How To Import From China

After a new factory is sourced in China, most buyers will choose to perform a factory audit, as it is a cost-effective way to make sure the factory is reliable and offers quality products. Based on the ISO 9001 standard, supplier evaluations include many additional benchmarks, giving you robust insights to the way the factory is managed. Before you place any order, learn why a factory audit can save you from making a huge mistake by choosing the wrong factory. Verify Supplier’s Legitimacy Working with suppliers in China comes with risk, but a factory audit from a reputable quality control firm minimizes uncertainties. It’s difficult to verify a supplier’s claims from a distance, in particular without having industry knowledge. A factory audit can ensure that the factory is legal and has all the necessary certification and licenses to be able to sell and export goods. Confirm Supplier’s Product Expertise A factory audit…

Sourcing from China can be a good way to improve your business, but it certainly is not easy. There are countless scenarios where a supplier can end up disappointing a buyer, many of which I have experienced first-hand. So, I’ve put together 10 points on how to minimize sourcing issues and guide your China sourcing endeavors. 1) Market Analysis – Purchase negotiation is not just a simple task and often requires thorough analysis of the supplying market. This type of market analysis does not only include cost data collection, previous project experience, price variance, and product quality, but also includes the analysis of the material market and macro-economic situations. By analyzing the market in this manner, you can help place yourself in a better position to learn and take advantage of the entire purchasing life cycle and to minimize sourcing issues. 2) Supplier Competition – This can be the buyers’ trump card. Sending…

In China, it can be difficult to find suppliers who pay as close attention to quality as you do, or as you expect them to do. You can imagine how costly it is when quality issues occur with your orders. For those of you buying directly from the factory, here are three general tips to help you prevent quality control issues. 1. Fully Understand your Products Quality Requirements: Don’t rely on the factory to advise you on what is important for quality. Have a complete understanding of your product and the quality needs, especially for the market you intend to import to. Have a document made for the quality criteria so that you can have an inspection done according to your requirements. 2. Perform Third Party Inspection: Though your factory will have its internal quality control, it is important and necessary to perform third party inspections. As you may know,…

Qualifying your supplier and maintaining steady and regular audits of factories that you cooperate with is essential for China sourcing. Often buyers will assume that once a relationship with a factory has been firmly established, the hard part of the China buying process is over. However, most will find that even with some of the more reliable suppliers, without diligent quality control, situations will arise that can have potentially damaging consequences to the overall quality of your shipment. Factory qualification and due diligence is key in any sourcing program. I would recommend conducting your due diligence whenever you are looking for a new supplier, whether it is a new project or simply expanding your current production capabilities. Once you’ve started manufacturing and purchasing from a factory, continue to conduct regular onsite inspections and due diligence checks. You never know when an unexpected operational or management change can potentially harm your order….

With tools such as Alibaba or Global Sources, it’s a simple matter of an internet search to find a supplier in China, so you have the opportunity to take advantage of a large number of competitive factories in a country with low labor costs, rising productivity, advanced infrastructure, and increasingly sophisticated production capabilities. Unfortunately, though, once you have found a supplier online that claims to be able to produce your product, it’s not always smooth sailing from there. In my experience as many years in the industry, I have met with plenty of buyers that have ended up getting frustrated because they have been communicating with suppliers in China for months, without any measureable progress having been made. Often this has to do with the factory in question not actually being able to meet the buyer’s expectations or standards. To successfully find a suitable China supplier, you need a strategy,…

After online searching and background check, you may want to make your initial contacts. Request For Quotation (RFQ) is thus a crucial step in your China sourcing program for ensuring the timeliness and quality of your production. Here are some tips that can help you set that tone with your manufacturers so that you are able to secure an accurate and professional quote. Be a Stickler for Details Make sure to be as detailed as possible with your product description. Even from the beginning stages of quote acquisition you should be very exact with your requirements. Usually a quote request should at least include the following details about your product: PicturesDimensionsMaterialsIntended usesOrder quantities Packaging requirementsDrawings – The more professional designs you can provide, the more serious your supplier will take your product. Knowing your product, industry, and production requirements is crucial. Suppliers may think you are submitting an RFQ with them just to get a…

China is the largest supplier of goods to the United States, and the trade of goods and services between the two nations is a multi-billion-dollar relationship. But in order to gain a foothold in the global sourcing industry, there are some cultural and business customs you will do well to adhere to if you want successful. ElkSourcing can act as a liaison between you and suppliers, and accompany you on overseas supplier visits and meetings. However, there are some important customs you need to be aware of before you go. Here’s a quick guide to get you through the trip embarrassment-free. 1. Relationships before business. There is a saying in China that you don’t discuss business until the third cup of tea. The Chinese place great importance and value in developing relationships first and conducting business second. The best course of action is to learn about your host’s country, culture, interests, and share your…

Sourcing is already cost-effective; nonetheless, some companies presume that the lowest rate is going to be the most profitable. However, it isn’t always wise to make such assumption. When considering quotations and proposals from different manufacturers, don’t make price the primary factor. While price is obviously important and one the main reasons for purchasing from China in the first place, look instead for companies that are well established and focused on quality and serving other companies like yours. To source goods directly from China, a company must learn a set of basic capabilities. These include ensuring quality control (e.g., evaluating a supplier’s ability to meet requirements), testing preproduction prototypes or samples, and assessing packing procedures. Logistics activities such as satisfying customs regulations and arranging shipments are important as well.Although the internet has changed the way we source products, the aptitude, creativity and hard work of people still make the difference between…