June 11th, 2009 by China Business Success Stories
By Terri Morgan
A majority of western business people who have business in China or with Chinese companies have worked with an interpreter. Most often, the interpreter will be a native of China. This can be helpful or problematic depending on how you handle your communications. There are a few things you can do to avoid problems and help your interpreter.
Choose a Local Person Whenever Possible
Regional usage, grammar, and pronunciation vary widely. A group of Chinese students I taught some years ago used English as their common language because they were from different regions of the country and had great trouble understanding each other’s spoken Chinese.
Regional difference in American English exist, but we can usually understand each other. The variations between British and American English are another matter entirely. Read the rest of “Tips for Working with a Chinese Interpreter” or post a comment
June 3rd, 2009 by China Business Success Stories
Last month, on China Success Stories, I explained how importers can reduce quality risks with a better organization. I got an interesting comment pointing that practices that work in other countries should be adapted when it comes to buying in China. My opinion is that importers should put in place a stronger quality assurance system for their China procurement, but not necessarily different.
Read the rest of “The Importance of a Strong QA System When Buying in China” or post a comment >>
June 1st, 2009 by China Business Success Stories
By Steven Chow
Price negotiation is one of the most tricky parts in international sourcing. But meanwhile it isn’t that difficult if you do enough homework, research and follow some basic principles.
Some misconceptions:
I have visited China, people seem to bargain for everything, oftentimes we can cut down the price from 100RMB/pc to 10RMB/pc, so it is really hard to figure out where the bottom price is.
Clarification:
Sellers in low-end markets and stores do quote ridiculously high prices, waiting for buyers to cut it down dramatically, especially in retailing. But in international trade practise, the prices are quoted very reasonably as the price in the market is relatively transparent, so you shouldn’t expect to cut the price down dramatically, like from 100RMB to 10RMB. Read the rest of “China Sourcing Ultimate Guide - Part 3 - Price Negotiation” or post a comment
May 18th, 2009 by China Business Success Stories
By Andrew Reich
Poor quality product from China continues to be a major issue for both importers and factories. As a buyer, you can protect yourself and also educate your clients with some simple on-line research on product safety and performance standards. With the right documentation you can then clearly communicate these standards to your Chinese factory, and this way often prevent a major QC lapse.
The first step in this process is identifying standards for your product. Below are 5 strategies to achieve this:
- Consumer Products Safety Commission Website (CPSC) - This site is the main source for USA product standards. Visit them and use the search feature to search your product type and related terms.
- Consult with a 3rd party quality company/consultant - For a relatively low fee you can request that such a company provide you a full product testing and requirement standard page which will provide a lot of clarity. Read the rest of “How to Find Product Safety Standards and Communicate them to your Chinese Factory?” or post a comment
May 5th, 2009 by China Business Success Stories
By Diana Wang
Do sufficient preparation
After you identify the right exhibition you want to attend in China, you will start with some preparation work. As far as I know, most companies will only prepare in terms of logistics, such as visa and accommodation arrangements. However, if you do a little bit more work on analyzing the targets of the trip, you will find it far more productive.
Ideally, the team visiting the exhibition in China needs to include both a product expert and a decision-maker on commercial aspects, which means it should involve representatives of at least the technical and purchasing departments. The team should be given a clear target to meet during their trip to China, such as a thorough study of the Chinese market, Chinese supplier approach, or collection of proper samples.
Because of the inconvenience caused by long travel, many persons only bring a few marketing materials or their company introduction and they sometimes do not even prepare a hard copy. Read the rest of “Achieve Good Results From Sourcing Exhibitions in China - Part 3″ or post a comment
