Elksourcing

When you set up a new retail business, one of the most important decisions you’ll ever make regarding the business is that of choosing a manufacturer for your products. In recent years, China has become a popular product sourcing destination, and for good reason. Other than the fact that there are many cheap manufacturers in China (which helps you save a great deal of money and allows you to keep the retail price of your products within a reasonable range), it is also a good idea to work with China-based manufacturer because plenty of hardware are already produced in China. In many cases, the word “cheap” goes hand-in-hand with low quality. In the case of China manufacturing, however, there are many Chinese factories that have real artisans on their team and can provide you with high-quality products at amazingly low prices. But you have to be careful in choosing the manufacturer…

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…

Recently I was asked what the important steps are when it comes to quality control in China. Interesting question. Well, the first is to find the right supplier. That’s probably the most important thing you can do, if you need to manufacture products in China. It is necessary. But it is not sufficient. Aside from supplier selection, there are three steps that I feel are indispensable. Most experienced buyers never skip these steps. 1. Product specification sheet Before you confirm an order to a Chinese supplier, you need to explain what you want. In other words, define your expectations before you order. A good specification sheet includes: How the product needs to be checked, and what is expected How the product should be labelled and packed What the tolerances are on measurements What the potential defects are and how to classify them Note that you should be aware of your country’s…

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…

If you are planning to buy from China producers then you want to ensure that you get good product. The Chinese are notorious for placing quantity high above quality when manufacturing products. Although workers are normally committed to their tasks, they don’t receive much pay or incentive to meet quality guidelines, only quota expectations. Therefore, we are providing five steps that will help you to ensure that you locate good manufacturers to do business with and receive good product when you buy from China. Step 1 – Research Sources When you locate potential Chinese trading partners, don’t assume that they are legit or provide acceptable products off the bat. Request references and follow through with checking them out. Also, don’t rely on emails, but attempt to set up phone interviews to acquire reference information. If your supplier can’t or won’t supply you with at least a couple of references, or you can’t get…

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…

Sourcing From China can be a great way for you to make money, as long as you know how to play it safe and avoid the common risks associated with this practice. Before you dive right into looking for suppliers from China, you have to fully understand the process of product sourcing and why sourcing from China can be more lucrative than sourcing locally. By partnering with one of these Chinese suppliers, you can significantly increase your bottom line by paying less for product sourcing. It may sound like an obvious decision to make to benefit your business, but there is a lot of planning and work that must be done before you can start enjoying a beneficial business relationship with a Chinese supplier. This article will take a look at some of the most common risks related to the business of sourcing from China and how you can be proactive about avoiding…