Do It Your Way in China
There’s more than one way to skin a cat, if you can pardon the cliché. I am tempted to use it now just to emphasize to you how something so evident can often be overlooked. It is easy to find people who have the impression that China is exclusively a place where you get your product copied for mass production. China is also known to hold some of the world’s largest trade shows, the size and scope of which will take your breath away.
What most may not have considered is actually being in China, by setting up your own shop floor in the mainland. If you’re the type who is fussy about how things should be done, you have the option of running your own show.
I guess that begs the question, why would you want to go to that extent, and operate a production facility or go into a joint venture in China?
Besides it being the best in the world at reproducing any product you can imagine, the speed at which things can be done in China is probably unmatched by any other country in the world.
One of the best examples I use to let people know just how fast things can get done in China, is how a medium rise building can be built in just two weeks. To put this in perspective, China built 33,000 kilometers of its expressway system in just five years. That length is nearly half the US interstate expressway system, which is around 77,000 kilometers, built over three decades.
Another example is a company called DJI, the world’s largest maker of drones for consumer use. Given that the largest consumer market for drones is the US, it would have made sense for them to set up production facilities there. However, DJI chose China, where a new part can be designed in the morning, and created in the afternoon. There are also less regulations for them to test drones, in contrast to the US.
Now before you jump in the bandwagon and start locating a site for your factory, remember this: Everything is possible in China, but nothing is simple. If I can say this about importing from China, then I can certainly say the same for actually running a business remotely in China.
Doing business in China is about being both big and small. It always pays to dream big in China, but it also pays to attend to the small details.
I recommend that you find the right people who can help you get started.