Ever wondered if you could deal directly with
manufacturers... in China?! It's easier than you think.
First Impressions
I visited China in Autumn 2005 with a group of business
associates and must admit that I was amazed, both by the warm
reception we received wherever we went, and at the factories we
toured. Having never been there before, and having only news
accounts of "difficulties" between China and the U.S. to fuel my
imagination, I assumed things would be overly formal and
official at best... at worst, cold... and we would be "watched"
constantly. I was so wrong on both counts. We were treated as
welcome visitors and had only to ask the hotel staff for
something to have it almost magically produced.
Lost in Translation
Outside of the hotels and manufacturing facilities, doing
business in the streets and in small shops was, at most times,
terribly difficult. We had arranged our factory visits and
business meetings with our contacts in China, and there were no
problems on that side when it came to language. But once we
stepped out on our own, we rarely found anyone - even in tourist
gift shops - who could communicate in English at all. Next time
I visit China, I'll hopefully be armed with a few more basic
Mandarin phrases, but for everyone visiting, even just for
leisure, I'd recommend hiring translators to assist you.
Cash in China
Another word of warning: business owners back home in the States
may be suitably impressed by your Gold Card, but to the Chinese
shopkeeper it's just a pretty piece of plastic that won't buy a
cup of Chinese tea. Even in the large cities, you're going to
have to carry around Chinese Yuan (aka Renminbi) in cash if you
want to be able to go shopping or eat at a restaurant. I have to
say, the upside of this is that you won't find yourself going
over budget. But with the incredibly low Chinese retail prices,
that probably wouldn't happen anyway.
Low Retail Prices
Once you've overcome the communication difficulties you'll be
amazed to find the bargains you'll find in the small shops. For
a start, it's an electronics paradise. Just make sure you do
your homework on what will and won't work back in the States. Of
course it is easy to load yourself up with personal purchases,
but the real value is getting even more ideas of attractive
products to start selling back home.
Factories in China
Our visit to a manufacturing plant in Huizhou left us all . . .
well, 'impressed' hardly seems like a strong enough word. The
building, on the outside was sort of drab looking with banners
hanging here and there but inside was quite a different story.
First of all we were treated as if we were VIPs instead of
mid-level managers from Kenosha. Most importantly, however, the
level of automation in this factory was remarkable, even by
American standards and, when you look at the numbers, you see
that the productivity is really impressive. It's no longer a
mystery to this American why China is finding such a willing
market in America.
Back Again
I wish I had more than the seven days we were able to stay in
China, but it won't be long before I'm back, this time with a
group of my friends who have been listening to me talking about
the business opportunities since I got back... and who now want
to go out there to get a piece of the action for themselves.
About the author:
Sarah Fairfax visited China 2005 and sent this testamonial to
Chinavasion. For free information on how you can go to China and
start buying direct from chinese suppliers visit this site:
China Business Travel
