E-Cantonfair.com

03/12/2015

Global buyers can post buying lead to find China products from quality suppliers and manufacturers

01/12/2015

5 Predictions Shaping The Future Of Customer Experience For 2016


Customer service as a category is evolving. Customer experience is no longer something handled purely by the contact center. But the contact center–the place where customers go for help–is becoming an increasingly key piece of a competitive business strategy.

http://www.forbes.com/sites/blakemorgan/2015/11/30/5-predictions-shaping-the-future-of-customer-experience-for-2016/

2015 was a year of disruption. In 2015 the world’s largest taxi company owns no taxis (Uber), the largest accommodation provider owns no real estate (Airbnb), the most popular media owner creates no content (Facebook), the largest telecom operator owns no telecom infrastructure (Skype and WeChat), t…

19/11/2015

China Wholesale Factories ( E-cantonfair Guide )

Millions of people around the world are taking advantage of the benefits that purchasing wholesale from China offers. In this guide we shall look at wholesale factories in China – where you can find them and what they produce.
What are China Wholesale Factories Like?
Factories in China are huge – much larger than many in other cities around the world. Many have hundreds of workers helping to manufacture thousands of products each and every day of the year.
In the past China was renowned for having outdated and poor quality factories – but thanks to the economic boom the country has experience many of the factories have been modernized which has helped improve the quality of the products being made.
China however is not known for its high quality products – as they specialize in mass production. Prices are cheap because they make the products simple and cost-effective.
There has been plenty of bad press about Chinese wholesale factories – that the working conditions are poor and the pay not high enough. However, due to this many global human rights organizations have visited factories to keep an eye on the standards that are being kept and the standards have risen drastically over recent years.
There are wholesale factories located all around China – with several areas being hotspots for manufacturing across the country. The southern coastal region of China, the city of Guangzhou and areas just outside of Beijing are some of the most common places for wholesale factories due to the highly accessible transport options that the coastal regions offer.
What is Produced at China Wholesale Factories?
A huge number of products are produced at China wholesale factories. There literally isn’t an item you could think of that isn’t produced somewhere in China. Their products range from useful through to the truly bizarre.
Some of the most popular items that are produced at China wholesale factories include clothes, handbags and electronics. People all around the world purchase these items wholesale from China to sell on for a maximum profit either in retail stores on online websites such as http://www.e-cantonfair.com/
Larger, more expensive wholesale items are also bought from China including automobiles and building supplies. While the postage can be very expensive on these items the savings far outweigh the cost of shipping.
Where can you find China Wholesale Factories?
If you are looking for wholesale factories in China the best place to look is on the internet. The internet is a fantastic resource and it won’t take you very long to find the information you are looking for.
By contacting the wholesale factories in China direct you will be cutting out any middle man and getting your products at the lowest possible price.
Most China wholesale factories have their own websites through which you can contact the suppliers either via email or using a b2b (business to business) platform whereby you can speak to a company representative directly about your requirements and needs.
Why do People buy from China Wholesale Factories?
The main factor affecting why people purchase wholesale items from Chinese factories is the cost. Items are significantly cheaper than their western counterparts meaning retailers get the maximum profit possible.
With the growth of China wholesale factories, it has given budding entrepreneurs around the world the opportunity to make a living selling wholesale items. The increasingly accessible Chinese wholesale factories in conjunction with websites such as E-cantonfair – more and more people are purchasing their items wholesale.
The benefits of purchasing from Chinese wholesale factories are not only limited to those wanting to make a business out of it however. Many consumers have realized that they can purchase their expensive items from China wholesale at a much lower price than in the stores. While most wholesalers require that you buy in bulk – some only have small minimum quantities and it can sometimes work out cheaper to buy 5 cell phones from China, for example, than it does to buy just one in your local retail store. It is definitely worth doing some research to see what bargains you can grab from China wholesale factories.

19/11/2015

Take taxi in Guangzhou ( China Guide )

Save Energy, Save time, Save money ! #
urban area population of roughly 11.85 million, Guangzhou is the third-largest city in China and Southern China’s largest city. Taxi is the most popular transportation for both local residents and tourists in Guangzhou.
At present, Guangzhou has about 16,000 taxies.Taxies in different colors, including the colors of yellow, blue, maroon and gold .They are running by different companies.
Tips:

1.Taking a taxi follow the principles of "marked prices": charges CNY10 for the first 2.5 kilometers (1.6 miles), and CNY2.6 for additional kilometers.

