GlobalTQM | Sourcing and Manufacturing product in China for all entrepreneurs by David Hoffmann

It may prove challenging to navigate the continually changing sourcing landscape. In this podcast, we explore The New Sourcing Landscape of 2023 and look more closely at how the situation has altered over the past year and what you need to do to move forward in 2023. We were pleased to participate in Global Sources' "Buyer Fire Side Chat" event.

Moreover, learn more about what you should do right away to adapt to the changing sourcing environment. Tom McGrenery from Global Sources and David Hoffmann from GlobalTQM will be the guest speaker.

Global Sources is best recognized for its multichannel B2B marketplace, sourcing platform, and trade exhibitions.

This episode is packed with helpful advice on getting to the bottom of product quality, understanding AQL standards, and how to communicate your expectations to your suppliers effectively.

I am interviewing an expert on China quality control, and it is a great honor to get access to someone with this much experience.

Dr. John Higgins has a doctorate in electrical engineering, and he's been a mentor and advisor to me for the last 25 years on a number of projects. If anybody in this world, is the most experienced quality control, it's definitely Dr. John Higgins and our black belt expert in six sigma and lean systems. In this episode we will touch upon:

Learn more about China’s power crises and how it affects sourcing in China!

Hey guys, today is a real treat!

I am interviewing an expert on China sourcing, and it is a great honor to get access to someone with this much experience in China because the big brands usually hide these guys in the background.

Chris has worked with every major brand. To name a few; Blendtec, Honeywell, Breville, Cuisinart, John Deere, Medtronic, Binske, Garmin, Storm Kimonos, Addidas, and so many more.

Today we will be discussing with him a range of topics;

I hope you enjoy the podcast! Remember to schedule your free call today with our team on the ground in China. You can discuss any sourcing issues or manufacturing needs in China, no matter how big or small.

In this episode, we will address the usefulness of an NNN agreement and cover in detail the good, bad, ugly, and realistic.

We will discuss whether you are being responsible for your expectations and intentions behind the NNN agreement, down to the difference between an NNN agreement and an NDA agreement.

In this episode we cover:

This episode is packed with useful advice on getting to the bottom of production delays, using WeChat effectively to communicate with suppliers, and is a real story from the ground in China. We deal with problems, how they get resolved, and key takeaways.

In this episode we cover;

The ultimate product research and validation.  

I never thought it possible to sell without inventory.

Have you ever had this feeling that your supplier is getting slower at responding?

Well, this week, I did an online presentation discussing the different scenarios why your supplier might be slower at getting back to you, and how you might be able to fix that!

We even included a slideshow so you can watch this on YouTube. [click here to watch]

This episode will also cover:

You can also  watch it on YouTube here

I hope you enjoy it!

Let us know if you have any questions. 

This episode is different from the others because it doesn't cover specifics on sourcing and developing products in China…

It does delve deeply into what makes entrepreneurs successful, and I share some of my own personal background stories and journey. So I’m opening up and sharing it all in the hope you find some inspiration and motivation.

Do they say the shortcut to success is great mentors? I couldn’t agree more.

 Also knowing who you are, and leveraging those traits in business is key.

Matt Brauning from the Driven Entrepreneur is an amazing podcast, and his interview went in a direction un-expected to me.

In this episode, we share some fascinating secrets, including:

Hey Guys,

This week we are shifting the focus into an online master class, discussing the different forms of online product sourcing platforms.  We even included a slideshow if you are watching this on youtube.

If you ever wondered which option is best for your company, this episode will answer your questions, including:

Hey Guys,

I wanted to share a recent interview I did on another great podcast called The Business of ECommerce. Charles Palleschi, the host of this podcast, asked me some really insightful questions that really drill down into the day to day specifics of Sourcing Products from China.

We covered MANY different topics, including :

With the increase of traffic online, especially related to buying products as a result of the Coronavirus pandemic, today’s topic is very timely.  Our chat focusing on moving from Vendor Central to Seller Central on Amazon will certainly help your business retain more revenue and ultimately help you navigate these difficult financial times.

Some of the highlights of our podcast on this very important topic include:

Hey Guys,

I can’t keep quiet and not share my thoughts and personal plans during these tough times.

So in a special edition Podcast, we share not only the impact of this difficult issue on our lives generally, but more specifically the best business strategies to employ, including:

I was interviewed on another great podcast called ECommerce Excellence. The host, Joris Byron, asked me some really great questions and drew out some great insights, issues to avoid, how to overcome obstacles and general wisdom in Sourcing Products from China.

As usual, we also drilled down on some specifics, such as:

I hope you enjoy the episode.  Would love to hear from you if these episodes are helpful

In this week's episode, we touch on a somewhat sensitive subject – the issue of Accountability, or Who is ultimately responsible when something goes wrong?

