International MoveCube
The International MoveCube® – Moving Abroad Made Easy!
The International MoveCube® is a shipping container designed for moving overseas that we put inside a trailer and park outside your home. We leave the trailer with you, you load up the MoveCube® with your boxes and we’ll turn up to collect it for shipping to your chosen destination. It really is the easiest way to go when moving abroad.
As we’ve mentioned, the International MoveCube(R) is a method of moving house that’s becoming very popular throughout the world. You could say Seven Seas Worldwide is creating waves in international relocation! Waves! Seven Seas? Waves? Okay, moving on. In some countries, we’re fast becoming the first choice of people relocating overseas. This is because our service is not only affordable and secure but it’s also the most straightforward method of transporting your personal belongings: We drop off the MoveCube(R), you load it, we take it away again. It couldn’t be simpler.
So where do you have to live to take advantage of this fantastic door-to-door service for moving abroad? Well, here’s the list of lucky countries so far:
United Kingdom
New Zealand (Auckland & Wellington)
South Africa
China (door-to-door for Beijing, Shanghai, Shenzhen, Guangzhou and Chengdu)
Ireland (door-to-depot, depot-to-door only)
We can handle
out to these locations too, with or without MoveCubes (sadly we can't ship MoveCubes out to Thailand yet but we can still get your stuff there, not to worry).
Take a look below at the dimensions of our MoveCubes(R):
Height 1.871m
Width 1.114m
Length 0.964m
Volume 2.01m?
Height 1.871m
Width 1.464m
Length 1.112m
Volume 3.05m?
Height 1.871m
Width 1.464m
Length 2.264m
Volume 6.20m?
Now the pretty awesome thing about the International MoveCube(R) is we can adapt our service to suit your needs. For instance, if you’re moving overseas out of a studio flat, the Medium MoveCube(R) is the option for you. If you’re moving out of a two bedroom flat, we suggest going for the Large MoveCube(R). You get the idea.
We’ll also help you with the packing by providing you with packing materials consisting of parcel tape, a tape gun and a big marker pen, should you request it. For an additional fee you can order other packing materials, such as our super strong boxes, furniture covers and bubble wrap.
SMS messages will be sent out the night before telling you the hour window in which we will be arriving. A further SMS message will be sent out during the morning too, so no oversleeping.
For all services we’ll also throw in a trolley to help you transport the larger items from your home to the MoveCube(R) successfully. Yes, we’ve thought of everything.
For more details, take a look at the video on this page, contact us by email or call a member of the Seven Seas Worldwide team via the contacts page. Or do all three, depending on how much time you have...considering you're moving abroad. We can also handle ordinary home removals with our , and our
team can get smaller loads around the country for you too.
& Seven Seas Worldwide 2014Smart Sourcing
Posted: July 08, 2015
Waiting until the very last minute, before shipping, to inspect goods packed in a sealed packaging is taking the risk of having to inspect a smaller sample size than the one required.
Posted: July 06, 2015
While I know there are many fake product certificates, I don’t think there are many fake ISO 9001, ISO 14001, or ISO/TS16949 certificates.
Posted: July 03, 2015
Five ways to improve your response rate when contacting suppliers with requests for quotations.
Posted: July 01, 2015
Tips that provide
protection for your brands in Vietnam apply with equal force to China.
Posted: June 29, 2015
This article guides you through the different types of compliance test and their respective cost structure.
Posted: June 25, 2015
The fashion accessory sector in Indonesia remains to be a top contributor to the country's fashion industry.
Posted: June 25, 2015
Indonesia furniture makers are trying to expand their market reach by participating in more trade shows and online marketing.
Posted: June 24, 2015
Responsibility in China manufacturing is primarily an on-going, over-arching thought pattern and motivation behind your decisions.
Posted: June 23, 2015
The home decor suppliers in India are exploring other venues to expand their clientele due to increasingly tough competition from other sourcing hubs in Asia.
Posted: June 22, 2015
This article explains how you can determine if REACH testing is necessary, and how you can ensure compliance.
Posted: June 19, 2015
Neglecting labeling regulations can result in your products being refused entry by the customs authorities, or subject to a forced recall.
Posted: June 18, 2015
Make it you duty to hover over that price. Watch over your quote, question your quote, make sure what was quoted is what’s being implemented.
Posted: June 17, 2015
This article explains why testing is critical when importing from China, when the time is right to test your product and how you should manage a failed test.
Posted: June 05, 2015
We see so much fraud/attempted fraud in our practice that we can usually (but not always) spot a fraud within minutes just by looking at the documents the victim or potential victim has been provided.
Posted: June 04, 2015
In this article, we explain the basics of CE marking, including documentation, labeling requirements, regulated products and major EN/EC directives.
Posted: May 29, 2015
In this article, we explain how your business is affected by substance restrictions, and how you can migrate your risks when buying from China and other Asian countries.
Posted: May 28, 2015
The Quality Inspector needs manpower in order to proceed with the inspection within the limited amount of time available.
Posted: May 27, 2015
The WEEE directive requires products to be designed in a way that simplifies the dismantling, for either recycling or further usage.
Posted: May 25, 2015
Stop counting individual worker productivity and start counting overall output.