2. Print the address of where you want to go in Chinese to show your driver. Or when u are on the taxi,make a phone call to one of your Chinese friend,ask him or her tell the exactly address to the taxi driver.
The demand for taxies in Guangzhou is very high, particularly during peak hours: from 8am to 9am, at lunch and at dinner. In peak hours,it’s not so easy to see an empty taxi, In order to find an empty taxi more easily, you can wait at the special pick-up points for taxis.

4.Average taxi charges costs can be listed as followes:
a.From Guangzhou New Baiyun International Airport to Guangzhou Railway Station：100RMB
b.From Baiyun Airport to Guangzhou East Railway Station:150RMB
c.From Guangzhou Railway Station to Guangzhou East Rail Way Station, the taxi fee is around 25RMB
d. From Baiyun Airport to Fangcun Bus Station , about 120 RMB would be paid.

5. Taxi complaint hotline: 020-83600000

sourcing Chinese suppliers ? start with : www.e-cantonfair.com

19/11/2015

Importing Agricultural & Food Products from China ( E-cantonfair)

Importing food is in many ways different compared to general consumer goods, mainly due to regulations in the destination markets. In this product guide, we explain what you must know about importing Agricultural & Food products from suppliers in China, including requirements on food production facilities, laboratory testing and food packaging. We also explain what European, American and Australian importers must know about licensing, and inspections.
Approved Food Production Facilities & Quality Management System
A Quality Management System (QMS) is applied to prevent quality issues, by ensuring continuous testing, verification and separation throughout the production process. A QMS can be applied to virtually any type of industry, but QMS certification is rarely required by law. Instead, regulations mostly apply to the specific product, rather than the factory. However, importing food and agricultural products is different. Importers based in the European Union may only purchase food and agricultural products from an “Approved Establishment”. These lists can be found on this page, and are divided by country and type, as follows:
Section II: Meat from poultry and lagomorphs (23/03/2015)
Section VI: Meat products (23/03/2015)
Section VIII: Fishery products (23/03/2015)
Section X: Eggs and egg products (23/03/2015)
Section XIII: Treated stomachs, bladders and intestines: casing only (23/03/2015)
The date on the right indicates the latest change, i.e. suppliers being added or removed from the list. EU based companies importing the food products listed above may only make purchases from a listed manufacturer – buying from a Non-Approved Establishment, i.e., a company that is not on the list, is illegal and will not make it through customs. Thus, the first step is not to go straight to Alibaba.com, but to first shortlist Approved Establishments of the specific product, and then engage in further negotiations.

Laboratory Testing
Worth noting is that QMS or facility pre-approval is not required for all types of food and agricultural products. However, importers must still verify compliance with all applicable food safety regulations for their produce. Excessive amounts of pesticides, certain organisms and chemicals can render a batch of products illegal to import and distribute. As it’s always the importer’s responsibility to ensure compliance, batch samples must be collected and submitted to a food testing laboratory, such Asia Food Inspection, before shipment.
While export focused food manufacturers in China tend to maintain higher standards than their domestically oriented counterparts, the ability to comply cannot be taken for granted. Previous compliance (e.g. test reports valid in the destination market) must be obtained and verified before an order is placed.
Packaging & Labeling Requirements
Importers are required to ensure that the goods is properly labeled. The specific requirements differ between markets. However, the following requirements are common:
Names of Food
Net Quantity
Ingredient List
Nutrition Labeling
Serving Instructions
Country of Origin
Graphical Marks
Food contact materials, i.e. food packaging, also fall within the scope of regulations, and may not contain excessive amounts of restricted substances. Below follows a table with information on food packaging labelling and material regulations in the United States, European Union, Australia and New Zealand:
MARKET LABELLING FOOD CONTACT SUBSTANCES
United States FDA Food Labeling Guide Packaging & Food Contact Substances (FCS)
European Union EU Food Labelling Framework Regulation EC 1935/2004
Australia & New Zealand Food Standards Code Standard 1.4.3 – Articles and Materials in Contact with Food
Import Licenses & Permits
Obtaining an import license is rarely required in developed markets. However, importing food and agricultural products is, as explained in this article, a very different topic. In the European Union and Australia, businesses importing food products may need to obtain an import license or a permit to clear the cargo through customs. However, no such requirement exists in the United States, as highlighted on fda.gov:
Under provisions of the U.S. law contained in the U.S. Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act, importers of food products intended for introduction into U.S. interstate commerce are responsible for ensuring that the products are safe, sanitary, and labeled according to U.S. requirements. (All imported food is considered to be interstate commerce.)

