Sourcing from China has evolved from a straight-forward, cost-driven approach to more elaborate and strategic varieties. While the recent product recalls did not seem to have impacted Chinese exports based on overall figures, however we have come across anecdotal evidence suggesting the otherwise.

Undoubtedly the initial sourcing interest was triggered by China’s notorious low costs, both direct (such as those for labor and land or rent) and indirect …

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The mistake many people make when engaging manufacturers or buying products in China is to think cheap. Lowest cost-lowest price, discount discount discount. There is a much better alternative and one that traders are not currently exploiting.

For example lets take a pair of shoes. Almost 50% of all the shoes sold in the UK originate in China. Now the costs involved in manufacturing a pair of shoes include the cost of materials, ie. leather, the cost of packaging, the cost of …

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Every now and again the real truth comes out. Once while I was in grad school (at the now infamous NIU) writing my thesis on Thai/Chinese Corporate Culture my thesis advisor broke her academic façade and turned to me and said, “It’s all just B.S. isn’t it? I mean, it’s all just bribery, no matter what we call it, right?” She then went back into her academic mode and continued talking about “gift giving” and we never talked about “bribery” again.

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For certain luxury brands, China has already outstripped both Japan and Hong Kong as the largest single market in Asia Pacific. But the growing presence of luxury brands in China is bringing with it greater competition. The country’s busiest streets, such as Nanjing Road in Shanghai, are witnessing fierce competition among the world’s luxury brands. While some have warned that the China market is becoming saturated, for the time being the environment is still a positive one for potential entrants.

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Imagine doing jail time — or worse — just because you were related to the offending party.

If you want to understand just how far collectivism goes in China, look no further than lianzuo — or collective responsibility. Throughout China’s 2,000-year feudal history — from at least 7th-century BC all the way to the turn of the 20th century — people were guilty by association. That is, if you were …

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