Supply ChainThere are potentially a few key players that are involved in sourcing textiles from China. It may be possible to source directly from the producer, but it might also be necessary to deal with a wholesaler. There is the opportunity perhaps to buy from a wholesaler that already has the textiles in Canada, but it will be assumed for the sake of this exercise that is not the case -- that the client needs to source custom from China. Depending on the client's internal resources, it may be necessary to have a translator, and some sort of trade expert who can manage the quotas and importing paperwork that go along with importing textiles into the country. One specialist who might be considered is a compliance specialist. One of the issues that Western manufacturers have when sourcing from developing nations is that working conditions in factories overseas can be at a standard that creates controversy, and ethical issues, at home. A compliance offer who is either in China or can travel there is important for ensuring that the client's ethical standards are maintained by the Chinese supplier (Chinaimportal, 2015).
The first issue is to determine where one can...
In fact, the client should not be so myopic as to insist on sourcing from any one country -- if the textile is a commodity, the bidding should be open to any country. But if China is the choice, then the first place to start is Alibaba, the major B2B site linking Chinese suppliers with foreign buyers.
Cultural issues are relevant to the extent that they influence business practices. For example, different cultures conceptualize contracts and business relationships differently. Where in Canada contract is a fixed agreement, not subject to any subsequent negotiation, that is not always the case in other cultures. It is worth having a Chinese liaison on hand in order to work through not only the language issues but the cultural ones as well. A Chinese-Canadian may not be enough -- it has to be someone who understands mainland PRC culture, not Hong Kong or Taiwanese. The social issues -- in particular factory conditions -- are another matter, and this is why it is important to have a compliance officer able to visit the supplier's factory and perform an audit for working conditions, wages and those sorts of social/ethical issues.
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