Exit...Stage Left

I’ve changed houses.  Instead of Suzhou, Jiangsu, China, I’m on the Southern Outer Banks of North Carolina.  Instead of skyscrapers, cranes and car horns honking, it’s little buildings, quaint shops and a Jimmy Buffet-like atmosphere… 

China Water-Cooler Chatter

After close to 10 years of working (and living) in China, here are common, office chatter topics which I've either heard in passing or had the pleasure to partake in the conversation.  

Back to the Basics: FOB

The goal of this post isn’t to get into the Incoterms or technicality of buying FOB from China.  I’m highlighting some of the moving pieces during the heat of battle…I mean…during the heat of the order. 

"Well, I Told 'Em To..."

The comment, "Well, I told them to…" never ceases to amaze me.  Usually someone says this, when some problem or issue arises.  

Price is Too High

What are you saying when you lob at your supplier the simple sentence, “Price is too high.”?

Listening Skills

How are your listening skills?  Are you a good listener?

JLsocial: Expat Life Coach

I’ve lived abroad for close to 10 years.  Expat life is not always glamorous.  There are many occasions you can feel like nobody who has ever walked the face of the Earth has ever had similar experiences and that you are just an island unto yourself. 

South China

From March 2004 to November of 2007, Leeds and I lived in South China’s Guangdong province; specifically Dongguan City.

It's Not About the Money

Production problems, sourcing issues or timing delays are not always directly related to dollars and cents.

It's A Lot Like Banking

Manufacturing in China is a lot like a trip to the local bank.  All the waits, crowds, the responses and the communication level that you find in dealing with your vendor, you’ll also find in a basic window transaction.

Back to the Basics: Sampling Process

A smooth sampling process is critical to successful offshore manufacturing.  More times than not, in the promotional product industry, super-fast delivery times are usually lurking around the corner, so time is not on your side.


(Hey; thanks for stopping by.  After you read this post, visit me over at the new house, http://jacobyount.com - You have a thousand things you can do in your day from work, family and things that are a million times more important than my blogs - but I am very appreciative of the community and any time you spend.  Please remember to leave a comment so we can continue to connection, thanks  ~ Jacob Yount Fri Mar 16, '12)

Sampling Strife

In the Western mind;  you pay for a product, you expect it to be right.  But how do you define the term “right”?  You expect it to be “right” as far as your mind, background and surroundings define the term.

Average Joe or VIP?

Amazing how people get excited about a leader or public figure of another nation, doing something so radical as….carrying their own bag and ordering their own coffee?!?! 

Smaller Order Pitfalls

“We don’t need a large quantity and the brand needed the goods yesterday”.  Manufacturing for the ad specialty and promotional production industries, this is an often played tune.

1st Time

“Contact us to discuss your inquiry and we’ll analyze the case to make sure you’re a customer worth handling”.

Finding a Factory

Importers often comment how they are “interested in finding a factory”.   If you are buying promotional products / ad specialty items, are you sure this is your best bet?

Meaning What You Say

Recently I saw an announcement for a China-focused seminar.  The speaker was a “China expert” in manufacturing, had a seasoned background in traveling to China, importing from China and the point of the seminar, was to train other folks on “ins and outs” of China business. 

Back to the Basics: Air Shipping

In the spirit of the last “Back to the Basics” article on sea shipping, here is the air-shipping counterpart. 

We’ve Been Doing This for “X Number” of Years

Mountains of advantages come from good ol’ fashion experience.  Many things in life and business come from putting the time in, logging in hours and simply doing it.

It’s Like a Big Machine

A Chinese factory is a like a big machine.  Picture a gigantic steamroller that once you push the button, it mindlessly and harshly starts its path, regardless of what’s going on around it.  And once you get that big beast a’ started…it’s extremely hard to find the “off switch”.  Or better yet, it’s extremely hard to find the “let’s all stop for a minute and hold hands and sing kumbaya” switch.