Imagine this: Years ago, an importer of hunting apparel decided to source a jacket from China using professional China sourcing services. The goal? A durable outerwear piece with a faux leather shoulder patch. But when the samples arrived, the sourcing team had not only beaten the target price—they had used...
A China sourcing agency is the best way to support a sourcing program: all your issues are addressed from placing orders to quality assurance to on-time delivery. But (there always seems to be a “but”) it requires an investment. How do we know all that? Well, we have one, obviously....
By now, the need to wear a mask might seem like old news. However, as wearing a mask is part of our "new normal," it might be easy to forget the importance of using a good quality and the right kind of mask, especially in high-risk environments. The Market Sourcing...
There are two stages to solving a trade dispute: Stage 1: Bringing your opponent to the table.Show that you have a case, that you are determined, that you will not flinch. Stage 2: Reaching an agreement. Finding common ground; showing respect and understanding; establishing trust and conveying reliability. Bullying is...
In January I made a prediction on what would happen in March, namely: “… it will get better, … the new 25% tariffs will not be imposed and … previous tariffs will be reduced over time.” Time for me to eat humble pie. Here we are in June, and after...
When you’re looking to set up shop in the US, you’ll hear the same thing from anyone and everyone. Location, location, location. But have you considered that the same is just as important when it comes to your China supply chain? Below are just a few location-related factors that...
We hear it all the time from importers sourcing from China, “I can’t find a factory to manufacture my products!” This is especially so when the product you are seeking to source is unusual: you will not have any difficulty finding factories for white T-shirts or running shoes, this...
OK, so we covered Trading Companies and China sourcing Agents in previous blogs, but why hire outsiders? Why not manage the China sourcing process with your own employees, your own team? In this blog, I am shifting my focus on the Pros and Cons of having your own China Sourcing...