Click here to visit Chinese E-commerce platform : http://www.e-cantonfair.com/cat-food-14.html

17/11/2015

The Chinese New Year – How it impacts your import business
(Important information for foreign businessmans)

The Chinese New Year (CNY) is like Christmas, New Years Eve and your own birthday all merged into one major holiday. It’s the time of the year when the factories shut their doors and the workers go back to their hometowns to spend some quality time with their friends and relatives. They eat, drink and wish each other luck for the year ahead. Sounds great! However, for importers the Chinese New Year is not a reason to celebrate. It’s the cause of major delays, frustration and missed deadlines.
The Chinese New Year is not going anywhere, and those hard working Chinese workers certainly deserve some time off. However, with some foresight and planning, delays can be avoided. That’s what we’ll look into in this weeks blog post. I begin with an introduction to the three phases – before, during and after the Chinese New Year.

Phase #1 – Before the Chinese New Year
While the Chinese New Year is still a few weeks away by the time I’m writing this (it starts on January 31th) the implications of the coming holiday can be felt months in advance. Some suppliers stop accepting orders as early as December, and by the time we’re in January it’s close to impossible to start production. Certain suppliers are also going on holiday leave earlier than the official CNY date.
Some suppliers might even be reluctant to participate in a price research and offer quotations, since they are expecting price increases from their material and component subcontractors after the Chinese New Year.

Phase #2 – During the Chinese New Year
Forget about importing anything from China during the CNY. The store is closed and it’s not a matter of negotiation. All Chinese factories are empty and no production is scheduled for the whole duration of the CNY. That’s pretty much all there is to say about this part.

Phase #3 – After the Chinese New Year
The Chinese New Year wouldn’t be that bad for importers if the suppliers started producing at full capacity on the opening day. However, as with anything that involves Importing from China, the situation is not that simple. Most suppliers have at least a few orders waiting to enter production and new orders have to wait until these “pre-CNY” orders are completed.
Another major headache is the fact that many of the migrant workers simply don’t return to the factory after the end of the Chinese New Year. It’s hard to find qualified personnel for most manufacturers and this is a huge issue for small manufacturers who rely on a few or even one head engineer. Hiring and training new workers can take months. Therefore quality issues tend to be more common in late February, March, April and May.
How to avoid delays and when to place an order
For an importer, the Chinese New Year is an event that has large implications on any purchase made from December to April. Unfortunately, many small businesses are not aware of this holiday and place their orders way too late. The result is that plenty of small businesses miss important deadlines, something that is disastrous for seasonal products. Outdoor furniture and bikinis tend to be quite hard to sell in September.
An order intended for the spring and summer season shall be placed in November at latest. Keep in mind that “placing an order” is not the same thing as start sourcing suppliers. If you’re still at a stage where you must go look for a supplier for products to sell during the coming spring and summer season you better begin the sourcing process as early as July or August. Yes, that’s 6 months before the beginning of the Chinese New Year!
Scams related to the Chinese New Year
If a supplier is deciding to go out of business, they’ll probably pack up and leave around the time of the CNY. While many importers assume that running a factory in China is a hugely profitable enterprise, this is not really the case. Most manufacturers are struggling with razor thin margins and thousands of factories shut their doors every year. Even more are on the brink of bankruptcy.
A supplier that is about to go bankrupt is dangerous, because they no longer have a reputation to take into consideration and are much more likely to scam any potential buyer that approach them. Especially since many of them have creditors to pay off. This means that payment frauds and other scams (i.e. Loading containers with brick stones rather than the product you ordered) are more common compared to the rest of the year.
Important dates
Unlike the western New Years Eve, which always occur on the same dates, the Chinese New Year begins and ends and various dates in the Gregorian calendar (that’s the one that starts on January 1st and ends on December 31st). The earliest possible date is January 21 and the latest possible date is February 20. Below I list the CNY dates for the coming ten years:
2014: January 31
2015: February 19
2016: February 8
2017: January 28
2018: February 16
2019: February 5
2020: January 25
2021: February 12
2022: February 1
2023: January 22

