We get questions all the time from clients wanting to know the perils and pitfalls of doing business with China. We have written often about how to set up a solid supply chain with Chinese factories and offered key tips on China sourcing. So we thought now would be a good time, as we move […]

6 Tips for Manufacturing in China via Inc. The part of the article that really resonated with us: Tip #2: “Being There: Finding a contract manufacturer in China can be daunting. To set up the production of his needlepoint belt and accessories line, entrepreneur Taylor Llewellyn hopped on a plane to Beijing and knocked on doors […]

Oscar Wilde is credited with saying “The cynic knows the price of everything and the value of nothing.”  For companies and individuals looking to manufacture products in China – and specifically those interested in China contract manufacturing – there is a lot of confusion when it comes to value. So often, people will confuse value […]

“Exercise caution in your business affairs; for the world is full of trickery. But let this not blind you to what virtue there is…”   Max Ehrmann,  “Desiderata” There are numerous advantages to sourcing product from China that extend beyond the immediate benefits to gross margin. For many companies, the ability to focus on core activities […]

  2013 Global Outlook The fallout of the 2008-2009 crisis still lingers and has left a lasting impact on the global economy that will continue into 2013.  Global growth will have dropped to around 3 percent in 2012, which is reduction of about half a percentage point off the long-term trend since the crisis emerged. […]

Raising China Procurement Expectations Starts with A Good Partner We have always claimed that one of the biggest problems in China is that buyers allow their expectations over time to fall. People inherently like to feel good about their decisions, their work, and a decision to source from China is no different. Therefore, if happiness […]

When sourcing from China, samples play a key role.   They help ensure more accurate communication across the supply chain and offer a convenient way for the buyer, seller, and agents to overcome omissions or confusions on spec, language barriers, and ultimately achieve better results for  all involved parties.  They have a fundamental and positive influence […]

The rapid growth in China, coupled with above average growth in all emerging markets, has put tremendous pressure on the demand for natural resources.  With the China growth story expected to continue (albeit at a slower rate), the likelihood that demand for these resources will continue to pressure price is highly probable.  Controlling variable costs […]

China has for decades been among the world’s leading manufacturers and exporters, due mainly to its low labor and land costs.   However, over the last few years, the rate at which China labor costs have been growing, and the ever-increasing cost of land, has left many people to wonder if the reign of China as […]

We have often argued that quality derives from much more than good controls. Ultimately, controls are only one element in a dynamic process that will, if functioning properly, lead to high quality outputs with minimal production interventions. Just as well functioning societies have laws in place to govern socially acceptable behavior, in the quality world […]