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Business

A collection of 280 posts

Business Leadership in China—Frank T. Gallo—BOOK REVIEW

I would recommend Frank Gallo’s book, Business Leadership in China, to any new-to China manger working for an MNC—that’s who it’s written for and that’s who will probably get the most out of it.I liked the fact that there were a lot of

Bits and Pieces From This Week in China

Bits and Pieces From This Week in China

1. Factories out the Wazoo!I’ve been in 7 different factories in the last 10 days. Factories making everything from furniture to molded metal office suppliers, from clothing to candle holders, from offset printing to silk screening. Despite their different industries/products they all had a few things in

Buying from suppliers online

At each of the Global Sources New Buyers’ Seminars (Buying from China: what new buyers need to know) and in my inbox probably once each week, I get a question something like this one I received last week: “Hi, David, I found a few suppliers online that can do what

The Chinese, by Jasper Becker--BOOK REVIEW

This is a fantastic book. Honestly, I only have two minor issues with Jasper’s Becker’s book, The Chinese. First, it’s ten years old and I really want an update. If you think that ten years couldn’t be nearly long enough to date a book on populations

Voidable Contracts

This is another post about Chinese Contracts from Matt Kowalak.There are, unfortunately, times when contracts, for whatever reason, need to be voided. The problem is, when can contacts legally be voided? There are specific circumstances when this indeed can be done. But to make it work, you have to

Thai Economic News...Worse Than Expected...ouch!

Thai Economic News...Worse Than Expected...ouch!

Worse than expected? That must be really bad!Really, with all the bad news about the world economy lately, how could anyone be surprised by bad economic numbers from anywhere at this point? The numbers out of Thailand are indeed “dismal” and the fact that things are going to get

QC Blog

“I have your salary envelope right over here; you can take it when you go.” That’s what he said to me over tea just before I left his office to QC the product. Of course, I didn’t take it. I didn’t even let them buy my lunch.

“To get rich is glorious!”

First, It’s no surprise that Human rights and the environment are taking a backseat to economics. This is point of the 3rd world’s whole argument with any US/EU sponsored HR and Green legislation—“we’re decades behind you in terms of economics, we need to feed people

Third Party Contracts

This is a post by my friend Matt Kowalak, on a topic that just about everyone exporting from China has questions about--What is a Third Party Supplier/Service Provider actually responsible for?This a question that comes up in many of the New Buyer Seminars that I teach for

Q & A about Importing into China

This is a conversation that I had with a friend who is considering getting involved in importing into China. Since I get some variation of this question a few times each month, here's my response. (Original email first.) Hey David,I am really interested in importing some stuff

Sorry, it's not only as bad as the news is saying...it's worse.

I know that I was complaining that Obama was predicting world destruction and had no hope the other day. And I don't want to add to the doom and gloom crowd. But that doesn't mean that people should be seeing silver linings where there really aren&

Post CNY Review--Thailand, China and the Hopelessnes in the US

Feb 6 UPDATE--Like I said. "6.8% growth might as well be 0." And guess what? It actually was (more here)!___________________________________________________________I purposefully tried to avoid Asian news for the CNY Holiday. A change is as good as a break, right? It was nice to spend some

Finding Work in China, Part II

Here’s what I’ve been telling people about starting a business here.First, you have to really understand what China means for you. China is not competitive in commodities. China is not competitive in small qtty’s. China is not a billion people just waiting for (enter-your-brand-

Finding work in China

Since Thanksgiving I’ve had 4 people call me about working with SRI or information about new jobs elsewhere, two people talked with me about starting their own companies and a couple others talk with me about networking for other work options. I also met in the airport a new

Expecting the Unexpected, Part II

The much anticipated part II:6. No one can control Chinese workers around national holidays.Despite the iron fist that most use to control their workers the rest of the year, Chinese New Year is the exception. Workers rule with their feet. They leave when they want and come back

Expecting the Unexpected

We’re back!No, we were not on vacation for all of last month. Not all of it, at least. We’ve actually been so busy that I’m wondering where the depression I’ve been reading about is. Really. Back in SLC, the stores, mall parking lots, theaters and

How long is your Chinese New Year Holiday and other unresolved China Questions.

This post is a collection of client questions from emails, Skype conversations and other online postings. I've left peoples names off and updated the hyperlinks and correct some spelling to make it more readable. I get these questions, in some form or another, about every week. So I

Save Baby Whales from Starving, Vote for SRI

Save Baby Whales from Starving, Vote for SRI

The SRI Blog has been nominated for the Best China Business Blog 2008. Thanks to whomever nominated us (and no, it was not me or my wife, or my mother, or any of our employees). It's nice to be recognized. I hope you'll vote for SRI,

What?! A Driving Test?! You've got to be kidding me!

I’ve been driving for 25 years now—since I was 14 actually. I started out with big farm trucks, bailers, swathers, tractors and a 40 year-old IHC pick-up truck that you had to prime with a choke to start. I’ve driven in snow storms on canyon

Article Pass-along

Two excellent articles on China from other sites.First, China in the context of the world's melt down--it's not only not going to save the world, it's probably going to make it worse. This is a great piece--if you don't

Outliers, The Story of Success, by Malcolm Gladwell—BOOK REVIEW

Outliers, is the latest thought provoking book from Malcolm Gladwell. I don’t typically review books that I read that are not specifically about business in Asia here. And this book has, as it’s thesis, nothing to do with China. But there are a couple of really impressive ideas

Ancient Chinese Secret: Don’t Lie (to foreigners), it’s just not worth it.

The pearl of wisdom in the title came from my Chinese neighbor in a conversation he and his wife had with my wife about a week ago. A Chinese man of about 65 years of age, he is a multi millionaire who made his money importing machinery from the US

Jeremy Haft’s: All the Tea in China—BOOK REVIEW

All the Tea in China is a 21st century version of Mr. China—and in a handy “how to” format to boot! Jeremy Haft has taken all his lumps and learning in China and distilled them down to a 200 page "how-to" on getting started in China.

One More Day of News Links

Since I've been at factories and solving project issues all week, I've not had time to write a "real" blog--so here is another of my (usually) tri-weekly news links list. Enjoy.1. China on President Elect ObamaFirst, be careful on Taiwan. Second,

News Round Up--The Best Links of the Last 48 Hours

I collect news links to read as I travel back and forth to factories. Here is my edited list of hightlights from Wednesday and Thursday. I thought it was especially good reading so I'm sharing. You're welcome.China stocks continue to drop, and while you can’