Listen to hear some first hand stories where we highlight:

In this week's episode, I share some valuable insights and pointers that could really help you – especially if you are considering sourcing your product outside of China.

Listen to this real story  where we discuss…

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In this week’s episode, I share, along with my co-host Kevin, some valuable insights and pointers that could really help you – especially “When Inspections Fail.”

We spoke in general about Product Sourcing from China, services available in China, and how doing business in China works.  Some key points touched on:

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This week I was interviewed by Jim Palmer from Dream business radio. I thought you might like to listen to the interview... you might pick up some good advice, insights, and pointers...

Of course, we spoke about sourcing from china, services available in china, how doing business in China works.

Hope you enjoy it...

Just some of the questions answered:

Here's the third and final part of my interview with Kunle Campbell in the 2x eCommerce podcast.

If you haven't listed to parts 1 and 2, go back and listen to them before listening to this.

This was the last major question of the interview, and he asked me:

"What's the best way for eCommerce entrepreneurs to protect their intellectual property?"

Now, if you've listened to our previous episodes, I'm sure you already know the answer...

...because I talk about it so often.

However, if you're new to the show, my answer to Kunle's question could be a total game-changer...

...and potentially save you tens, if not hundreds of thousands of dollars over the long term.

Helpful Resources

Part 2 of 3 of my interview on the 2X eCommerce Podcast by Kunle Campbell.

It's a show for entrepreneurs interested in eCommerce tips, strategies, and best practices.

I've split the recording into 3 parts.

In last week's episode, I gave his audience a description of what it is we do.

And I explained why attention to detail is so important when you're sourcing from China.

This week, you’ll discover:

If you’re short on time or can’t listen to the entire interview, I’ve had it transcribed for you.

Helpful Resources

A few weeks ago, I was invited on the 2X eCommerce Podcast by Kunle Campbell. It's a show for entrepreneurs interested in eCommerce tips, strategies and best practices.

Talking to Kunle was great because he asked the right questions. It allowed me to cover some of the essentials you need to know if you’re running a business with plans to source products from China. In this podcast, you’ll discover: 

If you’re short on time or can’t listen to the interview, I’ve had it transcribed for you.

Helpful Resources

I recently had the pleasure of interviewing one of our clients, Robert. His company sells designer lighting in South Africa.

Robert's company was the sole agent for an international lighting brand. They sold it successfully for over 10 years until the principal suddenly decided to drop them.

This left Robert in a predicament. A large part of his business was now gone and they had to make some changes fast.

After a mutual friend introduced us and we had a long chat about his options, Robert decided to take a trip to China.

Nearly 2 years after that first "expedition" to China, I sat down with Robert to talk about his journey into sourcing from China, what his experience was like, and his plans for the future of his brand.

In this podcast, you'll discover:

If you're short on time or can't listen to the interview, I've had it transcribed for you.

Helpful Resources

What happens when you're defrauded by your manufacturer?

How do you handle it?

How do you prevent it from happening?

What are the best practices?

Here's a true story I wanted to share with you.

It happened to us the other week.

In this episode of the podcast, you'll discover:

Helpful Resources

As a business owner, I often wish someone had given a crystal ball years ago saying,

Well, I'm going to save you that fortune now.

In my client training, I share so many case studies where I go into detail about real situations that have happened to me, to friends of mine, cases we're defending, etc.

This is a real, first-hand experience. It's cost us tens of thousands of dollars.

And the reality is I could have stopped it all.

I could have prevented it all if I had spent a couple of hundred dollars on registering my trademark certificate in China.

And that's what I want you to do.

In this episode, you'll discover:

Helpful Resources

In this episode of the GlobalTQM.com podcast, I had the pleasure of interview my business partner and mentor for over 20 years, Yaron Remen.

He’s a serial entrepreneur with the superpower of starting companies, growing them big, and selling them off. 

To date, he’s sold 9 multimillion dollar companies!

Yaron and I have been doing business a long time in China. 

And from time to time we like to reminisce and laugh about the good old days of doing business with the Chinese. 

(You’ll understand why when you listen to the episode.)

I sat down with Yaron for this recording and asked him:

“Why do we even bother with contracts in China when they’re so hard to enforce?”

In this short yet knowledge-packed episode, you’ll discover:

Helpful Resources

Transparency and accessibility.

That's what the internet brings to the table.

It's easier than ever before to access products and suppliers from all over the world.

This increases competition and puts downward pressure on margins.

How are you going to stand out from your competitors?

How are you going to stay profitable in the long-term?

You'll have to become more efficient...

Cut down lead times and be faster to market...

And always be ahead of the curve with better or more unique products.

In this episode of the podcast, David talks about the (positive) effects of E-Commerce and Digitization on the sourcing game.

