Importing from China to the United States
Guess what? China is now the third largest trade partner of the USA. Importing from China is only going to become more and more common as China opens its arms to international trade.Here are some tips to make sure you get off to a good start!Tip #1: Before you do anything else, check up on import restrictions for the product you want to import.Tip #2: Carry out a bit of quick research on the wholesaler supplier.* Visit China Vista Yellow Pages and search for the business name. http://www.chinavista.com/business/directory/home.html* If your wholesaler is located in Wehai, you can check the Chinese Companies List:http://www.business-in-asia.com/chinese_companies_list.htmlTip #3: Ask the supplier whether they attend trade shows. If yes, it’s usually a good indication that they are legitimate. Trade shows require a monetary investment – making it unlikely that bogus operations will be present! However, if they say that they don’t attend trade shows, it doesn’t necessarily mean they are a fraud.Tip #4: Make sure you put all important details are in writing. It’s critical that a breakdown in dialogue is prevented. And if it should occur, having everything documented will help trace the point of breakdown.Tip #5: If you are moving into large-scale importing, invest time and money on a few trips to China to see the suppliers/manufacturers/agents that you feel you want to work with.Tip #6: Be prepared to deal with people who have a completely different attitude towards business than you. They will have their own customs and local particularities – don’t get annoyed if they do things differently to your local suppliers.Read up on Chinese culture and learn a few Chinese words! This is a good way of showing you respect their culture and that you are genuinely interested

Coming Soon - You're Outsourced Too!
How do you feel about outsourcing jobs? Whether for it or against it, most people I speak to have fairly strong feelings about its use.Some hope that regulations or changes to the tax codes will stop businesses from using it. They hope to see fewer local jobs lost as a a result. Others see it as the only way to compete in a global economy and save their enterprise. I believe it is going to become increasingly more prevalent. Further, it's going to take the jobs from many people who have so far escaped its impact.Beyond the traditional roles and job grade levels, outsourcing - and in particular off shoring - is about to impact North America's businesses and our economy as dramatically as anything in the past.If you think that because of your education, management level or profession you are untouchable - you're naive.It's the Future All Over AgainIn the the late 1970s, I started traveling to Asia to meet with companies and local government agencies willing to set up factories in those countries. My goal was to have them make various products (shoes, accessories, glassware, clothing, microwave ovens) for sale in North America. I went there because I thought they could manufacture my goods for far less money than on this side of the ocean. It worked very well. Throughout the decade, Asian factories and economies grew as many other companies followed this approach.Later, in the early 1990's I applied the same financial logic to increase margins in other industries. I became involved with customer service work which was done over the phone and realized good profit improvements and improved levels of customer satisfaction by outsourcing jobs to smaller communities across the US and Canada where local wages were low, and unemployment high. As the years passed, we started sending telephone delivere

Beware of Job Search Competition!
There are lots of folks out there -- just like you -- looking to get ahead. And if you don't have your ducks in a row . . . if you can't stand out from the pack . . . you'll get eaten alive by your competitors.That's why you MUST use innovative strategies to gain every competitive advantage.Look, job search is never easy. But using old-fashioned, outdated methods is a long, painful, frustrating way to undertake what should be an EXCITING CAREER ADVENTURE.So, if you're satisfied with whatever comes along at any price . . . if you've got months to spend on a job search . . if you don't mind picking through the leftovers . . . then you probably don't want to waste your time on this article. Because you'll eventually get work. Sooner or later someone will hire you. If, on the other hand, you want to take advantage this INCREDIBLE JOB MARKET . . . if you want to SELECT your next job . . . if you want to seriously ramp up your income level rather than settle for whatever comes along . . . then want to consider some of the exciting alternative and non-traditional approaches.How does this apply to you? Well, take a look.Are you the kind of person who* is champing at the bit to make DRAMATICALLY MORE MONEY?* wants to seriously ADVANCE YOUR CAREER or job status?* insists on finding a DREAM JOB that is absolutely right for you?* understands that getting TOP DOLLAR doesn't happen by chance?* is ready to GET WAY AHEAD by mastering a few simple job search strategies and techniques?If you're willing to do things differently, there are some exciting, innovative job search strategies and techniques. They can put you way ahead of the competition. They can help you land a job in a matter of days instead of weeks and months.

