There is so much advise on the internet on China Sourcing and how to interact with China: how to dress, how to greet, how to eat, what to say, and what to do. Everything you can imagine on your behavior, especially when having face-to-face meetings with Chinese manufacturers. Should I bring a gift or is that inappropriate? Should I wear a suite or go business casual? What if I am served something I do not want to eat? How do I handle personal space issues? What subjects are taboo? The list goes on and on. All these things can be important to one degree or another, but the most important thing is just to show up.

Chinese manufacturers want the same things you do. They want to develop a relationship that is mutually beneficial and long lasting. They want to understand you and your needs as much as you want to understand their processes and procedure, quality and price of course. But building that relationship requires that you show up at some point. And that means a trip to China.