China Archives - Avela Global

Managing Change in China Manufacturing

by Gary Young on March 15, 2019 with No Comments

Opportunities abound in China. For our clients, it holds the opportunity to have their products manufactured at the level of quality they need and at price that allows them to be competitive in the marketplace when, for one reason or another, those opportunities are not available from domestic sources. For average Chinese people, the coming of Capitalism to their economy … Read More

Alibaba—the Elephant in the Room

by Gary Young on March 8, 2019 with No Comments

With over 17 years of experience as a premier sourcing company for Chinese manufacturing, we at Avela Corporation have heard a lot about Alibaba. When we hear about it, it is usually from perspective clients who have had bad experiences with businesses they have met through that portal, or they have simply outgrown it. Either way often leads them to … Read More

Having the Right Mindset for China Trade

by Gary Young on October 19, 2017 with No Comments

As a sourcing agent for manufacturing in China since 2002, one thing stands out to me as most important in dealing with China: mindset. Mindset, attitude, frame of mind, outlook, manner, aptitude, disposition, inclination—there are a lot of words to capture what we are talking … Read More

Observing Change over 16 years of China Sourcing

by Gary Young on August 8, 2017 with 3 Comments

My first visit to China was part of a trade mission trip in 2002, just a year after it entered the World Trade Organization. Back then the place pulsed with potential as the country embraced capitalism as the keystone of its economic reform. As a sourcing agent for manufacturing in China, the intervening years have been a whirlwind as I … Read More

China Sourcing: Setting Goals.

by Gary Young on September 3, 2012 with 2 Comments

Having been in the China sourcing business for almost 13 years now, I am often asked what is the most difficult aspect of working in China. My short answer is “Communication”. China manufacturers want to create the product you are asking for. What I have come to appreciate is just how nuanced our thoughts are, and how good communication is taken for … Read More

China Sourcing: Just Showing Up

by Gary Young on December 14, 2011 with No Comments

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 … Read More

New Life and China Sourcing

by Gary Young on December 13, 2011 with No Comments

Usually I am writing detailed blogs about China Sourcing. But not this time. It is time to take a break from China Sourcing and celebrate life. One of the perks of being in China for over 10 years now is having the privilege of participating, in a small way, in the lives of my staff and friends in China. As … Read More

China Sourcing and Protecting Intellectual Property- Part Two

by Gary Young on December 13, 2011 with No Comments

China Sourcing: My personal experience. To sum up part one briefly, China has a conundrum when it comes to intellectual property. On the one hand, they are the world masters at copying or knocking off. There is a cultural argument, or some might call it an excuse, that it in the tradition of Confucianism, it is considered an honor for your idea … Read More

China Sourcing and Protecting Intellectual Property- Part One

by Gary Young on April 21, 2011 with No Comments

China Sourcing seems precarious. China has a reputation for knocking off or copying products.Â This reputation is well deserved. If you look at it from a neutral point of view, it is kind of amazing. I say amazing because, not only are the accuracy of knock-offs impressive, but the speed of copying a product is breathtaking. On one hand this … Read More

China Sourcing and Accountability.

by Gary Young on November 15, 2010 with No Comments

I get asked quite often; “How can you guarantee that my order from China will be perfect?” I usually say that we have procedures and a process to work through quality issues. There is a whole list of things we do including the development of a check lists, photos and video confirmation and third party materials testing just to name a few. But what I don’t talk too much about is what else we are doing behind the scenes to increase accountability on the China side and both sides for that matter. It is something we do to make our job so much easier in China but it dawns on me that maybe I should be bragging (just a little) about our accountability effort and how it saves time, money and benefits all three parties. (Our client, the factory in China and us- Avela Corporation