China Sourcing Agent

China is now an industry leader with its expertise in various products, including electrical appliances, electronics, textile, metal, plastic and consumer goods. However, for new starters, it is difficult to start. In this article, I’ll introduce some basic steps to follow. 1. Know Your Product The first step is often the most difficult. You often don’t know where to start or who to talk to. Knowing exactly what type of product you are looking for is the first thing you need to figure out before anything else. Knowing the product will make it easier to narrow down potential suppliers and then later determine what qualifications the supplier should have. Having a clear photo ready to show suppliers is a necessity. And any additional specifications about the product would be ideal. Basically, the more information you have on your product, such as having a clear description of the material and function…

It’s easy to find a factory online. So, if going factory direct is the best option, why are there still so many sourcing agents out there? Most people seem to hold onto the common misconception that it’s always better to go factory direct. And sure, it’s great if you can find that perfect factory and you don’t need the benefits that a sourcing agent can offer. But in reality, you’ll find that most factories will have quality or communication issues, and the prices you can get if you buy through a sourcing agent are often lower. So, you may want to think about if you and the factory actually have the resources to work together. Here are three reasons why many importers continue to buy through a sourcing agent: 1. Supplier Verification and QC Sourcing agents operate as the go-between for you and a factory. They work with a factory to manufacture…

When you start to import from China, to make sure you find the good suppliers, work through the process, and assure product quality, you need to find a buying agent to help you. But it is not easy. Here are 5 things you should keep in mind when selecting a buying agent: 1. Trust is everything I think you would agree with me that to work with an agent, trust is important. I would rather use a reliable and trustworthy but mediocre agent than someone who is capable but not reliable. Ideally, you need someone who is both competent and reliable. How can you tell if your buying agent in China is trustworthy? In many cases, first impressions can misguide you. You can do some online research to see if there are any comments and feedback about them. Give them some trial tasks to gauge their performance. You can generally…

Ever needed a new product developed but you couldn’t or have missed the deadline because your company is under resourced? Ever had an R&D project dropped on your lap that you have a hard time getting off the ground because you simply lack the experience or the expertise to get it rolling? So, what can be done in situations like this? The short and most practical answer is outsourcing. Here are a few reasons why outsourcing might be the perfect solution to your product R&D needs: 1. You can easily and effectively increase your R&D capabilities. If you outsource your product design and development to a third-party company, whether it could be in China, India or another developing country in Asia, that has more of the expertise and the experience required in the field of research and development, you will have the opportunity to tap into specific resources that you…

Are you planning to develop a product in China? You don’t want to choose just any China sourcing agent. Having the right China sourcing partner in place will make the process a lot easier. China product development is the wave of the future. It’s the easiest and most cost-effective way to get a product to market. If you have a specific prototype in mind, and you’re looking for product development in China, pay attention to what we are about to say. 1. Is the Price Right? When working with China manufacturers, one of the first steps to take is to determine if China outsourcing is going to be the most effective way to develop your product. It’s possible that it just might not be worth it to go through with development. A good China sourcing agent will help you determine if it’s worthwhile to develop your prototype. They will work with…

China has become a major sourcing hub, supplying businesses from all corners of the world with products in practically all types of industries. If you’re in the planning stage of setting up a new business, then you’re probably also considering sourcing your products from China. If that’s the case, it would certainly be a good idea for you to seriously consider hiring the services of a reliable China sourcing consultant. Having the right sourcing consultant is one of the keys to ensuring that you get to maximize the benefit of sourcing your products from a low-cost country like China. If you’re still on the fence about sourcing products from China and hiring a consultant in the process, then you definitely should learn more about the sourcing process and why it is gaining popularity worldwide. You may think you can handle the sourcing process on your own, but it’s really not as easy…

A lot of people believe that a sourcing and a trading company is one and the same thing. There are good reasons for why this line is blurred as sourcing & trading companies often step into each other’s domain. However, I hope I can address some of the key difference between a sourcing company & trading company. Process specialization Vs. Industry Specialization: While there may be sourcing companies specializing in an industry, especially for highly technical industries like automotive, in most cases sourcing companies in China tend to be specialists in systems & processes related to quality control, international trade & supply chain management. These processes & systems can be plugged into most industries & products. Trading companies on the other hand tend to specialize in specific products or industries. Breadth of Knowledge Vs. Depth of Knowledge: Professional Sourcing companies in China tend to have a wider “breadth” of knowledge about various industries…

There are many commonly held beliefs in the west about getting a factory to manufacture your goods in China. It is true that you can vastly reduce your production costs, even when you have to ship products halfway around the world. But it isn’t true that dealing directly with factories is always the best way forward. Let me tell you the pros and cons of factory, trading company and sourcing company, so you may know which is right for you. Factories are often seen as the best and only source for your goods. You can communicate your needs directly with them and, if they are the right factory for you, they will have a high level of expertise in the manufacturing process and you should be able to rely on this from order to delivery. Factories will make your goods to your specifications and within the tolerances you demand. The factory…