16/11/2015

China Wholesale Jewelry ( China Guide )

European businesses are more often than not looking for ways to stock their stores with low-cost items which will bring huge profits. Jewelry stores may be the biggest group of businesses looking. More and more businesses are turning to China wholesale jewelry stores to complete their collections and with good reason.
Any search on the Internet will prove fruitful for beautiful jewelry obtainable for very low cost. Businesses can obtain real loose diamonds, gold, silver and unique pieces that promise to bring big profits. Finding the right China wholesale business in which to obtain the products from may not be difficult but it can be somewhat confusing.

Wholesale China jewelry is becoming one of the largest and most lucrative industries in the country. This is good news for both the Chinese and European business owners hoping to tap into the market. Because the cost of living is much less in China than in Europe, there is a great deal of money to be made from the fine jewelry pieces coming out of China.
Costume jewelry is becoming more and more beautiful as workers in China are becoming more creative. The styles are more trendy and cutting edge than they were in the past. The precious gems and semi-precious gems that come out of China are also becoming more and more note-worthy than in the past. No longer does “Made in China” mean cheap price or cheap looking.
Auction sites on the Internet are full of China wholesale jewelry that patrons and store owners alike can obtain for a song. Research is recommended to determine whether or not you are dealing with a wholesaler who is on the up and up. They will have great ratings with little to no negative feedbacks from current or past customers. The most easy way to find China’s Jewelry suppliers is to use Chinese B2B E-commerce platforms such as : http://www.e-cantonfair.com/c were you can find many Chinese suppliers and deal with them directly , all of them are wholesalers that you will see a real price.

The best part about obtaining wholesale jewelry from China is the fact that these pieces will most likely be totally unique in style. This makes a great way to promote one of a kind pieces to your customers. For example; a customer who has a diamond that needs a new setting can come to your store and look at the settings from China. Once the diamond is set in the new setting, your customer will have a truly one of a kind piece that cannot be found elsewhere. This is because the styles in China are different than here in Europe.
Many China wholesale jewelry companies sell their goods at the lowest prices in the world. They want your business and while there will always be those that do not operate properly most are going to sell quality pieces that are worth more than you will pay. Some of the diamonds may be small but they will enhance any other piece that you or your customers have available.

Using these wholesalers will add beauty to your collection in your store and you will be pleased with not only the quality but the customer service as well. Why pay for expensive wholesale jewelry when you can get unique pieces without the higher costs? China workers and business owners pride themselves in developing relationships with you and they will go out of their way to make it all worth the time an trouble of over-seas dealings. China wholesale jewelry is quickly becoming a trend that could take over the jewelry world within the next few years.

09/11/2015

China Wholesale Cell Phones ( Guide)

Wholesalers are vendors of products who sell items in large volume to other vendors. Buying items in large volume at once saves the buyer money on each item. For example, a wholesaler may offer to sell other vendors 100 cell phones at a reduced price instead of charging normal price for one cell phone at a time. Most consumers never deal directly with a wholesaler and instead go to a retailer as the middle man. The amount that the retailer sells the wholesale product for individually is known as the mark up.
China has become a global choice for retailers wanting the best price on China wholesale cell phones. Low production costs in China help keep wholesale prices low, allowing for retail businesses to markup the price of the item for even more profit.

