Sourcing products and working with Chinese factories is not an easy task. If it is done appropriately it has the influence to take your business to the next level and done incorrectly it has the authority to kill it. Nonetheless of the headaches you will face, sourcing can give you the control you need in your corresponding business.
How do you determine if you should come to China?
The key is influential your goal. What are you trying to achieve from sourcing?
For example are you trying design your own product from scrape? Does your product have exact specifications? Are you observing to lower your costs and raise your margins as much as possible? Are you purely trying to source cheap generic goods in high volumes?
How do you go about finding the ACTUAL manufacturers?
The way China is set up; parallel products are all made in certain places or have central hubs. For example electronics are made in Shenzhen, car parts in the north, textiles in Shanghai etc. This breaks down even further for precise products. For example you could perhaps find a city that makes belts and leather products.
Sourcing Guidelines
- Start a long term relationship with a face to face meeting.
If you are employed with them to progress a custom product it is vital to twitch the association off right. The best way team has found to do this is by meeting them in person. This creates a relationship of reverence.
- Discussing should be done with the help.
Truth be told, the second a manufacturer employee hears a foreign voice the price will rapidly increase. Moreover, the bartering and negotiations from this minute on will be much tougher to complete because you are a foreigner. Nevertheless of your Chinese fluency, unless a local is on the phone they will be clever to tell the difference and flinch to play the Chinese negotiation game.
- Where can you find sourcing products from China to help you out?
The best way to obtain a reliable team is through endorsements via your networking connections founded in China. You need to be employed with one that you can trust. If you requisite help with this team can perhaps put you in contact with someone.
- Quality Control will always be perfect
China suppliers can save an extra penny per product, have no doubt in your mind they will try EVERYTHING they can to bar a bit of cash, e.g. use lower quality parts, switch materials, outsource projects to cheaper factory, etc.