Elksourcing

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…

The secret to great leadership does not exist in that cup of coffee you drink every morning–although it certainly doesn’t hurt. Great leaders all share something in common–they have certain habits that they do every single day. Take after them to embody the same characteristics, no matter who you’re leading. 1. Inspire optimism It can be difficult to always be the person finding the silver lining inside a huge, gray cloud. Even if you’re the only one carrying the burden, keep in mind that after a little while, positive feelings always do catch on. 2. Be genuine No matter how small the action, great leaders are genuine in everything they do. They are purely themselves, take it or leave it, and they don’t compromise their ideals or core values in an attempt to be liked. They do things because they believe in them; they believe in the words they say, they…

Getting to the negotiation stage of a sales process can feel like a marathon. Crossing the finish line with terms everyone agrees on? That’s even harder. From preparing the wrong way (or not at all) to letting the buyer handle the next steps, there are plenty of ways to stumble during this process. Check out six common mistakes to lose a negotiation. 1: Don’t Prepare Walking into a negotiation unprepared is a surefire way to walk out with a bad agreement. It’s hard to think clearly when you’re in the hot seat, so without a defined strategy you might end up agreeing to unfavorable terms or even losing the deal. First, know your goals. What do you need vs. just want? Where are you willing to compromise? At what point must you walk away? Next, go through the same exercise from the prospect’s perspective. If you can anticipate their objectives, where…

Whilst different countries have different etiquette, there are certain universal etiquette rules that I believe apply to all cultures. First of all, though, what does business etiquette mean? Here is one definition: Business etiquette is a set of manners that is accepted or required in a profession. Often upheld by custom, it is enforced by the members of an organisation. Those who violate business etiquette are considered offensive. The penalty for such behaviour frequently lies in the disapproval of other organisation members. Business etiquette is important because it creates a professional, mutually respectful atmosphere and improves communication, which helps an office serve as a productive place. People feel better about their jobs when they feel respected, and that translates into better customer relationships as well. Here are 12 universal etiquette rules I believe we should all follow no matter where we work. 1.  Introduce others Always introduce people to others when…

It’s no secret that China has become the world’s workshop. An article in The Economist reported that as of early 2015, China was producing about 80 percent of the world’s air-conditioners, 70 percent of its mobile phones and 60 percent of its shoes. At the same time, China also produces a massive amount of fake products. Here are some the most commonly found fake products in China: 1. Fake consumer electronics Consumer electronics are one of the most popular fake products you’ll find in China. One example of a counterfeit name brand product here is the iPhone. New iPhones often cost much more than what you might pay in the United States, due to import tariffs and VAT. It should come as no surprise, given the high margins on fake iPhones, why counterfeiting is so rampant. This past summer, police in Beijing shut down a counterfeit manufacturing operation and seized more…

The following list contains tips as opposed to rules; there are no definitive solutions to perfecting harmony and efficiency when working from home – we’re all different, and different things work for different people. Nevertheless, there are some experiences that we can all relate to.  1) Get out of the house once in a while for some exercise – it’s true what they say, “healthy body, healthy mind” – you’ll be more productive, even if that means taking 40 minutes to have a walk or jog.  2) If you do go and work in a coffee shop, just go for the afternoon or morning session, a whole day will drive you nuts and will be more expensive (also don’t drive back in rush hour if you can help it).  3) Have a space in your house dedicated to work so that there’s a distinction at home between work and relaxation  4)…

As a small business owner, you’re regularly confronted with a range of challenges. And if not handled effectively, these can run your business and even your personal life into the ground. For example, if you don’t have the time to properly assess an issue and how to resolve it, you could create an even bigger problem. This is why effectively managing your time is so important. Successful business owners know that it’s not always about how hard you work, but how smart you work. 1. Plan Your Day Whether at the beginning of the day or the end of the night, plan what you want to accomplish during working hours. Prioritize your list by labeling urgent items that must get done, less-urgent items that must get done, and bottom-level tasks that aren’t yet a priority, but would be great to get out of the way. As your complete tasks, mark…

It can be embarrassing to make mistakes with communication. For example, if you send an email without checking it, and later realize that it contained an error, you can end up looking sloppy and unprofessional. But other communication mistakes can have more serious consequences. They can tarnish your reputation, upset clients, or even lead to lost revenue. In this article, we’ll look at 10 common communication mistakes, and we’ll discuss what you can do to avoid them. Mistake 1: Not Editing Your Work Mistakes with spelling, tone, and grammar make you look careless. That’s why it’s essential to check all of your communications before you send them. Don’t rely on spell-checkers: they won’t pick up words that are used incorrectly. Instead, proofread your work, and use a dictionary to look up any words that you’re unsure about. You may find it helpful to make a list of words and phrases…