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...
If you are sourcing products from China, the Alibaba ecosystem is almost impossible to avoid. However, many buyers unknowingly conflate very different platforms under the “Alibaba” name, leading to sourcing mistakes, misaligned expectations, and unnecessary risk. Alibaba Group operates dozens of platforms, but only two are directly relevant to international...
When tariff headlines fade, many importers breathe a sigh of relief and move on, but that reaction is increasingly expensive for those handling China sourcing services. Recent tariff threats tied to U.S.–Greenland negotiations offer a useful case study, not because of whether the tariffs ultimately happened (or will happen), but...
Experienced importers with deep knowledge of China and its culture are able to realize savings and increase their revenue. But not all importers have that background. We previously covered this topic in the blog series “Are You Leaving Money on the Table?” In that blog, we explored what happens when...
You often hear that “business is about people” and you know full well that having good people is the key to China supply chain management. The question is how do you find good people? How do you manage them? One tantalizing option that exists today but was not available only...
Most importers know that the Chinese New Year can wreak havoc on your China supply chain. Also known as the Spring Festival, the Chinese New Year starts on the 2nd full moon after the winter solstice. This is a 15-day holiday celebrated by 1/6 of the world population or...
For those new to China sourcing, some of the lingo can seem confusing. In this blog, we’ll summarize the top 10 terms most commonly used in supply chain management that all importers should know. Glossary of Sourcing Terms: 1. Blanket Order: This is a purchase order in which the...
As we all know, Christmas and Thanksgiving in the U.S. can cause delays in business due to scheduled closures. But did you also plan for possible delays due to holidays observed in China? Understanding how these holidays affect exports is essential for anyone involved in supply chain management in China....