Posted: May 22, 2015
Some of these causes are avoidable and we look at what we can do to avoid or minimise the risk of these delays while others are simply unavoidable.
Posted: May 21, 2015
The real question is which country is best – or, more to the point, which country is best for you?
Posted: May 20, 2015
The BIS product certificate scheme provides QA certification and the use of ISI marks to producers who conform to the quality standards mandated by BIS.
Posted: May 18, 2015
In many cases, manufacturing a new product necessitates the preparation of custom tooling. This is an important step.
Posted: May 15, 2015
Canada has strict rules and procedures that you must adhere to when importing commercial goods. Here we will outline the key aspects to consider when importing into Canada.
Posted: May 13, 2015
These phrases are reflective of problematic patterns from buyers that hurt the success of an import project.
Posted: May 11, 2015
An iterative cycle would include a design review where all the test data are presented and analyzed.
Posted: May 08, 2015
Ideally, in every transaction there would be a 50-50 sharing of risk but in practice, that is hardly the case.
Posted: May 06, 2015
Many China consultants are falling dangerously short in various other legal aspects of their business as well.
Posted: May 04, 2015
Functional testing should be carried out at a sub-system level that tests the functionality of the small bits and a full system test for the entire product functionality.
Posted: May 01, 2015
The initial meetings when the US company is euphoric about its China opportunities is where my firm's China lawyers most often see IP go out the window.
Posted: April 29, 2015
The quality of ceramic products is difficult to gauge because there will almost certainly be defects.
Posted: April 27, 2015
Having a prototype produced will allow the Engineering and the Design teams to review best practice techniques
Posted: April 24, 2015
To compete with big industry brands such as Apple, Samsung and Lenovo, tablet PC suppliers must have a solid plan that hinges on high product quality.
Posted: April 24, 2015
A China direct option isn't always economically feasible on small order runs.
Posted: April 23, 2015
If you are finding pricing from China that is below what you can find back home, be very careful. Scam artists on the Internet prey on foreign buyers who think they are getting a great deal on genuine products.
Posted: April 23, 2015
One of the most important things to determine before entering into a contract with a Chinese company is to make sure that you are contracting with the right company.
Posted: April 22, 2015
When it comes to developing hard goods, there are often mechanical parts. They need to be designed before prototypes start to be made.
Posted: April 15, 2015
In China sourcing, a good way to hurt your credibility with factories and potential supplier partners is to make unrealistic requests.
Posted: April 13, 2015
Let's keep going with the series of articles on new product development. This sub-step is dedicated to products that contain electronics.
Posted: April 10, 2015
You can take advantage of the many opportunities in China and ensure a profitable business relationship with prospective suppliers by managing the risks involved. China sourcing expert Adam Guilbourne lists five common mistakes to avoid when sourcing from China.
Posted: April 10, 2015
The tension test for toys is part of the EN 71 regulation. It is one of the most commonly performed test during a product inspection and at a laboratory. How reliable are those tests? Is one better than the other?
Posted: April 08, 2015
What about where the Chinese company just up and suddenly shuts down. How can the American or European buyer be blamed for that?
Posted: April 06, 2015
During the product development phase the product is designed, built, tested and finalized ready for mass production.
Posted: April 01, 2015
Most manufacturers in China are ISO 9001 certified and
should have trustworthy QA systems in place, including final QC. But in the end, the question remains: When can we trust the cat to keep the cream?
Posted: March 30, 2015
This installment in the series of articles helping you through the New Product Development process will focus on concept testing.
Posted: March 27, 2015
Importing Chinese goods into Australia has just got a whole lot easier with the implementation of a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between Australia and China.
Posted: March 25, 2015
China today is just not nearly as favorable or easy for foreign companies as it was ten years ago. It just isn't.
Posted: March 23, 2015
In the previous article we mentioned that there should be a Stage Gate Review meeting between each of the development phases. Here we will look at the guidelines for these Stage Gate Reviews.
Posted: March 20, 2015
It is compulsory to identify any potential risks of color fastness prior to the production. To do so, the buyer should check the samples received for approval.
Posted: March 20, 2015
This article provides information on resolving disagreements that may arise when purchasing from Cambodia.
Posted: March 20, 2015
This article provides information on Cambodia's banking system and the necessary procedures in purchasing and export documentation.
Posted: March 19, 2015
This article provides information on how to qualify and select suitable export manufacturers in Cambodia.
Posted: March 19, 2015
This article provides information on Cambodia's major export industries.
Posted: March 18, 2015
This article provides information on resolving disagreements that may arise when purchasing from Myanmar.
Posted: March 18, 2015
This article provides information on Myanmar's banking system and the necessary procedures in purchasing and export documentation.
Posted: March 18, 2015
If the buyer starts out from the assumption that their supplier is human and prone to mistakes, this would cause the buyer to proceed with caution in
sourcing and buying, leading to fewer quoting (and eventual) quality errors.
Posted: March 17, 2015
This article provides information on how to qualify and select suitable export manufacturers in Myanmar.
Posted: March 17, 2015
This article provides information on Myanmar's major export industries and most important production hubs.
Posted: March 16, 2015
The goal is to identify one or two solid potential ideas that can move into Phase 3 and eventually made in China and sold on your target market.
