In this Episode, we listen to the conversation that Rico had with Mark Ramos A Amazon FBA veteran and Internet marketer. Here he chats with Rico about the importance of coming to China as an ecommerce seller in 2019 and the benefits of coming out and meeting suppliers, understanding the culture and tapping into the Chinese network.
Topics incl:
Advantage of meeting Supplier in China
Coming to China before VS now
Should you still attend the Canton Fair?
Building a Brand
In this episode, Rico talks to Fredrik Gronkvist of China Importal to talk about his journey from Sweden to China. Fredrik shares a lot of his experience and insights on how he made it in China and the the future of where he believes things we go. Let’s have a listen to another inspiring Entrepreneur.
topics incl:
-How he got started doing what he does
-How he came from Sweden to China
-Registering a company in China
-Learning by doing it in China
-Establishing systems in China Importal
-Staying relevant in the sourcing game
-How the trade war is affecting manufacturing
-Sourcing short falls of other countries VS China
Rico will be hosting a free live webinar on August 15th at 8PM EST and August 16th 8AM EST on the “4 Steps to Find a High-Quality Manufacturer”
Click here to sign up here before spots run out
Learn what my company Source Find Asia, calls the SAFE method where we teach you to Search, Assess, Finalize and Elevate your manufacturing process.
The best source for finding RELIABLE factories in China. Knowing where to start is half the battle. We’ll put you square on the starting line and equip you with the tools to find a supplier you can count on.
Knowing which factory is the best fit for you and your business. Not all factories were created equal. Not all businesses were created equal. We show you how to find find the supplier that best fits YOUR needs.
The ins and outs of a factory visit. Stop stressing about what to look for to qualify your supplier. We will show you exactly what to look for on your factory visit and how to know if your factory is up to the challenge of taking on your product.
Our proven process for making a final decision. Commitment is difficult. We know. Don’t fret, let us show you everything you need to know to make the best-educated decision.
Successful on-going management of your new supplier partnership. Now that you’ve tied the knot with your factory how do you keep everything in the honeymoon phase? Learn what we call the SAFE method where we Search Assess Finalize and Elevate.
For the week, we get to hear an Interesting Story about the Journey of Lorenzo Payman, A Good Pal of Rico. His adventures from working in corporate canada then to the Oilfields and then as a Football Coach will be shared. Let’s have a listen to another inspiring Entrepreneur.
Topics incl:
Getting laid off and Coming to China from Canada and Being one of the first to join Enter China
Elevator Life
Work as a Xray Inspector andr Difficult Conditions at the oilfield
Life after Oilfield back to Corporate Canada
Coaching Football in Hangzhou
Moving to Shenzhen and starting his Entrepreneurial Life
The early years of Enter China Community
Cheering on fellow Entrepreneurs "The world needs Entrepreneurs"
Organizing Football Camps
Getting Royal Treatment at Guangdong
Let’s get to know SFA’s Intern Luc Delannoy, an inspiring entrepreneur and future marketing expert. In this episode, Rico Interviews Luc to get a brief introduction and the reasons why he’s taking the opportunity to have an adventure business experience in China while learning from Rico and Mike.
Topics incl:
Discovering SFA
Family's Reaction of news about going to China
Expectations and the Language barrier
How Rico is as a Boss?
The Goal of being in China
Read MoreToday´s guest is John Graham Harper, an Australian entrepreneur who started out in the fitness industry in Shenzhen around 18 years ago.
We talk about why China was the perfect spot for adventurers, how to cater to the Chinese as well as the expat community and how to create a sports platform like White Collar Fight Night.
It´s a very interesting interview where John shares some of the mistakes he made and tips on how to avoid them.
Topics incl:
Coming to china and Unexpectedly Staying
Feeling invincible back in the day
White Collar Fight Night
Early Mistakes and what it takes to build a Gym Business
Gym Businesses functions on Debts
Conflict with the Lender
China's Justice System
Getting Sued, a common issue.
Tips on how to deal with legal issues
Crowd funding for a Lawyer
Foreigners are at a disadvantage when battling a case
China's Still a Land of Opportunity
Here is another repost from our SFA Youtube Channel Rico Advices on tips with. what other productive things you can do outside Canton Fair?
Topics incl:
Duration of your stay
Picking a spot where you can do things outside the Fair
Communicating with suppliers a month beforehand
Research on Meet-ups
In this Episode, we listen to the conversation that Rico had with Felipe Arias, CEO of Itoo, who was a guest on episode 92. Here, he gives a more in depth view of the Fast Fashion and building sustainability within the Industry.
