Expert Interview: “China is at crossroads”
Upscale China fast replacing cheap China, says author Shaun Rein
China is at a crossroads, reinventing itself from a manufacturing powerhouse to a consumer-oriented economy. Due to rising production costs and slowing overseas demand, factories are moving to higher value-added production, while domestic consumption is increasing at a fast pace.
Shaun Rein, author of The End of Cheap China: Economic and Cultural Trends that will Disrupt the World, sheds light on the global impact of China’s economic transformation in coming years…Continue reading
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Ask the Experts
Get practical answers to critical questions on how to source effectively from China:
Question: How can I go about having my own designed product manufactured in China?
Answer:Not all suppliers are set up to do custom work, and you also need to think carefully about how to protect your ideas if you come up with a new design. Here are some short video tutorials…Continue reading
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Featured Sourcing Updates
The emergence of Vietnam and India as China alternatives
China is not the only solution for export-driven manufacturing, and Asia’s trade evolution is determining that business models move on for adventures elsewhere.
One commercial thought with regards to China was that China had a young, available and inexpensive work force that was relatively skilled and disciplined. While this has proven the dominant economic driver for the past two decades, China’s one-child policy has meant that the nation’s supply of cheap labor has been drying up… Continue reading
By Chris Devonshire-Ellis at “Asia Briefing”
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Featured Sourcing Advice
Ethical sourcing in China: a view from the ground
The term “ethical sourcing” is in fashion these days. And it seems to be a step in the good direction, since it puts responsibility on the sourcer.
“Social compliance” implicitly placed responsibility on the manufacturer. I think it is clear to everyone that compliance to international standards is not going to happen on a voluntary basis in China or in Bangladesh…
Is ethical sourcing something positive, like “fair trade”? I don’t think so. Too much hypocrisy. The best comparison would be the organization of the Tour de France race…Continue reading
By Renaud Anjoran at "Quality Inspection Tips"
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Featured Sourcing Tips
Essential sourcing skills: Supplier verification
In the China sourcing industry, when we talk about verifying the legitimacy of a factory we are generally looking at two aspects: Quality Audit (Does the supplier have the ability to product the products I want to buy?) and Due Diligence (Is the company a legitimate business with good reputation and not a scam or business on the verge of bankruptcy?).
While Quality Audits and Due Diligence both fall under the category of supplier verification, they are two distinct professions which require radically different skill sets… Continue reading
Provided by Mike Bellamy at "China Sourcing Information Center"
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