First experiences at fairs can vary for different people, some find them useful and informative whilst others find them daunting and exhausting. Fairs in China will cater for all individuals; there are many specialist fairs, for example exclusively for machinery, lighting, furniture or jewelry. On the other hand there are a few major fairs, like the Canton Fair. Here you will find all sorts of products from many different manufacturers, the assortment is staggering.

Almost every buyer has met with the delayed delivery problem before. It is such a headache especially when you are purchasing seasonal items or products for important projects. As a matter of fact, not all delayed shipments were caused unavoidably. Sometimes, the manufacturers have internal communication problems and make mistakes in the production arrangement; sometimes, the factory rushes other customer’s orders/production while delaying yours. 

Products with the “Made in China” label have always been perceived as having one meaning: “Price, good! Quality, Not good!”. A quote from a piece of wide-published news in July clearly states the embarrassing status of “Made in China” in the eyes of people overseas. Even though they still continue to buy Chinese-made products, many are not confident with their quality.

With the change of the trading environment and with the rapid development of E-commerce business, buyers tend to source and buy from China directly. They are eager to find some quality control partners to help them keep away from the risks of receiving products of poor quality.

CE marking is a declaration by the manufacturer that the product meets all the appropriate provisions of the relevant legislation implementing certain European Directives. It states that the product in question has been assessed before being placed on the market. This means that the product meets EU safety, health and environmental protection requirements. As a result, it gives companies easier access into the European market to sell their ...

It has become clear in the recent years that economical and political ties have become ever strong between Russia and China. This developing unity between two great nations is the reason for the increase in cross-border trade and cooperation. However it has also become clear that although business ties have strengthened, there is still a large difference between the Russian and Chinese business cultures.

The key responsibility for buyers is to purchase goods at the appropriate quality, within a given time frame and at suitable price. First of all, you should make a factory database and establish strategic partnerships with the right factories.

How should you establish a favorable relationship with the factory? Proper communication is the most important factor, it can help develop a good supplier system and solidify cooperation. Let’s discuss the things you should and should not say to the factories when communicating.

Fake luxury handbags, replica mobile phones, custom-detained shoes and jeans, and everything that’s cheap and roughly manufactured in inferior quality: mainly thanks to some negative press and the low prices, when speaking of “Made in China’’, these negative images may always pop up first.

When sourcing from China, which is the best choice; to deal with a trading company or directly with the factory?

The obvious choice would be to deal with the factory directly, because they should offer the lowest price. However, many buyers, including large chain stores are still using trading companies to source from China, and these trading companies are highly completive, but why?

A question that may come up for many importers, “Shall I set up my office in Mainland China?” For some midsize and large importers, it can make sense, in particular when a regular flow of production and shipments are concentrated in one geographic area. 

However, does it always make sense? Please refer to the following ...