Posted: March 16, 2015
This article provides information on resolving disagreements that may arise when purchasing from Nepal.
Posted: March 16, 2015
This article provides information on Nepal's banking system and the necessary procedures in purchasing and export documentation.
Posted: March 13, 2015
This article provides information on how to qualify and select suitable export manufacturers in Nepal.
Posted: March 13, 2015
This article provides information on Nepal's major export industries and most important production hubs.
Posted: March 13, 2015
Buying direct from China is not for everybody. This Q&A helps manage expectations.
Posted: March 11, 2015
We are kicking off a series of articles that will take us though each phase and highlight the key aspects and what you should be doing to ensure your product successfully gets to market.
Posted: March 09, 2015
Production monitoring is probably the best solution if the supplier is unable to implement the right corrective actions in order to improve the quality of the manufactured goods.
Posted: March 06, 2015
General guidelines exist but the importer is usually asked to define what is acceptable – and what is not.
Posted: March 4, 2015
This article is an excerpt from Sourcing From: India, a series of reports that provides buyers sourcing information from alternative manufacturing hubs in Asia.
Posted: March 04, 2015
If you frequently source and import from China, here are 8 Chinese New Year Resolutions to consider.
Posted: March 02, 2015
No government, including the one in China, is going to treat a table as a chair just because you call it that, and the same holds true for contracts.
Posted: March 3, 2015
This article is an excerpt from Sourcing From: India, a series of reports that provides buyers sourcing information from alternative manufacturing hubs in Asia.
Posted: March 2, 2015
This article is an excerpt from Sourcing From: India, a series of reports that provides buyers sourcing information from alternative manufacturing hubs in Asia.
Posted: February 27, 2015
Innumerable pitfalls await the unwary in China. But there are ways to safeguard yourself and your company.
Posted: February 27, 2015
This article is an excerpt from Sourcing From: India, a series of reports that provides buyers sourcing information from alternative manufacturing hubs in Asia.
Posted: February 26, 2015
This article is an excerpt from Sourcing From: Vietnam, a series of reports that provides buyers sourcing information from alternative manufacturing hubs in Asia.
Posted: February 25, 2015
This article is an excerpt from Sourcing From: Vietnam, a series of reports that provides buyers sourcing information from alternative manufacturing hubs in Asia.
Posted: February 25, 2015
Most companies that want to compare Asian countries tend to do so on the basis of easy-to-find numbers: minimum wage levels.
Posted: February 23, 2015
The polybag packaging for goods produced in China is th however, is it actually enough to protect the goods?
Posted: February 23, 2015
This article is an excerpt from Sourcing From: Vietnam, a series of reports that provides buyers sourcing information from alternative manufacturing hubs in Asia.
Posted: February 20, 2015
Many importers miss out on opportunities to work with quality suppliers because the buyer perceives their quote to be a high price.
Posted: February 18, 2015
The full article is worth a read, but the "money" section is the following bullet point list of what every small company doing in business should be doing
by way of a China compliance program.
Posted: February 18, 2015
This article is an excerpt from Sourcing From: Vietnam, a series of reports that provides buyers sourcing information from alternative manufacturing hubs in Asia.
Posted: February 16, 2015
Any Chinese manufacturers are starting to make this product, which is fast replacing regular plastic protection.
Posted: February 13, 2015
International brands and retailers understand that responsibility has a price and there are high risks in buying without carefully checking who the supplier is and the working conditions it offers.
Posted: February 12, 2015
In this part of the series on Chinese New Year, we look at the logistics situation in China during this period & how it impacts the entire supply chain, especially in regard to “delivery times” & “logistics costs”.
Posted: February 04, 2015
It seems at least half the companies that employ their own inspectors in China are unhappy about the behavior and/or their working methods of some of their QC staff.
Posted: February 04, 2015
This article is an excerpt from Sourcing From: the Philippines, a series of reports that provides buyers sourcing information from alternative manufacturing hubs in Asia.
Posted: February 02, 2015
"Production timings" are often longer during the Chinese New Year period, especially after the holiday due to the pile up of orders during the holidays.
Posted: January 30, 2015
We are once again at that time of the year where we have to try & convince new importers & sometimes existing importers to speed up their decision making due to the approaching Chinese New year holiday.
Posted: January 28, 2015
It is a much deeper issue than language. Chinese courts, Chinese lawyers, and Chinese business people are not going to agree to legal provisions that have no meaning under Chinese law.
Posted: January 26, 2015
The objective is to maximize the probability that the new product will fulfill the customer’s requirements.
Posted: January 23, 2015
No supplier relationship is perfect, and there will always be hiccups along the way. However, you may want to think twice if you repeatedly encounter one or more “red” flags.
Posted: January 16, 2015
At the end of the day, the question is: how much time can be saved by not writing all the details? And would that time be more wisely spent on other tasks?
Posted: January 14, 2015
Form your WFOE correctly or don’t bother forming one at all. If your WFOE is not living up to its registration requirements/promises, you are at risk and you should act now to clean up.
Posted: January 09, 2015
This article provides a step-by-step approach to solving and preventing quality problems with 8D.
