Comments on: Sourcing and Manufacturing Your Products Abroad: How to Use Alibaba.com http://www.powerhomebiz.com/blog/2009/11/using-alibaba-com-to-source-and-manufacture-products/ Successfully start, manage and run a home business Mon, 30 Jan 2012 09:02:05 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Kerry http://www.powerhomebiz.com/blog/2009/11/using-alibaba-com-to-source-and-manufacture-products/comment-page-1/#comment-1165 Kerry Thu, 27 Jan 2011 15:03:14 +0000 http://www.powerhomebiz.com/blog/?p=1357#comment-1165 "Be sensitive to cultural differences. Learn the business etiquette and cultural mores of the country you are planning to work with. Avoid using slang in your language when communicating with the foreign companies.". This is one of the most crucial aspects in my opinion and actually, one of the most overlooked. <a href="http://uk.alibaba.com/" rel="nofollow">Alibaba</a> is a fantastic resource, just because it opens up so many international opportunities but it really pays you to look into the culture of the country you're dealing with. You're not expected to be able to write a thesis on it but just knowing a little goes a long, long way. I know that from experience. “Be sensitive to cultural differences. Learn the business etiquette and cultural mores of the country you are planning to work with. Avoid using slang in your language when communicating with the foreign companies.”.

This is one of the most crucial aspects in my opinion and actually, one of the most overlooked. Alibaba is a fantastic resource, just because it opens up so many international opportunities but it really pays you to look into the culture of the country you’re dealing with. You’re not expected to be able to write a thesis on it but just knowing a little goes a long, long way. I know that from experience.

]]> By: Jagath http://www.powerhomebiz.com/blog/2009/11/using-alibaba-com-to-source-and-manufacture-products/comment-page-1/#comment-418 Jagath Wed, 06 Jan 2010 00:30:05 +0000 http://www.powerhomebiz.com/blog/?p=1357#comment-418 These are good tips for identifying the right supplier. In addition to everything listed here, I would emphasize on maintaining strong relationships with your suppliers. Such relationships are important to ensure that the you get a good quality of service from them. For example, in case of a product emergency (sudden spike in sales and you need an additional shipment from the supplier), these relationships will help you. These relationships will also help you if you are facing a cash crunch and want to delay the supplier payments by a few days. I recently spoke with a buyer at a large corporation (machinery manufacturer) about this topic. They were constantly pushing their suppliers to lower the prices. In order to meet their demands, the supplier lowered the quality of the product without their knowledge resulting in millions of dollars lost due to product recall. The moral of the story is that businesses should not treat their suppliers as external entities with clear demarkations. Instead they should try to be as inclusive as possible and engage in collaborative business practices. These are good tips for identifying the right supplier. In addition to everything listed here, I would emphasize on maintaining strong relationships with your suppliers. Such relationships are important to ensure that the you get a good quality of service from them.

For example, in case of a product emergency (sudden spike in sales and you need an additional shipment from the supplier), these relationships will help you. These relationships will also help you if you are facing a cash crunch and want to delay the supplier payments by a few days.

I recently spoke with a buyer at a large corporation (machinery manufacturer) about this topic. They were constantly pushing their suppliers to lower the prices. In order to meet their demands, the supplier lowered the quality of the product without their knowledge resulting in millions of dollars lost due to product recall.

The moral of the story is that businesses should not treat their suppliers as external entities with clear demarkations. Instead they should try to be as inclusive as possible and engage in collaborative business practices.

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