由菲爾・ Hantman

在我們決定開始工廠生產我們自己的結尾的2005設計了教育資源為小學。 我知道它是困難的-，但多麼可能它艱苦是？

它全部開始了，當我們的深圳根據我們的自己被設計的教育產品製造商，移動向一個更加便宜的站點不少五個小時從香港邊界。

隔夜逐字地死去的質量和生產。

在1年試圖從他們得到正派股票和幾乎失去以後我的顧客在過程中，決定做出嘗試和獨自乾。 我的英國代理和他的中國妻子找出前提為我深圳。 為早先製造商工作了和離開的基地設在香港工程師，在移動，被吸收了管理工廠之後。

如此什麼能出錯？

一切!

首先-它永遠採取設定企業註冊，并且，當它得到了設定它是錯誤的。 我們無法得到出口許可證。

第二，沒有企業註冊文件我們不可能開銀行帳戶。 那麼金錢不能轉移到中國買設備或支付薪水。 四個月現金橫跨邊界運載從HK支付薪水和建築工人等。

第三-，當帳戶是最後開始我們被分配了放置我們的資本射入的銀行-一個法律規定為在中國建立公司。 問題-一次在的帳戶得到它再是非常難的。 The funds were effectively locked until we approach the bank with a wealth of documentation, including the business registration, company chops and invoices for capital assets.

Fourthly - Just as we had everything in place to transfer our trapped funds out of the allocated capital account into a working account - so we could get on with our business, disaster fell. Our factory manager was travelling to the bank to complete the transfer of the funds. He arrives at the bank as they are closing for lunch. So leaving all of the company’s important documents and original information, on the front seat of his car, he goes for a Big Mac! As you would expect, the car gets broken into and it gets all gets pinched. We end up being held to ransom by some gang of thieves who contact my agent by phone that evening wanting the equivalent of $4000 for the return of the items.

The police were informed and a sophisticated sting operation was set up for the exchange of the items for cash at a deposit box in a supermarket. A policeman posed as the factory manager to collect the first drop - a sample document to show that they actually had the goods.

Maybe it was the fact that the Policeman just looked like a policeman - even in plain clothes, that alerted the thieves. Or maybe it was the fact that he climbed out of his patrol car when he walked to the supermarket - who knows. But our thieves and the documents were never seen or heard from again.

So how can a few documents be so important?

We are talking about the company registration document and the company chops. In China the banking system relies on company chops or stamps to sign all cheques and to make all transactions from the bank.

Signatures are not required. So obviously they are not something you want a thief to get hold of! We had to inform the bank urgently to put a stop on the Chop being used and place a display advert in the local papers declaring that this chop was no longer legal tender.

It then took another three months to replace the stamps and documents so we could eventually start trading and release the funds from the bank. Almost eight months after the company was supposed to have started trading.

So - plain sailing from now on then? Unfortunately not!

The last thing a new factory needs, after such a difficult start, is a go-slow followed by a walk out of 1/3rd of the work force!!!!!

Needless to say 2006 was not a great year for us!

However, after a senior management change the turnaround in the last six months has been remarkable. Now I see production and quality at an extremely high level and I am extremely proud of what has been achieved.

I can finally say that it has been worth it.

Phil Hantman, director of Edtech