Archive of Category: Sourcing Tips

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China Sourcing Alternatives: Is it time to move?

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Given the current climate surrounding China, various factors have caused importers to ask if sourcing from China is still the right choice for their supply chain. Uncertainty due to tariffs/Trade war, rising labor costs and COVID-19 have sparked a lot of concerns. Is it time to search for China sourcing...

Is DHgate Legit in 2026? Pros, Cons, and User Reviews

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If you like shopping online, you may have used or at least heard of DHgate, one of the largest cross-border marketplaces connecting buyers worldwide with suppliers in China. But many shoppers still wonder: -Is DHgate legit? -Is it safe? -What are the real pros, cons, and customer experiences? This 2026...

China Sourcing: Hiring Teams vs. Individuals

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One common dilemma importers often face is the decision of whether to hire a China sourcing agent or a China sourcing agency. You hire people to get results.  But hiring is a big investment of time and resources.  To get a good return on that investment, you need to find...

China Sourcing Office Common Challenges

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When sourcing from China, to maximize your profits, ensure predictability and reliability, and make sure your interests are protected, you need to have a good team. Many companies get a “sourcing team” either by hiring agents or independent contractors. But for some companies, this means opening their own China sourcing...

Buying From China and the Importance of Contracts

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We’ve all heard the saying, “The greater the risk, the greater the reward.” Although the risk/reward concept makes sense in most cases, let us not exaggerate. Sourcing and procurement is a risky and complex process in and of itself. If you want to reap rewards from buying directly from China,...

How Clear Quality Specifications Can Help When Sourcing from China

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“Oh my gosh! These are not what I ordered! This is terrible!”  Such things are often heard when some importers who buy direct from China receive their goods in their warehouses. How do such things happen? It is likely because they did not have clear quality specifications in place. A...

Sourcing from China: How to Perform a SWOT Analysis

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If you’re sourcing from China, you understand the importance of management and you are probably already evaluating your systems and processes on a regular basis to ensure that they are running optimally and according to your plans and your vision. (If you’re not, you really should.) SWOT stands for “Strengths,...

Buy Direct from China vs US

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American-made vs China-bought has been a hot topic as of late. With the recent political climate, the trade war, and tariffs, more and more importers are looking to move their supply chain management in China home. But is that really in their best interest? Should importers Buy direct from China...

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