2005 Retailer Inventory Orders for Christmas Slow
Generally retail purchasing agents and departments are fully ordered by this time every year as they ramp up for Christmas Season. In fact the merchandise is also getting well on its way to the warehouses and by mid October the stores are taking in the inventory and getting everything in place. This year we see some different trends, sure we see the stores loaded up for Halloween, but we see delayed shipments, lack luster purchasing and higher transportation and distribution costs.Retailers reported a not so hot recent quarter and many are predicting third quarter to not be anything close to spectacular. Costs of transportation of course are up sharply due to fuel supply driving price. Some of this is due to Hurricane disruptions in production and refining, while other issues include a long-term trend in pump prices and oil barrel price.Many retailers are already planning sharp cuts after Christmas for instance; Federated Department Stores is cutting 6,200 jobs after Christmas in 2006. Other large box store retailers see the writing on the wall and are taking a look and see attitude, but also planning for drastic measures. With credit card debt mounting with consumers, retail has slowed, also consider the increased gasoline pump prices to fill up that new SUV, pick-up or Mini Van taking its toll on America’s discretionary and spendable income. The costs in transportation to ship the products to the stores is also up sharply and those costs are passed on to consumers and higher prices mean more reluctant buyers.Previously home equity growth helped consumers pay off credit card debt freeing up available balances for consumer spending, yet with housing slowing, housing values will not allow a second or third round of such, coupled with the raising of interest rates slowing housing markets. Thus effecting construction,

It Happened Again: GM to Lay Off Significant Numbers
It has happened again, and again in a very big way. I am sure you have heard the news that General Motors has announced they are closing plants and letting some 30,000 people go. Some they will be able to relocate, some they won’t.Ford announced they are laying off over 4,000 people as well. This is all devastating news that we should all be concerned about.The manufacturing sector of our economy is the one sector that provides for our society a “ladder” to allow us to move from lower class economies to middle and upper middle class economies. Without manufacturing, it becomes more and more difficult for families to pull themselves up and obtain the Great American Dream.Most manufacturing jobs provide up to nine other jobs in the local economy. Think about the local drug stores, dry cleaners, car washes, gardeners, fast food restaurants, independent auto mechanics, and so on, that are going to see their customer base diminish and their services not used as frequently. This will be a direct result of their local patrons no longer have the discretionary income they once had. Most of those that are being laid off will now start to learn how to get it done themselves. After all, they will now have the time. Many will begin working on their own cars, taking care of their own lawns, cooking and eating “in” more often than not.And with fewer “end” products being produced, suppliers and their employees are affected in the same fashion.What of our younger generation that is coming up through high school. What direction do they take upon graduation? What field do they now study in college? And to learn a trade is still a good bet, but unless they move to an area where there is more discretionary income, what do they learn a trade in?These are tough situations and difficult questions. These a

Interview Etiquette
By far, interview etiquette remains the third most important factor that decides the fates of most job candidates. Subject expertise or skills and body language are the only two qualities that score over interview etiquette, according to expert human resource practitioners. These elements gain importance, as they are often the only indications of a candidate’s character.Interview Etiquette: An OverviewIf etiquette can be described as rules governing socially acceptable behavior, they apply to a job interview, too, in the same fashion. Good etiquette shows from the moment you enter the company, and how you conduct yourself until you are called.1. Unless someone shows you in, knock at the door before you enter.2. Being lenient with dressing, un-pressed clothing or wearing casual clothing for interviews is simply not good etiquette. An office environment and especially interviews call for formal dress.3. Greeting the interviewer is another aspect of etiquette. Greet him before he greets you, and with a firm handshake. Be assertive in shaking hands, as this is where you can start building a good impression. Remember, being assertive does not mean you are aggressive. Some people slightly take back their opposite shoulder and bend forward simultaneously while shaking hands as a show of respect. But don’t indulge in over doing it or shaking hands for endless seconds.4. Wait until they offer a seat to you or you can ask them if you can have a seat. Choose a seat opposite the interviewer so you can keep direct eye contact. You can sit in a semi-casual position. Crossing the legs at knees may be alright but you should never put a foot over your opposite knee. Shaking your legs during the interview or scratching your head are things to avoid.5. If you are offered business card, don’t just stuff it