Artisan Helps Midstates Enterprises Corp. Open Office in USA

With the assistance of Artisan Business Group and its law partner, Hua Cheng Trade and Development Co., a Guizhou Province based privately held company, opened its first US presence in Illinois. The newly established Midstates Enterprises (USA) Corporation will be conducting int'l trade between the two countries. Mr. XO Wang is the general manager of the firm.

Sourcing from China

Artisan Business Group offers a one day "Sourcing from China" workshop which focuses on helping companies recognize new opportunities for more cost-effective sourcing from China and to understand some of the pitfalls and how these can be negotiated. Chinese business culture and how to build strong business relationships with Chinese partners is an integral and interactive part of the course.

The one day workshop will include interactive sessions, practical advice and real-life case studies.

Topics Covered:

* Introduction to China as a manufacturing location
* Identifying opportunities
* Finding suppliers
* Methods of sourcing - direct, using agents, trading companies, licensing & contract manufacturing
* Potential obstacles and how to overcome them
* Protecting your intellectual property rights
* Quality issues
* Transportation costs
* Sources of finance
* Brief overview of investment vehicles in China
* Building business relationships in China
* Negotiation skills
* Practical hints & tips for visiting China

Who would benefit from this course:

This course is suitable for personnel seeking to buy/procure from China for the first time or those who need to develop/expand their purchasing base and anyone traveling to China.

Interested companies should contact us for schedules, we deliver seminars to your office!

Export to China

There are 3 ways that your firm can export goods to China:

1. Distribute your goods directly
2. Establish a joint venture
3. Find a qualified distributor in China

Before exporting your goods into China or choosing a Chinese partner, it is advised for you to conduct thorough market research and due diligence. Companies should be mindful of possible problems in export rights, regulations and intellectual property rights protection. If the company decides to distribute the goods directly, then it will have to be aware of the distribution rights and understand the licensing process in China.

Distributing your goods directly may be a complicated and time-consuming process as one may not be familiar with China’s business practices and government regulations. Application for distribution rights and establishment of own distribution channels will be difficult. Chances of failure will be higher as a result. Establishing a joint venture will thus be a better option. Establishing cooperation with a local partner can allow you to have faster access into China’s market and with the local partner’s knowledge and experiences of China’s market, your success rate will be higher and goods can be better distributed. Acquiring help from a local partner does give you many advantages in penetrating the China’s market. A side issue to note will be that joint venture usually requires large amount of capital and China’s government may have capital control towards outflow of funds should one transfer his/her funds back to his/her home country. The government will also need to assess the potential economic benefits that it can bring to China, e.g. does it create job opportunities for the local population before approving it.

For small and medium sized companies, the best way to enter the China market is through a reputable or well-known agent or distributor. These companies are located regionally and typically have large sales network. Thus they will be able to have a better understanding of the China’s market and can provide assistance in developing distribution strategies in China and the region. In this way, new products can be launched easier into the market and distribution network can be set up rapidly without any problems dealing with distribution rights and licensing.

Besides all these, the most important step that one must take before exporting his/her products into China will be have a thorough understanding China’s customs, regulations and controls towards imported goods. A sound market entry strategy is also necessary in order to penetrate the China’s market. An assessment of your goods’ strengths, weakness, opportunities and risks would allow you to promote and distribute your products better. Understanding the profitability and marketability of your products in the China’s market is thus vital before exporting your products into China.

Is Your Company "China Smart?"

Artisan Business Group offers a series of Doing Business in China workshops to address what your business should know to be successful in China.

Topics

* Successful Sales Strategies
* Commercial Trends and Emerging Issues of immediate impact to your business
* Dynamic Emerging Markets: Why your company should be looking beyond Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou
* Strategic and Tactical considerations for intellectual property protection and plotting market entry/expansion
* Finding, Evaluating and Motivating your Chinese Partner
* Risk Management, Currency Issues and Getting Paid
* Critical Logistics and Supply Chain Consideration

Contact us today and inquire how we can deliver the workshop to your company.

Artisan Offers Pre-departure Orientation Services

Artisan Business Group has been offering detailed pre-departure orientation services to many China bounding visitors. Many Americans who have never been to China found the service very informative and helpful. The session includes city orientation, culture introduction, health care and schooling information, and employment and governmental regulation, etc. Please contact us for details.

Do You have a Business Card in Chinese?

Business cards are the most important form of introduction for Chinese businessman. It is the business card that plays a very significant role in China for people to get connected. It, thus becomes clear that business cards are of significant importance and that they cannot be taken lightly. China was the country where business cards were introduced for the first time in the 15th century. If you travel to China, you will notice that Chinese business people will always offer their business cards at the beginning of the meeting. To impress your Chinese counterparts and get connected faster, I d suggest that you give yourself a Chinese name and print your business cards in both English and Chinese! If you need help on this, contact us!

Mattel Pledging to take Responsibility for Defective Toys

Thomas Debrowski, an executive of Mattel, apologized Friday to a senior Chinese official for the inconvenience it has caused to Chinese consumers after recalling millions of China-made toys and pledged to take responsibility, according to a Xinhua witness.

During his talk with Li Changjiang, head of the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine, Debrowski admitted that the vast majority of its recalled toys were of design flaws rather than the manufacturing errors of China.

According to a press release announced by a lawyer of the Mattel,17.4 million toys have been recalled because of loose magnets and those recalled because of impermissible levels of lead numbered 2.2 millions.

The magnets related recalls were due to emerging issues concerning design and this has nothing to do with whether the toys were manufactured in China, said the press release.

"Mattel does not require Chinese manufacturers to be responsible for the magnets related recalls due to design problems," it said.

It also admitted that Mattel's lead-related recalls were "overly inclusive" as the company were "committed to applying the highest standards of safety for its products".

"The follow-up inspections also confirmed that part of the recalled toys complied with the U.S. standards."

The same high standards to recalls of its products have been applied in the EU and other countries despite the fact that some of these products may have met local safety standards. its said.

ABG Teams up with the Law Offices of Daniel Zeft

Chicago based law offices of Daniel Zeft and Artisan Business Group are exploring partnership opportunities to assist Chinese immigrants in the Midwest region. The law offices of Daniel Zeft specializes in immigration laws, and Artisan Business Group has extensive marketing channels in the Chinese communities throughout the US.