The above is a very long title, but it is just some of the everyday actions we must live with, in order to be in the exporting/importing of international trade in global business…
What happened tothe days, of just making a product, and selling it at a fair profit to another?
The definition of a manufacturer many years ago was the following: Create a product, make the product in your own factory, sell the product to another, and collect the money for the sale.
This definition has gone by the wayside many years past,and this change is for both domestic sales and the exporting of product.
As many of you belong to Linked in, I am appalled at some of the questions or requests of people that want to buy or sell items. It is true that many of the young people in the industry today have never been in a factory, and just assume their requests will be filled in the wideworld of computer.
I was brought up when RADIO was the only outside far distance communication, as TV had not been invented yet for public use.
Buyers requesting products with no specification information, as to what their needs are, for example:
a. Need 10,000 T-shirts white!
b. Need a jean manufacturer to fill orders…
c. I am a factory please send me your needs
d. I can source for you
I am of the old school of thought which believes that eye to eye contact with the working general managers or owners on the factory premises is the only way to try, and properly profile a facility to see whether it can produce your product desired at the acceptable competitive cost, have the trained employees to assemble to the quality specifications, and be able to ship on time delivery.
Today the requirements are “MINDBOGGLING”, as to the needs of buyers whether it be the EU or the USA markets.
Apparel other than the FASHION aspect, can have only certain levels of production. To achieve the quality of specifications needed, can require special machinery, chemicals, techniques, expert engineering, in order to fulfil the requirements.
True, the OLD single needle sewing machine can perform a multitude of assembly operations in the hands of a skilled operator, but as we have finally progressed in specialized machinery, some specifications cannot be achieved in mass quantity, and this is pure fact.
Now markets in different countries want to protect their consumers, and are requiring all the above understandings of these regulations to be followed exactly, so the buyer will not be sued by the officials or consumers when buying the product you made for them.
The question really is who PAYS for all this and it seems that no one wants to take these costs into the cost of goods.
There is some statement that says “An ounce of prevention, is less expensive than the cost of a pound of risk,” or something like this.
Our Congress is passing strict rules that will have severe consequences to the Importer of Record, if all these regulations are not performed according to all the rules.
We are talking about the confiscation of goods, the penalties of both Civil and Criminal here in the USA.
Many seminars are being held by 3rd party compliance firms, textile/apparel organizations, trying to let the importer of record to be made aware of all the new issues.
Please, do not try to skip what is being requested, and get paid accordingly. This is becoming the 21st Century of Compliance rules and regulations.Have Fun!