Posted: January 07, 2015
About once a month my law firm gets a call from someone whose product is being held up at the U.S. border for one problem or another.
Posted: January 05, 2015
In essence, a standard is an agreed way of doing something. It could be about making a product, managing a process, delivering a service or supplying materials.
Posted: December 29, 2014
The biggest mistake is believing that China has no laws. American companies that believe China has no laws fail to take the legal steps necessary to protect themselves in China.
Posted: December 26, 2014
Just because it is difficult, doesn’t mean that new product development should be impossible. Here are a few tips that can make a difference when it comes to the successful development of a product.
Posted: December 24, 2014
This article is an excerpt from Sourcing From: the Philippines, a series of reports that provides buyers sourcing information from alternative manufacturing hubs in Asia.
Posted: December 22, 2014
Some buyers realize that they need to keep a close eye on production is important, and that catching problems earlier is far cheaper than later.
Posted: December 22, 2014
This article is an excerpt from Sourcing From: the Philippines, a series of reports that provides buyers sourcing information from alternative manufacturing hubs in Asia.
Posted: December 19, 2014
Time is precious and when inspecting the goods only at the end via the pre-shipment inspection, some issues can’t be solved so easily, specially if the goods should be reworked or replaced.
Posted: December 18, 2014
This article is an excerpt from Sourcing From: the Philippines, a series of reports that provides buyers sourcing information from alternative manufacturing hubs in Asia.
Posted: December 17, 2014
With Chinese business representing an increasingly large, if not dominant, portion of the world’s trade, it is necessary that business travellers learn the appropriate etiquette before conducting business in China.
Posted: December 15, 2014
Make sure you require the manufacture to sign and seal a contract preferably in Chinese that makes clear to whom the molds belong to you.
Posted: December 12, 2014
Understand your product and the manufacturing processes. Normal variations become perceived problems, when in actuality, no problem exists.
Posted: December 10, 2014
The WEEE regulation is represented by the black and white crossed bin, which means that the product should be subject to a separate collection at the end of life.
Posted: December 08, 2014
Unfortunately, most Chinese companies are still at the micro level. Producing a quality product means complying with rules imposed by a customer.
Posted: December 03, 2014
The audits are conducted by experienced professionals and are conducted in line with the SA8000 standard, which is an international benchmark.
Posted: December 01, 2014
You should always plan ahead for pulling your production from your Chinese manufacturer.
Posted: November 28, 2014
Tailored advice is needed when working in a place with a completely different business culture.
Posted: November 26, 2014
The on-site test for glued products is usually related to the abuse test. This means that the QC inspector will put the product into the condition of an “angry” customer, using with force and sometimes violence on the product on a special level sample size based on the AQL table.
Posted: November 24, 2014
Maybe you are looking for a new Chinese factory and you are not sure how to find a good one. You’d like to get inspiration from those companies that have the best supplier screening process.
Posted: November 21, 2014
Much of the risk can be managed and this article will outline some of the most common mistakes that people make when sourcing products, so that you can avoid making them.
Posted: November 19, 2014
If it is the first order, the supplier may not yet have a handle on the expected lead time. If their production delays cause the shipment to miss the target dates specified in the L/C, the buy side has the right to refuse payment and cancel the order.
Posted: November 17, 2014
There are all sorts of things you should be doing to increase your odds of securing good products from China and that includes having a good specs sheet.
Posted: November 14, 2014
International negotiators who believe that a slowing Chinese economy gives foreigners more leverage are, however, over-optimistic at best.
Posted: November 12, 2014
China suppliers view the order as more of a mutual partnership, whereas the Western importer views the supplier as having more of a 1-sided responsibility.
Posted: November 10, 2014
I had the chance to ask Michael Blanc a few questions. Michael is the Regional Manager at Supply Chain Analysis Centre, Tradegood. He offers free sourcing services for buyers. He focuses on the toys and furniture industries.
Posted: November 07, 2014
Foreign judges generally, and China judges in particular, think US courts are out of control with the damages they impose in product liability cases.
Posted: November 05, 2014
Many of these questions need to be asked face to face. Because when you’re trying to attain detailed information, the salesperson is not usually the best one to answer.
Posted: November 03, 2014
The purpose of the CSA is to check the factory’s social accountability management system based on the standard SA 8000 and local laws requirements.
Posted: October 29, 2014
Here are some things for you to ponder whenever you are mapping out the timing aspects of your offshore order.
Posted: October 27, 2014
In many industries, it makes more sense to be located within the existing cluster of competitors rather than far away from them.
Posted: October 24, 2014
The answer depends on who you are and what you want from the market – and that’s a problem.
Posted: October 22, 2014
For one, if your order is small the factory will never give you its full attention, time and resources.
Posted: October 20, 2014
The real trick to reduce counterfeiting is to do the things earlier in the year that can help to prevent it.
Posted: October 17, 2014
QRQC focuses on quality control to ensure that any problem is identified and isolated and that a solution is found and implemented quickly and effectively.
Posted: October 15, 2014
For the success of the audit, the supplier requirements for a factory audit should be clearly defined, as well as the audit scope.
Posted: October 13, 2014
More and more importers discover that they can appoint an auditing agency to evaluate factories before they issue an order. But not all these evaluation services are equally helpful.
