Ben’s field notes on sourcing, quality control, logistics and supply-chain strategy — written for importers who want what actually works.
Early 2020 handed the global supply chain one of its hardest disruptions in years. Factories fell silent, shipments stalled, and importers were left waiting. By the time I started writing this, most factories had somehow restored their operations and long-delayed shipments were finally moving again — not always up to
When people talk about Japanese melon, Hokkaido is probably the most famous spot. In fact, Nara also grow high quality melon. How they compete with the unique natural quality and sunshine in Hokkaido? No they don’t compete. They grow it indoor! With pleasure, we MFE are the one supporting them
Forecast is meaningless if the supplier doesn’t follow it for stocking. Yet a supplier would not seriously stock if the forecast is unreliable nor liable. If only a “liable forecast” is meaningful, why not just place a changeable order? Let’s be clear – we are not talking “big picture” that
Ask and understand why the MOQ is so high. Define the uncommon part that is unique to the required version of the product. If the uncommon part(s) are cheap, buy in / invest all of them to greatly reduce the MOQ of the variation. If the uncommon part(s) are expensive,
There are few processes before a supplier visit: first, you need to be clear what you need to buy (demand definition), then you find your supplier on google, Alibaba, or other platforms like made-in-china.com or HKTDC (the one who hold the trade fair in Wanchai Hong kong). You start contacting
In yesterday’s B2B showroom talk, I interviewed an offset printing factory. Packaging printing is probably one of my most familiarize industries, and I couldn’t really tell how many printers, big and small, I have been visited during my career. Unfortunately, seldom of them could still be remembered, as they are
It is at 1 pm in a factory located in Taizhou. In a dark, small office of 6, while most of her colleagues are having their afternoon nap, Jenny is an exception. Already she has had a long morning. She checks inventory in the warehouse herself as she cannot get
While everyone heads to gold rush for their Amazon business, there are many opportunities that people usually omit when working with Chinese manufacturer. In fact, the nature of small qty purchase for a startup B2C business does not easily help you get attention from any real manufacturer. No matter how
Will you call Apple a middleman between consumer and Foxconn? No. It is the value which make middleman worth. A capable middleman worth no less than a professional sourcing staff — just make sure he works hard enough to earn his place. We’ve been discussed the impossibility of having a
Reading helps. Having us on the ground helps more. Feasibility within one business day.
