Category: Interviews

Compliance Q&A with a Watch Manufacturer: Subcontractors & Substance Regulations

Posted on by Fredrik Gronkvist — 7 Comments

watch cases

We often write about product compliance on Chinaimportal.com. However, we thought it was about time to cover a different angle: The viewpoint of the supplier. During a recent visit to Shenzhen, I had the opportunity to ask a few critical questions to a leading, unnamed, Watch manufacturer. Keep reading, and learn more about compliance and risks in Watch manufacturing – lessons that can be applied to virtually any industry.

Can you ensure compliance with REACH, RoHS, CA Prop 65 and other substance regulations?

Yes, as our main markets are the United States and the European Union, we must ensure compliance with a variety of standards and regulations. Among them are those you just mentioned: REACH, RoHS and California Proposition 65.

Continue reading Compliance Q&A with a Watch Manufacturer: Subcontractors & Substance Regulations

Social Compliance Audits in China: By Renaud Anjoran

Posted on by Fredrik Gronkvist

production-facility

Renaud Anjoran, the founder of Sofeast in Shenzhen, is a well-known expert in quality assurance and factory audits. In this article, Renaud shares his insights in a topic that is more relevant than ever to importers: Social Compliance. Keep reading, and learn more about the various Social Compliance Audit protocols and the situation differ between major industries – including Textiles, Electronics and Toys. In addition, he also explains why so many suppliers fail Social Compliance Audits. While many business owners assume that the main issue, and risk, is underage labour, that is not the case.

Why are Social Compliance Audits (SCA) necessary when doing business with Chinese manufacturers?

There are several reasons why Western importers need their suppliers’ factories to be audited for social compliance.

First, consumer brands are under intense media scrutiny. Journalists generally don’t investigate in what conditions certain products are made, but from time to time they surface some information that causes a scandal. Think Nike and child labor, or Apple and the suicides at Foxconn. The key here is to know about potential scandals and push suppliers to act.

Continue reading Social Compliance Audits in China: By Renaud Anjoran

Quality Management Systems in China Explained: Q&A with Renaud Anjoran

Posted on by Fredrik Gronkvist — 2 Comments

Renaud Anjouran

Pre-shipment quality inspections are critical when buying from China. Yet, they may be of limited use if you’ve selected a supplier neglecting your quality requirements from the very beginning.

This is where a Quality Management System (QMS) comes in. We get a lot of questions from our readers about ISO 9001, and other QMS, and how much of an impact these actually have on the final product.

So, we decided to ask an expert – Renaud Anjoran, founder Sofeast, one of China’s leading Quality Inspection and Quality Assurance firms. In this article, Renaud explains what a QMS is, and why it matters when selecting a manufacturer.

Renaud, tell us a bit about yourself and how you got into Quality Assurance, to begin with?

I got into this field by following opportunities at the beginning of my career, as often happens. In 2005 and 2006 I was working for a small Hong Kong trading company, and I was spending a good part of my time checking production status and quality in factories.

When I started my company, the first client trained me to do quality control in their suppliers’ factories, and slowly I hired and trained my team. Continue reading Quality Management Systems in China Explained: Q&A with Renaud Anjoran

US Customs Procedures Explained: What Importers Must Know

Posted on by Fredrik Gronkvist — 147 Comments

US Customs Procedures

Trying to get your head around US customs regulations and procedures? Not sure what a Customs bond is, or when you should submit the Bill of Lading? Getting your cargo through customs is the final step importing process, and the stakes are high. Without complying with the established customs procedures and regulations, you may face very serious complications – including costly delays and refused entry of the shipment.

In order to straighten things out for our American readers, we got in touch with a real professional – Kathy Rinetti, Customs Manager of Flexport.com, based in San Francisco. In this article, Kathy explains what US importers must know about freight documents, customs bonds, port fees – and why you need a Customs broker.  Continue reading US Customs Procedures Explained: What Importers Must Know

California Proposition 65 Compliance: What US importers must know

Posted on by Fredrik Gronkvist — 5 Comments

California Proposition 65

American companies selling products in, or to customers in, the state of California must ensure compliance with California Proposition 65. This law regulates more than 800 substances in all consumer products. Yet, many American start ups and small businesses importing from China, and other Asian countries, are largely unaware how California Proposition 65 applies to their products.

