Elksourcing

Suppose you come up with an idea of certain products which you have market channels, and you want to find a supplier in China because of the low product development cost and low production cost there.  If you Google the product name, you will find tons of China suppliers. However, it is difficult to choose. Many people get frustrated because they have been communicating with suppliers in China for months, but fail to move forward. The reason, most likely, is that they did not find the suitable one at the beginning. To successfully find a suitable China supplier, you need a strategy. Below are some practical tips to find a suitable Chinese supplier for you. 1. Understand what you need. You need to first know what is available and have a way to categorize the information. For example, if you need to import products in a narrow range, you may…

In many cases, small businesses make a factory selection based on completely irrelevant factors, such as your feeling to their website, the first impression to the company profile, or the promises made by a salesperson. However, I’d suggest you make decision per a solid checklist as described in the followings. 1: Main product What matters the most when selecting a Chinese manufacturer, is their capability, expertise and experience of manufacturing the same product you intend to purchase. Browse Alibaba for a few minutes and you find many suppliers, often registered as manufacturers, offering products that are very different in nature. There are plenty of reliable manufacturers selling related products. That said, if you are looking specifically for watch straps, better to find a watch strap manufacturer rather than a watch manufacturer, selling straps as a side business. 2: Main export markets A reliable Chinese manufacturer is not necessarily a manufacturer primarily exporting…

Although in many western people’s mindset, China is famous for “cheap” products, in fact, quality products can be obtained from a manufacturer in China, if the buyer can make some efforts in the process. The following are my suggestions. 1) Provide clear instructions Clear, concise, and detailed instructions are essential for obtaining high-quality products from a manufacturer in China. The more information that you provide, the more likely the manufacturer is able to make you the product in good quality. It is important to be as clear as possible and to set your minimum standards up front. Having someone to perform quality control in China on the ground will help ensure these standards are met. 2) Explain product’s function Explaining what the product does, so as to help the manufacturer ensure that they are making it correctly. Knowing what a product is expected to do at beginning when it is completed allows quality…

Having your products manufactured in China can help you keeping costs down, but only if you work with the right suppliers, and with the help of a professional inspection company. Here are some tips about how to work with Chinese suppliers. 1) Have a clear quality standard As the buyer, you need to be able to provide a supplier with the right quality standards. What may be important to you–such as the dimensions–may not be as important to other customers the supplier has. When you are able to clarify this early on, it will increase the likelihood that you will choose a supplier who can meet your criteria. 2) Learn about the supplier’s other clients In particular, see if you can find out who the supplier’s top clients are. When you take a look at the work done for the supplier’s biggest clients, you will get an idea of their…

Fulfilment by Amazon (FBA) is an exclusive service provided by Amazon using which a seller can store their products in special warehouses of Amazon known as “fulfilment centres” and Amazon takes care of delivering their products to their final customers. Through FBA, you can relieve yourself with the responsibility of ensuring quick and reliable delivery of your products to your customers. If you opt for FBA, Amazon will keep a track of your orders, pick the required product from the fulfilment centre, pack it and ship it right to your valuable customers. Moreover, Amazon will also provide a round-the-clock customer support regarding your products being delivered to your customers. This would ultimately help you increase the scale of your operations and widen your customer reach. What benefits can you avail by FBA? Here are some of the key benefits you can avail if you opt for the FBA service of Amazon: 1)…

In China sourcing practices, there are four key quality checks, each corresponds to a particular step in the production process. I recommend you keeping them in mind, when it comes to doing business with Chinese suppliers. 1. Initial Production Check An Initial Production Check is the inspector’s visiting when all materials and components come in the factory. Factories are often suspected of lowering their costs by purchasing substandard materials, and this can be disastrous for the buyer. The Initial production check can also focus on the processes followed as production starts. Sometimes this can also be critical, as Chinese factories very often cut corners and do not respect the buyer’s blueprints.  2. During Production Check A During Production Check allows the buyer to have an idea of average product quality, early in the production cycle. It is a useful and under-rated tool at the disposal of importers, who often only rely…

After you place an order to a factory in China, you must be anxiously wait for the products. Besides of lead time, the most important thing is to make sure the products are made to your spec. How to insure it? You may choose an inspection company to do quality control on behalf of you, or you want to do it yourself?  1) Choosing an Inspection Company Choosing a China inspection company often makes sense for those who plan to have products manufactured in a factory there. Company selection should be as thorough a process as choosing a manufacturer, as you want to ensure that you will be able to communicate with the company effectively. This is the key to receiving high-quality goods from China without having to visit by yourself. Do your homework. Choosing a company that is easy to work with to represent your interests is a big decision, and…

As we know, for China sourcing, it is very important to check the quality of your products before shipments leaving China. From manufacturing to packaging to any other process at your supplier’s facility, having a skilled quality control specialist checking every step can benefit your business. These specialists use their knowledge and skillsets to help your company to run your sourcing business well, and you’re your time and money. 1) It All Comes Down to The Team One of the most important things in any business is the workers themselves. Having a team that works harmoniously means things will run smoothly like a well-oiled machine. Specialists in quality control in China will check that each team member is doing exactly what they need to do for the business to deliver the best product. Finding ways to save time and help each team member work at their best will ensure a high-quality standard…