Does Your Buyer Know You Quote That Way?

Many buyers treat offshore quoting like shopping

Buyers, importers, distributors, folks thinking about becoming importers, distributors who import, suppliers who import…whatever the classification, I’ve heard the same complaint from them whenever they come to a trade show in either Hong Kong or Mainland China.

Supplier Love

(photo credit: GR Sipe)

I recently sat in a seminar where a guy, who runs a company in the Western world, which “specializes in China sourcing”, was telling the attendees not to make relationships with their suppliers.  I couldn’t believe my ears.

Smaller Volumes a Must? A Few Key Pts….

Is the order large enough for the factory to
stop, check, care, implement, fix, etc..?

This is a continuation from the last post on shying away from doing small quantities offshore. 

One point to add: trade companies will actively promote the ability to offer smaller quantity runs.  This is a tactic to rope in buyers, because they’ve heard the overseas customers beg for small quantities.  Their idea is “give the public what they want”.

A Breakdown on Trade Companies_ the Bad and the Ugly

This is Part II.  Part I covered “the Good”.  Notice these are not blanket statements about trade companies but comparing the Good vs. the Bad and a bit of focus on the ugly.  Because it can get ugly…and ordering offshore isn’t like putting coins into a vending machine, it takes serious effort.  Now to resume our regularly scheduled broadcast… 

Companies will promise the world
...you'll get more than you bargained for

The Bad: Many trade companies are not very specialized in one area.  They fail to maintain strong contacts with their factories.  Your order risks being outsourced every time afresh, to a factory they haven’t dealt with in the past.

A Breakdown on Trade Companies_ The Good

Good Trade Companies: Better than Working Factory Direct

Vendors in the overseas promo industry, whether in USA, UK, Australia, S. Africa, when buying from China, they normally buy from a trade company.  Many people label these types of companies as traders, brokers or agents.  Technically there is a difference in the 3 terms and this article is primarily focused on trade companies. 

My weathered opinion is if you are an overseas supplier or distributor in the promo industry and you want a solid China contact, then you need to rely on the trade companies.