China has become a world-leading manufacturing centre. From electronics to plastic products, this country has it all. Few countries can compete with China in terms of variety, quality and price. It is no surprise that more and more companies are now looking for China Sourcing Agent. If you’re not familiar with this, you’ll want to know how to get along with a China Sourcing Agent.
Here are seven useful tips for dealing with China Sourcing Agent.
1. Use A China Sourcing Agent
A China Sourcing Agent will perform the outsourcing activities on your behalf. You may think that all you need to do is visit China in person and talk to some of your suppliers. Sounds simple enough, but have you considered the following barriers? Do you speak the local language? Do you understand local business practices? Do you understand licensing, certification and other legal requirements?
And a good China Sourcing Agent can handle the entire sourcing process. From getting a quote from a reliable manufacturer to shipping the product to your warehouse, the agent will do it all.
Choose an experienced agent who not only has an in-country office, but also a fully staffed office in China. They will be fluent in the local language and dialect and well-versed in business practices. With years of experience, an agent will help you connect with a reliable manufacturer or supplier who specialises in the products you need.
Take the time to choose the right agent for your business. They can take all your outsourcing worries away, allowing you to spend your valuable time on other key business activities.
2. Verify The Credentials Of Your China Sourcing Agent
Hiring the right agent for your business is equally important, as is verifying their credentials. Don’t choose a name that pops up in your Internet search. Always take the time to research agents and verify their credentials and track records; this is an important step that should not be overlooked.
Look for the following.
Where is the agent? Getting accurate information about Chinese companies can be quite difficult. We recommend choosing a China Sourcing Agent who has a local presence in China. Verify their trade licence before starting discussions.
How long has their China office been in operation? Find out how long their China office has been in operation. Your agent must employ experienced staff in their local China office. Working with the right agent with a proven track record can help you grow your business by leaps and bounds.
How does the agent handle quality issues? The main attraction of sourcing from China is to get a high-quality product at an affordable price. Choose one that prioritises quality. They must make it clear to Chinese manufacturers that they will not accept products of substandard quality.
Does your agent speak English well? Good English language skills – spoken and written – are non-negotiable. Ideally, you should choose a company that has office staff in China who can speak and write English, as in some cases you may need to speak directly to their staff in China.
Hiring the right agent is a key step to successfully sourcing products from China. Ask the right questions to ensure you work with the right agent who can help you grow your business.
3. Be Very Clear About What You Want
For the procurement process to be successful, you must provide your agents and manufacturers with detailed specifications of the materials or products you require. You need to be very clear about what you want the product or raw material to be.
Failure to provide detailed specifications can lead to confusion and you may end up with something different to what was ordered. You could end up wasting a lot of time and money trying to get the right product.
If possible, please provide detailed drawings. If you are currently manufacturing your product, you may wish to send them a sample. If changes are required, make sure you provide detailed written specifications.
For coloured goods, specify a colour code. Make sure you specify the exact raw materials you wish to use to manufacture your product. Send photos where possible.
4. Insist On A Sample Before Placing The Order
Despite the detailed instructions provided, it is possible that the product you receive will not meet your specifications. To avoid this, please insist on a sample before placing your order.
The first sample you receive may or may not meet your specifications. If the product does not meet the specification, make a clear note of the problem and inform your manufacturer. Your feedback will help the manufacturer to make changes to the product, and they can then produce it accordingly.
You must also have a clear idea of the number of items you need. If you appear to be a valuable source of business, the manufacturer is more likely to pay close attention. If they feel you can only place small orders, they may not be as sensitive.
In this case, your buying agent can also help. They can help you find reliable manufacturers who are detail-oriented. They will work to ensure that the manufacturer understands your specifications accurately. It is the purchasing agent’s responsibility to provide you with a sample product and to adapt it precisely to your design and specifications.
When you receive a sample product from the manufacturer, take the time to test it. The product must work properly and meet the customer’s requirements. You may wish to show the examples to relevant employees in your organisation so that you can get some feedback from them as well.
5. Take Control Of Quality
The safest way to source products from China is to control quality. If this is your first time, you may want to visit the factory yourself to check the quality of your products. If this is not possible, it is also a good idea to hire an independent quality inspector. Your agent should help you find a reliable quality inspector.
Hiring a quality inspector may be a good idea; however, you can’t do this consistently for every order. What you need is to establish a well-structured quality control plan.
You must have a quality management plan that is managed by you and your agent. You may also need to visit your factory in China on a regular basis to ensure that your quality control plan is working as expected. Run sample checks and never miss verifying your supplier’s quality documentation. If problems arise, you may need to hire a quality control inspector again.
6. Understand The Quality Controls
Monitoring the quality of your products is primarily the responsibility of your agent. However, it is also a great advantage to know about quality control yourself.
As a client, it may be helpful to know the following:
The vetting process: Find out how your agent vets new suppliers. See if the agent checks the supplier’s experience, track record, licences and certificates. It is important that you know if your agent has put enough effort into connecting you with a trustworthy manufacturer.
Visit the factory: Before recommending a manufacturer to you, your agent must visit the factory to see how the product is made. Your agent must be very knowledgeable about the factory capacity, delivery times and other customers of these manufacturers.
Quality certificates: Your agent must check the authentic quality certificates of the manufacturers they work with. Not all Chinese manufacturers have these certificates. Do not become a victim of such manufacturers. Often, certificates are in the local language. The benefit to your agent is obvious, as they know the language and will check these certificates before recommending the manufacturer.
Certificate of authority: The certificate of authority is an important document that your agent should be able to provide you with. The certificate is evidence that the agent is authorised to supply goods from the manufacturer overseas. With this certificate, you can ensure that you only source goods from certified manufacturers.
7. Be Reasonable About The Pricing
Cheap labour and technological advances have helped Chinese manufacturers to offer affordable goods. But when it comes to the cheapest goods, it’s best to steer clear. Manufacturers may cut corners to provide you with cheap products. The quality of such products may be far from ideal.
In addition, the Chinese manufacturing market is booming. New manufacturers and factories are popping up every day. New entrants may agree to produce your goods at a very low price, but they will somehow compromise on quality. Established factories will offer better quality products; this quality requires a higher price. When developing your China sourcing strategy, you must keep pricing in mind. However, this should not be the only deciding factor.
Your agent will provide you with several quotations from different manufacturers. Don’t just focus on the lowest price. Instead, choose a well-established factory that prioritises quality and has a proven track record of providing services to other companies like yours.
If you want to grow your business and increase the number of loyal customers, you must offer a high-quality product. You must only work with suppliers who offer a competitive product without compromising on quality. Yes, they may cost a few dollars more, but it is well worth it.
If you need a China sourcing agent, you can be confident in choosing our team – NINGBO GREENTIME IMP&EXP. With our professional and experienced employees, we are committed to bringing the best experience to our customers.
