Wholesale Sourcing Secrets to Keep You Cool and Dry
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Loading ...by ruebenmarley
For me, these are the early days of Summer here in Hangzhou; the ones that torture you with seemingly random intervals of hazy, hot, humid, and suffocating air that clings to you like a sheet of oily plastic wrap. There are a few merciful sporadic moments of cloud cover and a drop in temperature… but it’s short-lived. One is faced with the fact that it will simply be a long, hot, and wet Summer this year.
Just like every year.
So, what better way to beat the unbearable humidity than to indulge in a little reading of some bone-dry material? That’s right, while I’m all about having a bit of fun and enjoying my down time as much as the next guy… it pays to invest a little of that time towards something that will give you the advantage, as you traverse the often-hazardous terrain of China’s wholesale trade industry.
My recommended reading for you this week is none other than the somewhat hard-to-swallow monthly newsletter series published by the good people at The Beijing Axis. Although it’s got a thick and slightly crusty exterior, there’s a valuable and tasty reward at the core, if you’re willing to curl up with this one and chew on it for a little while. Be sure to keep a nice tall glass of water nearby.
Of particular interest to me was the October 2008 issue, with a section titled the “China Sourcing Strategy” on page 14. Not exactly a lot of entertainment, but a very good commentary about the economic crisis, and its impact on the area of foreign trade in China. There’s a few words about the “immediate fallout” that could be attractive to the savvy wholesaler, since this spells o-p-p-o-r-t-u-n-i-t-y for anyone who wants to capitalize upon a sagging market condition, in order to gain some unprecedented leverage. In other words, it’s time to wheel and deal, as China struggles to keep up the façade of a cool, calm, and collected empire-on-the-rise… but gladly takes a seat next to you at the bargaining table, if you’ve got something of immediate value.
Don’t be fooled, China may appear to be the new bully on the block, but the truth is that she needs us as much as we need her. Global markets are far too intertwined for anybody to have the ultimate winning hand, and for anybody who wants to have a go at making it in the wholesale business, these bad times might just be the best ones to get started in. No need to work up a sweat, though.
