BewleyTinnin91

Ever wondered if you could deal directly with manufacturers... in China?! It really is less complicated than you consider.

First Impressions

I visited China in Autumn 2005 with a group of company associates and need to admit that I was amazed, each by the warm reception we received wherever we went, and at the factories we toured. Getting never been there before, and getting only news accounts of "troubles" in between China and the U.S. to fuel my imagination, I assumed factors would be overly formal and official at very best at worst, cold and we would be "watched" constantly. I was so wrong on both counts. We have been treated as welcome visitors and had only to ask the hotel staff for some thing to have it almost magically made.

Lost in Translation

Outdoors of the hotels and manufacturing facilities, carrying out business in the streets and in tiny shops was, at most times, terribly challenging. We had arranged our factory visits and business meetings with our contacts in China, and there were no troubles on that side when it came to language. But once we stepped out on our own, we rarely found any individual - even in tourist gift shops - who could communicate in English at all. Subsequent time I go to China, I'll hopefully be armed with a couple of much more simple Mandarin phrases, but for every person going to, even just for leisure, I'd advocate hiring translators to help you.

Money in China

An additional word of warning: organization owners back residence in the States may possibly be suitably impressed by your Gold Card, but to the Chinese shopkeeper it's just a fairly piece of plastic that will not buy a cup of Chinese tea. Even in the huge cities, you happen to be going to have to carry around Chinese Yuan (aka Renminbi) in cash if you want to be able to go buying or consume at a restaurant. I have to say, the upside of this is that you won't uncover your self going more than budget. But with the extremely low Chinese retail prices, that probably wouldn't come about anyway.

Low Retail Costs

After you have overcome the communication difficulties you'll be amazed to locate the bargains you'll locate in the small shops. For a start, it's an electronics paradise. Just make positive you do your homework on what will and will not operate back in the States. For instance, you will uncover that some Chinese DVD players, although remarkably low-cost, are manufactured to a Chinese regular that is not compatible with DVD discs sold in other parts of the world.

Factories in China

Our check out to a manufacturing plant in Huizhou left us all . . . effectively, 'impressed' hardly seems like a robust sufficient word. The building, on the outdoors was sort of drab looking with banners hanging here and there but inside was very a distinct story. First of all we had been treated as if we have been VIPs instead of mid-level managers from Kenosha. Most importantly, however, the level of automation in this factory was outstanding, even by American standards and, when you look at the numbers, you see that the productivity is truly impressive. It's no longer a mystery to this American why China is locating such a prepared industry in America.

Back Again

I want I had more than the seven days we have been capable to keep in China, but it will not be extended prior to I'm back, this time with a group of my close friends who have been listening to me talking about the enterprise possibilities since I got back and who now want to go out there to get a piece of the action for themselves. Kirstin - Wiki-e-SOM