Posted: October 10, 2014
It’s hard for a Chinese company to get overseas coverage in the first place, let alone for a product they manufacture but didn’t design or brand.nt.
Posted: October 08, 2014
Securing a US trademark registration is more complicated than most people realize and that is even truer of China trademark registrations. You really should use the right China lawyer for China trademarks.
Posted: October 03, 2014
Many suppliers in Asia want to work independently, so the importer has to strike the right balance in the equation: quality assurance vs. quality control.
Posted: October 01, 2014
Mario Cavolo and Andrew Hupert take two different views on China’s emerging business environment.
Posted: September 29, 2014
How does one integrate the seven basic quality tools in a problem resolution method that follows the PDCA (Plan-Do-Check-Act) logic?
Posted: September 26, 2014
If you get unbelievably good pricing (relative to all other suppliers & material costs) it's normally a big red flag.
Posted: September 24, 2014
Bad things nearly always happen when Chinese manufacturers discover that their American product buyers will soon be ceasing to buy product from it.
Posted: September 22, 2014
In an instant, it becomes difficult to reach factory representatives, products are ready early (or not), and the ratio of passed vs. failed pre-shipment inspections drops quickly.
Posted: September 19, 2014
Products typically need to be in stores by November, which means they need to be produced in a period spanning from June to September.
Posted: September 17, 2014
The EN 71 regulation for the safety of toys made or imported into the European Union specifies the safety standards for toys.
Posted: September 15, 2014
The Chinese bureaucracy is much more tolerant of overseas companies that spend than of overseas companies that earn in China. That means integrated MNCs must adjust their business models – and their approach to regulators – when they are selling.
Posted: September 12, 2014
Compliance is one of the biggest challenges facing foreign companies operating in China.
Posted: September 10, 2014
China bears and the Chinapologists are spreading myths that lead to terrible business decisions. The truth lies somewhere between these two extreme – and dangerous viewpoints.
Posted: September 08, 2014
Many foreign investors still wish to enter the Chinese market through equity joint ventures, and the particular risks involved with this type of arrangement require careful planning.
Posted: September 05, 2014
The biggest hurdle is not necessarily the language barriers but differences in thinking and mindset.
Posted: September 03, 2014
Primarily, the more complex the part, the longer it takes to manufacture the mold.
Posted: September 01, 2014
China business reality check – It’s not fair and isn’t getting better. Deal with it.
Posted: August 29, 2014
Guanxi-building gifts, premium pricing for prestige brands, and closely guarded trade secrets used to be the hallmarks of a savvy international management team in China – now they are prosecutable offenses.
Posted: August 27, 2014
Audit suppliers before placing the order and inspect products before the goods ship out and before final payment is made. Have clear terms in your contracts about how defective merchandise is to be handled.
Posted: August 26, 2014
The first thing to do is to figure out how the foreign SMEs are currently operating in China (illegally) then fnd out the best way to get them operating legally.
Posted: August 22, 2014
What is the difference between audits and inspections? Why are lab tests necessary if you send an inspector? This article will show how these three types of services fit together.
Posted: August 20, 2014
Factory audits on China trader suppliers can be difficult to arrange because traders are reluctant. Here are some arguments to convince them.
Posted: August 19, 2014
As an importer, you want to assure your emails are effective. Written communication can make or break the order.
Posted: August 15, 2014
American and European negotiators treat their Chinese counterparties' "general principles" discussion like the "terms and conditions" screen – we just check the box and look for the real content. Big mistake.
Posted: August 13, 2014
The odds of having problems with a Chinese company will be substantially lower if you are dealing with a “legitimate” Chinese company.
Posted: August 11, 2014
A factory with large amounts of stock on the shop floor probably needs a long time to ship finished products.
Posted: August 08, 2014
Buyers can reject lots before they are shipped but there are other alternatives to take into consideration.
Posted: August 07, 2014
Here are a few hints on where Chinese EMS are competitive and some tips on how to select them depending on your specific situation.
Posted: August 04, 2014
A ring with the best casting work and the most highly-prized gemstones can really take a tumble in terms of quality if those gemstones are not properly set.
Posted: August 01, 2014
The best vendors to work with are those that know their trade and don't require you to wait for a response from down the supply chain.
Posted: July 31, 2014
Prosperous China is in the news again with a sustained high inflation rate, rising incomes and stronger regulations. Surprisingly, as a consequence, producer prices are decreasing while consumer prices are rising.
Posted: July 30, 2014
The key to successful China sourcing is not a set of tools — it is primarily a change in mental models.
Posted: July 25, 2014
Once a company running a business in China achieves normal tax payer status, it can get registered to process the VAT rebate in-house.
Posted: July 23, 2014
To us Westerners, "relationships" are emotional. In China, relationships are more like a due diligence investigation – and you definitely have to negotiate for access and openness.
Posted: July 22, 2014
Far too many companies treat their IP in China as optional or secondary when it really should be one of the first issues they consider.
Posted: July 16, 2014
When it comes to purchasing injection or rubber injection-molded products, buyers generally want to qualify potential suppliers before sharing confidential information and requesting quotations.
Posted: July 14, 2014
The mindset is that the initial quote is not something that is going to make or break the project. It is viewed as sort of the starting point of discussion.
