Gary Huang is an American based in Shanghai, China and working in sourcing since 2008. He is the creator of 80/20 Sourcing which helps online sellers and small business importers quickly and efficiently source from suppliers in China. Gary also serves as the Co-Chair of the American Chamber of Commerce in Shanghai’s Supply Chain Committee. You may contact … Continue reading “How to find suppliers beyond Alibaba: Online, Offline, and Thinking outside the box”
How to find suppliers beyond Alibaba Part THREE: Online, Offline, and Thinking outside the box
So by now, you have validated your product and you’re ready to move on to larger orders. At this phase, the right suppliers can found online, offline, and what I like to call “thinking outside the box.” Let’s take a closer look. By the way this post is part of a series called: “How to find suppliers beyond … Continue reading “How to find suppliers beyond Alibaba Part THREE: Online, Offline, and Thinking outside the box”
How to reduce your risk when paying a Chinese supplier? Breakdown of payment methods: Paypal, Alibaba Escrow, Bank Wire Transfer “T/T” and best practices
So you’ve found the right supplier who has the product at the right place for you and you’re ready to click the “Pay Now” button. But wait – you’re wondering should I use Paypal or Alibaba’s escrow service? What’s this I hear about T/Ts and L/Cs? What about Western Union? Here is an overview of the … Continue reading “How to reduce your risk when paying a Chinese supplier? Breakdown of payment methods: Paypal, Alibaba Escrow, Bank Wire Transfer “T/T” and best practices”
How to find suppliers beyond Alibaba? PART TWO: Online Sourcing for Small Volume Orders
This post is a part of a series on “How to find suppliers beyond Alibaba”. (Part 1) Before we dive into online sourcing, first you need to identify what type of supplier you’re looking for. It’s like in dating – a gold digger (big supplier) isn’t gonna waste her time going out with a bootstrapped entrepreneur (testing … Continue reading “How to find suppliers beyond Alibaba? PART TWO: Online Sourcing for Small Volume Orders”
Are you paying your Chinese suppliers too much? How to negotiate up to a 5% price cut from Chinese suppliers in one email – SCRIPT INCLUDED
You may think that the way to grow your business selling on Amazon or your own website is to sell MORE volume or RAISE your prices. Think again. Often overlooked, sourcing professionals know that PURCHASING is where the real money is made. I.e. buying low. Long story short or the 80/20 as I like … Continue reading “Are you paying your Chinese suppliers too much? How to negotiate up to a 5% price cut from Chinese suppliers in one email – SCRIPT INCLUDED”
How do I access Google, Gmail, Facebook, Youtube, Twitter from China? VPN advice when traveling in China
So you’ve landed in Shenzhen and are ready for the Canton Fair. But wait, why can’t I connect to Gmail? I’m having problems connecting to Facebook. I can’t watch Netflix or my Youtube videos! Welcome to China my friend. The Great Firewall means that many of your favorite sites cannot be accessed here. Here’s the … Continue reading “How do I access Google, Gmail, Facebook, Youtube, Twitter from China? VPN advice when traveling in China”
How to find suppliers beyond Alibaba? Part One: “Yellow Pages”
Think of Alibaba as the “Yellow Pages” When you think of sourcing from China what’s the first thing that comes to mind? Hopping on a plane and flying to Guangzhou to find a factory? No, you go on Alibaba! But can you really find the right supplier for you on Alibaba without getting scammed? Or getting … Continue reading “How to find suppliers beyond Alibaba? Part One: “Yellow Pages””
I’m ready to place my order but wait… What is a Purchase Order (PO), why issue one, and how do I make one? Free PO template included
“Number one, cash is king… number two, communicate… number three, buy or bury the competition.” Jack Welch The first thing everyone looks for when they source from China is price (cash is king) so they can crush their competition. But often overlooked is communication. In my experience this is critical to success when sourcing … Continue reading “I’m ready to place my order but wait… What is a Purchase Order (PO), why issue one, and how do I make one? Free PO template included”
How to source from Chinese suppliers and not get scammed – Best practices, Dirty Tricks, and Advice from an American Sourcing Professional in China
My name is Gary and I’m an American based in Shanghai and have been sourcing from China since 2008. I’ve sourced a variety of products for clients ranging from industrial products, solar energy products, exercise equipment, auto parts, and more. I’ve worked with and visited hundreds of suppliers across China, big and small, and I’ve … Continue reading “How to source from Chinese suppliers and not get scammed – Best practices, Dirty Tricks, and Advice from an American Sourcing Professional in China”