Contacting a factory online is very common, especially with the growth on online directories such as Global Sources and Alibaba. However when most buyers contact a factory online using these websites, they are often frustrated by their experience.

Many buyers complain that the factories don’t respond to requests for information or requests for quotes quickly

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Do you remember Neo? In the 1999 Academy Award winning The Matrix, Neo becomes self-aware to the point that he can alter the virtual world he was formerly trapped in.

Now teleport yourself to China, and you will find Chinese business activities being conducted in virtual worlds like Second Life and HiPiHi. Sure, you can also stop bullets in these on-line worlds if you want, but why not help …

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Whether your production facilities in China grow slowly or fast, there comes a time you need to expand, and hire new employees. China however doesn’t have a very well developed system of recruitment agencies specialised in temporarily workers like Manpower that allows the entrepreneur to act fast. The new labour law in many cases  obliges you to hire new employees for a longer period of time.

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Factory audits are well and good, but covert monitoring and other complimentary tools can help uncover hidden costs. Anyone who has bought a pair of sneakers in the past 20 years knows that most of the world’s athletic shoes are produced in China. And if China is the capital of shoe production, then Fujian Province in the South is the global epicenter.

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To create a company of leaders, training is not enough. Also critical are effective pay systems, daily guidance and an encouraging work environment.

In China’s international business environment, no longer is it just senior managers who require leadership skills. Mid-level managers, first-line supervisors and even project managers, program managers and product managers need skills to …

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