Topics incl:
How Fashion Industry Affects the Environment
Sustainability in China
Corruption in the Industry
Advance Technology for Sustainability
Polyester Recycables
Sustainablity in Fashion is Expensive
Implementing Safety in the Factories
Organic Farming
Trust and Transparency
Lack of Workers in the Factory
Sourcing from India and Vietnam
Fast Fashion
Made in China vs Made in Italy
H&M and Zara
Marketing, YG Media
Selling in Canton Fair
Digital Marketing in China
Trips with the Europe Crew
This week's podcast we have a repost from the sourcing table. Mike sits down with his Buddy Don Wilder, a product developer, to share about his experiences developing a product in China and creating a successful crowd funding campaign.
Topics Incl:
Starting with product developing and crowdfunding
Is it Necessary to be in China when developing products?
Obstacles doing business in China
How crowd funding has changed
Being specific with your customer profile/ targeting your niche market
Developing a new table top game
In this episode, which was originally released on Youtube. Rico gives us tips on how to conduct yourself in a meeting with the Factory Bosses or Sales person while hanging out in Nantong.
Topics Incl:
What to expect from the First Meeting
Price Negotiating Tactics
The Unassuming Boss
Be respectful of the Factory
Researching the price range before the meeting
Do not make empty promises
Don’t be too aggressive
Be specific with details
Take advantage of the dinner with the Bosses.
LET'S CELEBRATE THE 100th MADE IN CHINA Episode with a special podcast where we Compiled Every Guest's Answer to their 80/20 PARETO PRINCIPLE Question. Let's walk through this memory lane with Rico and Mike as they give their reviews and observations on the common takes from different personalities.
Topics Incl:
People, Family and Relationship
The Power of the Internet to Reach out and Market your Brand
"Mastering Successful Habits"
Law of Energy/ Positive Karma/ Mind over Matter
Networking and Being Present
Evolving, Adapting and Committing
Read MoreOn this VideoCast, We have a fellow Sourcing Guy, Aakash Chugani to share his Outrageous War Stories running a sourcing business in China.
Topics Incl:
Supplier's Factory got Closed down
Selling Big Ideas to suppliers while Client's Business Closed
Double Checking Factories and Clients
Meeting Felipe
Biggest Success
Giving Enough Trust to your Chinese Staff
Online Presence of Sourcing Companies
Being Involved with every aspect of the Business
Organizing A Busy Schedule
Fashion Industry
Online Businesses in China
Sourcing in China Vs Other SEA Countries
Read MoreAfter Last week's #ThisIsChina Episode where we heard stories about Employees, this week we cross the other side of the Fence and listen to Mike's and Rico's Bizarre Experience with different Types of Factory Bosses that they had dealt with from the Beginnings of their Sourcing Experiences.
Topics Incl:
Factory Boss 1 - The Band Man - Party Hard Boss!
Factory Boss 2 - The Egostistic MuthaF*%$#@ who won't admit his mistakes
Factory Boss 3 - Swapping Materials for Cheaper Material
Read MoreHere we go again. The 4th Installment of #ThisIsChina Episode is back! Mike and Rico discusses and share their memorable experiences with different notorious "Chinese Employees". Some Funny, Ridiculous and even Scary. Let's Join in and Listen. Cheers!
Topics Incl:
Employee no.1 - The Scheming Employee
Employee no.2 - The Favourite Employee "the feminine"
Employee no.3 -The C.B.A Employee "The Lazy Gamer"
Employee no.4 - Roy A - "I Don't Give a Sh*t" Guy
Employee no.5 - Roy B - WTF!!! Drinking Beer While at Work!?!
Employee no.6 - Mr B -The Smoothest Talker
Read MoreIn this week’s Video Cast, We sit down with Iris to talk about Neat HK, an Online Bank Service aimed to offer small businesses and startups the right technology to make life easier. Iris, who is now Head of Marketing Department was the First Employee of Neat, She shares us stories about the progression of the Company from it’s beginnings and later on Explains the Different platforms that Neat has to Offer.
Topics incl:
Coming from a Finance Background
The Appeal of joining Neat
The HK Banking System still behind compared to Europe
Neat's Demographic
The early challenges opening an Online Banking System in HK
Partnering with other Banks
Digitizing to minimize cost
Neat's Application Process
Company's challenges in the beginning
Neat Personal Account and Business Account
Multi Currency Account
Expansion Plan in China
China's Withdrawal Limit
Neat's Technical Support Team
Customers visiting the Office to check if they are Real
In this last part of our 3 hour long special podcast, Bryan and Rico Broke Down the workflow even further up to the 3rd production run. An episode that can help bring knowledge of what to expect when Sourcing for an Original Design. It was a Unique Experience especially having to produce 5 existing toys and simultaneously designing another 4 more. We will also get to know what advantages there are when Coming to China vs Working Remotely.
