Let’s look at the whole picture: How much does China sourcing support really cost you? Looks like this series has created quite a stir. I appreciate the feedback, especially from the last blog. Since this is the last of the series, lets do a quick re-cap. The series addressed the...
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...
What are China sourcing Agents? In the last blog we talked about Communications and Trading Companies, lets focus this time on China sourcing Agents. A China sourcing agent is a freelancer, like an employee, and, like an employee; If he or she is good, then the agent is a valuable...
Before we get started: Good communications During my last blog I got some valuable feedback on the importance of communications when sourcing from China. That was such a good point. We have some clients on the East coast who complain about how difficult it is to communicate with their West coast...
“Gersh, what’s the number one thing I can do to make my China sourcing program better?” Many of the importers I interact with ask me the same question, and it does not seem to matter how much time they have been in China or what industry they are involved in....
I have been looking for an interactive discussion forum that focuses on the challenges and opportunities of direct China sourcing. You know, a forum that serious, veteran China Importers would love. A forum full of useful topics such as: Corporate Social Responsibility, Pros and Cons of Trading companies, Switching operations from China...
When I interact with serious China importers I am reminded that excellence in ANY system, but especially in long distance China sourcing systems, is not an accident, but the result of discipline, persistence and, most of all, processes. As Aristotle famously said: "We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but...
I have interacted with a lot of China importers. I like to think of these guys as adventurers, entrepreneurs - even if they are corporate - because they dare to go where most fear to tread. Most of these people have an admirably high level of confidence and many of...