Posted: July 11, 2014
Published by Booz & Co, Knowledge-Based Sourcing describes how buyers will get the most our of their Chinese supplier base when they commit themselves to understanding most aspects of their suppliers.
Posted: July 09, 2014
The rumor saying there are two CE logos, one for the EU and one for “China Export” is wrong. Only one CE logo exists.
Posted: July 07, 2014
Have you ever spent a significant amount of money on an item of jewelry only to be ripped off by poor quality materials or workmanship?
Posted: July 04, 2014
Put simply, if buyers take the following three actions, they will avoid 90 percent of the common China sourcing problems.
Posted: July 02, 2014
China is not bad these days, it is just different. Those who pretend it is not different are going to get killed financially.
Posted: July 01, 2014
Rebuilding manufacturing capabilities and a network of component suppliers will take many years.
Posted: June 27, 2014
On one hand, there is so much competition in China that sales people will say just about anything to get your business.
On the other hand, buyers need to take some of the blame.
Posted: June 25, 2014
In China sourcing and manufacturing endeavors, buyers also wave big red, ominous banners that scream alert! danger! time and money loss lurking around the corner!
Posted: June 24, 2014
Standard Chartered Bank's “Global trade unbundled” gives views on how global trade will evolve after the great financial crisis, and interesting data and views on China trade itself.
Posted: June 20, 2014
Generally there are six requirements that the client must provide to the firm, including
the logo, and the English and Chinese text of the trademark.
Posted: June 19, 2014
This goes without saying, but you need to make it easy for your supplier to receive email responses and confirmations from you, especially if you have open projects.
Posted: June 18, 2014
When sourcing in China, price increases are often presented as a law of nature. Fortunately, there are solutions to this challenge.
Posted: June 13, 2014
Before negotiating for product exclusivity, you need to ask yourself a few questions.
Posted: June 11, 2014
China is where most EMS companies of CEMs have large production capabilities.
Posted: June 09, 2014
Western negotiators in China shouldn’t try to decide on tactical issues before they develop workable strategies.
Posted: June 06, 2014
RAPEX and other sources publish long lists of products that are found unsafe and need to be recalled. Here are the most common reasons for non-compliance and recalls of products made in China.
Posted: June 05, 2014
Quality Wars is bringing you the six essential chair QA tests and checks that you can perform anywhere, even on-site at the factory.
Posted: June 02, 2014
The story goes to show that basic language skills and a little bit of China knowledge can go a long way. Also, just about anything can happen, so it pays to be on your toes.
Posted: May 30, 2014
You have to change your thought process when dealing with China and in turn Chinese vendors.
Posted: May 29, 2014
Registered capital is an initial investment intended to be immediately used in operating the China-based WFOE. It need not just sit in a bank and never be touched.
Posted: May 28, 2014
Is China real estate overvalued? Sure. Would it be easy for China to slip into a serious economic crisis? Yes. But are China manufacturers losing competitiveness across the board? Certainly not.
Posted: May 23, 2014
After a quality inspection, an inspector prepares a draft report on-site and reviews it with the factory manager. This draft report is a first overview of the goods' quality and should not be confused with the final report.
Posted: May 21, 2014
In order to secure on time delivery of quality goods from China suppliers, you will need to consider 3 areas: Selec Take contro and Put in place the right inspection plan.
Posted: May 20, 2014
One of the first things to look at during factory audits is the organization chart, which can often point to serious operational dysfunctions.
Posted: May 16, 2014
Watch out for these red flags during sampling and mass production.
Posted: May 15, 2014
Here is a term sheet template that lists the bulk of the terms most companies should be concerning themselves with when outsourcing their manufacturing to China.
Posted: May 13, 2014
The problem with agents getting a commission from suppliers is that it distorts the agent’s incentives. When things go wrong, the agent will naturally tend to defend the current relationship at the expense of the buyer’s interests.
Posted: April 25, 2014
Have you ever been in the position of a guest who tries graciously to refuse a lavish gift or over-generous act of kindness from a host? How about the sometimes awkward task of declining an invitation?
Posted: April 24, 2014
Here are four common and egregious mistakes American domestic lawyers make when representing their clients in doing business with or in China.
Posted: April 23, 2014
The subject of ‘product assembly’ is a complex one with many different methods and techniques required for different products.
Posted: April 11, 2014
Inspections that involve one or two products can be conducted easily in one man-day. But when there are multiple products to check, creating a sampling plan can be complicated.
Posted: April 10, 2014
From size measurements check to needle detection and rocking tests, here are the 10 essential QA tests and checks for footwear.
Posted: April 8, 2014
Here are a few tips on what to say when your China manufacturer asks for a price increase.
Posted: April 4, 2014
By getting a product certified themselves, buyers can reduce the chances of fake approvals.
Posted: April 3, 2014
Chinese negotiators can be chess-match slow, or lightning fast. The pace of your Chinese counterparty says a lot about your deal and relationship.
Posted: April 2, 2014
Social auditors should focus on the worst practices that are common in China.
Posted: March 21, 2014
With a constant barrage of emotional-filled emails, skype calls, an overload of repetitious detail to sift through and unprofessional threats, buyers can be overbearing in giving feedback to their Chinese supplier.
