We have been helping importers manage their China direct buying for 45+ years now and many that come to us for help share a common concern – pricing. However, one of the very first questions we ask new clients is – what is your target pricing? Many of them are...
Background: When sourcing products overseas, building long-term partnerships with quality suppliers can provide a strong foundation for a sustainable, thriving supply chain. Managing these relationships from afar often requires a significant investment of time and resources. After establishing a foundation of trust over time through long-term collaboration and a consistent...
Choosing the right supplier in China is critical for companies looking to control costs, maintain quality standards, and scale responsibly. The right supplier can support growth, while the wrong one can create delays, compliance exposure, and operational instability. Effective supplier evaluation in China is not simply a price exercise....
For decades, the consensus was clear: free trade was the engine of global prosperity. Ronald Reagan famously championed it, and most economists still agree that tariffs act as a drag on the American economy. So, when the rules changed in 2016 and tariffs disrupted global trade, many were hoping that...
As we emerge from the Covid-19 supply chain nightmare and dust ourselves off, we note that some companies were able to react immediately to market opportunities. They placed orders and planned deliveries, secure in their knowledge that their supply chain will deliver. Those companies did really well when the market...
There is a photograph that remains etched in our minds. In it, Xi Jinping and Donald Trump are leaning toward one another, captured in a moment of apparent intimacy. They are smiling, their body language suggests a shared confidence, a moment of genuine human connection amidst the gilded backdrop of...
The complexity of purchasing in China requires more than just a contact list; it requires an operational partner. While China remains the "World’s Factory," the hurdle for most buyers isn't finding a supplier; it's finding a reliable one that offers transparency and long-term stability. For businesses aiming for cost-effectiveness, professional...
Companies looking to buy direct from China often aim to reduce costs, improve margins, and gain better supplier control. In international trade, there is an ancient piece of wisdom often cited by the most successful supply chain directors: “未雨绸缪” (Wèi yǔ chóu móu) — "Repair the roof before it rains." ...