When dealing with a wholesaler in China, it is important to make sure that both parties understand exactly what the other is trying to order. If you do not have anyone on staff who speaks Chinese, then ask the wholesaler if they have anyone on staff who can speak English. Being shipped the wrong items and having to return them will be far more expensive than not.
When the wholesale items are received, there are several ways to sell the items. Traditional store front shops are a very traditional way to sell the wholesale cell phones, but for a wider target pool, online transactions offer more possibility for greater sales.
Many manufacturers of China wholesale cell phones also offer drop shipping as a method of delivery. The way drop shipping works is it allows internet retailers of products to avoid having to carry stock or merchandise. When a customer makes an order online through the retail owner’s website, the order is sent with payment to the retail owner’s website.
The retail store owner then orders the same item from the wholesaler and includes payment for that item and directs the item to be delivered directly from the wholesaler to the customer. The packaging and labels used all display the information of the retail shop, so the customer never knows that the item shipped came from a wholesaler. The retail owner keeps the difference in money between the cost of the item to the wholesaler and the price of the item offered to the customer.
Owning an online retail shop can be very profitable if operated correctly. Not only can profits be made through the sale of the items being sold on the website, but the website also offers the opportunity for the retail shop owner to make extra money from advertising revenue. A website that requires customers to type in their email address can also be used to compile a list of former customers and design a targeted advertising campaign to turn former customers into returning customers. When looking for a China wholesale cell phones company to do business with, remember to be weary of scams. A lot of scams exist on the internet selling lists of wholesalers to anyone willing to buy them. Those lists are just full of contact information of existing wholesalers. That information should not have to be paid for and is already available for free on the Internet. There are also companies and websites which claim to be valid wholesalers but who sell their products at retail prices. A retail site or store owner should not have to pay retail for wholesale goods.

09/11/2015

How to find a good Procurement and Purchasing Agent in China?

Many businesses are in need of a helping hand when importing from China. This is when the purchasing agent (or sourcing agent, procurement agent etc.) becomes relevant. He, she, or the company, that acts as a purchasing agent shall be your right hand and an incorruptible ally on the front line in China.
However, It’s not a protected professional title and anyone can call him or herself a purchasing agent. If you don’t make an informed decision when selecting a purchasing agent you might end up losing a lot more than the commission or service fee.
What is a purchasing agent and why do I need one?
A purchasing agent is an individual, employed by a company or working as a freelancer, helping companies overseas to import from China. While a purchasing agent is not a requirement in order to import from China, a good agent can be an extremely valuable asset in your overall Product procurement strategy. Below I list a few examples of what a purchasing agent can help out with:
1.) Finding new products and suppliers.
2.) Audit existing suppliers.
3.) Manage negotiations and draft agreements.
4.) Perform factory inspections and quality control.
5.) Manage shipping and logistics.

