I’d like to personally thank everyone who attended our inaugural Lone Star Derby luncheon this past Saturday, April 30. The event was a great success and we raised over $25,000 for our organization. I’d like to especially thank Cynthia Smoot for the great writeup she posted on her blog, www.OhSoCynthia.com. Check it out… since I wasn’t invited to the recent Royal Wedding, this may be your only opportunity to see me in a hat!

 
http://www.usatoday.com/news/topstories/2010-08-07-1453818316_x.htm

http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/bus/stories/DN-chinanotcheap_11bus.ART0.State.Edition1.1aa6fde.html

Some of the reasons that American small businesses are wary of importing from Asia include the following:

1. Concern that too much planning is involved to order weeks ahead of time.

It is important to develop a reasonable timetable for delivery. If your company does not have shipping logistics in place, determining the most timely shipping method and ensuring that customs issues and government regulations in both Asia and the U.S. are followed is critical. It is a nightmare to have your shipment arrive in the U.S. and then receive an order to ship it back to Asia because U.S. customs regulations were not followed or the correct customs forms were not filed.

2. Suspicion that products “made in China” or “made in Vietnam” might be of low quality or made from dangerous materials.

We have all heard the horror stories about products manufactured in Asia. Major recalls due to the use of dangerous materials and poor design and workmanship have been major headlines in recent months. The costs to a company’s bottom line and its reputation can be devastating as a result.

3. Worry that products made in China and made in Vietnam are all made in sweatshops.

Child labor and poor working conditions for employees often come to mind when considering China manufacturing and Vietnam manufacturing. Aside from the obvious ethical concerns associated with these risks, there is the risk of a company’s name forever being linked to such business practices.

As one of the most trusted global sourcing companies in the industry, Q International handles all the complexities of the sourcing process. We work with you from design to delivery so that purchasing and manufacturing overseas becomes a simple and seamless process. Q International has built a network of trusted partnerships with our manufacturers. With the combined purchasing power of all of our clients, we often can negotiate lower minimum quantity requirements than if a single company were going through the buying process on its own. We look forward to discussing the process with you and answering any questions that you might have about how using a sourcing consultant can increase your bottom line. Feel free to contact us with any questions or comments.

One of the most common questions that companies ask is how do we know which imprinted promotional products to use? There are three questions that you should ask yourself when exploring the answer to this question:

1. What type of business are you running?

For instance, technology related items, such as USB flash drives, make great imprinted promotional products for tech companies. While attending this conference, we have been amazed at the sheer number and type available – they come in every shape and size, with some as small as the size of your thumbnail!

2. What impression are you hoping to make?

Do you want to come across as a business geared toward the average Joe, or are you looking for something more high-end? At this conference we have seen everything from electronic watches and clocks to corporate logo bags, caps, garments, and pens. Some of the hot imprinted promotional products this year included stationary and paper, photo frames, sports bags, and travel goods.

3. What is your budget?

Many companies do not realize that they do not have to spend a lot of money to offer imprinted promotional products to their customers. There are thousands of items for budget conscious companies (and who isn’t these days?), starting even as low as 10 cents. Q International, Inc can help you figure out what unique items are available for your type of business and stay within your budget.

As one of the most trusted global sourcing companies in the industry, Q International handles all the complexities of the sourcing process. We work with you from design to delivery so that purchasing and manufacturing overseas becomes a simple and seamless process. Q International has built a network of trusted partnerships with our manufacturers. With the combined purchasing power of all of our clients, we often can negotiate lower minimum quantity requirements than if a single company were going through the buying process on its own. We look forward to discussing the process with you and answering any questions that you might have about how using a sourcing consultant can increase your bottom line. Feel free to contact us with any questions or comments.

Once the sourcing consultant receives the product specifications from the client, the   consultant will help the client determine which design and materials should be used to most economically produce the product, while still meeting the client’s quality specifications.

Finding the best supplier to manufacture the product and obtaining a price quote from that supplier is one of the areas where a sourcing consultant’s expertise is particularly important.  One of the many challenges for a US business or individual with a product idea is manufacturing at efficiencies to deliver a product that is price competitive.  One of the solutions to this problem is finding manufacturers in countries with cost efficiencies that can produce the product at the right price.  The two most prevalent efficiencies in manufacturing overseas are lower labor costs and raw material availability.   This can be a difficult task for a company – especially with barriers such as language and cultural differences.  The right sourcing consultant is an expert in these areas and can do business effectively and efficiently in the manufacturing country.

If the client agrees to the price quoted, a sourcing consultant will coordinate obtaining a sample from the supplier and arrange payment of sampling costs by the company.

Once a sample is approved, a sourcing consultant uses his or her expertise to ensure quality production and that the supplier has met all product specifications, as defined by the client.  An effective sourcing consultant will have a tried and true process in place as well as people on the ground to check goods for quality.

If the company does not have shipping logistics in place, a sourcing consultant can help determine the most cost effective shipping method.  This will depend on factors such as customs and government regulations in the manufacturing country, all of which an experienced sourcing consultant will possess expert knowledge. The sourcing consultant will also be familiar with foreign exchange rates and will calculate these to minimize currency exposure

As one of the most trusted global sourcing companies in the industry, Q International handles all the complexities of the sourcing process.  We work with you from design to delivery so that purchasing and manufacturing overseas becomes a simple and seamless process. Q International has built a network of trusted partnerships with our manufacturers.  With the combined purchasing power of all of our clients, we often can negotiate lower minimum quantity requirements than if a single company were going through the buying process on its own.  We look forward to discussing the process with you and answering any questions that you might have about how using a sourcing consultant can increase your bottom line.  Feel free to contact us with any questions or comments.

International Sourcing Steps & Timeline:

1. Product Specification – The sourcing process starts with product design and specifications from a client.
2. Supplier Selection – The next step in the sourcing process is to find the best supplier to manufacture the product and to obtain a price quote from that supplier. (5-15 days)
3. Sample Development (Prototype) – If the client agrees to the price quoted, a sample is then provided by the supplier. Once the sample meets the client’s specifications, the client will sign and proceed with a production contract. (30-45 days)
4. Quality Control – This step is absolutely integral to the sourcing process and needs to be handled onsite at the manufacturing facility and before shipping. (5-7 days).
5. Shipping & Logistics – Cargo shipping and freight delivery of the product to the client is the final step. (5-45 days, depending on the delivery method selected by the client)

As one of the most trusted global sourcing companies in the industry, Q International handles all the complexities of the sourcing process. We work with you from design to delivery so that purchasing and manufacturing overseas becomes a simple and seamless process. Q International has built a network of trusted partnerships with our manufacturers. With the combined purchasing power of all of our clients, we often can negotiate lower minimum quantity requirements than if a single company were going through the buying process on its own. We look forward to discussing the process with you and answering any questions that you might have about how using a sourcing consultant can increase your bottom line. Feel free to contact us with any questions or comments.