Finding an outsource to make a product in China--Where to begin?

Hey Peter,

I don't have any experience regarding Chinese VA's, but my company might be able to help you out. Check us out and drop us a line if you have any questions. Thanks!

Chad

pacificpartssales.com

Hi Peter:

I may be able to help you.

I have extensive experience with manufacturing and regulations in China.

I can help find a factory and also negotiate a good price.

Please don't hesitate to contact me.

Zhongmei Tong

Hi Peter, Thanks for the positive feedback. I was the one that mentioned having a VA in china that was my personal scout. He was great for a while, but he lost his edge some where along the way and I stopped getting the quality I came to expect. So I had to let him go. I will keep in touch with him, and let you know if I find anyone else like that.

Product Development is a business I enjoy. I will be building a team of people focused on bringing ideas to the market in the same way I brought Porch Potty to the market. I like the business model. It lends itself well to automation. But it takes a little work up front, especially if you will be prototyping and manufacturing the product.

I recommend getting a prototype made locally, to work out the design bugs. Then find a factory to make it for you. That can be locally too, depending on if there is tooling required or not. Sometimes the investment is so low, you can manufacture them locally until you get enough volume to warrant going to China. For example, a new glove design. I have a friend who wants to make new "workout gloves". There is very little tooling or R&D. So that is something you would have made in your own country. Then if sales go through the roof, you start looking at china or Mexico.

Hope that helps. Keep me updated with your progress.

-Brandon

Hi Peter I may be able to help you as I know a fellow in China that speaks excellent English and is in a position to assist you. His name is Kevin and lives about two hours out of Hong Kong up the Pearl river. He is an engineer by trade and is quite knowledgeable of the business world. I met him when I was in Zhaoqing. He bent over backwards to help me and like I said speaks good English. The biggest problem I have dealing with the Chinese is most companies (the ones I deal with) hire some young girl that knows 100 English words and absolutely ZERO business experience. I get extremely frustrated trying to communicate basic understandings. Also you must have your guard up all the time. A favorite trick with cab drivers is to hand them a 100 bill (Chinese yuan) they then look at it and hand it back saying it's too old, they want a new one or something smaller. What they have just done is switch it with a counterfeit note. Be careful of cab drivers that do not drive all the way up to drop you off at the hotel, they will park 50 meters away and pull this trick. I call their attention to the serial number so they do not try. R Livett Australia

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