Sourcing from China for the first time can be a daunting experience. There are many cultural and language differences as well as huge differences in business mindsets. These combined issues can put you on the back foot from the start and put the supplier at a much more advantageous position. This can easily negatively affect the result of your negotiations, both in terms of price and product quality. Consider appointing an agent for you in...

I was in Xiamen in Fujian province earlier in the year and took a walk along the pedestrian shopping street before enjoying a rare stroll along the nearby beach. I am usually too busy to enjoy the city whenever I go there so this was a treat. However on my walk of I came across this little beauty. It’s clearly an unlicensed Body Shop store. The products within appeared genuine and from Hong Kong but all signage and interior design was a...

The following is an article we wrote for Shanghai’s Settling Magazine about our experiences launching ETP in China. It was published in October 2011 and covered three pages of their ‘City Business Focus’ section. Into the Unknown – Finding Our Feet in Beijing Starting a new business anywhere is tough. Having the idea and motivation to get started is a big step, but as anyone who has attempted it will tell you, it...

Why are these financial services companies offering trading consultancy and trade fair assistance? In Hong Kong and Asia, much like the rest of the world, the financial services market is very competitive. Recently there have been many new start-up companies in the wake of the global financial crisis pertaining to offer you the best wealth management and financial services. These companies are mainly made up of individuals with a rich...