You'll discover:

Helpful Resources

So you've just hired a 3rd party sourcing agent to help you with your manufacturers in China.

Now you can sit back and relax, right?

No more problems or delays, right?

WRONG!

The truth is, a sourcing agent may not the be-all-end-all solution for your business.

Yes, they can and do add massive value...IF you use them correctly.

In this episode the podcast, you'll discover:

Helpful Resources

Why is product differentiation more and more important?

Online shopping has given your customers have all the power.

Today, in just a few minutes they can compare products or the same product from multiple suppliers.

They can buy from anywhere in the world and get their purchased delivered in a few days.

In a world of "infinite" choices, you need to give people a reason to buy from you.

The better you can identify what's unique to your product, to make people's decision to buy from you easier, the more sales you'll make.

In this episode, you'll discover:

Helpful Resources

In this episode, David covers:

Helpful Resources

Would you like your suppliers to:

If your business depends on you successfully sourcing from China...

...I imagine your answer to each of these questions is an emphatic, "YES!"

Well, you're in luck.

Because in this episode, I'm going to show you how to get all of those things, and more.

Helpful Resources

Back again with another segment from my webinar with Tom Pirenne of ShowSourcing.

In the last episode of the GlobalTQM podcast, Tom and I talked about whether Trade Fairs will exist in the future.

The answer was a resounding, “YES!”

Now that’s clear, let’s say you decide you’d like to fly to China to attend your first trade fair.

How should you prepare for trade fairs so you have a fun, comfortable trip that’s also fruitful?

That’s what we’re going to cover in this episode.

15-Point Trade Show Checklist

Helpful Resources

This episode (and the next few episodes) of the GlobalTQM podcast will share segments of a joint-webinar I hosted with Tom Pirenne of ShowSourcing.

A few weeks ago, Tom and I were having coffee and he asked me: "Will Trade Fairs exist in the future?"

I admit I hadn't really thought about it, so it prompted a good discussion.

That's what I hope we can convey to you today.

I've been doing business in China for 20+ years, so I really believe trade fairs will be around for a very long time, and that they're the best way to build long-term relationships with quality suppliers and manufacturers.

10 Reasons Why Trade Fairs Aren't Going Anywhere

Helpful Resources

When you've put 6-months and thousands of dollars into a business idea and ultimately have to give it up...

Have you failed?

This kind of situation is something all CEOs face at one point or another.

And if it hasn't happened to you yet, IT WILL.

In this episode of the podcast, David Hoffmann teaches you how to think through these decisions.

And avoid situations that can leave you worse off than when you started.

You'll discover:

Helpful Resources

When dealing with Chinese manufacturers, attention to detail will make, or break you.

Delays and hidden costs all add up.

They can vaporize your profit or, in the worst case, you may take a massive loss.

In this episode of the podcast, I'll tell you how to minimize production delays and run the numbers right, so your business can operate profitably. 

You'll discover:

Helpful Resources

Have you ever been to the Canton Fair?

It’s a trade show that happens every year, in Spring and Autumn, in Canton (Guangzhou) China.

I'm going to tell you how to navigate the fair, or any Chinese trade show for that matter, like a pro.

You'll discover:

Helpful Resources

In this brief yet impactful episode, David gives you tips on how to...

You'll discover:

There are thousands of factories in China. We’ve dealt with loads of them for our clients.

How exactly do you vet manufacturers and choose one that’s the right fit for you?

That's what we're going to teach you in this episode.

Chinese culture, and Asian cultures in general, are very different from quote-unquote Western cultures.

That is, North America, Europe, and Australia.

Not understanding this, or worse, refusing to deal with the Chinese in a way that’s comfortable to them, can lead to huge problems for your business.

In today’s episode, David’s going to tell you about common Chinese cultural differences and how you can work around them to get the best outcomes.

In this episode, David covers the #1 risk to your business when sourcing from China:

Not specifying what you want down to the last detail.

And he gives you 11-steps to overcome this risk.

So you can get your goods exactly how you want them, every single time.

When sourcing from China, how do you actually get what you want?

The key is effective communication.

And in this episode, David tells you exactly how to do it.

He also gives you tips on how to overcome any language barrier between you and your manufacturer.

And avoid getting caught off-guard by commercial acronyms and jargon.

In this episode, David tells you about the hidden costs of importing from China most businesses overlook.

First up, the lowest priced manufacturer isn’t all it’s cracked up to be.

Also discussed: have you included the costs of product returns and breakage in your pricing?

If you haven’t, David tells you why it’s important, and why you may need to rework your prices sooner rather than later.

Hi, I'm David Hoffman, CEO of globaltqm.com...and this is my podcast.

This is episode zero and I'm going to introduce myself and the podcast.

I tell you about my business background in China...

...why I created this podcast...

and what you can expect from it.