Shopify Tutorial

I found a supplier online. They look good. But how can I be sure the supplier is legit and will meet my needs? That is by far the most common type of questions asked by your business people who intend to import from China. In this article I will give our readers simple, effective and affordable strategies to answer that essential question. Verify Assume the worst until proven otherwise. Must do due diligence. In the China sourcing industry, when we talk about verifying the legitimacy of a factory we are generally looking at two aspects: Quality Audit: Does the supplier have the ability to product the products I want to buy? Due Diligence: Is the company a legitimate business with good reputation and not a scam or business on the verge of bankruptcy? While Quality Audits and Due Diligence both fall under the category of supplier verification, they are two distinct…

It is often said that customers buy from people they like. While we don’t usually buy from people we dislike, there is one more dimension to this old saying: Customers buy from people they trust. To illustrate this point further, let’s look at how typical prospective customers react to new sales people making the first contact with them (otherwise known as cold-calling):1. They find an excuse to hang up the phone as soon as possible.2. They make themselves very busy during appointments with sales people.3. They keep their mouths shut as much as possible when sales people ask questions.4. They will not refer the sales people to a higher authority even when such a need is clear.5. They often use delay tactics such as “If there is a need, we will call you” to appease sales people, etc. These are, just a few examples, of customer’s behaviours when they distrust…

As you may know, global sourcing can offer enormous financial benefits to your supply chain. But, as you’d expect, typical savings of between 40% and 70% don’t come with a snap of the fingers. A few new processes must be considered, and a few new skills must be learned to ensure you stay on track and realize the full benefit of global sourcing. 1. Quality, Quality and Quality! Studies show that at the front and center of people’s concerns when looking into global sourcing surround the issue of quality. And rightly so.  The concept of “quality fade” is the deliberate and slow degradation of quality that happens when manufacturers replace materials with cheaper alternatives to reduce cost and increase profits. Fortunately, there’s a simple weapon for the discerning supply chain manager to tackle quality-orientated issues when sourcing globally. And that is the third party inspection. To sign a “golden sample” and give to the…

The key responsibility for buyers is to purchase goods at the appropriate quality, within a given time frame and at suitable price. First of all, you should make a factory database and establish strategic partnerships with the right factories. How should you establish a favorable relationship with the factory? Proper communication is the most important factor, it can help develop a good supplier system and solidify cooperation. Let’s discuss the things you should and should not say to the factories when communicating. THINGS YOU SHOULD SAY TO FACTORIES. 1. Prepare a professional company presentation to share. A company presentation is an important part of ‘selling’ yourself to the prospective factories. In many cases, this will be the first meeting with the factory, and first impressions are critical. A proper presentation is vital to help the factory to get to know you better in a short time. When meeting with the factory,…

Importers are often careful about which suppliers they trust with order fulfillment. But many neglect to consider why a potential supplier might refuse their business. Fortunately, if you’re aware of the kinds of factors that tend to give suppliers “cold feet”, you’re in a better position to avoid that resistance and get to working together. Here are three reasons a supplier might refuse your business: 1. Small order quantities If someone asked you to choose between working an hour for $100 or an hour for $15, which would you choose? Most people would prefer the first option. And although this is a highly simplified example, factory owners and trading companies tend to have a similar mindset. A supplier might refuse your business if the order quantity is insignificant. Any order that a supplier accepts comes at an opportunity cost. The factory producing the goods will have to allocate various resources for: Creating, and typically revising, product samples;Working…

Here are 6 Tips About Doing Business Internationally I have learned from my 20-year work in China sourcing business: 1.) Be patient:It is critical to understand and appreciate cultural differences when you are doing business in a foreign country. This approach will be deeply appreciated by senior executives and members of large organizations such as governments. 2.) Socialize and enjoy:One of the best ways to earn trust and understand a foreign culture is to take the time to go to events with your foreign colleagues and associates. Not only will you meet other people that could open new doors, but also you will build a reputation in their community. 3.) Respect customs and try new things:When getting to know people and earning their trust it can be a great sign of respect to learn about their culture, and try things your new colleagues share with you. This can be anything from the…

Products with the “Made in China” label have always been perceived as having one meaning: “Price, good! Quality, Not good!”. A quote from a piece of wide-published news in July clearly states the embarrassing status of “Made in China” in the eyes of people overseas. Even though they still continue to buy Chinese-made products. Is it possible to get good quality products from China? In reality, due to the increasing cost of production in western countries, most of big brands like: Apple, Samsung, BMW, Nike etc. have already turned to China for their manufacturing needs. These companies usually open their own factory in China or setup joint venture with local factories, or OEM to China factories, and no matter which method they adopt, their products are still produced to the same quality standard as before. In fact, no matter where the products are made, be it China, America or Europe, as…

I have heard of so many scams on the web that for me it usually takes just few seconds to spot the signs of a scam operation. However, there are some pointers, which could help you to determine whether the supplier is legit or not. Here goes my easy 10-step filter system: 1. Domain Name This is a small one. If you see a popular brand name in the websites domain name, it’s almost a guarantee that it’s a scam. Scammers widely use domain names containing Brand names to build trust. Domains like Nike666.com or iPhone333.com and similar ones are clear signs that a website is a scam and won’t be online for a long time. Also, try to avoid cheap domains like .info, because they could be used to build a large network of sites to save money on domain registration. 2. Who Is database Who Is data base simply gathers and…