Made in China… dispelling the myth

I’m back in China and extremely excited as to the possibilities in this market. It’s been exactly a year since my first visit. I know this given the Hong Kong sevens was on then as well.

So after a year of endeavouring to do business at many levels with the Chinese in China, the results have certainly been good but also mixed…

It has certainly been a highway of lessons, from bungled orders to counterfeit money, hair-raising taxi rides and scams at many turns.

A foray into the mandarin language though a 10 week course was certainly not the answer to what can be a massive and difficult communication barrier in this country.

Conversely though these hurdles have all yielded some wonderful outcomes as I have persevered in this market building relationships and establishing sources of supply. And with each visit I am incredibly excited as to what can be achieved.

It is important to note that we are only using China as a supply and manufacturing chain; not as a DESIGN base and that maintains the credibility of our brand in NZ.

My connections up here are not about cheaper, faster and bigger margins. They are all about the access to a significantly broader range of fabrics, trims and manufacturing capabilities from a country that has its heart in manufacturing.

From the fabrics and trims to the extensive array of accessories, nothing is impossible and each trip uncovers more and more opportunities.

So what do I like so much about this new market?

 

• The Chinese are smart
• They work in immediate time frames
• The results are fast
• They answer emails the same day (often within an hour)
• They seek new opportunities
• Nothing is too hard
• They need and want to work
• They are ‘can-do’ thinkers
• They can access anything (or at least will give it a go)
• They want to do business with you
• They will make it work
• And best of all, they don't bring emotion into their business dealings. They just get on and get the job done.

So how do you make a start in this expansive market?

The expos in Hong Kong are always a great place to start when endeavouring to enter China. The wide array of exhibitors will enable you to see the possibilities and make the first contacts.

So get up here and make a start and watch how it grows!