Seed for Success | Empowering Women Entreprenuers

I waited a little longer than usual to post a new blog, because I wanted to be able to give you a complete update on the latest happenings with Head 2 Toe. Last week I received an email from all 4 manufacturers in China, who are printing and making all of my products, telling me that they had started production on my first products. I can’t believe this day has finally arrived. While I am waiting on the completion of the production, I am working with UPS to schedule the shipping from China to my home in Birmingham, Alabama. Since I have never imported anything from a manufacturer outside of the USA, Rosemary Coates suggested that I let UPS handle the shipping, the customs brokerage, all the paperwork, and the shipping to my home. If I had chosen to do it myself, I would have had to find and pay a customs broker, choose a shipping agent in China and then go pick up my shipments at some port here in America. I was very willing to do all of that, but when I found out that I could hire a company that I trust to do all of that for me, I couldn’t pass it up.

Here are 10 tips I have learned so far about dealing with China(manufacturing):
1. Be concise and exact in your emails. Include quantity, sizes, payment, materials requested and send pictures to back up your description. Be clear if you use metric system measurements or not. I always spell out Inches. Don’t risk using symbols. You never know how that translates.
2. Be clear about requesting samples. Do not pay for samples but pay for shipping samples to you.
3. Ask for pictures of the samples. If you do not need a sample sent, you should always have them send a picture of the sample.
4. Always have 2-3 manufacturers quoting on the same job. This helps in negotiations. It is a time saver!
5. Negotiate, Negotiate, Negotiate. Don’t be afraid to tell them you offer a much lower price. They see it as a game. If they will not negotiate or change prices, then be silent for a few days and see if they contact you or move on to plan B.
6. Be clear about payment. Bank wire or T/T is the best. Do not pay more than 50% prepayment at time of order. They will not start production until they get the bank wire. It only takes 1-2 days. Pay the remaining 50% after you have documentation from the shipping agent at the port. You should get a tracking number. Again, this is why I chose UPS.
7. Get shipping terms clear. I chose to get my quotes FOB instead of CIF(CIF is usually a little higher). Your contracts with your manufacturers should state FOB Shanghai or nearest port. This means that the manufacturer is paying for shipping to that specified port and then I am responsible for payment of shipping to my home. MAKE SURE YOU ARE CLEAR ABOUT THIS!
8. Stay in contact with your manufacturer during production. Ask for pictures along the way. My book printer just sent me pictures of the pages after printing before the binding occurs.
9. Ask your manufacturers to send dimensions of the shipment including weight, size and quantity. You need this to give to your shipper so they can determine best way to ship.
10. Make sure you find out when they are shipping to the port. If you choose ocean freight, the ships only leave on certain days. Unless you have materials that weigh over 1000 lbs, air would most likely be the best and fastest mode of transportation.

That is my Top 10 tips for dealing with manufacturers in China. Having Rosemary Coates coach me through the entire process has been the biggest help. I don’t think I could have done it effectively or efficiently without her.

I also have other exciting news.
1. www.head2toepub.com will be ready to launch in less than 2 weeks. It will have our first products featured and we will be taking “pre sales” until the products are ready to ship. We will be offering FREE SHIPPING to ALL 50 states also.

2. Head 2 Toe Publications will be selling at The American Speech and Hearing Association (ASHA) annual conference in November in Chicago.

3. I will be going to China to meet with current and new manufacturers in October.

4. Lastly, H2T has partnered with United Cerebral Palsy of Greater Birmingham and Easter Seals of North Georgia. We are so excited to have this partnership with such great organizations.

Now you know why I waited to tell you my great news. We have come a long way since April and there is so much more to do. Next time I’ll tell you about the great tips I learned from Peggy Klaus, Evan Carmichael, Dr. Lois Frankel and Cathy Greenberg. I wish you could see my notes from our conversations. They are all great resources!

Enjoy the closing ceremonies in Beijing!

Karla