Feature Articles: Business Sense

3 Types of Quality Defects in Different Products

By Oliver Knack

A professional inspection company often has established standards for classifying various defects for a particular product type. But the responsibility ultimately falls on you, the buyer, to determine which quality defects are more severe than others. Luckily, we’re here to tell you what each defect type means and the things to consider when determining their importance.

Business Sense

China’s Currency Devaluation and Your Manufacturing

By Scott Auriat

For the last month, the eyes of the world have been fixated on China’s tumbling stock market and depreciating currency. And a major question on the minds of buyers of Chinese made goods is, “How will this depreciation of currency affect manufacturing in the region?” Does the currency devaluation signal a weakening of China’s economy and thus a signal to stay away? Or, on the contrary, does it signal an aggressive move by the Chinese government to make its manufacturing sector more competitive?

Business Sense

Could Your Business Suffer a Data Breach?

By Mari Gold

Barely a day goes by without the report of a data breach, also known as a data spill, unintentional information disclosure or data leak. But, closer examination reveals that these situations are more insidious than we know. “We often don’t hear about a data breach as most incidents go unreported,” says Michael Bruemmer, vice president of Experian Data Breach Resolution, who likens this situation to an iceberg in which eighty-five percent of the mass is below the water and only the top fifteen percent is visible. “Every company — regardless of how large or small it is — needs to be prepared for a data breach,” Bruemmer continues.

Business Sense

5 Misconceptions About QC in China

By John Niggl

All buyers have their own set of quality standards and the price they’re willing to pay for products. The seasoned buyer of products manufactured in China can offer a host of stories about success, failure, and the surprises they’ve encountered along the way. When it comes to manufacturing, perhaps no other area is more surprising than controlling product quality. That’s why in this bulletin we’re revealing five of the industry’s top misconceptions about QC in China.

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Business Sense

5 Ways Factory Location Affects Your Order

By John Niggl

Where should you manufacture? And how does a factory’s location affect doing business? When it comes to manufacturing a product, it’s a safe bet that finding and choosing a supplier that meets your needs will be one of your greatest challenges. When importers are selecting among an endless list of possibilities, factory location can often take a back seat to factors like price, product quality and shipping deadline. But what if we told you that factory location can, and almost always does, greatly impact all of those factors and more?

Business Sense

5 Alternatives to Sourcing from China

By John Niggl

What country comes to mind when you hear the term “manufacturing hub”? China? Vietnam? Indonesia? There’s a long list of potential countries from which manufacturers and buyers can choose to source products. The real question is which country is best – or, more to the point, which country is best for you? In this bulletin, you’ll learn about five of the region’s growing manufacturing hubs and the different opportunities and challenges presented by each.

Business Sense

3 Telltale Signs of a Bankrupt Factory

By Andrew Reich

If you’ve yet to be involved with a factory in China that has abruptly shut its doors for good, then consider yourself lucky. More and more factories in China are shutting their doors. Your factory could close at any time without refunding your order deposit or shipping your goods. Various factors in China are contributing to an increasing number of factory closures. The focus of this article will be on factories that close due to bankruptcy. But whatever the reason, when a factory shuts down it usually happens without much prior notice to you, the buyer.

Business Sense

Is a Minimum Advertised Price Policy a Vendor’s Silver Bullet?

By Jeremy Richardson

It should come as no surprise that more and more vendors are implementing MAP (Minimum Advertised Price) policies as a way of protecting their brand’s image and encouraging retailers to present their products in clean, comfortable and professional environments where customers can view and touch the items, see demonstrations, personally interact with knowledgeable employees, and receive superior customer service. But what some vendors do not realize is that by merely implementing a MAP policy, without doing anything to make sure retailers comply with it, they may completely fail to achieve these goals.

Business Sense

How to Get the Most Out of Your PR/Marketing Firm

By The Giggle Guide

So you’ve hired a PR/marketing firm, and you’re eager to see your company shine like the sun — great! But have you really fulfilled your end of the deal to ensure this is even tangible? What many businesses don’t realize is that in order to really get the bang for the buck with a PR/marketing firm, you have to equip the firm with tools and resources that will allow them to succeed in providing your business with lucrative results. Here are three fantastic tips that will ensure businesses get the most out of their firm…