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A collection of 280 posts

Bribes, Returns and Enforcing Chinese Legal Decisions

17/11/11 UPDATE FROM THE WSJ TODAY : "China poses a high corruption risk. No secret there. But did you know it also poses the broadest risk of any country?" And this too: "...almost anyone could be a target. I heard this when I was in Germany

"None More Black"

Happy Nigel Tufnel Day! 11.11.11 “It’s one more louder!”____________________"It's gonna be cold, it's gonna be grey, and it's gonna last you for the rest of your life."Both Nigel and Phil got it right, it's black

Show follow up, next steps in China

Link update: Registration Link was broken--here's the new one.Perfect timing: I've been invited to speak at China Business Webinars on Thursday Nov 3rd at 9:30AM EST. In my own humble opinion, this is a must for anyone that is planning on coming to

So what’s China really like? Part 62704

Like I've said before, this is probably the question that I get asked the most—and the answer, today from the WSJ, is: “it depends on which part of the elephant you’re touching at the moment.” From the article, “He said he didn’t think corporate transparency

A Chinese Steve Jobs? Also: SRI Speaking Schedule for Oct

First my speaking schedule for October.I will be speaking in HK and online 7 times in the next 4 weeks. Most of the presentations will be at the Global Sources China Sourcing Fair held at the Hong Kong Asia-World Expo out by the Hong Kong Airport.First presentation:

What to ask for at a tradeshow (and afterwards too)

I recently received this email from someone planning on going to a show this fall and I thought that it would be a good blog since I get multiple similar requests each year about this time. Good-day David,I read your piece on "It's just a

7 Days in China-years can seem like a lifetime.

Some weeks are better than others. Some are just down right awful. This last week was one of those weeks, where everything goes wrong.1. A Fight! A Fight! One of our factories has been complaining since we paid the deposit that we are too strict with our QC. We’

Sometimes Contracts are Not Enough

Sometimes contracts just don’t work. Sometimes you not only don’t get what you ordered but you’re left with no viable options for exit or resolution. Even ”if you can’t do it, just return my money and we’ll call it good” gets you nothing. This is

Endangered Species: Chinese Middle Managers

I’ve been telling people for years that China doesn’t have enough mid-level managers. Most factories have the one or two guys that started the company with 10 years of experience and then a bunch of line workers and college grads all with either no education or training

It's just a little bit more, they can afford it, right?

A couple months ago I ran across a very interesting piece about working with suppliers. The story was that suppliers are no longer willing to work with buyers that are “difficult.” Typically the “we don’t make much profit” line is part of the give and take of the pre-

Corruption and the Price of Coffee in China

I had a very interesting lunch last week with some foreign (overseas-Chinese) investors, the manager of one retail location of a int’l coffee chain and one of the lawyers that does some work for the same. The discussion was centered around opening up a new western franchise food

Getting to "I Don't Know"

Beyond doing things correctly (correct materials, correct standards, correct processing, correct completed product) when working with suppliers I really only have three other expectations. 1. We're going to be very strict about QC and testing. 2. I need to have a schedule--I know things change, but I

Just Suck it up and Learn Chinese!

Update 30/07/11: Another reader sent me this link: daily news article in Chinese and English with highlighted terms for study.-----------------------One of the points I make in my presentations at various shows around Asia (Buying From China, What New Buyers Need to Know) is that regular China buyers

When your supplier is not arguing to "win"

UPDATE 20.07.2011: Same conclusion, much larger scale. Is China becoming a country where rioting is the best way to get anything done? ____________One of the things that I’ve learned (through painful experience) while working in China over the years is that Chinese and Westerners (Americans at least)

Why you should learn from others' mistakes in China...

12 July 2011 UPDATE: Very interesting post by Steve at CLB on Foreigner on Foreigner Fraud in China. I've never had any clients come to us with this specific type of case, but I agree with Steve that it's surprising that business people from well developed

How cutting costs can actually cost you more.

We work with a client whose buyer chronically asks for us to lower their costs. Every order, every item, every time, multiple requests. It’s their MO. It’s like they were taught in MBA school that “if you don’t try to cut the price, you never now what

Arab, Indian and African complaints about product from Chinese suppliers.

First, for those who attended the presentations and couldn't receive the email with the PDF of the presentation, here are downloadable files of presentations from the Dubai show. Parts One and Two.Second, this is another follow up on the “feeling” of the Global Sources show in Dubai.

It's a small world after all (come on, sing it with me!)

It's a small world after all (come on, sing it with me!)

One of the stories that my father always retells to others is about the time that I called him from the top of the Great Wall. He was in Utah on a quite Sunday AM and I had just climbed to the top of the Wall at Huanghua, near Beijing.

Guanxi is "a Critical Factor in Business Success" in China. Who Knew?!

According to a recent survey by YouGov and London’s Legatum Institute, "93 percent of Chinese entrepreneurs cite guanxi—connections with government officials—as a critical factor in business success."I had a client email me this article and ask me, "Is it really still like this?

Chinese, Masters of the No-Look Pass!

10 more reasons why driving in China is like doing business in China. While some don’t like this analogy, the more I drive the more appropriate I find the analogy. My first installment of Driving and Business is here. And more on driving tests in China here.My theory

Q & A about Importing, Part II

READER QUESTION: I have been approached by some Chinese businessman who are requesting that I source and import some items from Europe. I do not have a registered company, but I am able to orchestrate the affair. I am currently in China, but I would really appreciate some insight into

Trade show wrap-up, useful links and a big THANKS!

Over the past three weeks I've had the opportunity to speak to hundreds of people at 8 different shows in Guangzhou and Hong Kong--that's significant because it means that even over Passover/Easter weekend there are more buyers coming to the HK shows than we&

Who's responsible for a container full of worthless product?

Who's responsible for a container full of worthless product?

As I’ve meet buyers at the recent tradeshows I’ve been hearing some stories about buyers being shocked at containers showing up with bad product from their supplier in China. In addition to the truth that each has a sad story and they all have indeed been lied to,

Video & Notes from The Global Sources Hong Kong Electronics Show

Video & Notes from The Global Sources Hong Kong Electronics Show

For those of you not able to attend the HK show, here is my presentation from the Buying From China: What New Buyers Need to Know show last week.What New Buyers Need to Know (video link). Once I get out of China, I'll post it on Youtube

SRI, Live and in Person!

Once again, it's time for our bi-annual shameless self promotion event, otherwise know as the SRI Spring Public Speaking Schedule. Below are links to where you can find me and also new SRI content over the next 30 days.First, the latest issue of the CISC China