Shopify Tutorial

If you are launching a new product, there are a number of steps that you can take to ensure production starts up as smoothly as possible. The sayings “if you fail to plan, you plan to fail” and “the devil is in the detail” are particularly applicable here. However, you look at it, you must have a plan in place for your production start-up. 1. Inspection checklist A sample is not sufficient to establish a standard. You need to write down what will constitute a product “conform to expectations”. 2. Quality control plan An inspection checklist is useful for you to check the finished products. But a quality control plan will guide the manufacturer in what to control during production. A control plan includes dimensional variations, measurement methods, machines or equipment to be used for a specific task, control methods and corrective plans, and more if necessary. 3. Sample approval…

Global sourcing is not as difficult as you may think, especially when you have the right partner. The process is fairly straightforward, but if you have never worked with a partner in China or had experience producing a product overseas, it can seem overwhelming. So, where do you start? Step 1:  Product Assessment – Assess what you are trying to manufacture. If it is an established part or component, you likely have access to dimensional drawings, samples, and a list of processes needed to create that product. Your intentions may be simply price or supply chain driven, which may lead you to seek a partner who can review the available resources and offer real cost savings solutions or additional capacity. Alternately, if your product is something still in development, evaluate if you are going to need guidance to bring the product fully to market and if there is any conceptual work still…

When selecting an overseas supplier, you need to get the right price and quality, while making sure the supplier can be relied upon to meet high standards and delivery dates consistently. The reliability of your supplier is crucial. While a competitive price is also important, make sure that low prices don’t come with unacceptable compromises on quality or on the level of service you will receive. Selecting a supplier The main stages in the supplier-selection process are: Drawing up a shortlist of potential suppliers Comparing the shortlisted suppliers on the basis of value for money, reliability and creditworthiness Visiting the suppliers, if possible, to see their operations Deciding which of the suppliers to work with Value for money from suppliers Make sure that you’re happy with the price, quality and terms the supplier is offering. Get a written quotation. Any quotation should clearly state the terms of sale – i.e. how…

Here are ten tips to help you export your products successfully. 1. Research your market Does your prospective foreign customer need what you are selling at the price that will yield you a profit? What is the competition and how will they react? 2. Implement an export strategy and review your capabilities Ask yourself: what would my business gain from exporting? 3. Construct an export plan Define how you will enter the foreign market. Finalize human resources and marketing strategy and allocate an adequate budget to cover export start-up costs. 4. Choose your sales presence Establish whether you need a direct sales operation. Or is an agent or distributor more effective? How will you manage your overseas sales presence? 5. Promote your product How are you going to market and sell your product? Customize marketing to the target country. 6. Get the Customs side right Contact HM Revenue & Customs to…

Sourcing experts are strongly emphasizing the need for even the most experienced buyers to ensure effective evaluation measures when selecting suppliers in China—particularly when sourcing online. This follows the abrupt departure of Alibaba’s top two executives after their disclosure that the company’s sales staff “intentionally or negligently” allowed fraudsters to set up more than 2,300 verified storefronts. Let’s face it, we are all still going to be looking online for new suppliers. So, what can you do to protect yourself if you cannot fly to China to investigate every potential supplier that you come in contact with? The online sourcing experience should look something like this: Search only for suppliers that have been verified by a third party outside of the website that hosts their information. Pay for background information and document confirmation for any potential supplier before you make any commitments or pay a deposit. Include in contracts with your supplier…

Regular, consistent and independent quality control is possibly the most important part of the buying-from-China experience. Some key points: Write it, confirm it, repeat it, and confirm it again with someone in authority. Get things repeated back to you from the people responsible for each step. Get things signed. Determine what is essential, what should happen, and what would be nice to have. But do not tell your supplier anything is less than mandatory. Safety, industry and customs standards are mandatory. Product features are crucial. Specific attributes that are not defined by law or function are important. QC essentials In-house QC is not independent. It is profit insurance for the supplier. Either do QC yourself or pay a third party to do it for you. But do it no matter what. Check incoming materials/components, semi-finished goods, packaging and finished goods. Unless you can wait for a complete product re-do with no financial penalties,…

Negotiate everything in life, from your diving suit to your wages, from the new car to the flea market shirt… In application to your suppliers you can practice the technics with lower profile suppliers and improve them in big spent suppliers. There is no negotiation if there is no deal. Know your own limits and how much you can give in. I remember perfectly how I failed negotiating a last-minute room in a rural hotel. They did not give in price, and we both lost. They lost a customer forever and probably did not recover a room at 08:30 p.m. Saturday evening, but I also lost since I had to drive 80 km. back to town. So there must be always a mutual agreement and be ready to give in sometimes for achieving your targets. In my opinion, people who never give in achieve short time targets only, and have…

There’s perhaps no better way to avoid receiving substandard goods than by inspecting them before they leave the factory. Inspection gives you the opportunity to find any problems and have them fixed before you receive the order. And there are a few different ways you can conduct inspection. One way is to personally travel to the factory manufacturing your product and inspect by yourself. Inspecting on your own can work well for some importers in certain circumstances. But most importers don’t conduct product inspection themselves. Let’s look into the main reasons why inspecting on your own may or may not be your best method of ensuring your product meets your standards. Why some importers prefer to inspect on their own There might be several reasons why you’d choose to take it upon yourself to inspect your own product, such as: You feel since you’re an expert in your product, you’re…