Topics incl:
Implementing QC
Being Detailed but not too specific on Instructions
Having a toy facing the wrong way
F.R.I -Final Random Inspection
Translating Western English "Idioms" to Chinese English
Designing a new toy after BIG HEX
The Difference of manufacturing a new toy vs Big Hex
When Factory Increase Per unit Cost
How The relationship Progessed Between ProdigyGame and SFA as they were growing respectively.
Coming to China for the First Time after Working remotely for 2 years
The progress of Prodigygame during the 2 year process of Manufacturing
Revenue from Toys Vs Revenue from Softwares
Observation on SFA during the 2 1/2 years as it Grew.
Continuing on the Podcast, We have the 2nd of 3 episodes with Bryan Paratian who was Lead Hardware Developer of ProdigyGame, An Educational Technology Company, which so happened to be the company that baptized Rico as his first Clients. Here they revisit their initial experiences that came with challenges they had to endure in order to have an Original Design Successfully Manufactured. On this sequel, they broke down the work flow of the process that took 6 months to a year for “BIG HEX’s” completion.
Topics incl:
The issue with the team they were working with before finding the right personnel.
The problems with the first molding
Reaction to Kids Reviewing Big Hex on Youtube
Having the manufacturer guide you on the Financial and Quality Side
THE RELIEF of releasing BIG HEX after a year then manufacturing 4 more toys later.
Customer Lifetime Value
The Workflow of the Process, From it’s beginning to it’s end
Don't ignore the packaging!
Having the contract written in Chinese and English
Preproduction Development
The Chinese way of business Comparing to North America
Negotiation; the most intense process
Revising the production
Proceeding with the 2nd batch
Hiring a QC Team
This week on the Podcast, We have the 1st of 3 episodes with Bryan Paratian who was Lead Hardware Developer of ProdigyGame, An Educational Technology Company, which so happened to be the company that baptized Rico as his first Clients. Here they revisit their initial experiences that came with challenges they had to endure in order to have an Original Design Successfully Manufactured.
Topics incl:
Changing Roles at ProdigyGame
Using Stress Sensors to Evaluate Gaming Experience
Hiring Freelance 3d artist on Behance
Sourcing from Alibaba
Finding the right suppliers
Data Science to help with analysis
Deciding to get help from Rico
Screening a company online is not enough
What SFA brought to the table
MOLDING Failed
In This Video Cast Episode, Rico sits down with Felipe Arias, who mainly deals with Fashion and started his entrepreneurship in China since he was 19. Here he goes in depth about Fast Fashion, sourcing from different Regions and the tricks of the trade in the Fashion world.
Topics incl:
Felipe's Beginning as an Young Entrepreneur
The learning process provided by China
The Mom's Influence on his Entrepreneur Blood
Fashion is not Something that you go to school and learn about. "Identifying the End Consumer"
Knowing the Regional Taste for Women
Early Mistakes and the Recovery after
Patience is a trait you need to run a business.
Building a team in China: Providing a good working environment
Being prepared for whats coming
Be Updated with the Technology of production
Welcoming in our Podcast is Mark Ramos, A Veteran FBA Amazon and Internet marketer. Here he chats with Rico, who he will be collaborating with in Future Projects. Talks about his experience living in Guangzhou before it emerged to what it is now and how he loves being the guy behind the scenes organizing business seminars and networking events.
Topics incl:
Coming to China
The Emergence of Internet Marketing
Guangzhou, China in 2006
Introducing the concept of Internet Marketing to Chinese Clients and Factories at the Beginning
China's Control of the Internet
Maintaining Success
Selling in Amazon Then vs Now; Amazon Explosion on 2016
"Finding your focus as an entrepreneur"
Having a Chinese business partner and The strategy of presenting to clients as a foreigner
Consulting; Being in the country and present to the Factories is a benefit when sourcing
Networking in the Seminars
Build a Brand and an Audience First
Online Courses: Are they necessary for your business growth?
Black Cat Tactics that Chinese sellers employ
Having membership and maintaining monthly continuity
Future Plans for his Business in China
Bringing back Cross Border Summit in Guanzhou
Being Behind the Scenes
10 years in Guangzhou, Observation of Influx of Entrepreneurship