Dealing with Chinese suppliers is very time consuming. Finding the right one even more so and requires a well laid out strategy that actively weeds out the bad suppliers (that’s about 80 – 90% of them) identifies those who are qualified to manufacture a certain product. Finding the right supplier also requires a certain amount of product knowledge, an asset not possessed by many inexperienced importers.
Whether or not you should choose to work with a purchasing agent is up to you. If you have previous experience and ”in house” expertise to manage the often risky and time consuming procedures, don’t hesitate save a few dollars and do it on your own. For everybody else I present the four most important factors when selecting a procurement and purchasing agent in China.
Based in the Europe, United States or Australia? Read this!
Imported items are subject to product safety regulations. Importing non-compliant items is illegal and may result in a forced recall or even a lawsuit – in case anyone is injured by your product. Most suppliers in China are not able to comply with foreign standards. In fact, many suppliers are not even aware they exist, and why compliance is so important to overseas buyers.
But that’s not all. Many sourcing agents are also lacking expertise about product safety regulations in the mentioned markets. Working with a procurement agent lacking such knowledge is a serious liability. Keep in mind that in the end, you are going to be held financially responsible if your products turn out to be non-compliant with the relevant standards.
That being said, there’s help to get. There are many serious agencies with years of experience managing production of CE, RoHS and CPSIA compliant items in China. If you’re looking for a more affordable option, our Starting Package could also be an option. When you order a Starting Package, we confirm which regulations apply to your products – and source suppliers able to show previous compliance.
Area of product expertise
Importing from China can be a completely different story depending on the product. Certain products are very complicated (i.e. Electronics) while others a fairly easy to get right (i.e. Wristwatches). Hiring the a purchasing and procurement agent with the right product knowledge is critical and can make the difference between a successful business transaction and complete disaster.
Ask your purchasing agent for buyer references in the same industry and case studies from previous orders. While it might be impossible to find purchasing agents specialized in certain niche products, it’s still possible to ask for references for buyers a related industry in order to determine whether an agent is qualified or not.
Organization and sourcing procedures
Finding suppliers is easy. Finding qualified suppliers requires an efficient and well executed sourcing strategy. A good procurement agent has a transparent and ”technical” approach to product sourcing that puts the clients product specifications and certification requirements in the first place – in front of any existing supplier relationships and related kickbacks (I’ll get back to the latter part in a few minutes).
While purchasing agents in China work in very different ways, I’d say that the standard procurement process should look something like this:
1.) Confirmation of product specifications and certification requirements
2.) Supplier sourcing
3.) Initial price research, sample order and selection of qualified suppliers
4.) Initial price negotiation
5.) Audit of qualified suppliers
6.) Final supplier selection
7.) Sales Agreement
8.) Production and Quality Control
9.) Shipping
Apart from having a pre-determined purchasing and procurement process in place, your agent shall be able to give straight answers the following questions:
1.) On what factors do they deem a supplier to be qualified / not qualified?
2.) Will you pay the purchasing agent for the products or pay directly to the supplier?
3.) What’s their strategy on preventing and countering frauds? (I.e. Payment frauds)
4.) Will they manage the whole purchasing process ”in house” or outsource parts of it? (If yes, which parts?)
5.) How is the agent prepared to deal with potential quality issues during and after production?
6.) How long have they been established?
7.) Will they send the inquiry to an already ”tested” supplier or source a new supplier?
8.) Do they have any buyer references from your country? (Never work with a purchasing agent who refuse to provide you with buyer references)
Location
At a minimum, a qualified purchasing agent shall have a registered company entity and an office in at least one Chinese city, which also includes Hong Kong. An even more qualified purchasing agent would have an office not only in China, but also in your country. While this is not critical to the success of your business, it’s certainly an indication that the purchasing agent is well established and more reliable.
Chinese suppliers tend to be concentrated in industrial clusters on the Chinese coastline. Your agents proximity to a certain industrial cluster can certainly help out when things go wrong during production. It may also cut traveling and transportation costs.
Management
The Chinese managed companies tend to be a lot more relationship focused than companies with a Western management. This has huge implications for your business. Do you want your purchasing agent to select the supplier who’s qualified to deliver a product in compliance with your quality and certification requirements, or the supplier whose willing to pay the largest kickback? Unless you can’t wait to find yourself bankrupted, I’d suggest you go for the former.
While Chinese management doesn’t equal bad management, I’d rather work with someone who’s well aware of my certification requirements and understands the quality requirements in my country or market. That someone tends to be a purchasing agent from your home country. I’m not saying that Americans should avoid Canadian owned sourcing companies or that Germans should steer clear of anything west of the Rhine river, but I think you get my point.
It’s true that sourcing companies with a Western management tend to charge higher service fees than Chinese managed enterprises. However, importing products from China is a risky enterprise and neglecting the quality standards set by western consumers can put you out of business. Neglect consumer safety standards and certification requirements and you might find yourself in court. Choose wisely.
Beware of kickbacks
Purchasing agents are infamous for receiving kickbacks from suppliers. A kickback is essentially a commission offered by a supplier to a purchasing agent in order to create an incentive for the latter to select a certain supplier. While this tactic is branded as corruption in most parts of the world, ”under the table payments” are part of everyday business in China. Kickbacks, or bribes if that’s what you rather call it, can screw up your importing business for three main reasons:
a.) The supplier is certain to compensate the kickback with a higher price. In the end the buyer (you) foots the bill.
b.) The purchasing agent is likely to select the supplier who’s paying the largest kickback – not the suppliers that’s qualified to meet your (and your governments) quality requirements. You might end up with a large number of defective units – or a product that is in non-compliance with the certification requirements in your market and thus illegal to import and sell.
c.) The purchasing agent is quite likely to side with the supplier in case of a dispute. In essence they value the supplier relationship more than the one they have with their clients. This will leave you out in the cold, and possible broke, if ANYTHING goes wrong during the production. From experience I can tell that it quite often does go wrong in the production and in those situations nothing is more valuable than a strong, experienced and reliable partner on the site.
While it’s hard, perhaps even impossible, to be completely sure that a supplier selection has not been made based on a kickback, it’s still possible to limit your exposure to the risks involved. If the supplier selection is made by you, rather than the purchasing agent, part of the incentive to offer a kickback is neutralized.