent in China
I mentioned in several articles that trading companies are sometimes the best choice for small importers. And two people asked me to confirm/explain it recently. I think it depends on several factors, such as: Do you have time to … [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...]
Do not trust catalogs or websites from Chinese suppliers [photos]
Unfortunately, many Chinese suppliers do not show the truth in their catalogs, websites, and other marketing materials. I found some really good illustrations on the Procur'Asia blog. In Don't select suppliers on a brochure or … [Read more...]
What are you looking for in China?
When importers tell me about their frustrations, I usually explain that other buyers have different experiences. And the reason is that they have different needs. Not all buyers are looking for the same thing when they come in China. … [Read more...]
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