That’s why we decided to reach out to Daniel Herling, Member at Mintz Levin, a general practice law firm with more than 450 attorneys. Daniel, based on San Francisco,  focuses on commercial litigation representing U.S, and international clients in the Americas, Europe and Asia. In this interview, he explains what American importers must know about California Proposition 65 – and what the consequences are of selling non-compliant items. But before we look into details, let’s begin with a brief introduction. Continue reading California Proposition 65 Compliance: What US importers must know

UL, CSPC Compliance & Fraud Prevention – What US importers need to know about China

Posted on by Fredrik Gronkvist — 5 Comments

David Baysource

We talk a lot about product certification compliance and importing from China, from a European perspective. We thought it was about time to reach out to our fellow readers from across the pond. David Alexander,  President of BaySource Global, explains what American businesses needs to know about UL, CSPC Compliance, Fraud Prevention and getting your product right.

David, please tell us a bit about what you do and how you got started

In 2000 I was SVP Operations for a US consumer products company in the health and beauty care space. In 2002 we needed to launch a new brand that required all new packaging. The best domestic pricing we were quoted on container/closure tooling was US$300,000 which was extraordinary for a $5 million brand. By luck we were introduced by our Canadian distributors to an agent in Hong Kong. Long story short, we got the tooling done for US$30,000 and the products at half the cost. Continue reading UL, CSPC Compliance & Fraud Prevention – What US importers need to know about China

Visiting your Suppliers in China – Erik Steijner of Migyston Group explains why you should

Posted on by Fredrik Gronkvist — 2 Comments

Migystone Group

Business in China is largely based on relationships. That being said, most people in the industry agree that it’s not the first step to take when sourcing new products and suppliers in China. Instead we decided to ask the two co-founders of Migyston Group,Erik and David Steijner, when paying a visit  actually makes sense.

Please tell us a bit about what you do and how you got started

Migyston Group AB is a Swedish start-up founded in 2012, by the twin brothers Erik and David Steijner (that’s us), and our Chinese partner Yang Zhao. We met Young while getting our MBA degrees from Karlstad Business School. Continue reading Visiting your Suppliers in China – Erik Steijner of Migyston Group explains why you should

China Factory Management – We asked Kim Pen what’s going on behind the scenes

Posted on by Fredrik Gronkvist — 2 Comments

Kim Pen

Chinese manufacturers tend to work in mysterious ways. Well, at least that’s what they want you to think. Today we’re happy to publish our interview with Kim Pen, consulting director of CMC in Shenzhen, China. He explains how Chinese manufacturers are managed and tells you how to make an informed supplier selection.

Kim, please tell us about your company and what you do.

I am the consulting director of CMC (China Manufacturing Consultants). We work for importers that want their key suppliers to improve. Most of the time the client’s priority is better quality (less problems). My job is to find a few key issues to focus on and then accompany the factory as they act on these issues. But also to frame the action plan the right way, and get the factory to “buy in”. It is a sad reality that most Chinese manufacturers care only about costs, not about quality. Continue reading China Factory Management – We asked Kim Pen what’s going on behind the scenes

CE, RoHS and FCC Certification Explained – Interview with Han Zuyderwijk of CEmarking.net

Posted on by Fredrik Gronkvist — 12 Comments

Han-Zuyderwijk

Han Zuyderwijk (we’ll give you a free Supplier Screening if you can properly pronounce his last name) is the founder of cemarking.net, the leading online resource for information on product certification. In this interview, Han explains what CE, RoHS and FCC really means – and why European and American importers should care!

Han, please tell us a bit about what you do and how you got started.

Hi, my name is Han Zuyderwijk. My last name is really a tongue-breaker, so everyone calls me just Han. Han is short for Johannes: in English you’d say “John”. I am Dutch. Yeah, a real cheese head… Continue reading CE, RoHS and FCC Certification Explained – Interview with Han Zuyderwijk of CEmarking.net

Social Entrepreneurship and Importing from China – Interview with Kevin Ackermann of BACA Jewellery in London

Posted on by Fredrik Gronkvist — 1 Comment

kevin ackermann social Entrepreneurship

I’ve met hundreds of business owners from all corners of the world since I started out. One that really made a lasting impression on me was Kevin Ackermann, co-founder and CEO of BACA Jewellery Ltd based in London, UK. In this week’s article we introduced you to the importance of branding when importing products from China, something that Kevin Ackermann has managed exceptionally well. In this interview he tells us about his journey that started with a flight to Shanghai and brought him all the way to the United Nations.

Kevin, please tell us a bit about what you do, how you got started and how it involves China.

I am a Social Entrepreneur running and advising several startups based in London and San Francisco, CA. I am very passionate about retail hence my interactions with factories in China.

At BACA Jewellery, where I am currently acting as CEO, we import pearls and other components from China. Even though 98% of cultured freshwater pearls come from China and the region has built up a great reputation for its quality pearl jewellery, I wanted to check out every step of the supply chain myself to make sure that we do not exploit anybody. Continue reading Social Entrepreneurship and Importing from China – Interview with Kevin Ackermann of BACA Jewellery in London