Posted: March 20, 2014
Injection mold machines have become sophisticated pieces of equipment with closed loop control systems monitoring every aspect of the process you can think of.
Posted: March 19, 2014
Here are 8 essential inspection tests that are carried out on leather bags made from real leather or imitations, such as PU.
Posted: March 14, 2014
Deals in China can go off the rails easily and early. The key to success in China is to walk away from bad deals and find good ones.
Posted: March 13, 2014
If you have been a victim of the "new bank account to pay us" scam, you should check your insurance policy and call an insurance coverage lawyer because all may not be lost.
Posted: March 12, 2014
The basic principle of die casting is the process of injecting molten metal under high pressure into a mold called a die. Learn how to evaluate a factory’s die casting process.
Posted: March 7, 2014
How will agents conduct their business in the future? Many still act as traders these days, and some of them pretend to own factories.
Posted: March 7, 2014
Hot out of the frying pan, Quality Wars is serving up eleven essential QA tests and checks for cookware.
Posted: March 6, 2014
Do your due diligence and audits on potential suppliers before you send money and make sure you check the quality before the goods ship out of China.
Posted: March 4, 2014
While the inspection scope, product type and order quantity may be similar, the hours spent on an inspection can fluctuate dramatically due to a range of factors.
Posted: February 21, 2014
“But I gave the factory the Pantone number!” In the trials and tribulations of China manufacturing when a buyer finds out the color of their sample, or, even worse their production is “off”, this is a common exclamation.
Posted: February 20, 2014
In the West, negotiation is the prelude to business. In China, negotiation is the business.
Posted: February 18, 2014
How buyers can get a real and legitimate product certificate if the supplier has not already obtained it
Posted: February 13, 2014
Today most companies in the world are implementing quality management systems based on the globally recognized international standard ISO 9001.
Posted: February 10, 2014
If you wanted to make sure your system failed quickly, you would do exactly like the supplier where we took these photos.
Posted: February 6, 2014
Online selling is big and only getting bigger. Every day people want to “import from China” and sell online – particularly on Ebay & Amazon.
Posted: February 3, 2014
Here are four real-life examples of how things can go wrong when the supplier misunderstands instructions.
Posted: January 30, 2014
The trend over the past 20 years has been more direct trade between the manufacturer and importer.
Posted: January 28, 2014
Many international companies -- whether they are multinational corporations or small- to medium-sized enterprises -- see China as a sales market that offers great potential.
Posted: January 24, 2014
Courts in China are now allowed to make public the names of companies and individuals who have defaulted on court-ordered payments. Avoid doing business with this group.
Posted: January 22, 2014
In your importing and manufacturing sagas, there is a right way and wrong way in giving feedback to China suppliers.
Posted: January 20, 2014
This list of common negotiating mistakes will help both newcomers and experienced China hands adjust their negotiating practices to be more successful and effective.
Posted: January 17, 2014
As an importer, you take responsibility for the safety of the products you sell in your market. In many countries, you hold the same liability as if you had manufactured the products yourself.
Posted: January 16, 2014
This infographic summarizes four levels of sourcing, based on its scope, commitment of the organization to it and the return that can be expected.
Posted: January 15, 2014
It is this time of year again when factories don’t know how long their employees will stay, and when all buyers say "you must ship my order before the holiday."
Posted: January 10, 2014
Here are 10 safe assumptions to make during your China manufacturing and sourcing projects. These assumptions help you stay on top of surprises, avoid pitfalls and keep a piece of your sanity.
Posted: January 8, 2014
I am constantly telling our clients that just because something happens one way in Shanghai does not mean it is going to happen the same way in Datong. It is more than cliché to say that China is a big and diverse country.
Posted: January 7, 2014
I just took the newly opened high-speed train (gaotie / ??) line between Shenzhen and Xiamen. And I have been riding other lines regularly, around Guangzhou and around Shanghai/Ningbo. I thought I should write about my experiences.
Posted: January 3, 2014
Many importers forget to specify how their products should be packed. And, every year, tons of products arriving from China are thrown away because they were not adequately protected.
Posted: January 2, 2014
More than once, when I review Purchase Agreements that buyers have already signed with his or her supplier, I have found that actually what he signed is a Purchase Order. What are the differences between a PO and a PA?
Posted: January 2, 2014
The border measures taken by the Chinese Customs has been ever increasing. Recently starting in late October, export shipments involving UL, HDMI, Bluetooth, SD marks were heavily inspected by customs officials.
Posted: December 27, 2013
In order to better communicate with your Chinese supplier or Chinese vendor, you should know how to give and receive business cards in China.
Posted: December 26, 2013
If the factory is really bankrupt, consult the lawyer who drafted the contract used for this purchase. If you did not do business with a contract, forget about this deal and move on.
Posted: December 23, 2013
Focus a large amount of initial energy on finding the right factory
Posted: December 19, 2013
Procurement from China is not a job for a lazy person. It is time consuming and requires experience to do effectively. Here are 4 steps to get better results when procuring product from China:
Posted: December 18, 2013
A buyer needs to evaluate the capacity of a supplier to fulfill his requirements.
Posted: December 17, 2013
Many small importers wonder if sending money to a Hong Kong company is safe.
Posted: December 12, 2013
A client wanted to know if it should register a China trademark for the brand name and the logo even though there is a good chance that China will not allow that product into China for some time, if ever.
Posted: December 11, 2013
Chinese negotiators value relationships more highly than western negotiators do, which presents a unique set of challenges when deals are being discussed long distance.
Posted: December 10, 2013
Define in professional words and numbers what the supplier and the customer should agree upon, assure compliance and deal with breaches.
Posted: December 05, 2013
Back in April last year, I spoke at an Economist Magazine Business Without Borders event on China. I mostly spoke about intellectual property protections in China, but my introduction dealt with China’s legal system as a whole.
Posted: December 04, 2013
Chinese negotiation often requires Americans to engage in long distance, online and email communication. These methods can work just fine – but the rules of distance negotiation are different from face-to-face communicating.
Posted: December 03, 2013
Yes, but not just any factory will do.
Posted: November 28, 2013
Most importers in Europe and in the US under-estimate the risks they are running, when it comes to compliance to safety standards.
Posted: November 27, 2013
Whether you are based in New York, Shanghai or Frankfort, you are probably conducting much of your negotiation online – particularly email, but also via SMS, fax, video-chat, and conference calls.
Posted: November 26, 2013
As of 1st August, we (in Australia) are being charged 6% VAT for all export clearance formalities and freights prepaid in China.
Posted: November 21, 2013
Many buyers want to have a Chinese manufacturer work on their own designs. And, very often, it means mould(s) need to be created for each new product design.
Posted: November 20, 2013
Got the following email the other day (which email I have modified so as to strip it of any identifiers):
Posted: November 19, 2013
The typical fake supplier in China registers a company, draws up documents under some peasant’s name, creates a website with a professional look and hires a few English speaking sales people (unaware their employer is a scam).
Posted: November 14, 2013
Have you ever worked with a Chinese supplier contact who seems to be very unresponsive to your concerns? He might be causing you a lot of headaches but you had to continue working with him.
Posted: November 13, 2013
China sourcing trade shows such as Global sources, MEGA SHOW, Canton fair… connect millions of buyers with dozens of thousands of suppliers at the same place at the same time.
Posted: November 12, 2013
Last December, in a post entitled, Payment Fraud In China. This Season’s Edition, we wrote of how it has “become somewhat of a December tradition to write about China payment scams in December because history shows this is the biggest month for those.
Posted: November 7, 2013
We all know we must register our trademark in China to get any legal protection. But what specific protection can be expected? According to the revised Trademark Law, there are three protections:
Posted: November 6, 2013
A few months ago, I wrote a list of testing labs that has proven helpful to many importers.
Posted: November 5, 2013
Buying a Chinese company? Looking to do a China Joint Venture? Looking to use a Chinese company to distribute your product in China? Licensing your technology? Just want some good widgets from a reliable China supplier?
Posted: October 31, 2013
It is probably clear to most now that we strongly recommend on-site supplier evaluation prior to any purchase from a Chinese factory.
Posted: October 30, 2013
We all know that sourcing in China starts by selecting the right supplier. However, even the best supplier is able to manufacture the wrong product quality with an incomplete purchase order.
Posted: October 29, 2013
Doing business in China is hard enough when you get everything right. Western managers often end up repeating the mistakes that others have made before. The bad news is that any one of these can undermine your efforts in China.
Posted: October 23, 2013
A few weeks ago, we held a seminar about the best way to hire, train, and manage inspectors.
Posted: October 22, 2013
Got an email today in response to our post, When NOT To Fire Your “China Guy.” The email was from my friend and China hand, Kurt Braybrook, owner of Fatwater Consultancy.
Posted: October 17, 2013
Many importers negotiate a shipment date (ETD) with their Chinese suppliers before orders are issued, and then fail to follow up on the production schedule.
Posted: October 16, 2013
Sometimes buyers sign a PO instead of a written contract. It is very risky. I strongly recommend that a bilingual contract must be signed before any PO is placed and in the contract make the responsibilities, rights and remedy for breach of contract very clear.
Posted: October 15, 2013
I am tired of feeling bad for people/companies who call or email me to say that they just bought this or that from China and they did not receive it or what they received is not even close to what they ordered and paid for.
Posted: October 10, 2013
Stephen Ashcroft, from the procurement and supply chain consultancy Brian Farrington, has written an interesting post listing naughty tactics some Western suppliers are using to maximize their profits:
Posted: October 09, 2013
We were told the delivery of the shipment on our order was 30 days and it made 60 days. Are we allowed any compensation? How can we claim it? Of course the supplier is unwilling saying he is not the shipping company. our contract was clear buy and deliver from the supplier side.
Posted: October 08, 2013
Here you go, straight from a China Social Accountability Expert with 12 years experience (in China):
Posted: October 03, 2013
Sometimes I visit a buying office with a dozen people, and most of them have “manager” somewhere in their title.
Posted: October 02, 2013
We already learned about the production level limits during a pre-shipment inspection to ensure its reliability: “Pre-shipment inspection: production level“. There is another important condition to take into consideration: the way the sampling for inspection is done.}